Question

  The English language was strongly influenced by an event that took place more than 1,400 years ago. In the year 597,the Roman Catholic Church began its attempt to make Christianity the religion of Britain.

  The language of the Catholic Church was Latin. Latin was not spoken as a language in any country at that time. But it was still used by some people.

  Latin made it possible for a church member from Rome to speak to a church member from Britain. Educated people from different countries could communi?cate by using Latin.

  Latin had a great effect on the English language. The Latin word "dis?cus" became several words in English,including "disk", "dish" and "desk". Some English names of plants such as ginger and cedar come from Latin. So do some medical words such as cancer.

  English is a little like a living thing that continues to grow. English began to grow more quickly when William Caxton returned to Britain in the year 1476. He had been in Holland and other areas of Europe where he had learned printing. He returned to Britain with the first printing press.

  The printing press made it possible for almost anyone to buy a book. It helped spread education and the English language.

  Slowly,during the 1500s English became the modern language we would recognize. English speakers today would be able to communicate with English speakers in the last part of the 16th century.

  It was during this time period that the greatest writer in English produced his works. His name was William Shakespeare. His plays continue to be prin?ted,acted in theaters,and seen in motion pictures almost four hundred years after his death.

  The development of the English language took a giant step just nine years before the death of William Shakespeare. Three small British ships crossed the Atlantic Ocean in 1607. They landed in an area that would later become the southern American state of Virginia. They began the first of several British colonies.

1. The fourth paragraph is developed by        .

   A. comparing and analysing

   B. providing different examples

   C. introducing a practical method

   D. testing an idea by reasoning

2. According to the passage,which of the following is NOT true?

   A. We can communicate with the people who lived in the 1550s.

   B. The printing press played an important role in spreading English.

   C. William Shakespeare contributed to the development of English.

   D. It was only in Holland that William Caxton learned printing.

3. In which year did William Shakespeare die according to the passage?

   A.1598.   B.1600.   C.1616.   D.1620.

4. It can be inferred from the passage that the next paragraph probably writes     

   A. how to develop British colonies

   B. the origin of American Virginia

   C. the sail of three small British ships

   D. the English development in British colonies

Answer 1

[文章大意]本文介紹了英語如何從一種古老的語言進化成現(xiàn)在的英語的，主要從宗教的引入、印刷機的發(fā)明、莎士比亞的作品以及英語在殖民地的發(fā)展等幾個方面進行介紹。

1. B寫作手法題。第四段的主題句為"Latin had a great effect on the English language."，接下來是舉例說明具體的影響。故選B項。

2. D細節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)第五段中的"He had been in Hol?land and other areas of Europe where he had learned printing."可知D項不正確。

3. C細節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)最后一段中的"The development of the English language took a giant step just nine years before the death of William Shakespeare. ... in 1607. "知，莎士比亞死于1616年。故選C項。

4. D推理判斷題。因為全文都是介紹英語的進化發(fā)展的，所以介紹完英國船只跨過大西洋擴建殖民地，接下來應(yīng)該談?wù)撚⒄Z在殖民地的發(fā)展。故選D項。