B

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You probably don't know how to answer that question---unless you happen to be one

ofthe about 430 people in the world who speak a language called Matukar Panau. Then you

would know it means "What are we doing?" Matukar Panau is one of the world's rarest

languages. It is spoken in just two small coastal villages in Papua New Guinea.

Several years ago, David Hamson, a language expert, didn't know much about

Matukar Panau either. No one had ever recorded or even studied its words and rules. With

so few speakers, the language risked disappearing soon. It was endangered.

Hamson didn't want that to happen to Matukar Panau. So in 2009, he set out for Papua

New Guinea. His goal: use modern technology to help the remaining speakers preserve

their native tongue.

But Matukar Panau is far from the only language facing loss. Studies suggest that by

the end of this century, nearly half of the 7,000 languages now spoken worldwide could

disappear. They're in danger partly because the only people left speaking them are elderly

adults. When those individuals die, their language will die with them. In addition, children

may discard a native language and instead use more common global languages, such as

Chinese, English or Spanish.

In the United States alone, 134 native American languages are endangered. "language

hotspots" exist all over the world. These are places with endangered languages that haven't

been recorded. They include the state of Oklahoma, pockets of central and eastern Siberia,

parts of northern Australia and communities in South America.

24. What did Harrison go to PaPua New Guinea for?

A. Learning their native language

B. Helping preserve their endangered tongue

C. Leaning their modern technology

D. Teaching the natives a new language

25. The underline word "discard" in Paragraph 4 means .

A. hear of B. pick up C. get rid of D. learn about

26. The last two paragraphs imply that endangered languages are _ .

A. dying quickly in Siberia B. becoming a worldwide problem

C. popular in some special places D. some native tongues

27. According to the passage, the author is _ about the endangered languages.

A. indifferent B. suspicious C. supportive D. concerned

C

I told my friend Graham that I often cycle two miles from my house to the town centre

but unfortunately there is a big hill on the route. He replied, "You mean fortunately." He

explained that I should be glad of the extra exercise that the hill provided.

My attitude to the hill has now changed. I used to complain as I approached it but now

I tell myself the following. This hill will exercise my heart and lungs. It will help me to lose

weight and get fit. It will mean that I live longer. This hill is my friend. Finally I comfort

myself with the thought of all those silly people who pay money to go to a gym and sit on

stationery exercise bicycles when I can get the same value for free. I have a smile of

satisfaction as I reach the top of the hill.

Problems are there to be faced and overcome. We cannot achieve anything with an

easy life. Helen Keller was the first deaf and blind person to gain a university degree. Her

activism and writing proved inspirational. She wrote, "Character cannot be developed in

ease. Only through experiences of suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared,

ambition inspired and success achieved."

One of the main determinants of success in life is our attitude towards adversity. From

time to time we all face hardships, problems, accidents and difficulties. Some are of our

making but many are no fault of our own. While we cannot choose the adversity, we can

choose our attitude towards it.

Douglas Bader was 21 when in 1931 he had both legs cut off following a flying

accident. He was determined to fly again and went on to become one of the leading flying

aviators in the Battle of Britain with 22 aerial victories over the Germans . He was an

inspiration to others during the war. He said, "Don't listen to anyone who tells you that you

can't do this or that. That's nonsense. Make up your mind, you'll never use crutches or a

stick, and then have a go at everything. Go to school, and join in all the games you can. Go

anywhere you want to. But never, never let them persuade you that things are too difficult

or impossible."

The biographies of great people are full of examples of how they took steps to

overcome the difficulties they faced. The common thread is that they did not become

depressed. They chose their attitude. They chose to be positive. They took on the challenge.

They won. Nevertheless, there is still the problem of how you change your attitude towards

adversity.

28. Which of the following is true according to the author of the passage?

A. Those who want to achieve success can't expect to live an easy life.

B. Climbing hills on bicycles is the best way to take exercise.

C. Going to a gym is greatly beneficial to people's health.

D. People's attitude to hardships is the only factor of their success.

29. By quoting what Douglas Bader said, the author intends to tell us " ."

A. Failure is the mother of success.

B. A bad workman quarrels with his tools.

C. Nothing is difficult to the man who will try.

D. If you risk nothing, you will have nothing.

30. Following this passage, the author will further talk about . .

A. how his friend helped him to change his attitude towards the challenge he faced

B. why it is important to keep optimistic in face of trouble

C. what steps to take to change your attitude towards the difficulty you face

D. what great people have in common

31. Which of the following can best function as the title of the passage?

A. Different attitudes towards misfortune B. Face difficulties with a smile

C. Nothing is impossible D. Life is full of adversity

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