The number of speakers of English in Shakespeare's time is estimated to have been about five million. Today it is estimated that some 260 million people speak it as a native language, mainly in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. In addition to the standard varieties of English found in these areas, there are a great many regional and social varieties of the language as well as various levels of usage that are employed both in its spoken and written forms.
In fact, it is impossible to estimate the number of people in the world who have acquired an adequate working knowledge of English in addition to their own languages. The purpose for English learning and the situations in which such learning takes place are so varied that it is difficult to explain and still more difficult to judge what forms an adequate working knowledge for each situation.
The main reason for the widespread demand for English is its presentday importance as a world language. Besides serving the indefinite needs of its native speakers, English is a language in which some of important works in science, technology, and other fields are being produced, and not always by native speakers. It is widely used for such purposes as meteorological and airport communications, international conferences, and the spread of information over the radio and television networks of many nations. It is a language of wider communication for a number of developing countries, especially former British colonies. Many of these countries have multilingual populations and need a language for internal communication in such matters as government, commerce, industry, law and education as well as for international communication and for entrance to the scientific and technological developments in the West.
小题1:Which of the following statements is NOT true?
A．Some 260 million people in the world have an adequate working knowledge of English.
B．There are some 260 million native speakers of English in the world.
C．It is almost impossible to estimate the number of people with an adequate working knowledge of English.
D．People learn English for a variety of reasons.小题2:According to the passage, what is the main reason for the widespread use of English?
A．It was popular during Shakespeare's time.
B．It is used in former British colonies.
C．It serves the needs of its native speakers.
D．It is a world language that is used for international communication.小题3:What forms an adequate working knowledge of English?
A．The ability to read a newspaper.
B．It is difficult to judge because it differs for each situation.
C．Being a multilingual.
D．Being a native speaker.小题4:What type of developing countries would be most likely to use English?
A．Those geographically close to the United States.
B．Those interested in the culture of the United States.
C．Former colonies of Great Britain.
D．Countries where international conferences are held.
小题1:A
小题2:D
小题3:B
小题4:C
题目分析：在莎士比亚时代全世界说英语的人数大约是五百万。如今不但以英语为母语的人数增长了，而且随着英语成为世界工作语言，全世界懂得这一工作语言的人数也多得无法估计了。在本文中作者对英语这一国际语言做了一些具体介绍。
小题1:A细节理解题。根据文章第二段it is impossible to estimate the number of people in the world who have acquired an adequate working knowledge of English可知A选项正确。
小题2:D细节理解题。根据文章第三段The main reason for the widespread demand for English is its presentday importance as a world language.可知英语被普遍使用的原因是因为它是一门用来进行国际交流的语言，答案选D。
小题3:B细节理解题。根据文章第二段The purpose for English learning and the situations in which such learning takes place are so varied that it is difficult to explain and still more difficult to judge what forms an adequate working knowledge for each situation.可知B选项正确。
小题4:C细节理解题。根据文章末段It is a language of wider communication for a number of developing countries, especially former British colonies.可知在那些以前是英国殖民地的发展中国家最有可能说英语，所以答案选C。