There is one foreign product the Japanese are buying faster than others, and its popularity has caused an uneasy feeling among many Japanese.

       That product is foreign words.

       Gairaigo－words that come from outside -- have been part of the Japanese language for centuries. Mostly borrowed from English and Chinese, these terms are often changed into forms no longer understood by native speakers.

       But in the last few years the trickle（涓涓细流）of foreign words has become a flood, and people fear the increasing use of foreign words is making it hard for the Japanese to understand each other and could lead to many people forgetting the good qualities of traditional（传统的）Japanese.

       “The popularity of foreign words is part of the Japanese interest in anything new,” says university lecturer and writer Takashi Saito. “By using a foreign word you can make a subject seem new, which makes it easier for the media（媒体）to pick up.”

       “Experts（专家）often study abroad and use English terms when they speak with people in their own fields. Those terms are then included in government white papers,” said Muturo Kai, president of the National Language Research Institute. “Foreign words find their way easily into announcements made to the general public, when they should really be explained in Japanese.”

       Against the flow of new words, many Japanese are turning back to the study of their own language. Saito’s Japanese to Be Read Aloud is one of many language books that are now flying off booksellers’ shelves.

       “We were expecting to sell the books to young people,” said the writer, “but it turns out they are more popular with the older generation, who seem uneasy about the future of Japanese.”

68．What advantages do foreign words have over traditional Japanese terms?

       A．The ideas expressed in foreign words sound new.

       B．Foreign words are best suited for announcements.

       C．Foreign words make new subjects easier to understand.

       D．The use of foreign words makes the media more popular.

69．In the opinion of Takashi Saito, Japanese people ________.

       A．are good at learning foreign languages

       B．are willing to learn about new things

       C．trust the media

       D．respect experts

70．Which of the following plays an important part in the spread of foreign words?

       A．The media and government papers

       B．Best-selling Japanese textbooks.

       C．The interest of young Japanese.

       D．Foreign products and experts.

71．The book Japanese to Be Read Aloud ______________.

       A．sells very well in Japan

       B．is supported by the government

       C．is questioned by the old generation

       D．causes misunderstanding among the readers

There is one foreign product the Japanese are buying faster than others, and its popularity has caused an uneasy feeling among many Japanese.

      That product is foreign words.

      Gairaigo－words that come from outside -- have been part of the Japanese language for centuries. Mostly borrowed from English and Chinese, these terms are often changed into forms no longer understood by native speakers.

      But in the last few years the trickle（涓涓细流）of foreign words has become a flood, and people fear the increasing use of foreign words is making it hard for the Japanese to understand each other and could lead to many people forgetting the good qualities of traditional（传统的）Japanese.

      “The popularity of foreign words is part of the Japanese interest in anything new,” says university lecturer and writer Takashi Saito. “By using a foreign word you can make a subject seem new, which makes it easier for the media（媒体）to pick up.”

      “Experts（专家）often study abroad and use English terms when they speak with people in their own fields. Those terms are then included in government white papers,” said Muturo Kai, president of the National Language Research Institute. “Foreign words find their way easily into announcements made to the general public, when they should really be explained in Japanese.”

      Against the flow of new words, many Japanese are turning back to the study of their own language. Saito’s Japanese to Be Read Aloud is one of many language books that are now flying off booksellers’ shelves.

      “We were expecting to sell the books to young people,” said the writer, “but it turns out they are more popular with the older generation, who seem uneasy about the future of Japanese.”

1.What advantages do foreign words have over traditional Japanese terms?

A．The ideas expressed in foreign words sound new.

B．Foreign words are best suited for announcements.

C．Foreign words make new subjects easier to understand.

D．The use of foreign words makes the media more popular.

2．In the opinion of Takashi Saito, Japanese people_________________.

A．are good at learning foreign languages

B．are willing to learn about new things

C．trust the media

D．respect experts

3．Which of the following plays an important part in the spread of foreign words?

A．The media and government papers

B．Best-selling Japanese textbooks.

C．The interest of young Japanese.

D．Foreign products and experts.

4．The book Japanese to Be Read Aloud ______________.

A．sells very well in Japan

B．is supported by the government

C．is questioned by the old generation

D．causes misunderstanding among the readers

What is language for? Some people seem to think it's for practicing grammar rules and learning lists of words——the longer the lists, the better. That's wrong. Language is for the exchange of ideas and information. It's meaningless knowing all about a language if you can't use it freely. Many students I have met know hundreds of grammar rules, but they can't speak correctly or fluently（流利地）. They are afraid of making mistakes. One shouldn't be afraid of making mistakes when speaking a foreign language. Native speakers make mistakes and break rules, too. Bernard Shaw once wrote, "Foreigners often speak English too correctly." But the mistakes that native speakers make are different from those that Chinese students make. They're English mistakes in the English language. And if enough native speakers break a rule, it is no longer a rule. What used to be wrong becomes right. People not only make history, they make language. But a people can only make its own language. It can't make another people's language. So Chinese students of English should pay attention to grammar, but they shouldn't overdo it. They should put communication first.

1．Generally, when an American or an Englishman speaks English, he _____.

     A．never makes mistakes                   B．often makes mistakes

     C．can't avoid making mistakes              D．always makes mistakes

2．The sentence "Foreigners often speak English too correctly." means that ______.

      A．foreigners speak correct English    

B．foreigners speak incorrect English

      C．foreigners speak English according to the grammar rules

      D．foreigners never make mistakes when they speak English

3．When we speak a foreign language, we should ______.

A．speak in the Chinese way      

B．speak according to the rules

C．break the rules               

D．not be afraid of making mistakes

4．Which of the following statement is true according to the passage?

A．When there are enough Chinese people making the same mistake in English, the mistake is no longer a mistake.

B．One should not always pay too much attention to grammar when learning a foreign language.

C．It is most important to know all about a language when learning it.

D．Language is for practicing grammar rules and learning lists of words