2025年專業(yè)英語八級真題

專業(yè)英語八級真題(總分：99.92，做題時間：90分鐘)一、PARTⅠLISTENINGCOMPREHENSION(總題數(shù)：0，分?jǐn)?shù)：0.00)二、SECTIONAMINI-LECTURE(總題數(shù)：1，分?jǐn)?shù)：15.00)LanguageandHumanity

Languageispowerfulanditcanhelpusdoorgetthingsaswewish.

Languageasaborntrait

●Languagehasevolvedonlyin1.

●Comparisonbetweenchimpanzeesandhumanbeings:

-Chimpanzees

-useoftools:onceseenasasignof2

-inabilityto3

-tendencyto4

-Humanbeings

-abletoimproveandbuildon5

-ableto6ideas

Languageandsociallearning

●Problemofsociallearning:7

-Cause:

-stealingothers"ideasby8

-Solution:

-9developedtoshareideas

●Results

-10madeavailabletoeveryindividual

-languageassocialtechnologytoenhance11

Languageandthemodernworld

●Existenceofmanydifferentlanguageshasledto

-separationofcooperativegroups

-12

-knowledgeprotection

-slowflowofideasandtendencytoward13

●Globalizationneeds14.

●15hindercooperation.

Solution:oneworldwithonelanguageLanguageandHumanity

Languageispowerfulanditcanhelpusdoorgetthingsaswewish.

Languageasaborntrait

●Languagehasevolvedonlyin1.

●Comparisonbetweenchimpanzeesandhumanbeings:

-Chimpanzees

-useoftools:onceseenasasignof2

-inabilityto3

-tendencyto4

-Humanbeings

-abletoimproveandbuildon5

-ableto6ideas

Languageandsociallearning

●Problemofsociallearning:7

-Cause:

-stealingothers"ideasby8

-Solution:

-9developedtoshareideas

●Results

-10madeavailabletoeveryindividual

-languageassocialtechnologytoenhance11

Languageandthemodernworld

●Existenceofmanydifferentlanguageshasledto

-separationofcooperativegroups

-12

-knowledgeprotection

-slowflowofideasandtendencytoward13

●Globalizationneeds14.

●15hindercooperation.

Solution:oneworldwithonelanguage（分?jǐn)?shù)：15.00）解析：humanbeings/humans[聽力原文]Languageandhumanity

Goodmorning,everyone.Intoday"slecture,we"llgoingtodiscusstherelationshipbetweenlanguageandhumanity.Asweallknow,languageisverypowerfulandallowsyoutoputathoughtfromyourminddirectlyinsomeoneelse"smind.Languagesarelikegenes"talking,gettingthingstheywant.Andyoujustimaginethesenseofwonderinababywhenitfirstdiscoversthat,merelybyutteringasound,itcangetobjectstomoveacrosstheroom,asifbymagic,andmaybeevenintoitsmouth.Nowweneedtoexplainhowandwhythisremarkabletrait,youknow,human"sabilitytodothingswithlanguagehasevolved,andwhydidthistraitevolveonlyinourspecies.

Inordertogetanswertothequestion,wehavetogototool-useintheChimpanzees.Chimpanzeescanusetools,andwetakethatphenomenonasasignoftheirintelligence.Butiftheyreallywereintelligent,whywouldtheycrackopennutswitharock?Whywouldn"ttheyjustgotoashopandbuyabagofnutsthatsomebodyelsehadalreadycrackedopenforthem?Whynot,Imean,that"swhatwedo.ThereasonthatChimpanzeesdon"tdothatisthattheylackwhat"spsychologistandanthropologistcall"sociallearning".Thatis,theyseemtolacktheabilitytolearnfromothersbycopyingorimitatingorsimplywatching.Asaresult,theycan"timproveonothers"ideas,learnfromothers"mistakes,orevenbenefitfromothers"wisdom.Andsotheyjustdothesamethingoverandoverandoveragain.Infact,wecouldgoawayforamillionyearsandcomebackandtheseChimpanzeeswouldbedoingthesamethingwiththesamerockstocrackopenthenuts.

Ok,sowhatthistellsusisthat,contrarytotheoldsaying"monkeysee,monkeydo",thesurprisereallyisthatalloftheotheranimalsreallycannotdothat—atleastnotverymuch.Butbycomparison,wehumanscanlearn.Wecanlearnbywatchingotherpeopleandcopyingorimitatingwhattheycando.Wecanthenchoose,fromamongarangeofoptionsavailablethebestone.Wecanbenefitfromothers"ideas.Wecanbuildontheirwisdom.Andasaresult,ourideasdoaccumulate,andourtechnologyprogresses.Inthiscumulativeculturaladaptation,asanthropologistscalledas"accumulationofideas",isresponsibleforeverythingaroundyouinyourbustlingandteemingeverydaylife.Imeantheworldhaschangedoutofallproportiontowhatwewouldrecognizeeven1,000or2,000yearsago.Andallofthisisbecauseofcumulativeculturaladaptation.Forinstance,thechairsyouaresittingintoday,thelightsinthislecturehall,mymicrophone,theipads,andthesmartphonesthatyoucarryaroundwithyou—allarearesultofcumulativeculturaladaptation.Butouracquisitionofsociallearningwouldcreateanevolutionarydilemma.Andthesolutiontothedilemma,isfairtosay,willdeterminenotonlythefuturecourseofourpsychology,butthefuturecourseoftheentireworld.Andmostimportantlyforthis,itwilltelluswhywehavelanguage.Andthereasonthatthedilemmaaroseis,itturnsoutthatthesociallearningisvisualtheft.WhatImeanisifIcanlearnbywatchingyou,Icanstealyourbestideas,andIcanbenefitfromyoureffortswithouthavingtoputinthesametimeandenergythatyoudidintodevelopingthem.Sociallearningreallyisvisualtheft.Andinanyspeciesthatacquiredit,itwouldencourageyoutohideyourbestideas,lestsomebodystealthemfromyou.Andsosometimearound200,000yearsago,ourspeciesconfrontedthiscrisis.Andwechosetodevelopthesystemsofcommunicationthatwouldallowustoshareideasandtocooperateamongstothers.Choosingthisoptionwouldmeanthatavastlygreaterfundofknowledgeandwisdomwouldbecomeavailabletoanyoneindividualthanwouldeverarisefromwithinanindividualfamilyorindividualpersonontheirown.Well,languageistheresult.Languageevolvedtosolvethecrisisofvisualtheft.Languageisapieceofsocialtechnologyforenhancingthebenefitsofcooperation—forreachingagreements,forstrikingdealsandforcoordinatingouractivities.Andyoucanseethat,inadevelopingsocietythatwasbeginningtoacquirelanguage,nothavinglanguagewouldbelikeabirdwithoutwings.

AsIsaidatthebeginning,languagereallyisthevoiceofourgenes.Butaswespreadoutaroundtheworld,wedevelopedthousandsofdifferentlanguages.Currently,thereareaboutsevenoreightthousanddifferentlanguagesspokenontheearth.Andthenanotherproblemoccurred,itseemsthatweuseourlanguage,notjusttocooperate,buttodrawringsaroundourcooperativegroupsandtoestablishidentities,andperhapstoprotectourknowledgeandwisdomandskillsfrombeingstolenfromoutside.Andweknowthisbecausewhenwestudydifferentlanguagegroupsandassociatethemwiththeircultures,weseethatdifferentlanguagesslowtheflowofideasbetweengroups.Ok,thistendencywehave,theseeminglynaturaltendencywehave,goestowardsisolation,towardskeepingeverythingtoourselves,whileourmodernworld,iscommunicatingwithitselfandwitheachothermorethanithasatanytimeinitspast.Andthatcommunication,thatconnectivityaroundtheworld,thatglobalizationnowraisesaburden.Becausethesedifferentlanguagesimposebarrier,aswe"vejustseen,tothetransferofgoodsandideasandtechnologiesandwisdom.Andtheyimposebarriertocooperation.Whatwillbethesolutioninaworldinwhichwewanttopromotecooperationandexchange,andinaworldthatmightbedependentmorethaneverbeforeoncooperation,tomaintainandenhanceourlevelsofprosperity?Ithinkitmightbeinevitablethatwehavetoconfronttheideathatourdestinyistobeoneworldwithonelanguage.Whatdoyouthinkofthesolution?

Ok,intoday"slecture,Ihavepresentedtoyouhowlanguageshapesourhumanity,whatkindofdilemmasociallearninghascreated,andthepossiblesolutionstothedilemma.Inournextlecture,I"mgoingtotalkaboutlinguafrancaanditsfunctions.

[解析]根據(jù)原文“...andwhydidthistraitevolveonlyinourspecies”可知，這裏指的是人類。故填入humanbeings或humans。解析：intelligence[解析]根據(jù)原文“...andwetakethatphenomenonasasignoftheirintelligence”可知，這種現(xiàn)象被認(rèn)為是智力標(biāo)志。故填入intelligence。解析：learnfromothers[解析]根據(jù)原文“...theyseemtolacktheabilitytolearnfromothersbycopyingorimitating,orsimplywatching”可知，大猩猩缺乏向他人學(xué)習(xí)的能力，故填入learnfromothers。解析：repeat[解析]根據(jù)原文“...theyjustdothesamethingoverandoverandoveragain”可知，這些大猩猩會一次又一次地做同樣的事，由于字?jǐn)?shù)限制，這裏有repeat替代overandoverandoveragain。故填入repeat。解析：others"wisdom[解析]根據(jù)原文“Wecanbuildontheirwisdom”可知，我們可以在他人的智慧基礎(chǔ)上建立和提高。故填入others"wisdom。解析：accumulate[解析]根據(jù)原文“accumulationofideas”可知，人可以積累思想。由于這裏要填動詞，故填入accumulate。解析：anevolutionarydilemma[解析]根據(jù)原文“...ouracquisitionofsociallearningwillcreateanevolutionarydilemma”可知，我們獲得社會學(xué)習(xí)的能力導(dǎo)致了一種進(jìn)化的困境，故填入anevolutionarydilemma。解析：watchingotherpeople[解析]根據(jù)原文“WhatImeanisifIcanlearnbywatchingyou,Icanstealyourbestideas”可知，產(chǎn)生難題的原因是社會學(xué)習(xí)可以通過看他人竊取他人的想法。故填入watchingotherpeople。解析：systemsofcommunication[解析]根據(jù)原文“...wechosetodevelopthesystemsofcommunicationthatwouldallowustoshareideasandtocooperateamongstothers”可知，我們開發(fā)多種交流系統(tǒng)來分享思想與他人合作。故填入systemsofcommunication。解析：knowledgeandwisdom[解析]根據(jù)原文“...knowledgeandwisdomwouldbecomeavailabletoanyoneindividual”可知，知識和智慧可以被個人所得到。故填入knowledgeandwisdom。解析：benefitsofcooperation[解析]根據(jù)原文“Languageisapieceofsocialtechnologyforenhancingthebenefitsofcooperation”可知，語言是增強(qiáng)合作的社會科技手段。故填入benefitsofcooperation。解析：establishmentofidentities[解析]根據(jù)原文“toestablishidentities”可知，文中提到了使用語言的四個負(fù)面的效果，其他三個在題面上均有反應(yīng)，只有身份確立沒有提到。同步，其他三個都是名詞詞組，因此這裏需要將establish變成名詞形式。故填入establishmentofidentities。解析：isolation[解析]根據(jù)原文“...thistendencywehave,theseeminglynaturaltendencywehave,goestowardsisolation”可知，這種傾向會走向孤立。故填入isolation。解析：communication[解析]根據(jù)原文“...whileourmodemworld,iscommunicatingwithitselfandwitheachothermorethanithasatanytimeinitspast.”可知，現(xiàn)代社會比以往任何時候都需要和自身及外界進(jìn)行交流?？崭袂盀閯釉~need，故背面用communicate的名詞形式。故填入communication。解析：differentlanguages[解析]根據(jù)原文“Becausethesedifferentlanguagesimposebarrier,aswe"vejustseen,tothetransferofgoodsandideasandtechnologiesandwisdom.Andtheyimposebarriertocooperation.”可知，不一樣的語言給各方面的交流和合作都設(shè)置了障礙。故填入differentlanguages。三、SECTIONBINTERVIEW(總題數(shù)：2，分?jǐn)?shù)：10.00)Now,listentoPartOneoftheinterview.Questions1to5arebasedonPartOneoftheinterview.Now,listentoPartOneoftheinterview.Questions1to5arebasedonPartOneoftheinterview.（分?jǐn)?shù)：5.00）

A.Announcementofresults.

B.Lackofatimeschedule.

C.Slownessinballotscounting.

D.Directionoftheelectoralevents.

√解析：[聽力原文]

W:Goodevening,listeners,thisisBBC.TodayweareverydelightedtohaveinvitedJamesDobbins,USspecialrepresentativeforAfghanistantotellustheelectoralprocessinAfghanistancurrently.Well,James,howareyoureadingwhat"shappeninginAfghanistanatthemoment?

M:We"reconcernedaboutthetrendintheevents.Wehavebeenconcernedforsometimethattheelectoralprocesshasn"tbeenmovingforwardsmoothly.Webelievethereneedstobeapowerfulandtransparentauditofpotentiallydishonestballots,andwe"resorrythathasn"tmovedforwardquicklyandsubstantiallyenough.Weregretthepreliminaryannouncementofresultsthatwasmadeyesterday.Wethinkthatwaspremature,giventhatthere"restillanumberofballotsthatneedtobeexaminedandthere"snotyetaclearagreementonhowbesttodoso.Wedobelievethat—

W:Forgivemeforinterrupting,James.CanIaskyouwhyyouthinkthatannouncementwasmadeyesterday?

M:Ithinkitwasmadebecausetheelectoralinstitutionshadpreviouslysetthatdateandtheyheldtoit,despitetheadvicetothecontraryfromtheUN,fromtheUnitedStates,andfromothervoiceswithinAfghanistan,andwethinkthatwasunfortunate.

W:Isthereanotherreasonthatcouldbeslightlymorefavorable,thatis,theywannatopreparetheground,becauseiftheyjustcameoutwithonefinalresultattheendofallthis,thenitcanbeprettylikelythattheloser,whoeveritwasgoingtobe,wasgoingtocomplainbecausetheythinkit"sunfair.

M:Ithinkit"sourviewthattheydidn"thaveabasisforpreparingthegroundbecausetherearesuchalargenumberofvotesthatstillneedtobeexaminedandthatthereforeanypreliminaryresultmightbemoremisleadingthanpreparingtheground.

W:Intermsnowofwhatthisgoes,we"vealreadyheardsomeverystrong,veryemotionallanguagefrom"TheCampoftheMan"whoappearstobeonthelosingsideofallthis.Dr.AbdullahAbdullah,whathaveyoubeensayingtohiminordertotryandcalmthosefeelings?

M:Well,wehaveheardtalkaboutestablishingaparallelpresidency.WemakeclearthattheUnitedStatesandhispartnerarenotinapositiontosupportadividedAfghanistan.ThatanyefforttoestablishaparallelpresidencywouldmakeitimpossiblefortheUnitedStatesanditspartnerstocontinuetheirfinancial,economicandmilitarysupport,andthattheconsequencesforthecountrywouldbepotentiallyquiteterrible.ClearlythisisnotsomethingtheAfghanpopulationwants.It"snotsomethingtheywerevotingfor.Andit"snotsomethingthattheyexpecttohappen,butitcouldbetheconsequencesofanill-consideredaction.

Whichaspectoftheelectioneventistheintervieweemostconcernedabout?

[解析]由句(1)可知，受訪者關(guān)懷的是事情的發(fā)展趨勢，即發(fā)展方向，故選D。

A.OthervoiceswithinAfghanistanwantedso.

B.Thedatehadbeensetpreviously.

√

C.Alltheballotshadbeencounted.

D.TheUNadvisedthemtodoso.解析：[聽力原文]

Whywastheannouncementmadeyesterday,accordingtotheinterviewee?

[解析]由句(2)可知，公告公布的時間是之前就定好的，故選B。

A.Tocalmthevoters.

B.Tospeeduptheprocess.

C.Tosticktotheelectionrules.

D.Tostopcomplaintsfromtheloser.

√解析：[聽力原文]

AccordingtotheBBCinterviewer,whydidtheelectoralinstitutionswanttopreparetheground?

[解析]由句(3)可知，采訪人猜測假如只公布成果，會引起競選失敗者的埋怨，因此提前公布成果，可以平息埋怨，故選D。

A.Unacceptable.

B.Unreasonable.

C.Insensible.

D.Illconsidered.

√解析：[聽力原文]

WhatdidtheintervieweethinkoftheBBC"sreasonofpreparingtheground?

[解析]由句(4)可知，受訪者認(rèn)為目前就打好群眾基礎(chǔ)為時尚早，由于諸多選票還沒記錄，目前公布成果只會引起誤解。這闡明受訪者認(rèn)為宣布成果欠考慮，不妥當(dāng)，故選D。

A.Supportive.

B.Ambivalent

C.Opposed.

√

D.Neutral.解析：[聽力原文]

Whatistheinterviewee"sattitudetowardsestablishingaparallelpresidency?

[解析]由句(5)可知，受訪者認(rèn)為美國及其盟友都不支持分裂阿富汗，假如阿富汗建立平行總統(tǒng)制，美國及其盟友不也許繼續(xù)為阿富汗提供經(jīng)濟(jì)軍事援助，成果會很糟糕。這闡明他對平行總統(tǒng)制是反對的，故選C。Now,listentoPartTwooftheinterview.Questions6to10arebasedonPartTwooftheinterview.Now,listentoPartTwooftheinterview.Questions6to10arebasedonPartTwooftheinterview.（分?jǐn)?shù)：5.00）

A.Ensurethegovernmentincludesallparties.

B.Discusswhoisgoingtobethewinner.

C.Supervisethecountingofvotes.

D.Seeksupportfromimportantsectors.

√解析：[聽力原文]

W:Letmeturnitontothemanwhomayendupthewinner,Mr.AshrafGhani.Whatpressure,ifany,areyoutryingtobringontohimtoensurethatwhateverhappens,hetriedtoincludeAbdullahAbdullahorAbdullahAbdullah"speopleinanyfuturegovernment?

M:We"renotmakinganyassumptionsaboutwhomightbethewinnerorwhomightbetheloser,andwethinkit"sprematureforanybodytobedoingso.We"vemadecleartobothcandidatesthattwothingsneedtohappen.Firstofall,thereneedstobearobustandtransparentprocessfordeterminingthewinner,andthere"sstillagooddealofworktobedonethere.Andsecondly,webelievethatbothcandidatesneedtobegindiscussingtheformationofagovernmentthatwouldhavethesupportofallimportantcomponentsandelementswithinthecountry,agovernmentofnationalunitythatwouldn"tensurethatallofthesignificantsectorsofAfghansocietyfeelingincluded.

W:You"resayingit"sallabithastytosaywhetheronesideortheotherhaswonorlost.Itisdifficult,isitnot,toseetheseresultsbeingoverturned?Thisisafiatmarginvictoryatthemoment—56%to44%.Itwouldbeextraordinarytoseetheresultoverturnedinthespaceofacoupleofweeks.

M:Ithinkbothcandidateshaveagreedthattherewasextensivefraudintheelectoralprocess.Bothcandidateshaveagreedthatthesuspectedballotsneedtobeaudited.Theyhaven"tagreedonexactlyhowtogoaboutthat.Webelieveit"stheresponsibilityoftheelectoralinstitutionstogoaheadandconductthatkindofbroadaudit.Whetherornotthecandidateshaveagreedoneverypreciseelementoftheprocess,theywillhavetodoit.Andwebelieveuntiltheyhavedoneso,it"sprematuretobecomingtoanyjudgments.

W:Itisworryingthough,isn"tit?IsupposetherewasalltoopredictablethatdemocracyisanimperfectthinginAfghanistan,andthatundoubtablytherehasbeenfraud.We"veheardallsortsofreportsthatprojecttherehavebeenameasureoffraud.Andwhoeverwasgoingtolosethiselectionwasgoingtosayit"sbeenbyunfairmeans.

M:IagreewithyouthatAfghanistanisarelativelynewdemocracy.Thatcountriesatthisstageofdemocraticdevelopmentoftenhavedifficultiesofthissort.Thatthere"snotatraditionalofgoodlosersinsocietiesatthislevelofpoliticaldevelopment.Andinthatsense,theproblemwefaceisnotunparalleled.Thereareothercountrieswhohavegonethroughsimilardifficulties.Nevertheless,thefactisthatmillionsofAfghanswentoutandvotedintheexpectationthattheirvotewouldcount.ThenumerouspollsindicatethatmostAfghansarepreparedtosupporteithercandidateasthevictor.ThemostAfghanshavesaidthattheycouldacceptthepersontheydidn"tvoteforwinningtheelection,ifthatwastheresult.Sowhiletheproblemswefacenowarenotunparalleled,theAfghansvotersexpectsomethingbetter.

W:James,I"msogratefultoyou.Ihugelyappreciateyouansweringitandansweringalltheotherquestionsaswell.

M:Pleasure.

Whatdoestheintervieweethinkbothcandidatesneedtodo?

[解析]由句(6)可知，候選人要做兩件事，一件是保證競選過程的健康透明，另一件是要組建阿富汗各方都支持的政府，也就是要尋求各方的支持，故選D。

A.36%-24%.

B.46%-34%.

C.56%-44%.

√

D.66%-54%.解析：[聽力原文]

Whatwasthemarginofvictoryatthetimeoftheinterview?

[解析]由句(7)可知，目前的得票率是56%對44%，故選C。

A.Bothcandidates.

B.Electoralinstitutions.

√

C.TheUnitedNations.

D.Notspecified.解析：[聽力原文]

Whoshouldberesponsiblefordealingwiththefraudintheelection?

[解析]由句(8)可知，競選機(jī)構(gòu)有責(zé)任對選票進(jìn)行大規(guī)模的審計(jì)，故選B。

A.Itwasunheardof.

B.Itwasonasmallscale.

C.Itwasinsignificant.

D.Itoccurredelsewhere.

√解析：[聽力原文]

WhatdoestheintervieweethinkoftheproblemintheAfghanelection?

[解析]由句(9)可知，這個問題不是孤立的，也就是其他國家也有類似的問題，故選D。

A.Problemsintheelectoralprocess.

√

B.Formationofanewgovernment.

C.Prematureannouncementofresults.

D.DemocracyinAfghanistan.解析：[聽力原文]

Whatistheinterviewmainlyabout?

[解析]由全文可知，受訪者先提到競選中存在的舞弊，再談兩個候選人承諾要做的事，再到投票的審計(jì)和當(dāng)下阿富汗的民主問題。所有的問題都圍繞總統(tǒng)競選展開，A最全面，故選A。四、PARTⅡREADINGCOMPREHENSION(總題數(shù)：1，分?jǐn)?shù)：30.00)SECTIONAMULTIPLECHOICEQUESTIONS

Inthissectiontherearethreepassagesfollowedbyfourteenmultiplechoicequestions.Foreachmultiplechoicequestion,therearefoursuggestedanswersmarkedA,B,CandD.ChoosetheonethatyouthinkisthebestanswerandmarkyouranswersonANSWERSHEETTWO.

PASSAGEONE

(1)"Britain"sbestexport,"IwastoldbytheheadoftheDepartmentofImmigrationinCanberra,"ispeople."Closeon100,000peoplehaveappliedforassistedpassagesinthefirstfivemonthsofthatyear,andhalfoftheseareeventuallyexpectedtomigratetoAustralia.

(2)TheAustraliansaredelighted.TheyarekeenlyawarethatwithoutastrongflowofimmigrantsintotheworkforcethedevelopmentoftheAustralianeconomyisunlikelytoproceedattheambitiouspacecurrentlyenvisaged.Thenewmineraldiscoveriespromiseasplendidfuture,andtheinjectionofhugeamountsofAmericanandBritishcapitalshouldhelptoensurethattheyareproperlyexploited,butwithunemploymentinAustraliadowntolessthan1.3percent,thegovernmentisunderstandablyanxioustoattractmoreskilledlabor.

(3)AustraliaisroughlythesamesizeasthecontinentalUnitedStates,buthasonlytwelvemillioninhabitants.Migrationhasaccountedforhalfthepopulationincreaseinthelastfouryears,andhascontributedgreatlytothecountry"simpressiveeconomicdevelopment.Britainhasalwaysbeentheprincipalsource—ninetypercentofAustraliansareofBritishdescent,andBritainhasprovidedonemillionmigrantssincetheSecondWorldWar.

(4)Australiahasalsogivengreatattentiontorecruitingpeopleelsewhere.Australiansdecidedtheyhadanexcellentpotentialsourceofapplicantsamongtheso-called"guestworkers"whohavecrossedtheirownfrontierstoworkinotherpartsofEurope.Therewereestimatedtobemorethanfourmillionofthem,andalargenumberwereofferedsubsidizedpassagesandguaranteedjobsinAustralia.Italyhasforsomeyearsbeenthesecondbiggestsourceofmigrants,andtheAustralianshavealsomanagedtoattractalargenumberofGreeksandGermans.

(5)Onedrawbackwiththem,sofarastheAustraliansareconcerned,isthatintegrationtendstobemoredifficult.UnliketheBritish,continentalmigrantshavetostrugglewithanunfamiliarlanguageandnewcustoms.ManynaturallygravitatetowardstheItalianorGreekcommunitieswhichhavegrownupincitiessuchasSydneyandMelbourne.Thesecolonieshavetheirownnewspapers,theirownshops,andtheirownclubs.TheirinhabitantsarenotAustralians,butEuropeans.

(6)Thegovernment"savowedaim,however,istomaintain"asubstantiallyhomogeneoussocietyintowhichnewcomers,fromwhateversources,willmergethemselves".Byandlarge,therefore,AustraliastillprefersBritishmigrants,andtendstoberatherlessselectiveintheircasethanitiswithothers.

(7)Afarbiggercauseofconcernthanthegrowthofnationalgroups,however,istheincreasingnumberofmigrantswhoreturntotheircountriesoforigin.Onereasonisthatpeoplenowadaystendtobemoremobile,andthatitiseasierthaninthepasttosavethereturnfare,buteconomicconditionsalsohavesomethingtodowithit.Aslowerrateofgrowthinvariablyproducesdiscontent—andifthiscoincideswithgreaterprosperityinEurope,alotofpeopletendtofeelthatperhapstheywerewrongtocomehereafterall.

(8)Severalsurveyshavebeenconductedrecentlyintothereasonswhypeoplegohome.Onenotedthat"flies,dirt,andoutsidelavatories"wereonthelistofcomplaintsfromBritishimmigrants,andaddedthatmanypeoplealsocomplainedabout"thecrudity,badmanners,andunfriendlinessoftheAustralians".Anothersurveygaveclimateconditions,homesickness,and"thestarkappearanceoftheAustraliancountryside"asthemainreasonsforleaving.

(9)MostBritishmigrantsmisscouncilhousing,theNationalHealthscheme,andtheirrelativesandformerneighbors.Lonelinessisabigfactor,especiallyamonghousewives.Themensoonmakenewfriendsatwork,butwivestendtofinditmuchhardertogetusedtoadifferentwayoflife.Manyarehouseboundbecauseofinadequatepublictransportinmostoutlyingsuburbs,andregularcorrespondencewiththeiroldfriendsathomeonlyservestoincreasetheirdiscontent.Onehousewifewasquotedrecentlyassaying:"IevenfindImissthepeopleIusedtohateathome."

(10)Rentsarehigh,andtherearelongwaitinglistsforHousingCommissionhomes.Sicknesscanbeanexpensivebusinessandtheclimatecanbeunexpectedlyrough.ThegapbetweenAustralianandBritishwagepacketsisnolongerbig,andpeoplearegenerallyexpectedtoworkharderherethantheydoathome.Professionalmenoverfortyoftenhavedifficultyinfindingadecentjob.Aboveall,perhaps,skilledimmigrantsoftenfindaconsiderablereluctancetoaccepttheirqualifications.

(11)AccordingtothejournalAustralianManufacturer,theattitudeofmanyemployersandfellowworkersisanythingbutfriendly."WeAustralians,"itstatedinarecentissue,"arejusttoofondofpaintingtherosypictureofthebig,warm-heartedAussie.Asamatteroffact,wearesobusyblowingourowntrumpetsthatwehavenotgottimetobewarm-heartedandconsiderate.Godown"heart-breakalley"amongsomeofthemigrantsandfindoutjusthowexpansivetheAussieistohisimmigrants."

PASSAGETWO

(1)Someoftheadvantagesofbilingualismincludebetterperformanceattasksinvolving"executivefunction"(whichinvolvesthebrain"sabilitytoplanandprioritize),betterdefenseagainstdementiainoldageand—theobvious—theabilitytospeakasecondlanguage.Onepurportedadvantagewasnotmentioned,though.Manymultilingualsreportdifferentpersonalities,orevendifferentworldviews,whentheyspeaktheirdifferentlanguages.

(2)It"sanexcitingnotion,theideathatone"sveryselfcouldbebroadenedbythemasteryoftwoormorelanguages.Inobviousways(exposuretonewfriends,literatureandsoforth)theselfreallyisbroadened.Yetitisdifferenttoclaim—asmanypeopledo—tohaveadifferentpersonalitywhenusingadifferentlanguage.AformerEconomistcolleague,forexample,reportedbeingruderinHebrewthaninEnglish.Sowhatisgoingonhere?

(3)BenjaminLeeWhorf,anAmericanlinguistwhodiedin1941,heldthateachlanguageencodesaworldviewthatsignificantlyinfluencesitsspeakers.Oftencalled"Whorfianism",thisideahasitssceptics,buttherearestillgoodreasonstobelievelanguageshapesthought.

(4)Thisinfluenceisnotnecessarilylinkedtothevocabularyorgrammarofasecondlanguage.Significantly,mostpeoplearenotsymmetricallybilingual.Manyhavelearnedonelanguageathomefromparents,andanotherlaterinlife,usuallyatschool.Sobilingualsusuallyhavedifferentstrengthsandweaknessesintheirdifferentlanguages—andtheyarenotalwaysbestintheirfirstlanguage.Forexample,whentestedinaforeignlanguage,peoplearelesslikelytofallintoacognitivetrap(answeringatestquestionwithanobvious-seemingbutwronganswer)thanwhentestedintheirnativelanguage.Inpartthisisbecauseworkinginasecondlanguageslowsdownthethinking.Nowonderpeoplefeeldifferentwhenspeakingthem.Andnowondertheyfeellooser,morespontaneous,perhapsmoreassertiveorfunnierorblunter,inthelanguagetheywererearedinfromchildhood.

(5)Whatof"crib"bilinguals,raisedintwolanguages?Eventheydonotusuallyhaveperfectlysymmetricalcompetenceintheirtwolanguages.Butevenforaspeakerwhosetwolanguagesareverynearlythesameinabil