They understand each other through the U.N. interpreters. Some of the interprete

Theyunderstand each other through the U.N. interpreters. Some of theinterpreters speak as many as ten languages. But they all must know at leastthree of the official languages.

   All of the2,026 seats in the General Assembly Hall are equipped with earphones. Theearphones are attached to the sides of the seats. At each seat there is a boxthat has a switch with numbers on it. There is a number for each of the sixofficial languages and one for the speaker. By turning the switch, the listenercan hear either the speaker or the translations into any of six languages;Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

   Now imaginethat a meeting is going on. Some of the delegates(代表)speakonly English. Others only French or Spanish. Still others speak only Russian orChinese. How can they understand each other?

   By usingthe earphones and listening to the amusing interpreters!

   Theinterpreters sit in glass-walled, sound-proof booths(隔音的单个小间)lookingover the Assembly Hall. They listen to each speaker and translate what he saysalmost immediately. They speak into microphone connected to the earphones atthe listeners’ seats.

   How doesthis work?

   Let’s say adelegate at the meeting is talking in Russian. The French delegate doesn’tunderstand Russian. So he turns the switch at his seat to the number forFrench. At once he hears the Russian speech translated into French.

   Theinterpreters must be very good indeed. They must be able to hear someonetalking and in a matter of seconds translate what he has said.

1. Thetest is mainly about   .

A. theinterpreters who work at the U.N.

B. thedelegates who hold meetings at the U.N.

C. howpeople at the U.N. understand each other

D. howpeople work at the U.N.

2. Theunderlined word “interpreters” refers to       .

A. 勤杂人员  B.联络人员

C. 口译人员  D. 笔译人员

3. Theinterpreters must speak at least   official languages.

A.2    B. 3    C. 6    D. 10

4. Ifyou speak only Chinese and the delegate is talking in French, how can youunderstand what he has said?

A. Tryyour best to learn French

B. Askothers who understand it

C.Turn the switch to the number for French

D. Usethe earphone and listen to the interpreters.

5.Suppose you work at the U.N. as an interpreter, so you must   .

A. bean American citizen

B. beable to translate what the delegate has said almost at once

C. bewith listeners together

D. knowArabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish

试题答案

答案：1C2C3B4D5B