Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.

Over the past 600 years English has evolved from a language of few speakers to the dominant language ofinternational communication. English as we know it today emerged around 1350, after having combined many elements of French that were introduced following the Norman invasion of 1066. Until the 1600s, English was for the most part, spoken only in England and had not expanded even as far as Wales. Scotland, or Ireland. However, during the course of the next two centuries. English began missionary work. Thus, small enclaves or English speakers became established and grew in various parts of the world. As these communities expanded, English gradually became the primary language of international business, banking, and diplomacy.

Currently, about 80% of the information stored on computer systems worldwide is in English: Two- thirds of the world’s science writing is in English, and English is the main language of technology, advertising, media, international airport, and air traffic controllers. Today, there are more than 700 million English users in the world and over half of these are non-native speakers, forming the largest number of non-native users than any other language in the world.

36. Approximately when did English emerge?

A. Before 1600           B. Around 1350          C. After 1600              D. In 1060

37. In the first paragraph, the word “grew” is closest in meaning to _____________.

A. raised                      B. widened                 C. changed                  D. went up

38. According to the passage, English gradually became the main language of.

A. International business                                B. teaching

C. communication                                           D. tourism

39. According to the passage, approximately how many non-native users of English are there in the world today?

A. A quarter million    B. 700 million             C. 350 million             D. Haifa million

40. What is the main idea of the passage?

A. The expansion of English as an international language

B. The me of English for science and technology

C. The French influence on the English language

D. The number of non-native users of English