(from: www.esldiscussions.com)

Arab countries have asked for Arabic to be an official language of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The only official languages of the WTO are English, French and Spanish. WTO spokesman Keith Rockwell told reporters that Kuwait made the request to the WTO. Members of the organization are discussing it now. However, the request may not be successful. It would cost about $43 million a year to hire translators. If the WTO adds Arabic, China would probably ask the WTO to add Chinese too.

It seems logical that Arabs want Arabic as a WTO language. More than 280 million people speak the language around the world. It is the world’s sixth most widely-spoken language. French isn’t even in the top ten. China has a good reason to ask for Chinese to be an official WTO language – there are over a billion Chinese speakers in the world. It may not be too long before the WTO languages change. The present three languages belong to a different time. Globalization means other countries are becoming more important.

TASKS FOR THE ARTICLE

 Ex.1. READING: Read and translate the article.

Ex.2. GAP FILL: Read the article and fill in the gaps.

Arab countries have asked for Arabic ____ language of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The only official ____ WTO are English, French and Spanish. WTO spokesman Keith Rockwell told reporters that Kuwait made the _____ WTO. Members of the organization are discussing it now. However, the request may ____. It ______ $43 million a year to hire translators. If the WTO adds Arabic, China ____ the WTO to add Chinese too.

It _____ Arabs want Arabic as a WTO language. More than 280 million people speak the language around the world. It is _____ most widely-spoken language. French isn’t even in the top ten. China has ______ ask for Chinese to be an official WTO language – _____ a billion Chinese speakers in the world. It ____ long before the WTO languages change. The present three languages ____ different time. Globalization means other countries are becoming more important.

Ex.3. PHRASE MATCH: Match the following phrases from the article.

Paragraph 1

Paragraph 2

Ex.4. MULTIPLE CHOICE: Put the correct words from this table into the article.

Arab countries have (1) ____ for Arabic to be an official language of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The only official languages of the WTO are English, French and Spanish. WTO (2) ____ Keith Rockwell told reporters that Kuwait (3) ____ the request to the WTO. Members of the organization are discussing it now. However, the request may not be (4) ____. It would cost about $43 million a year to (5) ____ translators. If the WTO adds Arabic, China would probably ask the WTO to add Chinese too.

It seems (6) ____ that Arabs want Arabic as a WTO language. More than 280 million people speak the language around the world. It is the world’s (7) ____ most widely-spoken language. French isn’t even in the top ten. China has a (8) ____ reason to ask for Chinese to be an official WTO language – there are over a billion Chinese speakers in the world. It may not be too long before the WTO languages change. The (9) ____ three languages belong to a (10) ____ time. Globalization means other countries are becoming more important.