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?

__________________________________________________

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

__________________________________________________

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?

__________________________________________________

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 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?

_______________________________________________________________

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

Choose the word or phrase among A, B, C or D that best fits the blank space in the following passage.

Language is (1)…… people (2)……… with one another. It is a terrific tool. Language is spoken, but it is also (3)……. down. Sign language used by many people who are (4)…….is the communication with gestures. We do (5)…….. our communication (6)……..speaking.

English is (7)…………international language in the world, but it is not the world’s most (8)…… spoken language. There are more than 1.2 billion people (9)……..Chinese. Arabic is second, and then Hindi, with English in the fourth place. (10)………. languages in the top ten are Spanish, Bengali, Portuguese, Russian, Japanese, and German.

Question 1:

A. how

B. why

C. what

D. when

Choose the word or phrase among A, B, C or D that best fits the blank space in the following passage.

Language is (1)…… people (2)……… with one another. It is a terrific tool. Language is spoken, but it is also (3)……. down. Sign language used by many people who are (4)…….is the communication with gestures. We do (5)…….. our communication (6)……..speaking.

English is (7)…………international language in the world, but it is not the world’s most (8)…… spoken language. There are more than 1.2 billion people (9)……..Chinese. Arabic is second, and then Hindi, with English in the fourth place. (10)………. languages in the top ten are Spanish, Bengali, Portuguese, Russian, Japanese, and German.

Question 1

A.how

B.why

C.what

D.when

Choose the word or phrase among A, B, C or D that best fits the blank space in the following passage.

Language is (1)…… people (2)……… with one another. It is a terrific tool. Language is spoken, but it is also (3)……. down. Sign language used by many people who are (4)…….is the communication with gestures. We do (5)…….. our communication (6)……..speaking.

English is (7)…………international language in the world, but it is not the world’s most (8)…… spoken language. There are more than 1.2 billion people (9)……..Chinese. Arabic is second, and then Hindi, with English in the fourth place. (10)………. languages in the top ten are Spanish, Bengali, Portuguese, Russian, Japanese, and German.

Question 2:

A. communicate

B. instruct

C. introduce

D. mention

Choose the word or phrase among A, B, C or D that best fits the blank space in the following passage.

Language is (1)…… people (2)……… with one another. It is a terrific tool. Language is spoken, but it is also (3)……. down. Sign language used by many people who are (4)…….is the communication with gestures. We do (5)…….. our communication (6)……..speaking.

English is (7)…………international language in the world, but it is not the world’s most (8)…… spoken language. There are more than 1.2 billion people (9)……..Chinese. Arabic is second, and then Hindi, with English in the fourth place. (10)………. languages in the top ten are Spanish, Bengali, Portuguese, Russian, Japanese, and German.

Question 9:

A. speak

B. speaks

C. speaking

D. are spoken