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Practice Reading: Multiple Choice, Single Answer ID: #32976 MCS-R
Instructions ›
Read the text and answer the multiple-choice question by selecting the correct response. Only one response is correct.
Until the 1600s, English was, for the most part, spoken only in England. However, during the course of the next two centuries, English began to spread around the globe as a result of exploration, trade, colonization, and missionary work. English gradually became the primary language of international business, banking, and diplomacy. Currently, more than 80 percent of the information stored on computer systems worldwide is in English. Two thirds of the world’s science writing is in English, and English is the main language of technology, advertising, media, international airports, and air traffic controllers. Today there are more than 700 million English users in the world, and over half of these are non-native speakers, constituting the largest number of non-native users of any language in the world.

Which of the following most accurately summarizes the opinion of the author in the text?

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Result:

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Option 3: "English has become the dominant language of international communication."

Explanation: This option accurately reflects the main idea of the text, which discusses how English has evolved into the primary language for international business, science, and technology. The text supports this by stating that English is the main language of various global sectors, thus confirming its dominance in international communication.

Option 1: "Small enclaves of English speakers have grown in various parts of the world."

Explanation: This option suggests that only small groups of English speakers exist globally, which contradicts the text's assertion that English has become a dominant global language. The text emphasizes the widespread use of English, particularly noting that there are over 700 million English users, which is far more than just small enclaves.

Option 2: "Over the past 500 years, small English communities have proliferated all over the world."

Explanation: While this option acknowledges the spread of English over time, it inaccurately frames the growth as 'small communities.' The text highlights that English has become the primary language in various significant domains, indicating a much larger and more impactful presence than merely small communities.

Option 4: "English is the native language of more than half a billion people of the world."

Explanation: This option misrepresents the information in the text. The text states that over half of the 700 million English users are non-native speakers, indicating that the number of native speakers is less than half a billion. Therefore, this statement is factually incorrect and does not summarize the author's opinion accurately.

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