众所周知，在美国留学生活要不会英语可不行，但最近有一个新闻却让人大跌眼镜：原来英语不是美国官方语言?这是怎么回事?我们的新托福考试阅读练习资料会给你答案。

　　Two conservative Republican lawmakers, Congressman Steve King (R-Iowa) and Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), introduced the English Language Unity Act of 2011 on Friday, a bill that requires that all official United States government functions be conducted in English.

　　美国共和党众议员Steve King和参议员Jim Inhofe最近提案(the English Language Unity Act of 2011)，要将英语定为美国政府的官方工作语言。

　　"A common language is the most powerful unifying force known throughout history," King said in a release. "We need to encourage assimilation of all legal immigrants in each generation. A nation divided by language cannot pull together as effectively as a people."

　　King说：“历史上拥有最强的凝聚力的无疑就是统一的语言，我们要促进合法移民尽快融入美国社会。一个语言众多纷乱的国家无法团结一致。”

　　Added Inhofe: "This legislation will provide much-needed commonality among United States citizens, regardless of heritage. As a nation built by immigrants, it is important that we share one vision and one official language."

　　Inhofe补充道：“这项立案将在不同文化背景的美国公民间建立起共通性。美国这样拥有很多移民的国家，更加需要一种统一的官方语言和目标。”

　　In response to the measure, Democratic Rep. Jose Serrano of New York addressed reporters in Spanish Friday, asking them, "como esta?" (That's Spanish for "how are you?") He said the bill reflects a non-issue that nonetheless comes up every once in a while.

　　纽约的民主党众议员Jose Serrano唱起了反调，在周五的记者会上用西班牙语向大家问好。他说这项议案完全毫无意义，而这种东西每隔一段时间就会有人拿出来炒冷饭。

　　Serrano added that while it's natural for grandparents speak Spanish, second generations are completely bilingual. With the third generation, he said, the grandmother is always complaining about the kids' Spanish and why they don't play soccer.

　　Serrano说上一辈的移民或许只会讲西班牙语，但年轻一代差不多都是讲双语的。上一辈的人会对年轻人糟糕的西班牙语表示不满，不明白他们为什么不玩足球，不沿袭自己的传统。

　　According to the advocacy group U.S. English, Inc., more than 700 members of Congress have co-sponsored or voted for measures on making English the official U.S. government language dating back to 1981. The English Language Unity Act attracted 140 co-sponsors when introduced in the last Congress.

　　倡导学英语的组织U.S. English, Inc.统计表明，自1981年起，有超过700名国会成员参与共同提案或同意将英语定为美国的官方语言。上一次同样的议案在国会赢得了140人的共同提案。