A
English has surely become the global language.Whenever we turn on the news to find out what's happening in East Asia，or Africa，or anywhere，people are being interviewed and telling us about it in English.
If people look at the facts about the amazing reach of the English language，many would be surprised.English is used in over 90 countries as an official or semiofficial language.English is the working language of many international institutes(研究所)as well as of most international research scientists.It is also the language that Indian parents and black parents wish their children to learn.It is believed that over one billion people worldwide are now learning English.
One of the most important causes of the spread of English around the world is that Europeans are willing to accept it as their language.English is spreading from northern Europe to the south and is now the second language in countries such as Sweden，Norway，Netherlands and Denmark.If one visits any of them，it would seem that almost everyone there can talk in English.
Recently，a report said that at the beginning of 2001，English was the most widely known foreign language with 43% of Europeans saying they spoke it.The report also said that with over 89% of the population speaking English，Sweden now has the highest percentage of English speakers.What's more，English is the language rated as most useful to know，and over 77% of Europeans who do not speak English as their first language consider it useful.
【语篇解读】 本文是说明文，主要讲述了英语在世界上的广泛使用。
1．By writing this passage，the writer mainly wants to tell us________.
A．why so many people speak English around the world
B．that English has become a language spoken all over the world
C．about the development of English in Europe
D．something about the Englishspeaking countries
B [主旨大意题。根据本文的第一句“English has surely become the global language.”以及后文的具体描述可知，作者主要想告诉我们，英语是目前世界上的通用语言。]
2．According to the passage，what has played an important role in spreading English around the world?
A．That governments have asked their people to learn it in school.
B．That English is the most beautiful language in the world.
C．That Europeans are willing to accept English as their language.
D．That people have to use English in their work.
C [细节理解题。根据第三段的“One of the most important causes of the spread of English around the world is that Europeans are willing to accept it as their language.”可知C正确。]
3．What does the underlined word “rated”in the last paragraph mean?
A．Stood. B．Agreed.
C．Considered. D．Argued.
C [词义猜测题。根据语境以及最后一句的“consider it useful”可知，rate在这里意为“认为；看作”。]
4．What can we learn from the passage?
A．Black parents don't want their children to learn English.
B．English is used in over 90 countries as an official language.
C．Not all international research scientists speak English at work.
D．English has become the most important language in Sweden.
C [细节理解题。根据第二段的“English is the working language...as well as of most international research scientists.”可知，并不是所有的国际研究科学人员工作时都使用英语。]
