阅读理解:

  The word "hello" is probably used more often than any other one in the English language Everybody in the United States and elsewhere uses the word, again and again, every day of the week

  The first thing you hear when you pick up the phone is "hello" unless the caller is an Englishman, who might say, "Are you there?"

  Where did the word come from? There are all sorts of beliefs Some say it came from the French, "ho" and "la" "Ho, there!" This greeting may have arrived in England during the Norman Conquest in the year 1066

  "Ho, there" slowly became something that sounded like "hallow", often heard in the 1300's, during the days of the English poet ,Geoffrey Chaucer

  Two hundred years later, in Shakespeare's time, "hallow" had become "halloo" And later, sounds like "halloa", and "halloo" were often used by sailors and huntsmen "Halloo" is still used today by foxhunters

  As time passed, "halloo" and "halloa" changed into "hullo" And during the 1800's this was how people greeted each other in America

  The American inventor, Thomas Alva Edison, is believed to be the first person to use "hello" in the late 1800's, soon after the invention of the telephone

  At first, people had greeted each other on the telephone with "Are you there?" They were not sure the new instrument could really carry voices

  Tom Edison, however, was a man of few words He wasted no time The first time he picked up the phone he did not ask if anyone was there He was sure someone was, and simply said, "Hello"

  From that time on only about 100 years ago, the "hullo" became "hello", as it is heard today

  Strangely enough, when the first telephone system was put in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1878, people did not say "hello" or "hullo" or even "halloo" They answered the phone the way sailors hail a ship, "Ahoy, anoy there!" Thank God, that telephone greeting did not last long

  Of course, there are other ways Americans greet one another Not long ago, people often said, "How are you ?" when they first met someone This later became "hiyah" Then, someone thought that two syllables were too much and "hiyah" became "hi" Laziness is a strong force in changing language

  Answering a telephone call in America still presents problems, however Telephone companies think that Thomas Edison's short "hello" is too long Why waste time? The phone companies say Simply pick up the phone, give your name, and start talking

1The word "hello" came from ______

[  ]

Aan unknown origin    Bold English

Cthe German       Dthe French

2The writer thinks that, if used on the telephone, "Ahoy" is a word that ______

  [ ]

Asounds sincere

Bis pleasant to the ear

Csounds sincere

Dsounds awkward and unsuitable

3Expressions like "hello" and "hi" have entered the English language because short words ______

[  ]

Asound better

Bsave the speakers time and energy

Cadd varieties to the language

Dexpress the meaning more clearly

4According to telephone companies, the best way to answer a telephone call is ______

[  ]

Ato say "hello" to the caller

Bto say "hi" to the caller

Cto start talking immediately

Dto listen without saying anything

5The topic sentence in the last but one paragraph is " ______ "

[  ]

AOf course, there are other ways Americans greet one another

BLaziness is a strong force in changing language

CNot long age, people often said, "How are you?" when they first met someone

DThen, someone thought that two syllables were too much and "hiyah" became "hi"

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