Prior to the 20th century, many languages with small numbers of speakers survived for centuries. The increasingly interconnected

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问题     Prior to the 20th century, many languages with small numbers of speakers survived for centuries. The increasingly interconnected modern world makes it much more difficult for small language communities to live in relative isolation, a key factor in language maintenance.
    It remains to be seen whether the world can maintain its linguistic (语言的) and cultural diversity in the centuries ahead. Many powerful forces appear to work against it; Population growth, which pushes migrant populations into the world’s last isolated locations; mass tourism; global telecommunications and mass media; and the spread of gigantic (巨大的) global corporations. All of these forces appear to indicate a future in which the language of advertising, popular culture, and consumer products become similar Already English and a few other major tongues have emerged as global languages of commerce and communication. For many of the world’s peoples, learning one of these languages is viewed as the key to education, economic opportunity, and a better way of life.
    Only about 3,000 languages now in use are expected to survive the coming century. Are most of the rest doomed in the century after that? Whether most of these languages survive will probably depend on how strongly cultural groups wish to keep their identity alive through a native language. To do so will require an emphasis on bilingualism (mastery of two languages). Bilingual (双语的) speakers could use their own language in smaller spheres - at home, among friends, in community settings -and a global language at work, in dealing with government, and in commercial spheres. In this way, many small languages could sustain their cultural and linguistic integrity alongside global languages, rather than yield to the homogenizing (同化的) forces of globalization.
    Ironically (讽刺的), the trend of technological innovation (创新) that has threatened minority languages could also help save them. For example, some experts predict that computer software translation tools will one day permit minority language speakers to browse the Internet using their native tongues. Linguists are currently using computer-aided learning tools to teach a variety of threatened languages.
Computer technology is helpful for preserving minority languages in that it________.

选项 A、prevents the development of major languages
B、raises public awareness of saving those languages
C、makes it easier for linguists to study those languages
D、presents those languages before everyone

答案C

解析 推理判断题。根据最后一段最后一句“Linguists are currently using computer—aided learning tools to teach a variety of threatened languages.”可知,语言学家目前正在利用计算机辅助学习工具来教授许多濒危语言,而根据常识可知,语言学家教授濒危语言是以研究该门语言为前提的。由此可推知,计算机技术便于语言学家研究小语种,从而有助于保护小语种。故选C。
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