阅读理解

　　Although American and British English are the two major national varieties of the languages, with the largest numbers of speakers and the greatest impact(影响)worldwide, there are many other varieties of English used around the world．Today English is used as a first language, as a second language, and as a foreign language．Other important first-language varieties of English are those of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and South Africa．

　　English is extremely important as a second language in India and has official or semi-official use in the Philippines, Malaysia, Tanzania(坦桑尼亚), Kenya(肯尼亚), Nigeria(尼日利亚), Liberia(利比里亚), and other countries in Africa, the Caribbean(加勒比地区), the Pacific, and elsewhere．It is the international language of the airlines, of computer technology, of science, and indeed of communication generally．When a Japanese business firm deals with a client(客户)in Saudi Arabia(沙特阿拉伯), their language of communication is likely to be English．

　　English has more non-native speakers than any other language, is more widely disbursed around the world, and is used for more purposes than any other language．The extraordinary spread of English is not due to any inherent virtue, but rather to the fact that by historical chance it has become the most useful language for others to learn．

　　In the course of its spread, English has diversified(分化)by adapting to local circumstances and cultures, so there are different varieties of English in every country．However, because the heart of its usefulness is its ability to serve as an international medium of communication, English is likely to retain a more or less homogeneous(类似的)core－an international standard based on the usage of the United States and the United Kingdom．Yet each national variety has its own character and contribution to make to world English．