Passage 47
（2006 全国 I C）

a study of English learning problems was carried out among a total of 106 foreign students.It shows that most students considered understanding spoken English to be their biggest problem on arrival.This was followed by speaking.Writing increased as a problem as students discovered difficulties in writing papers that they were now expected to hand in.Reading remained as a significant （显著的）problem.

The information signed helped up in determining where special attention should be paid in our course.Although many students have chosen to join the course with a reasonable motivation （动机）, we considered it important to note what seemed to encourage interest.Nearly all the students have experienced some kind of grammar-based English teaching in their own country.To use the same method would be self-defeating because it might reduce motivation, especially if it has failed in the past.Therefore a different method may help because it is different.

Variety of activity was also seen as a way of maintaining （保持）or increasing motivation.Several years ago we had one timetable that operated throughout, but we soon found that both the students and the teachers lost interest by about halfway through the ten weeks.This led up to a major rethink, so finally we brought it into line with the expressed language needs of the students.

1.What is the text mainly about?

A. Foreign students have more problems.

B. There are many ways to improve English.

C. Teaching should meet students' needs.

D. English learning problems should be studied again.

2.Writing became a bigger problem when foreign students ______.

A. had to write their papers

B. became better at speaking

C. became less interested in reading

D. had fewer problems with listening

3.We may infer from the last two paragraphs that ______.

A. different teaching methods should be used

B. grammar-based teaching seems to be encouraging

C. English courses are necessary for foreign students

D. teaching content should be changed halfway

4.The word “it”underlined in the last paragraph refers to ______.

A. rethink

B. activity

C. motivation

D. timetable

【重点词汇】

carry out 实施

hand in 上交

grammar-based adj.以语法为基础的

motivation n.激励

timetable n.时间表

halfway adv.中途

in line with 与……一致

【疑难长句】

Writing increased as a problem as students discovered difficulties in writing papers that they were now expected to hand in.

这个句子的主干是writing increased as a problem，后面从第二个as到结尾是一个状语从句，其中that they were now expected to hand in又是一个定语从句修饰前面的papers。

（参考译文）当学生在写马上要上交的论文过程中遇到困难时，英语写作成为了一个大问题。