English is an international language. One thousand million people speak English in the world. It is the first language of 400 million people. It is the second language of about 600 million people. Four fifths of the world's computers use program in English. Three quarters of all international correspondendce is in English. Does English have the most speakers? No, it doesn't surprisingly. Twice as many people speak Chinese as their first language

1)How many people speak English in the world?

2) Is it the first language of 400 million people?

3) Does English have the most speakers?

4) Which language has the most speakers?

The English language is the most widely spoken language in the world. It is used as either first or second language .................... (1) many countries.

During the 16^th century, only about two million people spoke English. All .................... (2) them lived in what is now the United Kingdom. Over the centuries, as a result of various historical events, English has spread throughout .................... (3) world. Today, about 400 million people speak English as their native .................... (4). Most of them live in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, .................... (5) the Unites States.

About 100 million people, chiefly living in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and in many African .................... (6), speak English in addition to their own language. An additional 200 million people in the world probably know .................... (7) least some English. English is really an international language.

I. Read the passage and fill in the blanks with the suitable words.

The English language is the most widely spoken language in the world. It is used as either first or second language .................... (1) many countries.

During the 16^th century, only about two million people spoke English. All .................... (2) them lived in what is now the United Kingdom. Over the centuries, as a result of various historical events, English has spread throughout .................... (3) world. Today, about 400 million people speak English as their native .................... (4). Most of them live in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, .................... (5) the Unites States.

About 100 million people, chiefly living in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and in many African .................... (6), speak English in addition to their own language. An additional 200 million people in the world probably know .................... (7) least some English. English is really an international language.

III. Read the following passage and then answer the questions below it.

In the world today there are 5,000 to 6,000 living languages, of which English is the most widely used. As a mother tongue, it ranks second only to Chinese, which is little used outside China.

English is the most international of languages. It is used as the language of aviation, international sport and pop music. Sixty percent of the world’s radio stations broadcast in English, and more than half of the world’s scientific papers are printed in English.

It is true that a great number of people are involved in the use of English. To people in Africa, Asia, and South America, English is an important foreign language to master. In most countries in the world, the English language is used as the language of business, commerce, and technology. English is now an effective medium of international communication. However, it is the written English which is not systematically phonetic, that causes difficulties to non-native speakers.

1. Which language is used as the language of aviation, international sport and pop music?

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2. Why is English an important foreign language used in many countries?

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3. What difficulties may learners of English be confronted with? Why?

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4. Name three countries in which English is spoken as a first language.

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5. As a mother tongue, why does English rank second only to Chinese?

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II.Read the passage and fill in the blanks with the suitable words.

The English language is the most widely spoken language in the world. It is usedas either first or second language ……………….. (1) many countries.

During the 16th century, only about two million people spoke English. All ……………….. (2) them lived in what is now the United Kingdom. Over the centuries,as a result of various historical events, English has spread throughout ……………….. (3)world. Today, about 400 million people speak English as their native ………………..  (4). Most of them live in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, NewZealand, South Africa, ……………….. (5) the Unites States.

About 100 million people, chiefly living in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and inmany African ……………….. (6), speak English in addition to their own language. Anadditional 200 million people in the world probably know ……………….. (7) leastsome English. English is really an international language.

Read the passage and fill in the blanks with the suitable words.

The English language is the most widely spoken language in the world. It is usedas either first or second language ……………….. (1) many countries.

During the 16th century, only about two million people spoke English. All ……………….. (2) them lived in what is now the United Kingdom. Over the centuries,as a result of various historical events, English has spread throughout ……………….. (3)world. Today, about 400 million people speak English as their native ………………..  (4). Most of them live in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, NewZealand, South Africa, ……………….. (5) the Unites States.

About 100 million people, chiefly living in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and inmany African ……………….. (6), speak English in addition to their own language. Anadditional 200 million people in the world probably know ……………….. (7) leastsome English. English is really an international language.v

Read the following passage and then answer the questions below it.

In the world today there are 5,000 to 6,000 living languages, of which English is the most widely used. As a mother tongue, it ranks second only to Chinese, which is little used outside China.

English is the most international of languages. It is used as the language of aviation, international sport and pop music. Sixty percent of the world‟s radio stations broadcast in English, and more than half of the world‟s scientific papers are printed in English.

It is true that a great number of people are involved in the use of English. To people in Africa, Asia, and South America, English is an important foreign language to master. In most countries in the world, the English language is used as the language of business, commerce,

and technology. English is now an effective medium of international communication. However, it is the written English which is not systematically phonetic, that causes difficulties to non-native speakers.

1. Which language is used as the language of aviation, international sport and pop music?

_______________________________________________________________

2. Why is English an important foreign language used in many countries?

_______________________________________________________________

3. What difficulties may learners of English be confronted with? Why?

_______________________________________________________________

4. Name three countries in which English is spoken as a first language.

_______________________________________________________________

5. As a mother tongue, why does English rank second only to Chinese?

_______________________________________________________________

English is an important language in the world. More than 400 million people speak English as their mother tongue. Another 400 million speak it as a second language. No one knows how many people speak it as a foreign language. Chinese is the language with more speakers than English, but it is only the language for more than one billion Chinese people. English is the official language on 20% of the land area in the world. It is spoken in North America, Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand. In South Africa and India, it is one of the official languages. In many countries, the textbooks in universities are written in English. More than 75% of the world’s mail is composed in English. More than 60% of the radio stations broadcast programs in English. English is the language of international communication.

1. We  know exactly how many people speak English as a foreign language.                               

2. English is not spoken in North America, Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand.

3. People in South Africa and India never speak English as the official language.

4. More than half of the radio stations broadcast programs in English.

Read the passage again and choose the best answer.

5. The passage is about..................

A. English Language is only a second language in the world

B. English is the official language in the world      

C. Hundreds of books are written in English everyday .

D. The importance of the English Language in  the world today

6. The word “mother tongue” in line 1 means:

  A.  body  language B. first language

  C.  native language              D. foreign language

English is the most important language in the world. More than 400 million people speak English as their mother tongue. Another 400 million speak it as a second language. No one knows how many people speak it as a foreign language. Chinese is the language with more speakers than English, but it is only the language for more than one billion Chinese people. English is the official language on 20% of the land area in the world. It is spoken in North American, Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand. In South Africa and India, it is also one of the official languages. In many countries, the textbooks in universities are written in English. More than 75% of the world’s mai is composed in English. More than 60% of the radio stations broadcast programs in English. English is the language of international communication

A. Decide whether the statements that follow are TRUE or FALSE.
1. China is the most important language.
2. We don’t know how many people speak English as a foreign language.
3. English has more speakers than Chinese.
4. English is spoken in North America, Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand.
B. Circle the best answer to each question.
5. Many people in the world use English as an important ________
A. subject B. language C. country D. source of power
6. In many countries, people use English to _______ textbooks in universities.
A. read B. make C. write D. advertise