# Linguistic diversity - 科目：雅思阅读真题（Part 3） - 考频：中频 - 最近考试：2026.4.25天津大学 - 题目数：14 - 来源页：https://www.yaquan.site/paper/b0fad246-454d-4ff2-9f47-3986421b75e8（在线机考练习与音频请访问该页面） - 数据更新：2026-10-29 ## 题目原文 A More than half of the world's languages are at risk,but an unlikely saviour is at hand. What is an endangered language? As a rough guide, any language with fewer than 10,000 speakers is in danger. However, the total number of speakers is not always a clear indication of the health of a language. In the South Andaman Islands, for example, fewer than100 people speak Onge, but it is the primary language of those who do, and, critically, the first language of all the islands' children. Consequently, it would be considered less threatened than a language such as Chipewyan in Canada, where more than 4,000 belong to the ethnic group that uses the language, but there is little use among the new generation. B It could be argued that in today's globalised world,we would be better off all speaking the same language, be it Chinese, English or Spanish. It might bring us closer together, and we would certainly be more likely to make our ideas comprehensible. The majority of linguists argue, however, that when it comes to language,diversity matters "People's understanding of themselves, and their relationship with their environment are all framed in terms of concepts expressed in their own languages," says Marcus Colchester, director of the Forest Peoples Programme. "Many indigenous peoples derive their identities from the way they live off their land. Day-to-day activities such as hunting, fishing and farming are directly connected to the spirits and mythic beings whose stories make these people who they are." C Louisa Maffi of Terralingua, an organisation that protects cultural and biological diversity, believes linguistic diversity is of immense value to humanity as a whole. As we lose each language, we lose a repository of knowledge, values and beliefs that,in many cases, provide alternative solutions to human problems; we diminish that pool of creativity and inventiveness, and our ability to adapt to changing circumstances. D Nicholas Ostler, chairman of the Foundation for Endangered Languages points out the scientific interest in maintaining linguistic diversity. To lose diversity will mean losing awareness of the many and varied features of human language-what part of our vocal tract we use for communication, the different ways we use words to reflect meaning, and so on. E Historically, colonial governments practised policies of compelling minority cultures to speak the majority language. But even where there was little or no forced assimilation, imperialism still took its toll. Ostler cites the example of the ancient Roman Empire, which had no specific policy of forcing subjects to speak Latin, but still greatly reduced linguistic diversity across Europe. There was some prestige associated with the language-it was the medium of trade and administration and people who wanted to get on in life tended to learn it. And similar processes are threatening minority languages today, says Ostler "The Romans succeeded in making people live in larger communities,what we now call urbanisation. And nowadays people move from the countryside to cities where regional languages aren't maintained. The new generation grows up with their lives focused on the wider community. It may take several generations for the traditional language to fall out of use completely." F "Many nation states see cultural diversity as a threat to national unity," says Maffi, "so monolingualism is promoted in specific contexts particularly schools, where there is no multilingual education offered, and in government, where politics is only conducted in the national language. Such implicit endorsement of monolingualism conspires to place pressure on minority peoples to assimilate. There is essentially a misconceived either/or ideology: either you maintain your mother tongue, in which case you can't participate in national life,or you forget your mother tongue and learn the majority language. In recent decades,the mass media have reinforced this process further and extended the penetration of metropolitan languages like English and Spanish beyond urban centres into smaller communities. The pervasive influence of the media has effectively created a cultural divide between the generations. Ostler continues, where young people speak their traditional language with their elders, but English among themselves. Maffi describes similar trends among indigenous minority groups worldwide. "All of the images children see in the media are of the glamorised lifestyle of the majority, and that lifestyle is communicated in the majority language. So it becomes very difficult for them to find areason to value their own language. G When the internet first took off during the mid-1990s, many feared it represented the end of the road for endangered languages. Because it was only available to English-speakers, it would only serve to continue the decline. However, these fears proved to be unfounded, as the diversity of languages on the web increased rapidly in the years that followed. Peter Austin, of London's School of Oriental and African Studies, attributes this to the lack of control on the internet. " Unlike most TV or radio,the web isn't in the hands of big media corporations All you need is an internet account and a little technology, and you can produce information,news,videos,and so on,as much as you want. Minority groups around the world-in Hawaii, Mexico, Siberia,and many other places-are now taking advantage of this autonomy to document their language in written,audio and visual format. And, crucially, it is in a form which appeals to young people. It seems that the mass media could, after all, be the salvation of the world's most threatened languages. ## 题目与答案 ### 27. 27 The Onge language has a particularly poor chance of survival. 27 The Onge language has a particularly poor chance of survival. - YES - NO - NOT GIVEN **答案**：NO 原文定位：any language with fewer than 10,000 speakers is in danger. However, the total number of speakers is not always a clear indication of the health of a language. In the South Andaman Islands, for example, fewer than100 people speak Onge, but it is the primary language of those who do, and, critically, the first language of all the islands' children. Consequently, it would be considered less threatened than a language such as Chipewyan in Canada 同义替换：「poor chance of survival」↔「threatened」 ### 28. 28 Most linguists oppose the idea of a single global language. 28 Most linguists oppose the idea of a single global language. - YES - NO - NOT GIVEN **答案**：YES 原文定位：The majority of linguists argue, however, that when it comes to language, diversity matters 同义替换：「Most」↔「majority」；「single」↔「same」；「oppose the idea of」↔「diversity」 ### 29. 29 Many citizens of the Roman Empire chose to become Latin speakers. 29 Many citizens of the Roman Empire chose to become Latin speakers. - YES - NO - NOT GIVEN **答案**：YES 原文定位：Roman Empire, which had no specific policy of forcing subjects to speak Latin, but still greatly reduced linguistic diversity across Europe. There was some prestige associated with the language-it was the medium of trade and administration and people who wanted to get on in life tended to learn it 同义替换：「citizens」↔「people」；「chose to become」↔「tended to learn」 ### 30. 30 Majority languages such as Spanish and English are now spreading faster within smaller communities than larger ones. 30 Majority languages such as Spanish and English are now spreading faster within smaller communities than larger ones. - YES - NO - NOT GIVEN **答案**：NOT GIVEN 原文定位：In recent decades, the mass media have reinforced this process further and extended the penetration of metropolitan languages like English and Spanish beyond urban centres into smaller communities 同义替换：「spreading」↔「extended」；「Majority」↔「metropolitan」 ### 31. 31 There is a greater proportion of English used on the internet nowadays than in the 1990s. 31 There is a greater proportion of English used on the internet nowadays than in the 1990s. - YES - NO - NOT GIVEN **答案**：NOT GIVEN 原文定位：When the internet first took off during the mid-1990s, many feared it represented the end of the road for endangered languages. Because it was only available to English-speakers, it would only serve to continue the decline. However, these fears proved to be unfounded, as the diversity of languages on the web increased rapidly in the years that followed ### 32. Disappearing languages in today's globalised world If everybody spoke the same language, whether Spanish, English or Chinese, there would certainly be less chance of 32_____ between people. Disappearing languages in today's globalised world If everybody spoke the same language, whether Spanish, English or Chinese, there would certainly be less chance of 32_____ between people. - ideas - speakers - connections - surroundings - families - occupations **答案**：misunderstandings 原文定位：It might bring us closer together, and we would certainly be more likely to make our ideas comprehensible 同义替换：「less chance of」↔「more likely to」；「comprehensible」↔「misunderstandings」 ### 33. But would society suffer if there were one global language? Experts agree that it would. According to Marcus Colchester, people's use of native languages is key. He also emphasises the link to how they relate to their 33_____ But would society suffer if there were one global language? Experts agree that it would. According to Marcus Colchester, people's use of native languages is key. He also emphasises the link to how they relate to their 33_____ - ideas - speakers - connections - surroundings - families - occupations **答案**：surroundings 原文定位：People's understanding of themselves, and their relationship with their environment are all framed in terms of concepts expressed in their own languages 同义替换：「surroundings」↔「environment」 ### 34. between indigenous people's traditional 34_____ and the recounting of the myths and folk tales which are integral to their sense of identity. between indigenous people's traditional 34_____ and the recounting of the myths and folk tales which are integral to their sense of identity. - ideas - speakers - connections - surroundings - families - occupations **答案**：occupations 原文定位：Many indigenous peoples derive their identities from the way they live off their land. Day-to-day activities such as hunting, fishing and farming are directly connected to the spirits and mythic beings whose stories make these people who they are 同义替换：「day-to-day」↔「daily」；「link」↔「connected」 ### 35. Louisa Maffi describes how loss of language diversity leads to a loss of collective human knowledge, so there could be fewer 35_____ available to help solve problems in the world. Louisa Maffi describes how loss of language diversity leads to a loss of collective human knowledge, so there could be fewer 35_____ available to help solve problems in the world. - ideas - speakers - connections - surroundings - families - occupations **答案**：ideas 原文定位：As we lose each language, we lose a repository of knowledge, values and beliefs that, in many cases, provide alternative solutions to human problems 同义替换：「ideas」↔「knowledge」 ### 36. 36 In the first paragraph, the writer mentions two particular languages in order to indicate 36 In the first paragraph, the writer mentions two particular languages in order to indicate - a key factor in determining how endangered a language is. - alternative methods of interpreting data about languages at risk. - different reasons why a minority language might be under threat. - difficulties involved in assessing a language's survival prospects. **答案**：a key factor in determining how endangered a language is. 原文定位：However, the total number of speakers is not always a clear indication of the health of a language;fewer than 100 people speak Onge, but it is the primary language;the first language of all the islands' children;Consequently, it would be considered less threatened than a language such as Chipewyan 同义替换：「endangered」↔「threatened」 ### 37. 37 What similarity between the Roman Empire and the present day does Nicholas Ostler mention? 37 What similarity between the Roman Empire and the present day does Nicholas Ostler mention? - the growth of international trade. - the shift towards living in more extended social groups. - the attitude of governments towards minority languages. - the speed with which minority languages fall out of use. **答案**：the shift towards living in more extended social groups. 原文定位：The Romans succeeded in making people live in larger communities;what we now call urbanisation;And nowadays people move from the countryside to cities where regional languages aren't maintained 同义替换：「more extended」↔「larger」；「social groups」↔「communities」 ### 38. 38 According to Louisa Maffi, many people wrongly believe that 38 According to Louisa Maffi, many people wrongly believe that - it is more difficult for minority-language speakers to access education. - majority-language speakers can participate better in national life. - their national government is opposed to the use of minority languages. - they need to choose between being a minority- or majority-language speaker. **答案**：they need to choose between being a minority- or majority-language speaker. 原文定位：There is essentially a misconceived either;or ideology;either you maintain your mother tongue, in which case you can't participate in national life,or you forget your mother tongue and learn the majority language; 同义替换：「wrongly believe」↔「misconceived」；「need to choose between」↔「either」 ### 39. 39 What problem among minority-language speakers is mentioned in the eighth paragraph? 39 What problem among minority-language speakers is mentioned in the eighth paragraph? - younger people's perceptions of their mother tongue. - breakdown of communication between the generations. - older people's attitudes to their children's language use. - generational differences in ability to access the mass media. **答案**：younger people's perceptions of their mother tongue. 原文定位：All of the images children see in the media are of the glamorised lifestyle of the majority;and that lifestyle is communicated in the majority language;So it becomes very difficult for them to find a reason to value their own language 同义替换：「younger people」↔「children」；「mother」↔「own」；「perceptions」↔「find a reason to value」 ### 40. 40 What does Peter Austin see as the main advantage of the internet for minority language groups? 40 What does Peter Austin see as the main advantage of the internet for minority language groups? - the variety of media it can use. - the freedom its users can have. - the wide geographical area it can reach. - the range of people it can be accessed by. **答案**：the freedom its users can have. 原文定位：Peter Austin, of London's School of Oriental and African Studies, attributes this to the lack of control on the internet. " Unlike most TV or radio,the web isn't in the hands of big media corporations All you need is an internet account and a little technology, and you can produce information,news,videos,and so on,as much as you want. Minority groups around the world;in Hawaii, Mexico, Siberia,and many other places;are now taking advantage of this autonomy 同义替换：「freedom」↔「autonomy」 --- 以上内容由鸭圈雅思真题库（www.yaquan.site）提供，收录近期雅思考试真题回忆，支持在线机考模式免费练习。