《2025年星火英语Spark巅峰训练八年级人教版》

DAY5 阅读理解 B 人与社会(文化) | 说明文 | 词数: 223+184 | 难度: ★★★★☆ | 建议用时: 9 min | 答案册: P27
There are about 6 000 languages around the world, but 43 percent of these languages are dying out, according to UNESCO(联合国教科文组织).
Languages become endangered for many reasons. One of the reasons is that fewer and fewer people speak these languages. These people leave their communities and move to cities or towns.
Once a language dies, it never comes back to life. Governments all over the world are taking action to stop this. In New Zealand, the government wants more than 20 percent of the country's population to be able to speak basic Maori(毛利语) by 2040. It plans to provide Maori lessons in all New Zealand schools by 2025.
China is also trying to protect its languages. About 130 languages are spoken in China. In 2015, the government started a project to record all the languages spoken in China. Universities like Minzu University of China have set up these language learning courses for their students.
Some people argue that language loss, like the loss of some animal species, is simply a fact of life on the earth. However, all languages are human heritage(遗产). When we lose a language, we lose the culture of the people who speak it. Language itself is often the only way to pass on a certain community's history and culture, as well as its knowledge of things like math and geography.
1. How many languages are dying out?
A. About 6 000.
B. About 3 400.
C. About 2 500.
D. About 43.
2. Why do so many kinds of languages become endangered?
A. Because these languages are too difficult.
B. Because there are fewer people in these countries.
C. Because these languages are not useful in communication.
D. Because more people move to cities or towns and fewer people speak them.
3. According to the passage, what is the only way to pass on a certain community's history?
A. Its language.
B. Its culture.
C. The government.
D. The history itself.
4. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
A. China started a project to record all the languages spoken in China.
B. New Zealand wants everyone in the country to speak Maori.
C. Schools in New Zealand will provide Maori lessons.
D. There are about 130 languages spoken in China.
5. What's the best title for the passage?
A. Useful Languages on the Earth
B. Save the Dying Languages
C. Language and Culture
D. The Beauty of Languages

答案： 1.C 2.D 3.A 4.B 5.B