Americans have a reputation for being global illiterate(文盲), only one

       Americans have a reputation for being global illiterate(文盲), only one in ten can speak another language .That does not stop millions of American tourists ,businessmen, diplomats and journalists from visiting and working in nearly every country in the world. Americans simply expect everyone else to know their language. Few Americans study foreign language extensively and few American schools and universities ask them to. “We want to learn about the people outside America,” says Chicago Spanish tutor Jody Miles, “It’s sad ,isn’t it? It’s the Americans’ attitude: “They’ll find me a guide who speaks English.

       The American preference for English is hardly discouraged in the nation’s schools. At least 20 percent of the country’s high schools teach no foreign language at all. Few schools teach languages to students under 12, when they can best learn another language .As a result ,fewer than 3 percent of all high school graduates achieve “ meaningful” competence in a foreign language . But that is no bar to getting into the nation’s colleges ;only 8 percent have a foreign language requirement. Some colleges permit students to take proficiency(精通)exams to demonstrate they can speak a foreign language―to some degree―instead of taking a language course. Harvard even allows undergraduates to “psych out” of its one year foreign language requirement. Students can persuade health-clinic psychiatrists(精神病医师)to prove their psychological inability to learn another language.

       Still ,there are many students who want to learn foreign languages. Some study Spanish to understand the country’s growing Hispanic(西班牙的)population; others want to study the language of their immigrant ancestors .Another reason to learn a foreign language is the tight job market. If you have two qualified people applying for a job at an international firm and only one speaks a foreign language ,it’s obvious who will be chosen.

 

Questions:

73Find in the passage a word closest in meaning to the underlined word “competence”.

                                                                                

74Who is responsible for American students’ incompetence in foreign languages?(回答词数不超过5个)

                                                                                

75How can Harvard students be allowed to go without the one year foreign language requirement?(回答词数不超过10个)

                                                                                

答案

73Ability.

74American schools and universities/colleges.

75Psychiatrists’ proof of their inability to learn another language.

相关题目

唐太宗时,某地发生灾荒。假如你是当时的一名中书令,秉
唐太宗时,某地发生灾荒。假如你是当时的一名中书令,秉承皇帝的旨意起草了一份救灾计划,接下来你应该交给     A.尚书省裁决            
近年来,酒驾几乎成为一种“社会公害”。2011年2月25日十一
近年来,酒驾几乎成为一种“社会公害”。2011年2月25日十一届全国人大常委会在京闭幕,会议通过了刑法修正案,将醉酒驾车列为犯罪。交警用来检测
如图为某农田生态系统及对秸秆进行进一步利用的示意图,
如图为某农田生态系统及对秸秆进行进一步利用的示意图,请据此回答有关问题. (1)流经此生态系统的总能量是            ;与自然生态系统
阅读下面的文字,完成后面题目。 阅读是一种孤独(节选)
阅读下面的文字,完成后面题目。 阅读是一种孤独(节选) 毕淑敏 阅读的感觉难以比拟。 它有些像吃。对于头脑来说,渴望阅读的时刻必定虚怀若谷
设△ABC的三边长分别是a、b、c,外心、垂心分别为O、H。那么
设△ABC的三边长分别是a、b、c,外心、垂心分别为O、H。那么=                .
Exercise Exercise is a way of keeping the body healthy through being 
Exercise Exercise is a way of keeping the body healthy through being active. Another name for exercise is physical fitness. Most people exercise in their spare time. Sports are some of th
下列词语中加点字读音正确的一组是                
下列词语中加点字读音正确的一组是                                 (    ) A.绮丽(qí)   焗油 (jú)      泡桐﹙pāo﹚   
环境污染已成为人类社会面临的重大威胁,下列污染现象中
环境污染已成为人类社会面临的重大威胁,下列污染现象中主要与排放SO2有关的是 (     ) A. 臭氧空洞    B. 白色污染    C. 温室效应    D. 酸

最新题目