《2025年同步练习册山东人民出版社高中英语选择性必修第一册外研版》

C
Recently, 14-year-old Harini Logan won the Scripps National Spelling Bee in the United States. She correctly spelled 22 words within 90 seconds. Most Americans, however, would find it difficult to spell any of these words!
From an early age, native English speakers know there are clear differences between how words are pronounced and how they are spelled. But they do not know that the difference is unique to English among major languages. Languages like Italian or Finnish can be spelled more easily because each letter matches to one sound. Students studying these languages can have 90 percent reading accuracy（正确率） after the first year.
In English, many letters have two or more sounds. This is why even after years of learning, English students are still far below Italian or Finnish students in reading accuracy.
English started as a Germanic language. It is most closely connected to German and Dutch, especially in grammar and basic vocabulary. During the Norman conquest in the 12th century, Old English was spoken but French was used in government and legal documents. As a result, more French and Latin words entered the English language.
The printing machine was invented in the late 1400s. This helped to establish English spelling and strengthen the connection between how English is spoken and how it is written. The English of today is how the language was written at the time.
However, the spoken language started to change in the 1500s with the pronunciation of all long vowels（元音）, especially in southern England. For example, the word “bite” was pronounced closer to “beet” in 1400, before changing through the years to its present sound. The effect was that the English language had old spellings, but new sounds.
English has 26 letters, but over 44 different sounds depending on the difference of spoken English. There are several sounds from only one letter. For example, the letter “C” can sound like an “S” as in “city. ” And it also sounds like a “K” as in “cat. ”
28. What is the advantage of Italian compared with English?
A. It has simpler sentences.
B. It expresses more exactly.
C. It is easier to pronounce.
D. It’s made up of fewer letters.
29. How did the printing machine affect the English language?
A. It established English spelling.
B. It made written English simple.
C. It changed the spoken language.
D. It separated spellings from sounds.
30. What did the spoken language change in the 1500s result in?
A. Spellings matched sounds.
B. English was easier to learn.
C. Old spellings were changed.
D. New sounds were formed.
31. Which of the following can be the best title for the text?
A. What Is the Best Way to Master English
B. Why Spelling in English Is so Difficult
C. How English Developed into Modern One
D. When Letters Started to Have Over One Sound

答案： 28.C 细节理解题。根据第二段中的“Languages like Italian or Finnish can be spelled more easily because each letter matches to one sound. Students studying these languages can have 90 percent reading accuracy (正确率) after the first year.”可知，与英语相比，意大利语发音更容易。故选C。
29.A 细节理解题。根据倒数第三段中的“The printing machine was invented in the late 1400s. This helped to establish English spelling and strengthen the connection between how English is spoken and how it is written.”可知，印刷机的发明确立了英语的拼写。故选A。
30.D 细节理解题。根据倒数第二段中的“The effect was that the English language had old spellings, but new sounds.”可知，16世纪英语口语变化带来的影响是，英语保留了旧的拼写，但产生了新的发音。故选D。
31.B 标题归纳题。通读全文，尤其是根据第一段的内容可知，通过14岁的Harini Logan赢得了美国斯克里普斯全国拼写比赛的故事，引出本文要谈论的话题——为什么英语词汇书写困难。所以“Why Spelling in English Is so Difficult”作为文章标题最为合适。故选B。