Section C
Directions: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks numbered from 36 to 43 with the exact words you have just heard. For blanks numbered from 44 to 46 you are required to fill in the missing information. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you have just heard or write down the main points in your own words. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written.
English is the leading international language. In different countries around the globe, English is acquired as the mother (36) ________, in others it's used as a second language. Some nations use English as their (37) ________ language, performing the function of (38) ________; in others it's used as an international language for business, (39) ________ and industry.
What factors and forces have led to the (40) ________ of English? Why is English now considered to be so prestigious that, across the globe, individuals and societies feel (41) ________ if they do not have (42) ________in this language? How has English changed through 1,500 years? These are some of the questions that you (43) ________ when you study English.
You also examine the immense variability of English and (44) __________________________________________.You develop in-depth knowledge of the intricate structure of the language. Why do some non-native speakers of English claim that it's a difficult language to learn, while (45) ___________________________________________?At the University of Sussex, you are introduced to the nature and grammar of English in all its aspects. This involves the study of sound structures, the formation of words, the sequencing of words and the construction of meaning, as well as examination of the theories explaining these aspects of English usage. (46) _____________________________________________________, which are raised by studying how speakers and writers employ English for a wide variety of purposes.