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.

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?

__________________________________________________

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?

__________________________________________________

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.

Choose the best answer A, B, C or D to complete the following sentences

1. It can’t be denied that English has become an __________ language of the world.

A. national                B. international        C. cultural                 D. multicultural

2. This book __________ to the library today.

A. has to return                                             C. has to been returned        

B. has to be returned                                    D. has is returned

3. Would you mind if I __________ a photo?

A. takes                      B. take                        C. took                       D. taken

4. Canada is made up _________ 10 provinces and 6 territories.

A. on                          B. of                           C. by                           D. with

5. My father bought this house 2 years ago.

 A. This house was bought by my father 2 years ago.

 B. This house bought by my father 2 years ago.

 C. This house were bought 2 years ago.

 D. This house 2 years ago is bought by my father.

6. Could you __________ the salt, please?

A. pass                       B. passing                  C. send                       D. passed

7. Thanks to multimedia, we can have __________ to the latest news in the world.

A. access                   B. message                C. language               D. landline

8. I don’t know how __________ the game.

A. to play                    B. play                        C. played                    D. playing

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?

_______________________________________________________________