My summer hols wr CWOT. B4, we
usd 2 go 2 NY 2C my bro, his CF & thr 3:-@ kids FTF ILNY, its gr8.
Can you understand this
sentence? If you can't, don't feel too bad: neither could the middle school
teacher in England who received this as homework. This is Netspeak: the
language of computerized communication found on Internet or cellphones. To
newcomers, it can look like a completely foreign language. So, what is the
"translation" of the sentence above? My summer holidays were a
complete waste of time. Before, we used to go to New York to see my brother,
his girlfriend, and their three screaming kids face to face. I love New York;
it's great.
Schoolteachers and parents
say this new form of writing is harming（破壞）the English
language. Increasing spelling and grammatical mistakes cxan be seen in
students' writing. They fear the language could become corrupted（面目全非的）.
Everyone should just
relax, say linguists（語言學(xué)家）. They believe Netspeak is in
fact more of a good thing. David Crystal, from the University of Wales, argues
that Netspeak and Internet create a new language use and the almost lost art of
diary writing has been picked up again. Geoffrey Nunberg, from Stanford
University, agrees. "People get better at writing by writing," he
says, "Kids who are now doing text messaging, e-mail, and instant messages
will write at least as well as, and possibly better than, their parents."
Linguist James Millroy
says, for centuries, it is believed without exception that young people are
harming the language. And you can bet your bottom dollar that when
today's teenagers become tomorrow's parents, they too will think this way.
Milroy argues that languages do not and cannot become "corrupted";
they simply change to meet the new needs.
However, Netspeakers do
agree that it is important to teach young people how to speak and write
Standard English. Cynthia McVey says, "I can understand Netspeak worries
teachers and it's important that they get across to their pupils that text
messaging is for fun, but that learning to write proper English is a must for
their future."
Perhaps we should give
teenagers a little more trust anyway. Erin, age 12, says, "I wouldn't use
text language in my homework. Texting is just for fun"
1.What is the main purpose
of the first paragraph?
A. To give an example of
a foreign language.
B. To show an example of
creative methods.
C. To express worries
about using Netspeak.
D. To lead in the topic
of Netspeak.
2.Which of the following
is true according to the passage?
A. Cynthia McVey points
out teenagers can deal with Netspeak properly.
B. Geoffrey Nunberg
believes Netspeakers can write Standard English.
C. David Crystal thinks
Netspeak helps develop the habit of writing.
D. James Milroy says that
language is changing and improving.
3.The expression
"bet your bottom dollar" in Paragraph 5 means ______.
A. be fairly sure B.
be greatly surprised
C. think it a pity D.
find it interesting
4. What can be the best
title for the passage?
A. Netspeak: A
Widely-Used Language on Internet
B. Is Netspeak Harming
the English Language?
C. Is Netspeak Helpful in
Language Learning?
D. Netspeak: Advantages
and Disadvantages
"
of the sentence above? My summer holidays 