AND FOREIGN LANGUAGE
More than 300 million people speak English as a native language. Most of them live in North America, the British Isles, Australia, New Zealand, the Caribbean, and South Africa. In several of these countries, English is not the sole language: the Quebec province of Canada is French-speaking, most South Africans speak Africaans or Bantu languages, and many Irish and Welsh people speak Celtic languages. But those whose native language is not English will have it as their second language for certain governmental, commercial, social, or educational activities within their own country.
About twenty-five countries legally use English as an official language; in about ten (such as Nigeria) it is the sole official language, and in some fifteen others (such as India) it shares that status with one or more other languages. Most of these countries are former British territories. English is a second language for well over 300 million people: the number of second-language speakers may soon exceed the number of native speakers, if it has not done so already.
Even more widely English is studied and used as a foreign language. In this respect it acquired an international status. It is used for communication across frontiers, listening to broadcasts, reading books and newspapers, in commerce and travel. Half of the worlds scientific literature is in English. English is associated with technological and economic development of the great manufacturing countries and it is the principal language of international aid. It is the language of automation and computer technology. It is not only the universal language of international aviation, shipping and sport, it is to a considerable degree the universal language of literacy and public communication. It is the major of diplomacy, and is the most frequently used language both in the debates in the United Nations and in the general conduct of UN business.
. 5. , , :
1. People in Canada speak only English. 2. English is not spoken in Ireland. 3. In India English shares the status of an official language with one or more other languages. 4. English acquired an international status. 5. Russian is the language of automation and computor technology.
. 6. :
1. What is text II about? 2. How many people speak English as a native language? 3. Is it the sole (only) language in several countries of North America, South Africa, Ireland and Wales? 4. How many countries legally use English as an official language? 5. How many official languages have former British territories? 6. Does the number of second language speakers get larger? 7. Where do people use English as a foreign language?
TEXT III
. I. . :
fraction [`frækòn] n ancient [`einònt] a , compose [km`pÉuz] v irretrierably [iri`tri:bli] , , lose (lose, lost) v exercise [`ekssaiz] (), (), (), () influence [`influns] n , deed [di:d] n , , awe [É:] v , breadth [bredq] n , insight [`insait] n , meaningfulness [`mi:nihfulnis] n , parable [`pærbl] n infinite [`infinit] a , warmth [wÉ:mq] n tenderness [`tendnis] n consciously [`kÉnòsli] unconsciously [Ùn`kÉnòsli] subsequent [`sÙbsikwnt] a pertinence [`p:tinns] n , , general [`d enerl] a , significance [sig`nifikns] n remain [ri`mein] v diminish [di`miniò]
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. 2. III. :
