Deis

Reading Comprehension Texts
 
The use of English as a global tongue is booming, and so is concern.
THALWIL, Switzerland – In the tall stucco schoolhouse here its big, airy classrooms and views ofLake Zurich, English has become part of the daily routine.
Students as young as 7 are learning multiplication or discussing the weather in English. In one classroom, lists of songs that the firstgrade has already mastered include not only local German tunes but “Old Mc Donald” and “How are you this morning?”.
Parents are delighted. “It is something that you need,” said Beatrix Caforeo, whoseson, Andrea, goes to the school there. “Everywhere people are speaking Englsih, not just abroad.”
Throughout Europe, English is growing in use and acceptability. Beyond the schoolhouse here,European Universities, particularly in Northern Europe, are giving courses in science, philosophy and business in English. Even some companies like the French telecommunications giant Alcatel –state-owneduntil 1982- now use English as their internal language.
But the growing use of English is not going down easily everywhere. The Englsih program here has caused an uproar in other parts of thecountry, where critics have questioned why English should be taught before another one of Switzerland’s four national languages. In many places and in many ways, Europe is debating the growing prominence ofEnglish.
Some see it as the language that might bind the Continent together. In one European Union survey, 70 percent of those surveyed agreed with the proposition that “everybody should speakEnglish.” But nearly as many said their own language needed to be protected. Capturing the right balance is a subject of debate.
 
QUESTIONS
1. Read each definition below and choose the word from thelist that matches the definition (2 points).
mastered | tunes | delighted | uproar | bind | surveyed | balance |
  | Commotion, tumult |
  | Learned, studied |
  | Tie, secure,...