Language is a major problem for the European Union (EU). The agreement or treaty (条约) which created the organization that eventually became the EU, the Treaty of Rome, stated that each country's language must be treated equally. The original six countries had only three languages between them: French. German and Dutch/Flemish. However, there are now 15 countries in the EU, with a total of 12 languages. EU documents must be translated into all these languages, and at official meetings the speeches must be translated into all the languages by interpreters.
All this translating is very expensive and time-consuming (费时的). it is said that nearly half of all employees of the EU are engaged in translating documents and speeches, and nearly half of the EU's administrative(管理方面的) costs are spent on this task. In the near future it is probably that several more countries, most of them having their own languages, will join the EU, thus making the situation even worse.
The problem is not just cost: there are practical difficulties as well. With 12 languages, there are 132 possible translation situations that might be needed. It is often' difficult to find people in the right place at the right time who can translate from (for example) Danish into Greek, or Dutch into Portuguese, at a high professional standard.
In practice the problem has been made less serious by the use of English in many contacts between EU officials, since almost all of them speak some English. However, any move to reduce the number of official languages (perhaps to four or five) would be a blow to the pride of the smaller countries. Another monly suggested solution is to make English the official language for all EU business. However, powerful member countries like France and Germany are strongly against it.
【小题1】What's the main purpose of this passage?A．To give a solution to a problem.B．To discuss a problem and show how serious it is.C．To criticize the European Union for inefficiency(效率低).D．To show that the problem cannot be solved.【小题2】According to the writer, the use of English in contacts among EU officials has .A．angered the officials who don't speak EnglishB．reduced the number of official languagesC．made the problem less seriousD．been opposed by powerful member countries【小题3】In paragraph three, the writer mentions Danish into Greek as an example of .A．a situation that might be difficult to deal withB．a situation that occurs oftenC．one of the 12 situations that requires an interpreterD．languages that are easy to translate【小题4】The writer suggests that if the number of official languages was reduced .A．the EU would not know which official languages to chooseB．countries whose languages were not used officially would be unhappyC．only languages that are easy to translate would be used officiallyD．the smaller member countries would be pleasedB
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(答案→)B
解析：
试题分析 欧盟成立随之而来的产生多种语言多种翻译，给大家带来很困扰。对哪种语言做为官方语言，有很大的争论。
【小题1】B 主旨大意。 把握文章大意。第一段已经提出这个问题。在第一段 中还提到了However, there are now 15 countries in the EU, with a total of 12 languages. EU documents must be translated into all these languages, and at official meetings the speeches must be translated into all the languages by interpreters.。故选 B项。
【小题2】C 细节题。根据最后一段In practice the problem has been made less serious by the use of English in many contacts between EU officials, since almost all of them speak some English.得知应选C项。
【小题3】A细节题。在倒数第二段中提到It is often' difficult to find people in the right place at the right time故选 A项。
【小题4】B细节题，根据最后一段中提到Another monly suggested solution is to make English the official language for all EU business. However, powerful member countries like France and Germany are strongly against it.故选 B项。
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