原文Languages have been coming and going for thousands of years， but in recent times there has been less coming and a lot more going． When the world was still populated by hunter﹣gatherers， small， tightly knit （联系）groups developed their own patterns of speech independent of each other． Some language experts believe that 10，000 years ago， when the world had just five to ten million people， they spoke perhaps 12，000 languages between them． Soon afterwards， many of those people started settling down to become farmers， and their languages too became more settled and fewer in number． In recent centuries， trade， industrialisation， the development of the nation﹣state and the spread of universal compulsory education， especially globalisation and better communications in the past few decades， all have caused many languages to disappear， and dominant languages such as English， Spanish and Chinese are increasingly taking over． At present， the world has about 6，800 languages． The distribution of these languages is hugely uneven． The general rule is that mild zones have relatively few languages， often spoken by many people， while hot， wet zones have lots， often spoken by small numbers． Europe has only around 200 languages； the Americas about 1，000； Africa 2，400； and Asia and the Pacific perhaps 3，200， of which Papua New Guinea alone accounts for well over 800． The median number （中位数）of speakers is a mere 6，000， which means that half the world's languages are spoken by fewer people than that． Already well over 400 of the total of 6，800 languages are close to extinction （消亡）， with only a few elderly speakers left． Pick， at random， Busuu in Cameroon （eight remaining speakers）， Chiapaneco in Mexico （150）， Lipan Apache in the United States （two or three） or Wadjigu in Australia （one， with a question﹣mark）： none of these seems to have much chance of survival． （1）What can we infer about languages in hunter﹣gatherer times？　 　 A． They developed very fast． B． They were large in number． C． They had similar patterns． D． They were closely connected． （2）Which of the following best explains "dominant" underlined in paragraph 2？　 　 A．Complex． B．Advanced． C． Powerful． D． Modern． （3）How many languages are spoken by less than 6，000 people at present？　 　 A． About 6，800． B． About 3，400． C． About 2，400． D．About 1，200． （4）What is the main idea of the text？　 　 A． New languages will be created． B． People's lifestyles are reflected in languages． C． Human development results in fewer languages． D． Geography determines language evolution． 译文数千年来，语言一直在来来往往，但最近来的更少，去的更多。当世界上仍然由狩猎采集者居住时，紧密团结的小团体发展出了彼此独立的语言模式。一些语言专家认为，10000年前，当世界上只有500万到1000万人时，他们之间可能会说12000种语言。 不久之后，这些人中的许多人开始安定下来成为农民，他们的语言也变得越来越稳定，数量也越来越少。近几个世纪来，贸易、工业化、民族国家的发展和普及义务教育的普及，尤其是过去几十年的全球化和更好的沟通，都导致许多语言消失，英语、西班牙语和汉语等主流语言越来越多地取而代之。 目前，世界上大约有6800种语言。这些语言的分布极不均衡。一般规律是，温和地区的语言相对较少，通常有很多人说，而炎热潮湿地区的语言很多，通常很少有人说。欧洲只有大约200种语言美洲约1000个非洲2400亚洲和太平洋地区可能有3200人，其中仅巴布亚新几内亚就占800多人。讲中文的人数中位数仅为6000人，这意味着世界上一半的语言使用者少于此。 在总共6800种语言中，已经有400多种濒临灭绝，只剩下少数老年人会说英语。随机选择喀麦隆的布苏语（剩下8种）、墨西哥的奇亚帕内科语（150种）、美国的利潘阿帕奇语（两三种）或澳大利亚的瓦吉古语（一种，带着问号）：这些语言似乎都没有太大的生存机会。 （1） 我们能从狩猎采集时代的语言中推断出什么　 　 A.它们发展得很快。B.数量很大。 C.他们有相似的模式。D.他们紧密相连。 （2） 以下哪一项最能解释第2段中强调的“显性”　 　 A.Complex。B.Advanced。C.Powerful。D.Modern。 （3） 目前不到6000人说几种语言　 　 A.约6800。B.约3400。C.约2400。D.约1200。 （4） 这篇文章的大意是什么　 　 A.将创造新的语言。B.人们的生活方式反映在语言中。 C.人类的发展导致语言的减少。D.地理决定了语言的进化。

1 段译 当Ginni Bazlington到达南极洲时，她发现自己受到了一群渴望打招呼的巴布亚小企鹅的欢迎。这些温柔可爱的看门人欢迎她，开始了Ginni永远不会忘记的旅程。

As Ginni Bazlinton reached Antarctica, she found herself greeted by a group of little Gentoo penguins (企鹅) longing to say hello. 句译 当Ginni Bazlington到达南极洲时，她发现自己受到了一群渴望打招呼的巴布亚小企鹅的欢迎。 These gentle, lovely gatekeepers welcomed her and kick-started what was to be a trip Ginni would never forget.句译 这些温柔可爱的看门人欢迎她，开始了Ginni永远不会忘记的旅程。

2 段译 现年71岁的Ginni从小就对旅行情有独钟。在她的职业舞蹈生涯中，她曾在英国巡回演出，但一直渴望进一步探索。当她从舞蹈界退休，她的儿子们最终成功了，她决定是时候冒险了。

Ever since her childhood, Ginni, now 71, has had a deep love for travel. 句译 现年71岁的Ginni从小就对旅行情有独钟。 Throughout her career (职业) as a professional dancer, she toured in the UK, but always longed to explore further. 句译 在她的职业舞蹈生涯中，她曾在英国巡回演出，但一直渴望进一步探索。 When she retired from dancing and her sons eventually flew the nest, she decided it was time to take the plunge.句译 当她从舞蹈界退休，她的儿子们最终成功了，她决定是时候冒险了。

3 段译 在奇切斯特大学获得相关艺术学位后，Ginni开始周游世界，最终在日本和智利找到了教授英语的工作。正是在智利，她发现自己可以在最后一刻获得从南美洲大陆最南端火地岛前往南极洲的廉价船只交易。“我只是决定要去，”她说。“我不知道在那里会发现什么，我也不紧张，我只是想做。我想独自一人做，因为我一直喜欢这样。”

After taking a degree at Chichester University in Related Arts, Ginni began to travel the world, eventually getting work teaching English in Japan and Chile.句译 在奇切斯特大学获得相关艺术学位后，Ginni开始周游世界，最终在日本和智利找到了教授英语的工作。 And it was in Chile she discovered she could get last-minute cheap deals on ships going to Antarctica from the islands off Tierra del Fuego, the southernmost tip of the South American mainland.句译 正是在智利，她发现自己可以在最后一刻获得从南美洲大陆最南端火地岛前往南极洲的廉价船只交易。 “I just decided I wanted to go,” she says. “I had no idea about what I’d find there and I wasn’t nervous, I just wanted to do it.句译 “我只是决定要去，”她说。“我不知道在那里会发现什么，我也不紧张，我只是想做。 And I wanted to do it alone as I always prefer it that way.” 句译 我想独自一人做，因为我一直喜欢这样。”

4 段译 2008年3月，Ginni登上了一艘载有48名乘客的船，开始了前往南极洲的旅程。Ginni说：“从看到野生动物到目睹日出，整个经历都令人惊叹。南极洲给我留下了其他地方都没有的印象。”。“我记得我第一次看到座头鲸时，它就像史前生物一样从水中浮了出来，我以为它在向我们微笑。你仍然可以听到它在水下发出的歌剧般的声音。”

In March 2008, Ginni boarded a ship with 48 passengers she’d never met before, to begin the journey towards Antarctica. 句译 2008年3月，Ginni登上了一艘载有48名乘客的船，开始了前往南极洲的旅程。 “From seeing the wildlife to witnessing sunrises, the whole experience was amazing. 句译 Ginni说：“从看到野生动物到目睹日出，整个经历都令人惊叹。 Antarctica left an impression on me that no other place has,” Ginni says.句译 南极洲给我留下了其他地方都没有的印象。” “I remember the first time I saw a humpback whale; it just rose out of the water like some prehistoric creature and I thought it was smiling at us.句译 “我记得我第一次看到座头鲸时，它就像史前生物一样从水中浮了出来，我以为它在向我们微笑。 You could still hear the operatic sounds it was making underwater.” 句译 你仍然可以听到它在水下发出的歌剧般的声音。”

5 段译 Ginni意识到这是一片珍贵的土地，值得人类尊重，这是最重要的事情之一。

The realization that this is a precious land, to be respected by humans, was one of the biggest things that hit home to Ginni. 句译 Ginni意识到这是一片珍贵的土地，值得人类尊重，这是最重要的事情之一。

28. Which of the following best explains “take the plunge” underlined in paragraph 2?翻译 28.以下哪一项最能解释第2段中强调的“冒险”？

A. Try challenging things. 翻译 尝试具有挑战性的事情。

B. Take a degree.翻译 取得学位。

C. Bring back lost memories. 翻译 找回失去的记忆。

D. Stick to a promise.翻译 信守诺言。

29. What made Ginni decide on the trip to Antarctica?翻译 29.是什么让金妮决定去南极旅行？

A. Lovely penguins. 翻译 可爱的企鹅。

B. Beautiful scenery.翻译 美丽的风景。

C. A discount fare.翻译 折扣票价。

D. A friend’s invitation.翻译 朋友的邀请。

30. What does Ginni think about Antarctica after the journey?翻译 30.旅途结束后，Ginni对南极洲有什么看法？

A. It could be a home for her.翻译 这可能是她的家。

B. It should be easily accessible.翻译 它应该很容易接近。

C. It should be well preserved.翻译 应该好好保存。

D. It needs to be fully introduced.翻译 它需要全面介绍。

31. What is the text mainly about?翻译 31.课文主要讲什么？

A. A childhood dream.翻译 儿时的梦想。

B. An unforgettable experience.翻译 难忘的经历。

C. Sailing around the world.翻译 环游世界。

D. Meeting animals in Antarctica.翻译 在南极洲与动物会面。

答案 28.A 29.C 30.C 31.B   温馨提示：选项可点击，红色为错误选项，绿色为正确选项