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.
According to the author, whether the linguistic and cultural diversity of the world can be maintained in the future is still a mystery because________.

选项 A、globalization makes it possible for people to live without English and a few other major tongues
B、many migrants start to speak major languages to replace their mother tongue
C、major languages are gaining great popularity among people all over the world
D、languages with small numbers of speakers are useless in commerce and communication

答案C

解析 推理判断题。根据第二段最后两句“Already English and a few other major tongues have emerged as global languages of commerce and communication…”并结合上文内容可知,语言和文化的多样性是否能够保留仍是个未知数,有许多强大力量似乎在阻碍它;英语及其他主要语言已成为贸易和通信的全球性语言,对世界上许多民族来说,学习其中一门语言被视为获得教育、经济机会以及一种更好生活方式的关键。由此可推知,主要语言在全世界范围内普及,这使得未来语言和文化的多样性是否能保留下来成为未知数。故选C。
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