题文
The number of speakers of English in Shakespeare’s time is estimated(估计) to have been about five million. Today it is estimated that some 260 million people speak it as a native language, mainly in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. In addition to the standard varieties of English found in these areas, there are a great many regional and social varieties of the language as well as various levels of usage that are employed both in its spoken and written forms.In fact, it is impossible to estimate the number of people in the world who have acquired an adequate(足够的) working knowledge of English in addition to their own languages. The purpose for English learning and the situations in which such learning takes place are so varied that it is difficult to explain and still more difficult to judge what forms an adequate working knowledge for each situation.
The main reason for the widespread demand for English is its present-day importance as a world language. Besides serving the indefinite needs of its native speakers, English is a language in which some of important works in science, technology, and other fields are being produced, and not always by native speakers. It is widely used for such purposes as meteorological and airport communications, international conferences, and the spread of information over the radio and television networks of many nations. It is a language of wider communication for a number of developing countries, especially former British colonies. Many of these countries have multilingual populations and need a language for internal communication in such matters as government, commerce, industry, law and education as well as for international communication and for entrance to the scientific and technological developments in the West.
小题1:What would be the best title for this passage?A．The Difficulties of Learning English B．International Communications C．The Standard Varieties of English D．English as a World Language小题2:Which of the following statements is NOT true?A．Some 260 million people in the world have an adequate working knowledge of English. B．There are some 260 million native speakers of English in the world. C．It is almost impossible to estimate the number of people with an adequate working knowledge of English. D．People learn English for a variety of reasons.小题3:According to the passage, what is the main reason for the widespread use of English?A．It was popular during Shakespeare’s time. B．It is used in former British colonies. C．It serves the needs of its native speakers. D．It is a world language that is used for international communication.小题4:What forms an adequate working knowledge of English? A．The ability to read a newspaper. B．It is difficult to judge because it differs for each situation. C．Being a multilingual. D．Being a native speaker.小题5:What type of developing countries would be most likely to use English?A．Those geographically close to the United States. B．Those interested in the culture of the United States. C．Former colonies of Great Britain. D．Countries where international conferences are held. 题型：未知 难度：其他题型
答案
小题1:D
小题2:A
小题3:D
小题4:B
小题5:C
解析
本文介绍了英语的发展变化情况，说明了英语最后成为世界语言的原因及英语在当代社会中的重要性。
小题1:主旨题。根据第3段第1句及全文的内容：英语在各个国家的各个领域的应用，可推知此题的答案为 D。
小题2:细节题。根据文章第1段中第2句及第2段的第1句的描述可推知此题的答案为A。
小题3:推断题。根据文章最后一段的描述，英语在世界不同领域、不同的地区的使用，可推知此题的答案为D。
小题4:细节题。根据文章第2段最后一句可推知此题答案为B。
小题5:细节题。根据文章最后一段倒数第2句可推知此题答案为C。
考点
据考高分专家说，试题“The number of speake.....”主要考查你对 [政治经济类阅读 ]考点的理解。政治经济类阅读
政治经济类文章的概念：
要做好这类阅读，平时就要注意了解国内外发生的政治经济大事，掌握一定背景知识，对这类文章的叙述特点及内容安排有一定了解，还要扩展这方面的词汇。阅读这类文章，要抓住文章的核心，即文章整体和各段主要在说什么，也要注意段落之间的逻辑关系。
如何备考政治经济类阅读理解题：
【题型说明】政治经济类阅读文章是高考常选材料之一。该类文章时代气息浓郁，语言鲜活，但熟字新义词、超纲词及专业词语多，长句、难句多。政治类文章大多数是同学们感性趣的内容，读起来倒有似曾相识的感觉，经济类文章读起来就像是雾里看花，文章看完，一头雾水。再加之这类文章的命题侧重于词义猜测、推理判断和文章主旨，同学们对这类题材是望而生畏。
【备考策略】建立心理优势。针对不同体裁的文章，我们要采取相应的阅读方法和技巧。政治类文章多采用记叙文形式，我们可采取“顺读法”，以便抓关键语句，领会文章主旨；而经济类文章则多采用说明文形式，我们则可以采取“逆读法”，先读试题，再从文章中查找有用信息。若遇到的确难读的材料。千万不用着急，因为你觉得难，其他人也一定是同感。在高考前，我们就要有这种心理准备，高考试卷肯定有一、两篇难以阅读的材料。不过，我们平时可以有意识地从报刊杂志上找一些较难的阅读材料来阅读，以培养自己迎难而上的心理素质。
【答题方法】
1、寻找主干：
根据英语中五种基本句型结构，把句子中的主语、谓语、宾语、表语等主要成分找出来，其他成分如定语、状语、补语等则易于理解。找到了句子主干，句子的意思至少明白了一半。
2、剔除从句：
在一个长句中可能会出现若干个从句，在理解时，如果把各个从句剔除出来单独理解，然后把大意拼凑起来，整个长句的意思就会明白六、七分。
3、辨别分句：
一个长句如果是由几个并列、转折、递进、对比关系的分句组成，句中往往有表示这些分句关系的连接词，只要能弄清楚分句和分句之间的逻辑关系，再把各层分句的意思加以连贯，整个长句的句意基本上能跃然脑中。
4、寻找关键词：
如果一个句子看完，一点句意的感觉也没有，下下策就是抓住句中的关键词，通过关键词大体弄懂这个长句的意思。
