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Just as the English language has changed quickly in the previous century, so has the use of it.

After the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) was founded in 1927, the particular style of speech of the BBC announcers was recognized as standard English or Received Pronunciation (RP) English. Now, most people still consider that the pronunciation and delivery of BBC announcers is the clearest and most understandable spoken English.

English has had a strong relationship with classes and social positions. However, since the Second World War there has been a clear change of attitude towards speech snobbery(自我優越感), and marks of class distinction(區別) such as styles of speech have been gradually diminishing, especially in the younger generation.

By the end of the 1960s, it had become clear that it was not necessary to speak standard English or even correct grammar to become popular, successful and rich. The fashionable speech of the day was no longer the special right of a special class but rather a defiant(反抗的) expression of classlessness.

The greatest single influence of the shaping of the English language in modern times is the American English. Over the last 25 years the English used by many people, particularly by those in the media, advertising and show business, has become more and more mid-Atlantic in style, delivery and accent.

In the 1970s, fashion favored careless pronunciation and a language full of jargon, slang and “in” words, a great quantity of which couldn’t be understood by the outside world. What is considered modern and fashionable in Britain today is often not the kind of English taught in schools and colleges.

1.Which of the following is NOT true?

A．The use of the English language has not changed much in the previous century.

B．BBC announcers speak standard English.

C．English has no relationship with classes and social positions now.

D．Young people don’t like class distinction.

2.What does the author imply by saying “there has been a clear change of attitude towards speech snobbery”?

A．Everyone speaks English as the BBC announcers do.

B．There has been a great change of attitudes towards the status of English.

C．Most people don’t believe the way of speaking by BBC announcers is much better than that of other people.

D．It is necessary to speak standard English with correct grammar.

3.According to the author, there was a trend in the US for young people ________.

A．to speak standard English

B．to speak English with grammatical mistakes

C．to speak old English

D．to speak English without class distinction

4.It can be concluded from the passage that________.

A．standard English is taught only in schools and colleges

B．there has been a great change in the English language in the previous century

C．the English language has not been influenced by the American English in the last 25 years

D．young people are defiant because they refuse to speak standard English

 

 

Ⅳ、閱讀理解（共20題，每題2分，共40分）

Kerry and Alice were both artists in Britain. They taught drawing and painting at Cambridge University. Although they were friends, each thought oneself to be the better painter.

One day, Kerry promised marriage to Alice. Surprised and pleased by the offer, the girl was not sure whether she would spend her future as a wife or a painter. After a moment she replied as follows, "Each of us must paint a picture. If yours is superior to mine, you can make me your wife. If not, please drop the question." Then it was decided to give it the following day.

The next morning. Alice hung her picture on the gate. It showed a bunch of flowers and won high praise from everyone who passed by. In fact, a crowd collected in front of her masterpiece and fixed eyes on it.

Several hours passed. Then Kerry was seen coming along to the gate with what appeared to be a beautiful leather suitcase in his hand. When he finally stopped before Alice, the girl artist brushed like a rose and agreed to marry him without any hesitation. Why?

71．What did Alice think Kerry's offer?

A. She liked Kerry, but she didn't expect him to promise marriage to her.

B. She didn't want to marry anybody.

C. She didn't like it at all.

D. She thought the offer wasn't polite.

72．In the sentence "If yours is superior to mine, you can make me your wife"。 "superior to" here means ____.

A. not so better than      B. better than             C. as bad as     D. as good as

73. Which of the following is true?

A. Kerry didn't accept Alice's suggestion.

B. Kerry wasn't sure of his painting so he dropped his offer.

C. Kerry did go the next day, but he failed to take a picture

D. Kerry agreed to Alice's suggestion.

74．Alice's picture won high praise because ____.

A. it was true to nature                      

B. the flowers were red

C. it showed so large a bunch of flowers 

D. people felt it strange to hang it on the gate

75．The "leather suitcase" was in fact ____.

A. a real one                    B. a painting drawn by Kerry

C. a box with a picture in it        D. made up of leather

 

Because of the stress and strains of modern life folks today would rather watch television than get together with neighbors. Their behavior doesn't mirror TV soaps like Coronation Street and East Enders.?

The Street's Ashley Peacock and Toyah Battersby know all their neighbors. But the Royal Mail survey shows that real-life under?35s wouldn't dream of popping next door for a chat or to borrow a cup of sugar.?

Three out of ten say they wouldn't know their neighbors if they saw them in the street. The same proportion would only offer to help neighbors if absolutely necessary, while thirty-one? ?percent? don't want to get to know them better. Twenty-six percent rarely or never speak to the person next door. Thirty-five percent only talk to neighbors occasionally, and six percent actively dislike them. The older generation are still sociable, with seventy percent of over?55s ?taking? time to chat to people next door. The report says: “In the past, the British tradition of village green gossip（閑聊）between neighbors was celebrated worldwide. But there's been a clear shift away from local links by the young generation.” Londoners are least likely to be neighbors, with a third rarely or never chatting over the garden fence. People in the Midlands—where 65 percent often speak to their neighbors are most friendly.?

Sociologist Jane Blakeman said: “People are working longer hours than ever before, and are traveling further to work. It leaves them far less time at home.”?

Almost a third of young people_______.?

A. know their neighbours quite well?

B. have no idea who lives next door to them ?

C. talk to their neighbours when they want to borrow something?

D. spend time chatting with neighbours like their parents?

It can be inferred that Ashley Peacock and Toyah Battersby are both_______.?

A. important roles in a popular TV series

B. famous stars in TV programmes?

C. old soap operas

D. members of royal family?

Gossip among neighbours is still common among_______.?

A. people under?35s    B. people between 35 and 55?

C. people over?55s      D. people of different ages?

There is a difference between London and the rest of Britain mainly in that non-Londoners

_______.?

A. would help their neighbours only when necessary?

B. are less likely to have good relations with their neighbours ?

C. wouldn't travel far and find more time to chat with neighbours?

D. are more likely to keep up the old British tradition of having a chat over garden fence