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Actually, though, America, the “land of immigrants”, has always had people of many different nationalities and languages. The 1990 census (人口普查) indicates that almost 14% of Americans speak a non-English language at home. Yet only 3% reported that they spoke English “not well” or “not at all ”. That means that slightly more than one out of 10 Americans could be considered bilingual.
Besides that, many high school and college students-and even some elementery school students-are required to take a foreign language as a part of their curriculum. In addition to old standbys(受人喜爱的语种) like Spanish, German and Franch, more and more students are opting Eastern European and Asian languages. Of course, not all students keep up their foreign language abilities. As the old saying goes, “If you don’t use it .” But still, a growing number of Americans are coming to appreciate the benefits of being multilingual.
Ethnic enclaves(少数民族聚居地), found particularly in major metropolitan centers, have preserved the language and culture of American immigrants. Some local residents can function quite well in their native language, without having to bother learning English. Rogions such as southern Florida and the Southwest have numerous Spanish-speaking neighborhoods. In fact, Spanish speakers-numbering over 17 million-compose the largest non-English linguistic group in America. But Chinese, Vietnamese, Italian,Polish and many other ethnic group add to the linguistic flavor of America. Foreign languages are so commonly used in some ethnic neighborhoods that visitors might think they are in another country!
Although some Americans welcome this linguistic and cultural diversity, other have begun to fear that the English language is being threatened. Since the 1980s, the “English Only ” movement has sought to promote legislation which would establish English as the “official language” and restrict the use of non-English language. However, some groups, including TESOL, the organization for Teachers of English to Speakers of Other language, object to such “language restrictionism”. Their view, known as “English Plus”, suggests that Americans should have respect for people’s native help them fit into the mainstream of society. But so far, 19 states have passed English Only legislation, and the topic is the focus of an ongoing debate.
Whether or not Engliash is the official language of the United States, it remains the “language of wider communication”. Nearly everyone recognizes the need to develop proficiency in English in order to do well in America. To help those who want to brush up on their English skills, English as a Second Language (ESL) classes around. Cities with large numbers of recent immigrants often set up bilingual education programs to teach students content subjects in their native language while they improve their English. Language educators often have strong and divergent views as to which approach helps learners achieve better results: a bilingual approach, an ESL approach-or even a pure immersion(“sink or swim”) approach. However, all these teachers share a common commitment: to help students function well in English.
American recognize that English is the international language, and people with good English skills can get by in many international settings. On the other hand, in a world growing increasingly smaller, second language skills can be a great favor. They can build cross-cultural bridges and give people an edge in a variety of career field. Indeed, lack of foreign language proficiency can limit one’s chances for advancement and keep one in a cultural dead-end street. As many people in America are discovering, being monolingual is no laughing matter.
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1. The word “bilingual” (Line 7,para,1) means_________.
A. being able to speak two languages
B. being able to speak three languages
C. being able to speak four languages
D. being able to speak five languages
2. Foreign languages are commonly used in some ethnic neighborhoods because__________.
A. ethnic groups have preserved their native languages
B. ethnic groups are not allowed to speak English
C. ethnic groups encourage their natives to learn foreign languages
D. ethnic groups allow their natives to go to another country
3. _________compose the largest linguistic group in America.
A. Immigrants from China
B. Immigrants from Spain
C. Immigrants from Italy
D.Immigrants from Vietnam
4. Which of the following is TRUE about “English Only” movement?
A. Its purpose was to establish a legislation of restricting the use of English.
B. TESOL was in favor of “English Only ” by objecting to “English plus”.
C. It was launched because English was being threatened.
D. A large majority of states supported the movement.
5. The general idea of this passage is_________.
A. the importance of being bilingual
B. the need to speak the native languages
C. English-a language widely spoken around the world
D. the English Only movement
