Reading
Questions
☐ A
☐ B
☐ C
☐ D
Reading 1/2:
A [1] Many high-school programs require students to take at least one foreign language course. [2] In the United States, however, it is sensible that some school districts are considering
changing this requirement. [3] Instead of having to learn French, Mandarin Chinese, or German, students would be able to earn school credits by studying a computer language such as
Python, C++, or Ruby as a practical action. [4] This proposal raises an interesting and important question: are computer languages and human languages even comparable?
There is no doubt that computer languages are completely human inventions. Yet some would still argue that despite their artificial nature, programming languages have much in common
with natural human languages. Like the latter, computer languages have their own grammar and vocabulary. In addition, just like human languages, computer code can be used to describe
different aspects of one thing. For example, in English, we could use the phrase "my books" to describe specific books, or just "books" when talking about them in general. Computer
languages can do much the same thing, telling the differences between specific and general objects of one kind. Finally, different programmers have their own styles, just as each person has
their own style of writing and speaking. As with good writing, well-written computer code should be easy to read and understand, while poorly-written code, like bad writing. requires more
effort from the reader.
Most language experts, however, would argue that computer languages are very different from human languages in many important ways. For one thing, most phrases or sentences in
human languages can have more than one meaning. depending on the context. Sometimes, the meaning of a person's words may be unclear and cause confusion, but this uncertainty also
gives language its life and emotional power. In contrast, a word or command in a computer language can only have one meaning. In English, the word "while" has several possible functions.
but in a computer language. "while" will only ever have one.
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One result of this is that the "grammar" of computer languages cannot be changed at all. When using language, people often make minor mistakes with grammar, vocabulary, or word order.
but these rarely cause misunderstanding or miscomprehension. In contrast, making even the smallest of errors in a computer program, such as forgetting a comma, will cause huge issues.
Sometimes the program will work, although in unexpected ways; much of the time, though, it will not run at all. In other words, even though computer programmers may develop their own
styles, they can never change the rules of the language they are working with. In contrast, human writers can play with rules and vocabulary to create new and wonderful phrases, with
Shakespeare perhaps being the best example. This is why human languages evolve and change over time, while computer languages basically stay the same.
So, should school-age students be able to learn a computer language instead of a foreign language? Perhaps the question does not need to be answered: Both kinds of languages are
important in today's society. but they focus on very different skills. To become a good programmer, one needs to be logical, literal, and good at problem-solving skills related more to math or
science than language. It is easy to appreciate that just because somebody is a great programmer, it does not mean they will be a good writer or public speaker. On the other hand, learning
a language, whether one's native tongue or a foreign language, is a different experience because learners gain cultural knowledge in addition to learning grammar and vocabulary.
Multiculturalism is a valuable skill in today's global world, but one that learning a programming language does not enhance.
1) What can be inferred from paragraph D?
A. Computer programmers find it difficult to change the rules of the language.
B. Human writers are more creative compared to code writers.
C. Unlike human languages, computer languages have strict rules, which cannot be modified.
D. Missing a comma is one of the most popluar errors in programming, causing serious problems.
2) According to paragraph B. which is NOT a shared features of human language and computer language?
A. Both can describe different aspects of one thing, distinguishing between specific and general objects.
B. Like human language, computer language can changed over time.
C. Both can reflect the individual styles of their users, such as writing or speaking styles.
D. Similar to human languages, programming languages also has structural rules
