Find the words or expressions for each of the following meanings from the text.

A.________ who or what somebody or something is

B.________ a word for gas in British English

C.________ not sudden

D.________ in fact

E.________ the second of two things or people already mentioned

F.________ often

G.________ long trip by sea or in space

H.________ able to speak or write a language well

The other group is to report their prevision of the warming-up part.

【设计意图】该环节的设计意图是检查学生对前两个课前预习任务的完成情况。

2. Look at the title of the passage and guess what it is about. Then read it quickly and see if you are right.

【设计意图】通过标题对课文内容进行预测，培养学生预测阅读内容的能力。同时通过预测激起进一步探究的好奇心，顺理成章的引入新课。

Step 2 Fast reading（速读）

Read the passage quickly and decide whether the statements are true or false and explain why, using skimming and scanning skills.

1) English had the most speakers in the 17th century. ( )

2) English developed when new settlers and rulers came to Britain. ( )

3) Languages frequently change. ( )

4) The language of the government is always the language of the country. ( )

5) English is one of the official languages used in India. ( )

6) This reading describes the development of the English language. ( )