阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D四个选项中， 选出最佳选项。
A
As more Europeans arrived in America 500 years ago，they were in such great need of the land that they and the native American Indians battled constantly.By the end of the 19th century, most Indian tribes(部落)were moved to reservations.A lot of their children were taken away to boarding schools to learn to speak English.By the end of the 20th century, more than half of the Native Americans in the US were living in cities.They gave up speaking their old tribal language and only used English.As a result，many Native American languages disappeared with their culture.
Today some American Indian languages are usually spoken by the older members of the tribes who still live on the reservations.In North America there are 150－170 languages that have at least one speaker.One ancient language spoken by the Northern Paiute tribe has over 100 speakers.
But the good news is that some of these people are keeping their culture and language alive.They are also receiving help from the National Geographic Society's Enduring Voices Project，whose aim is to help languages around the world which are dying out.The team meets these “last speakers”．The experts interview them and they are recorded with videos, pictures and so on. They also tell old stories which are written down in English so people can learn more about the cultures.
Recording the language and culture is only part of the project.The next stage is to pass on the language to the next generation.The Salish tribe is an excellent example of how schools can help.The tribe lives on the Flathead Indian Reservation in Montana.Their language is spoken by about 50 people aged over 75.So now, the local people have set up a school.It has 30 students aged two to twelve during the day and there are also courses for adults in the evening.
( B )21．Why did Europeans fight with the American Indians?
A．To live in American cities.
B．To occupy more living space.
C．To have Indians speak English.
D．To make Indian cultures disappear.
( D )22．What does the underlined word “They” refer to in Paragraph 3?
A．The experts.
B．The recordings.
C．The Indian cultures.
D．The last speakers.
( C )23．What can be the suitable title for the text?
A．Learning American Indian Languages
B．Researching on American Indian Languages
C．Saving American Indian Languages
D．Finding Lost American Indian Languages
答案及解析：
【语篇解读】美洲印第安人的语言和文化正在逐渐消失，为了传承这些语言和文化，专家们和印第安人部落正在采取措施，比如将印第安人的语言录制下来，开办学校教授这些语言等。
21．B 细节理解题。根据第一段中的“As more Europeans…they were in such great need of the land that they and the native American Indians battled constantly”可知，欧洲人是为了获得更多的生存空间，才会不停地与美洲印第安人打仗。
22．D 词义猜测题。本句前面谈到能讲美洲当地语言的人很少了，专家们就采访能说这些语言的人，并录像或拍照保存下来；本句是说“这批最后的语言使用者”还讲述自己文化中古老的故事，这些故事被用英语记载下来，以便让更多的人了解他们的文化。可见这里的“They”指代的是前面谈到的“Last speakers”。
23．C 标题归纳题。本文主要谈到了美洲印第安人的语言在逐渐消失，专家们和印第安人部落正在采取措施保护这些语言。故选C。
