People often ask which is the most difficult language to learn, and it is not easy to answer because there are many factors to take into consideration. Firstly, in a first language the differences are (66) as people learn their mother tongue naturally, so the question of how hard a language is to learn is only (67 ) when learning a second language.

A native speaker of Spanish, (68) , will find Portuguese much easier to learn than a native speaker of Chinese, because Portuguese is very similar to Spanish, (69) Chinese is very different. So first language can (70) learning a second language. The greater the differences between the second language and our first are, the (71) it will be for most people to learn. Many people answer that Chinese is the hardest language to learn, possibly (72) by the thought of learning the Chinese writing system, and the pronunciation of Chinese does appear to be very difficult for many foreign learners. (73) , for Japanese speakers, who already use Chinese characters in their own language, learning (74) will be less difficult than for speakers of languages using the Roman alphabet.

Some people seem to learn languages (75) , while others find it very difficult. Teachers and the (76) in which the language is learned also play an important role, as well as each learner’s motivation for learning. If people learn a language because they need to use it (77) , they often learn it faster than people studying a language that has no direct use in their day to day life.

(78) from different cultures will find different languages more difficult. No language is easy to learn well, (79) languages which are related to our first language are easier. Learning a completely different writing system is a huge (80) , but that does not necessarily make a language more difficult than another.

66. A. apparent B. extensive C. decline D. unimportant

67. A. relevant B. permanent C. essential D. progressive

68. A. by contrast B. in addition C. for example D. after all

69. A. when B. while C. where D. whether

70. A. affect B. achieve C. attach D. assemble

71. A. easier B. harder C. faster D. slower

72. A. inherited B. overtaken C. influenced D. restricted

73. A. However B. Moreover C. Therefore D. Anyhow

74. A. speaking B. listening C. reading D. writing

75. A. gradually B. steadily C. readily D.subconsciously

76. A. learners B. materials C. tutors D.circumstances

77. A. occasionally B. professionally C. properly D. informally

78. A. societies B. characters C. individuals D. visitors

79. A. as B. though C. because D. since

80. A. success B. surprise C. opportunity D. challenge

　　答案　66—70 DACBA 71—75 BCADC 76—80 DBCBD