2. 外语
  3. As the English language has changed at a fast speed in the last century, so has the use of the English language. After the B

As the English language has changed at a fast speed in the last century, so has the use of the English language. After the B

admin2014-01-13  51
问题     As the English language has changed at a fast speed in the last century, so has the use of the English language.
    After the British Broadcasting Corporation(BBC)was founded in 1927, the particular style of speech of the BBC announcers was recognized as Standard English or Received Pronunciation(RP)English. Now, most people still consider that the pronunciation and delivery of BBC announcers is the clearest and most understandable spoken English.
    English has had a strong association with class and social status. However, since the Second World War there has been a considerable change of attitude towards speech snobbery, and hallmarks of class distinction such as styles of speech have been gradually discarded, especially by the younger generation.
    As the need has arisen, new words have been invented or found from other languages and incorporated into English. Similarly, old words and expressions have been discarded as their usefulness has diminished or the fashions have passed. This also happens to styles and modes of speech which became fashionable at a particular time and in specific circumstances.
    By the end of the 1960s it became apparent that it was not necessary to speak Standard English or even correct grammar to become popular, successful and rich. The fashionable speech of the day was no longer the prerogative of a privileged class but rather a defiant expression of classlessness.
    The greatest single influence of the shaping of the English language in modern times is the American English. Over the last 25 years the English used by many people, particularly by those in the media, advertising and show business, has become more and more mid-Atlantic in style, delivery and accent.
    In the 1970s, fashion favored careless pronunciation and a language full of jargon, slang and "in" words, much of it quite incomprehensible to the outside world. What is considered modern and fashionable in Britain today is often not the kind of English taught in schools and colleges.
What does the author imply by saying " there has been a considerable change of attitude towards speech snobbery"(Para. 3)?
选项 A、People all speak English like BBC announcers.
B、There is a great change of attitude about how English should be spoken.
C、Some people still think their way of speaking is superior.
D、Most people don’t believe their way of speaking is superior.
答案A
解析 语义题。根据题干定位到原文第三段尾句。原文中的speech snobbery意为“言语势利”，其深层含义是通过说话方式判断人的社会阶层，也就是说话方式与社会阶层有关。故答案为A。
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