10．In today's China，exchanges between Chinese and English-speakers are increasingly frequent．English skills are important to Chinese if China wishes to play a stronger role on the world stage．However，the general English level of the Chinese people is on the decline．
China's ranking in the 2015 EF English Proficiency Index dropped 10 drops．It was ranked 47th out of 70 countries rated，and is now similar to several Latin American countries．The report triggered widespread discussion in China：in an increasingly international nation，why is the peoples'level of English getting worse？
A decline in the English level of the Chinese people is no accident．With China's exam-based education system，worsening English is unavoidable．English education in China is too focused on grammar and ignored oral practice．This results in students often being too scared to speak，for fear of making a mistake．Exam-based courses lead to the problem that students merely learn for the test，not learn the language．
In Latin America，nations do not have a rigorous exam system for English，but focus on promoting the language itself．Such programs that promote English include Chile's"English Opens Doors，"program，Panama's"Panama Bilingual Education Program，"and Mexico's"10 Million People Plan．"Brazil，which also has a government program，is ranked first in the region for English．
The Chinese government should first think about how to reduce the amount of pressure on students taking exams in order to promote change in the current system of rote English education．This is the most important step．
Everyone has been recently focused on overseas returnees．The number of Chinese studying abroad has rapidly multiplied in past years．At the same time，the number of overseas returnees is increasing as well．The job market is also increasingly competitive for them and it is often more difficult for returnees to find a suitable job than it is for domestic graduates．
Difficulties and pressure in the job market for overseas returnees discourages a number of Chinese from studying abroad．As a result，the number of Chinese with high-level English，carefully perfected abroad，has been reduced．This could be a major reason for why English is getting worse overall in China．
While China's overall level of English has declined，it has not affected China's huge emphasis on English education and training．China remains one of the nations that is most committed to the study of English．
56．What does the writer want to do with this article？B
A．To advise the Chinese government to reform its exam-based education．
B．To analyze the reasons why China's general English level is on the decline．
C．To report the phenomenon that there is a decline in English level of Chinese people．
D．To compare the different ways of learning English between China and Latin America．
57．Which statement is FALSE according to the passage？C
A．Nations in Latin America has carried out some programs to promote the English language itself．
B．China has a rigorous exam system focusing on English grammar while ignoring oral practice．
C．The major reason why there is a decline of Chinese people's English level is that the Chinese government no longer lays emphasis on English education and training．
D．In China，due to the competitive job job market these days，it's often easier for domestic graduates to find a suitable job than overseas returnees．
58．What measure can help improve English level of Chinese people？D
A．Stopping testing English in the educational examination system．
B．Reducing the amount of pressure on students studying English．
C．Encouraging more students to study in Latin American countries．
D．Focusing more on expressive abilities and less on grammatical exams．
分析 在英语变得越来越重要的现代社会，中国人的英语水平却越来越差，本文分析了这一现象的具体原因，并提出有效建议．
解答 56．B 主旨大意题．在文章第一段中提出现代社会中英语越来越重要了，但是中国人的英语水平却在下降．在第二段最后一句The report triggered widespread discussion in China：in an increasingly international nation，why is the peoples'level of English getting worse？提出为什么中国人的英语水平在下降．接下来几段中分析了原因．所以本文主要涉及的就是B项内容．
57．C 细节理解题．根据文章最后一段While China's overall level of English has declined，it has not affected China's huge emphasis on English education and training．China remains one of the nations that is most committed to the study of English．可知尽管中国人的英语水平在下降，但是中国政府仍然很强调英语的重要性．故C项说法是错误的．
58．D．细节理解题．根据文章English education in China is too focused on grammar and ignored oral practice．This results in students often being too scared to speak，for fear of making a mistake．Exam-based courses lead to the problem that students merely learn for the test，not learn the language．可知中国的教育系统过于关注语法而忽略交际表达，如果想要提高中国人的英语水平，要更强调交际表达能力，而不是语法的能力．故D正确．
点评 考察学生的细节理解和推理判断能力，做细节理解题时一定要找到文章中的原句，和题干进行比较，再做出正确的选择．在做推理判断题不要以个人的主观想象代替文章的事实，要根据文章事实进行合乎逻辑的推理判断．
