Choose the correct answers to complete the passage. English is a Germanic language that originated (31) …………………England. It is also a (32) …………………language in the other home countries of the United Kingdom, in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, and (33) …………………other countries. 380 million people speak English as their first language. English has “lingua franca” status in many parts of the world (34) …………………the military, economic, scientific, political and cultural influence of the “British Empire” in the 18th and 19th centuries and (35) …………………of the “United States” from the mid 20th century to the present. The global influence of English comes from cinema, music, airlines, broadcasting, science, and the Internet in recent decades. English is now the most widely learned (36) …………………language in the world. Many students worldwide need to learn some English and business English is (37) …………………in many fields and occupations. Because people speak and learn English everywhere, the language is considered a “(38) …………………language.” It is also, by international (39) …………………, the official language for aircraft/airport communication. Its acceptance as a first or second language is the main indication of its global (40) …………………. 31. A. in                             B. to                                   C. from                              D. for 32. A. fundamental           B. essential                        C. native                            D. natural 33. A. numerical               B. numeric                        C. numeral                         D. numerous 34. A. although                  B. because of                     C. because                         D. despite 35. A. what                        B. which                            C. this                                D. that 36. A. primary                   B. official                          C. first                               D. second 37. A. required                  B. confirmed                     C. commanded                  D. offered 38. A. global                      B. modern                         C. national                         D. regional 39. A. policy                      B. treaty                            C. terms                             D. treatment 40. A. scale                        B. strategy                         C. status                             D. situation