阅读理解 Pronouncing a language is a skill. Every normal person is expert in the skill of pronouncing his own language, but few people are even moderately proficient(熟练的) at pronouncing foreign languages. Now there are many reasons for this, some obvious, some perhaps not so obvious. But I suggest that the fundamental reason why people in general do not speak foreign languages very much better than they do is that they fail to grasp the true nature of the problem of learning to pronounce, and consequently(因而,所以) never set about tackling(对付,处理) it in the right way. Far too many people fail to realize that pronouncing a foreign language is a skill, one that needs careful training of a special kind, and one that cannot be acquired by just leaving it to take care of itself. I think even teachers of language, while recognizing the importance of a good accent, tend to neglect(忽视), in their practical teaching, the branch of study concerned with speaking the language. So the first point I want to make is that English pronunciation must be taught; the teacher should be prepared to devote some of the lesson time to this, and by his whole attitude to the subject should get the student to feel that here is a matter worthy of receiving his close attention. So, there should be occasions when other aspects of English, such as grammar or spelling, are allowed for the moment to take second place. Apart from this question of the time given to pronunciation, there are two other requirements for the teacher: the first, knowledge; the second, technique. It is important that the teacher should be in possession of the necessary information. This can generally be obtained from books. It is possible to get from books some idea of the mechanics of speech, and of what we call general phonetic(语音的) theory. It is also possible in this way to get a clear mental picture of the relationship between the sounds of different languages, between the speech habits of English people and those, say, of your students. Unless the teacher has such a picture, any comments he may make on his students pronunciation are unlikely to be of much use, and lesson time spent on pronunciation may well be time wasted. 1.What does the writer actually say about pronouncing foreign languages? [ ] A.Only a few people are really proficient. B.No one is really an expert in the skill. C.There aren't many people who are even fairly good. D.There are even some people who are moderately proficient. 2.The writer argues that going about the problem of pronunciation in the wrong way is ________. [ ] A.an obvious cause of not grasping the problem correctly B.a fundamental consequence of not speaking well C.a consequence(推断) of not grasping the problem correctly D.not an obvious cause of speaking poorly 3.The best way of learning to speak a foreign language, he suggests, is by ________. [ ] A.picking it up naturally as a child B.learning from a native speaker C.not concentrating on pronunciation as much D.undertaking systematic(系统化的) work 4.What is it that teachers are said to be inclined(趋向) to forget? [ ] A.The practical teaching of languages. B.The importance of a good accent. C.The principle of phonetic theory. D.The teaching of pronunciation in the classroom. 5.The value the student puts on correct speech habits depends on ________. [ ] A.how closely he attends to the matter B.whether it is English that is being taught C.his teacher's approach(途径) to pronunciation D.the importance normally given to grammar and spelling
阅读理解
Pronouncing a language is a skill. Every normal person is expert in the skill of pronouncing his own language, but few people are even moderately proficient(熟练的) at pronouncing foreign languages. Now there are many reasons for this, some obvious, some perhaps not so obvious. But I suggest that the fundamental reason why people in general do not speak foreign languages very much better than they do is that they fail to grasp the true nature of the problem of learning to pronounce, and consequently(因而,所以) never set about tackling(对付,处理) it in the right way. Far too many people fail to realize that pronouncing a foreign language is a skill, one that needs careful training of a special kind, and one that cannot be acquired by just leaving it to take care of itself. I think even teachers of language, while recognizing the importance of a good accent, tend to neglect(忽视), in their practical teaching, the branch of study concerned with speaking the language. So the first point I want to make is that English pronunciation must be taught; the teacher should be prepared to devote some of the lesson time to this, and by his whole attitude to the subject should get the student to feel that here is a matter worthy of receiving his close attention. So, there should be occasions when other aspects of English, such as grammar or spelling, are allowed for the moment to take second place.
Apart from this question of the time given to pronunciation, there are two other requirements for the teacher: the first, knowledge; the second, technique.
It is important that the teacher should be in possession of the necessary information. This can generally be obtained from books. It is possible to get from books some idea of the mechanics of speech, and of what we call general phonetic(语音的) theory. It is also possible in this way to get a clear mental picture of the relationship between the sounds of different languages, between the speech habits of English people and those, say, of your students. Unless the teacher has such a picture, any comments he may make on his students pronunciation are unlikely to be of much use, and lesson time spent on pronunciation may well be time wasted.
1.What does the writer actually say about pronouncing foreign languages?
[ ]
A.Only a few people are really proficient.
B.No one is really an expert in the skill.
C.There aren't many people who are even fairly good.
D.There are even some people who are moderately proficient.
2.The writer argues that going about the problem of pronunciation in the wrong way is ________.
[ ]
A.an obvious cause of not grasping the problem correctly
B.a fundamental consequence of not speaking well
C.a consequence(推断) of not grasping the problem correctly
D.not an obvious cause of speaking poorly
3.The best way of learning to speak a foreign language, he suggests, is by ________.
[ ]
A.picking it up naturally as a child
B.learning from a native speaker
C.not concentrating on pronunciation as much
D.undertaking systematic(系统化的) work
4.What is it that teachers are said to be inclined(趋向) to forget?
[ ]
A.The practical teaching of languages.
B.The importance of a good accent.
C.The principle of phonetic theory.
D.The teaching of pronunciation in the classroom.
5.The value the student puts on correct speech habits depends on ________.
[ ]
A.how closely he attends to the matter
B.whether it is English that is being taught
C.his teacher's approach(途径) to pronunciation
D.the importance normally given to grammar and spelling
题目解答
答案
解析
文章讨论了学习外语发音的困难,以及教师在教学中应如何正确处理发音问题。文章指出,大多数人学习外语发音不好的原因在于他们没有正确理解学习发音的本质,也没有采取正确的方法。文章还强调了教师在教学中应重视发音教学,并具备必要的知识和技巧。
步骤 2:分析问题1
问题1询问作者对学习外语发音的看法。根据文章第一段,作者指出,只有少数人能熟练地发音,大多数人学习外语发音都不好。因此,选项C(There aren't many people who are even fairly good.)是正确的。
步骤 3:分析问题2
问题2询问作者关于发音问题的看法。根据文章第一段,作者认为,大多数人学习外语发音不好的原因在于他们没有正确理解学习发音的本质,因此选项C(a consequence of not grasping the problem correctly)是正确的。
步骤 4:分析问题3
问题3询问作者建议的最佳学习外语发音的方法。根据文章第一段,作者认为,学习外语发音需要系统化的训练,因此选项D(undertaking systematic work)是正确的。
步骤 5:分析问题4
问题4询问教师容易忘记什么。根据文章第二段,作者指出,教师在实际教学中往往忽视发音教学,因此选项D(The teaching of pronunciation in the classroom)是正确的。
步骤 6:分析问题5
问题5询问学生对正确发音习惯的重视程度取决于什么。根据文章第一段,作者认为,学生对正确发音习惯的重视程度取决于教师对发音教学的态度,因此选项C(his teacher's approach to pronunciation)是正确的。