Making Foreign Language a "Must"

This question has two parts. First, answer part A. Then, answer part B.

Part A: Read this sentence from the passage.

"English has become the universal language if you spend your life in airports and international hotels," Berman says.

Which word could best replace universal without changing the meaning of the sentence?

• mobile

• plain

• standard

• whole

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

Part B:

Which sentence from the passage best supports the answer to the previous question?

• As the world becomes more connected, a nation of people that primarily speak their native language will be at a serious disadvantage.

• Because of this, many in the United States take it for granted that English is commonly spoken everywhere.

• Berman believes that the lack of language courses is largely a political issue.

• "If you get off the plane in Germany and take a cab, you can't count on the driver speaking English," Berman states.

Based on the information in the passage, what are two benefits of studying a foreign language?

• It improves a person's social skills.

• It improves a person's thinking skills.

• It makes a person better at science and technology.

• It makes a person more culturally aware.

• It improves a person's chances at achieving in any field.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Choose three sentences from the passage that best explain why the author feels that foreign-language education must evolve.

"Providing the ability to be fluent in other languages must become important--indeed, a top priority in American education. Schools cannot simply offer a couple years of French or German, teaching students to conjugate verbs and recognize some key phrases on exams. The need for fluency in modern society has changed the way educators must teach foreign languages. They must take foreign-language teaching very seriously. Michael Bacon explains, "Yes, a lot of people know Spanish," he says. "But we need highly qualified teachers who can teach to standards."

• "But we need highly qualified teachers who can teach to standards."

• The need for fluency in modern society has changed the way educators msut teach foreign languages.

• Schools cannot simply offer a couple years of French or German, teaching students to conjugate verbs and recognize some key phrases on exams.

• Providing the ability to be fluent in other languages must becom important--indeed, a top priority in American education.

• They must take foreign-language teaching very seriously.

Match the claim with the evidence from the passage that supports it.

"You can use these languages to access foreign-language Internet sites and gain exposure to foreign ideas and communities."

• People who do not have knowledge of foreign languages are at a disadvantage.

• Studying foreign languages can help people in ways beyond improving their language skills.

• Foreign language skills are useful even for people who do not go to to other countries.

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

Match the claim with the evidence from the passage that supports it.

"[Learning a foreign language] helps expand the speaker's worldview and generates an attitude of flexibility and tolerance."

• People who do not have knowledge of foreign languages are at a disadvantage.

• Studying foreign languages can help people in ways beyond improving their language skills.

• Foreign language skills are useful even for people who do not go to to other countries.

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

Match the claim with the evidence from the passage that supports it.

"'If you get off the plane in Germany and take a cab, you can't count on the driver speaking English,' Berman states."

• People who do not have knowledge of foreign languages are at a disadvantage.

• Studying foreign languages can help people in ways beyond improving their language skills.

• Foreign language skills are useful even for people who do not go to to other countries.

Choose two claims that are not supported by the passage.

• It is wrong to cut foreign languages from education budgets.

• Spanish is the best foreign language to learn in today's world.

• The knowledge of a foreign language can improve overall test scores.

• Traveling abroad is the fastest way to become fluent in a foreign language.

• The United States is far behind other countries in foreign language learning.

Match the sentence from the passage to the point of view it helps advance.

It is unrealistic for Americans to expect everyone around the world to speak English.

• Because of this, many in the United States take it for granted that English is commonly spoken everywhere.

• Meanwhile, corporations hunt for new employees who can communicate with their clients and partners.

• According to the Connecticut State Department of Education, learning another language helps people develop critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving, and memory.

Match the sentence from the passage to the point of view it helps advance.

Learning another language would help improve the overall academic skills of Americans.

• Because of this, many in the United States take it for granted that English is commonly spoken everywhere.

• Meanwhile, corporations hunt for new employees who can communicate with their clients and partners.

• According to the Connecticut State Department of Education, learning another language helps people develop critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving, and memory.