专题 32 Language-learning apps 用语言学习应用软件学外语
备战2021年高考英语外刊精读与练习（教师版）
语篇导读：
有些人觉得学习另一种语言既有用又有趣。智能手机应用程序的兴起让学习语言变得更容易、更方便。惯来对语言学习热情不高的英国人似乎也充分利用了这种学习方法，开始学习外语。本文讨论为什么在英国有越来越多的人使用手机应用软件学外语。
Step 1 Vocabulary词汇表
get to grips with something 认真理解并学习 enthusiasm 热情，热忱 master 掌握，精通 shoot up 猛增，暴涨 grasp 理解，掌握 double 两倍的 convenient 方便的，省事的 try one’s hand 试试手，尝试 access 使用，访问 motivate 激发…的积极性 smartphone 智能手机 progress 进度 evening class 夜校课程 brain training 头脑训练，智力开发 bilingual 能用两种语言的 productive 富有成效的 communicate 交流 polyglot 通晓多种语言的人
Step 2 Reading and understanding
Are you learning another language? Maybe you’re trying to get to grips with it for work or study, or maybe you’re trying to master it just for the fun of it? Language learning is nothing new, of course, but technology has made it easier than ever to grasp.
The popularity of language-learning apps in particular has boomed around the world, especially as more people are working or studying at home. They are usually easy and convenient to use because you can access them on your smartphone. And apps can offer languages not popular enough to be taught at evening classes or schools or universities.
Many of us are aiming to be bilingual to enable us to communicate with people around the world. But, maybe surprisingly, it’s the British, who are not renowned for their enthusiasm for language learning, who are leading the way in the growth of these apps. US firm Duolingo told the BBC that in 2020 new user numbers globally were up 67% compared with 2019, while in the UK they shot up by 132%, almost double the worldwide average. And London-based Busuu, saw a similar trend for learners based in the UK.
But for anyone trying their hand at a new language, what motivates them to carry on learning when there isn’t a teacher around to manage their progress? Colin Watkins from Duolingo told the BBC that for UK learners at least, “people are learning because of culture, brain training, family, and relationships, along with school and travel. We want a positive use of our time, and to do something productive on our phones.” The recent lock-downs have given us more time to do this. Certainly, becoming bilingual or a polyglot is a good thing, and it helps us to bring the world a little closer together. 测验与练习
Task 1 阅读课文并回答问题。
1. What has helped to make learning a language easier?
Technology – and specifically apps – has made learning a language easier.
2. Why might we be surprised that the British are leading the rise in the use of language-learning apps?
Because the British are not renowned for their enthusiasm for language learning.
3. True or false? Duolingo found that last year, there were almost double the number of new users on their app from the UK, compared with the average for the rest of the world.
True. US firm Duolingo told the BBC that in 2020 new user numbers globally were up 67% compared with 2019, while in the UK they shot up by 132%, almost double the worldwide average.
4. According to Colin Watkins from Duolingo, is learning a language a good use of our smartphone time?
Yes. He says it’s a positive use of our time and is something productive to do on our phones. 5. Compared with traditional learning, what might you not get from learning via an app? There isn’t a teacher around to manage your progress. Task 2 选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。
1. I can’t _______ with this new laptop – it doesn’t work the same way as my old one. A. getting to grips B. get to grips C. get to gripping D. grip
2. The _______ chef has opened a new restaurant close to my home, so I might try it out. A. boomed B. motivate C. renowned D. renewed
3. I’m making good _______ at school, but I need to work harder on my English grammar. A. progress B. productive C. brain training D. grasp 4. I’m not a great cook, but I’m going to _______ at making a chocolate cake. A. try your hand B. try my hand C. try my handing D. try hand 5. Having a lesson at 1:30 is not very _______ – I’m going to miss my lunch break. A. convenient B. renowned C. access D. boomed Task 3 选词填空完成句子。
motivates bilingual smartphone productive grasped progress master renowned enthusiasm access 1. Many of us are aiming to be bilingual to enable us to communicate with people around the world.
2. It's not easy to master a foreign language, but if you really put your heart into it, it won’t be so hard.
3. Only high officials have access to the president.
4. Language-learning apps are usually easy and convenient to use because you can access them on your smartphone. 5. The headmaster’s speech aroused the enthusiasm of the students. 6. But for anyone trying their hand at a new language, what motivates them to carry on learning when there isn’t a teacher around to manage their progress?
7. The medical community continues to make progress in the fight against cancer. 8. He was hopeful that the next round of talks would also be productive. 9. I've invited a renowned calligrapher to write an inscription (题字；碑铭) for my restaurant. 10. My brother has not yet grasped the seriousness of the crisis. Task 4 语法填空
Are you learning another language? Maybe you’re trying to get to grips 1. with it for work or study, or maybe you’re trying to master it just for the fun of it? Language learning is nothing new, of course, but technology has made it 2. easier (easy) than ever to grasp.
The popularity of language-learning apps in particular has boomed around the world, 3.especially (especial) as more people are working or studying at home. They are usually easy and 4. convenient (convenience) to use because you can access 5. them on your smartphone. And apps can offer languages not popular enough to be taught at evening classes or schools or universities.
Many of us are aiming to be bilingual to enable us 6. to communicate (communicate) with people around the world. But, maybe surprisingly, it’s the British, 7. who are not renowned for their 8. enthusiasm (enthusiastic) for language learning, who are leading the way in the 9. growth (grow) of these apps. US firm Duolingo told the BBC that in 2020 new user numbers globally were up 67% compared with 2019, while in the UK they 10. shot (shoot) up by 132%, almost double the worldwide average. And London-based Busuu, saw a similar trend for learners based in the UK. 答案与解析：
答案与解析：
1,with.考查介词。get to grips with something认真理解并学习。
2, easier.考查形容词比较级。本句空格后有比较级的标志性词汇than,故填比较级。 3, especially.考副词。此处填副词作状语。
4, convenient. 考查词性变换。easy and convenient为两个平衡的并列结构，故填形容词。 5, them.考代词。代词指代上文的language-learning apps.
6, to communicate.考查非谓语动词。enable sb. to do sth.使某人能做某事。 7, who.考查非限定性定语从句。先行词为the British，从句缺主语，故填who. 8, enthusiasm.考查词性变换。空格前有形容词性物主代词their, 故填名词。
9, growth.考查词性变换。“the + _____ + of”结构，一定是填名词或者动名词。而grow有对应的名词形式，且此处不表动作意义，故填growth.
10, shot. 考查谓语动词。根据本句句子结构以及上下文语境，此处需用一般过去时态的主动语态。故填shot.
Task 4 Translation. The words and expressions in the brackets may help you. 1. But for anyone trying their hand at a new language, what motivates them to carry on learning when there isn’t a teacher around to manage their progress?
但对于任何想尝试学习一门新语言的人而言，当他们身边没有老师来管控他们的进步时，什么东西能激发他们继续学习呢？ 2. Colin Watkins from Duolingo told the BBC that for UK learners at least, “people are learning because of culture, brain training, family, and relationships, along with school and travel. “多邻国”（一款语言学习APP）的科林·沃特金斯在接受BBC采访时表示，至少对英国的学习者来说，人们学习语言不仅是因为上学和旅行，还因为文化、大脑训练、家庭和人际关系等因素。
3. 我们想要积极利用时间，在手机上做一些有成效的事情。最近的封锁让我们有更多时间来 做这件事。(productive; lock-downs)
We want a positive use of our time, and to do something productive on our phones.” The recent lock-downs have given us more time to do this.
4. 当然，成为一名双语者或多语者是一件好事，它有助于我们把世界拉近一点。(bilingual) Certainly, becoming bilingual or a polyglot is a good thing, and it helps us to bring the world a little closer together.
5. 语言学习应用程序在世界各地已呈迅速发展，欣欣向荣之态势，尤其是随着越来越多的人 选择在家工作或学习，这种发展形势特别明显。(popularity; boom)
The popularity of language-learning apps in particular has boomed around the world, especially as more people are working or studying at home.
