8.
SectionB
Directions: Complete the following passage by using the words in the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.
The world faces a future of people speaking more than one language, with English no longer seen as likely to become 41, a British language expert says in a new analysis. “English is likely to 42one of the world’s most important languages for the foreseeable future, but its future is more 43and complex—than most people appreciate,” language researcher David Graddol said. He sees English as likely to become the “first among equals” rather than having the global field to itself. “Speakers, who only use English, of any 44of English—American or British—will 45increasing difficulty in employment and political life, and are likely to become confused by many aspects of the society and culture around them,” Graddol said.
The 46 of the world’s population that speaks English as a native language is decreasing, Graddol reported in an issue of the journal Science. The idea of English becoming the world language to the 47of others “is past its sell-by date,” Graddol said. Instead, he said, its major 48will be in creating generations who use more than one language.
A multilingual(使用多种语言的) population is the 49 in much of the world and is becoming more common in the United States. Indeed, the Census Bureau reported last year that nearly one American in five speaks a language other than English at home, with Spanish leading, and Chinese 50 rapidly. The diversity of language, in turn, has helped to make English the nation’s official language.