Etymology, the study of words and word roots, may sound like the kind of thing done by boring librarians in small, dusty rooms. Yet etymologists actually have a uniquely interesting job. They are in many ways just like archaeologists (考古学家) digging up the physical history of people and events. The special aspect of etymology is that it digs up history, so to speak, through the words and phrases that are left behind.

The English language, in particular, is a great field to explore history through words As a language, English has an extraordinary number of words. This is partly due to its ability to adapt foreign words so readily. For example, " English" words such as kindergarten (from German), croissant (from French), and cheetah (from Hindi) have become part of the language with little or no change from their original sounds and spellings. So English-language etymologists have a vast world of words to explore.

Another enjoyable thing about etymology for most word experts is solving word mysteries(谜). No, etymologists do not go around solving murders, like the great detective Sherlock Holmes. What these word experts solve are mysterious origins of some of our most common words

One of the biggest questions English language experts have pursued is how English came to have the phrase OK. Though it is one of the most commonly used expressions, its exact beginning is a puzzle even to this day. Even its spelling is not entirely consistent-unless you spell it Okay, it is hard even to call it a word.

Etymologists have been able to narrow OK’s origin down to a likely, although not certain, source(来源). It became widely used around the time of Martin Van Buren's run for president in 1840. His nickname was Old Kinderhook. What troubles word experts about this explanation is that the phrase appeared in some newspapers before Van Buren became well known. It is likely that Van Buren could be called its primary source Etymologists will doubtlessly keep searching for the initial source. However, it is clear that OK’s popularity and reputation have topped those of the American president to whom it has been most clearly linked.

1.The author mentions the words like "croissant" in Paragraph 2 to indicate

A. words have changed a lot in the two languages

B. what English-language etymologists are exploring now

C. English has absorbed many words from other foreign languages

D. the English vocabulary is difficult to the non-English-speaking people

2.The underlined word "pursued" in Paragraph 4 means

A. looked upon B. dug up

C. put in D. set down

3.We can learn from the passage that etymologists

A. discover the possible origin of words

B. help detectives to solve mysterious murders

C. write interesting stories for some newspapers

D. explore the English language as well as the recent events

4.What is the main purpose of the passage?

A. To present the history of English words

B. To explain the procedure of an etymologist's job

C. To introduce the pleasure of the study of words and word roots.

D. To teach readers how to distinguish English and non-English words

I was never very neat, while my roommate Kate was extremely organized. Each of her objects had its place, but mine always hid somewhere. She even labeled(贴标签) everything. I always looked for everything. Over time, Kate got neater and I got messier. She would push my dirty clothing over, and I would lay my books on her tidy desk. We both got tired of each other.

War broke out one evening. Kate came into the room. Soon, I heard her screaming, “Take your shoes away! Why under my bed!” Deafened, I saw my shoes flying at me. I jumped to my feet and started yelling. She yelled back louder.

The room was filled with anger. We could not have stayed together for a single minute but for a phone call. Kate answered it. From her end of the conversation, I could tell right away her grandma was seriously ill. When she hung up, she quickly crawled(爬)under her covers, sobbing. Obviously, that was something she should not go through alone. All of a sudden, a warm feeling of sympathy rose up in my heart.

Slowly, I collected the pencils, took back the books, made my bed, cleaned the socks and swept the floor, even on her side. I got so into my work that I even didn’t notice Kate had sat up. She was watching, her tears dried and her expression one of disbelief. Then, she reached out her hands to grasp mine. I looked up into her eyes. She smiled at me, “Thanks.”

Kate and I stayed roommates for the rest of the year. We didn’t always agree, but we learned the key to living together: giving in, cleaning up and holding on.

1.What made Kate so angry one evening?

A. She couldn’t find her books.

B. She heard the author shouting loud.

C. She got the news that her grandma was ill.

D. She saw the author’s shoes beneath her bed.

2.The author tidied up the room most probably because______________.

A. She was scared by Kate’s anger.

B. She hated herself for being so messy

C. She wanted to show her care

D. She was asked by Kate to do so

3.How is Paragraph 1 mainly developed?

A. By analyzing分析 causes.

B. By showing differences.

C. By describing a process过程.

D. By following time order.

4.What might be the best title for the story?

A. My Friend Kate B. Hard Work Pays Off

C. How to Be Organized D. Learning to Be Roommates

阅读下面短文,掌握其大意。然后从21--40各题所给的四个选项中,选出最佳选项

I wished I had known earlier the fact that I was a low achiever because there was a reason beyond my control. Then I have worked so hard in my late twenties and early thirties. But I just didn’t that. I was writing and writing. I was working for no other reason than to hear people praise me.

Most people who university read at least twice as fast as I do. I can never tell my left my right. I avoid dialing a telephone if I can help it, because I sometimes have to try three times before getting the number . I hear that recording “The number you have reached is not ” more than any man on earth.

Despite my I view my dyslexia(difficulty in reading) as a gift, not a curse(诅咒). Many dyslexics are good at right brain, namely abstract thought ,and that is my king of creative writing is. I’m starting with and coming up with something that didn’t exist before. That’s my strong point. I my career to Ralph, Salisbury, my writing instructor at the university of Oregon, who looked past my misspellings and gave me and hope. I just carried on and never looked . I’m also very“visual”(视觉的).This means nothing in school, but when I write books or scripts, I’m seeing everything in my imagination. I write . I go like the wind and can up to 15 pages a day. Writing is not the . I have no problem downloading; it is inputting things get messed up.

The real I have for dyslexics is not that they have to with messy input, but that they will quit on themselves before they finish school. Parents have to create victories whenever they can, it is music, sports or the arts. You want your dyslexic child to be able to say, “Yeah, reading is . But I have these other things I can do.”

1.A. cant’t B. needn’t C. nustn’t D. oughtn’t

2.A .notice B.understand C.know D.recognize

3.A.get over B.go for C.get along D.go through

4.A.from B.between C.to D.on

5.A.well B.down C.right D.clear

6.A.in service B.in need C.on line D.on duty

7.A.mistakes B.weaknesses C.faults D.difficulties

8.A.when B.why C.how D.what

9.A.something B.nothing C.everything D.anything

10.A.attach B.devote C.owe D.thank

11.A.adjustment B.acknowledgment C.requirement D.encouragement

12.A.ahead B.out C.back D.forward

13.A.frequently B.regulary C.neatly D.quickly

14.A.get B.do C.live D.pick

15.A.point B.problem C.reason D.purpose

16.A.where B.that C.how D.what

17.A.experience B.story C.fear D.advice

18.A.compete B.struggle C.handle D.go

19.A.whether B.unless C.either D.until

20.A.necessary B.easy C.wonderful D.hard

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