English Around the World ( II)
English has become widely used around the world. Why has this happened? We may find the answer from history.
In the nineteenth century, Great Britain [1]Britain: US: [ˈbrɪt(ə)n] UK: [‘brɪt(ə)n] n. 不列颠（包括英格兰、苏格兰及威尔士） became a powerful [2]powerful: US: [ˈpaʊrf(ə)l] UK: [ˈpaʊə(r)f(ə)l] adj. 有权势的；有影响力的；强有力的；力量大的 country, so English became an international language. Then, since the 1950s, the USA has become more and more powerful. The American computer and Internet industry have taken the leading [3]leading: US: [ˈlidɪŋ] UK: [ˈliːdɪŋ] adj. 最重要的；一流的；（赛跑或比赛中）领先的 position [4]position: US: [pəˈzɪʃ(ə)n] UK: [pə’zɪʃ(ə)n] n. 位置；地位；职位；立场 in the world. As a result [5]as a result: 结果, the Internet has helped English to become much more popular.
China, a country with the largest population in the world, has encouraged more people to learn English [6]encourage sb. to do sth.: 鼓励某人做某事 since the 1970s. Since the 1990s, English learning has been very popular with [7]be popular with: 为……所喜欢；受……欢迎 Chinese people. Many of them have done well in [8]do well in: 擅长，在…方面做得好 English and have made great progress in [9]make progress in: 在……方面取得进步，取得进展speaking it.
Now, students are required to learn English, and the study of English is regarded as [10]be regarded as: 被认为是；被当做是 a very important industry in China as well as [11]as well as: 而且 in the rest of the world.
Word Bank
| ↑1 | Britain: US: [ˈbrɪt(ə)n] UK: [‘brɪt(ə)n] n. 不列颠（包括英格兰、苏格兰及威尔士） |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | powerful: US: [ˈpaʊrf(ə)l] UK: [ˈpaʊə(r)f(ə)l] adj. 有权势的；有影响力的；强有力的；力量大的 |
| ↑3 | leading: US: [ˈlidɪŋ] UK: [ˈliːdɪŋ] adj. 最重要的；一流的；（赛跑或比赛中）领先的 |
| ↑4 | position: US: [pəˈzɪʃ(ə)n] UK: [pə’zɪʃ(ə)n] n. 位置；地位；职位；立场 |
| ↑5 | as a result: 结果 |
| ↑6 | encourage sb. to do sth.: 鼓励某人做某事 |
| ↑7 | be popular with: 为……所喜欢；受……欢迎 |
| ↑8 | do well in: 擅长，在…方面做得好 |
| ↑9 | make progress in: 在……方面取得进步，取得进展 |
| ↑10 | be regarded as: 被认为是；被当做是 |
| ↑11 | as well as: 而且 |
