“What’s in a name?”According to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet,there is not too much.“That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”But Shakespeare may have been wrong.In most cultures,names matter a great deal.

Americans choose names for their children with care.Parents usually think about the impression a name gives,not its meaning.Most Americans would consider a“Jennifer”more attractive than a “Bertha”,for example.The last name,or,surname,must also be considered when choosing a first and middle name.A name like Lester Chester Hester would sound poetic,but odd.Parents would avoid names that remind them of people they don’t like.On the other hand,people might name their children after a respected elderly relative or even a famous person.The popularity of certain names can change with each new generation.Names that were once common,like Fanny or Elmer,sound old-fashioned today.But other names—like John and David,Mary and Sarah—have stood the test of time and continue to be favorites.

People in Ameica don’t always call their friends and relatives by their given names.Instead,they often use nicknames.Sometimes nicknames are short forms of a longer name.For instance,a girl named Elizabeth may be called Lisa,Beth or Betsy.As children grow up,they may decide for themselves which nickname they wish to be called.Some people just go by the initials of their first and middle names,like B.J.or R.C.And of course,people may call their children or their sweethearts other special nicknames.Often they have a “sweet” flavor,like Honey or Sugar.What’s in a name? A world of significance.So if you’re choosing an English name for yourself,take care to choose a good one.Amade-up name could sound strange to native English speakers.And a translation of your Chinese name may not make an appropriate name,either.But a good name can leave a positive and lasting impression.As an American politician once said,“In real life,unlike in Shakespeare,the sweetness of the rose depends upon the name it bears.”

1.What does the underlined sentence in paragraph 2 mean?

A.People change names in order to be popular with the new generation.

B.Names will change by themselves in order to be popular.

C.Some names may no longer be popular among the new generation.

D.No names can stand the test of time.

2.When choosing names,you should stick to the following principles except that_________.

A.the impression a name gives is more important than its meaning

B.you can name after a well-known person

C.surname should be paid attention to

D.you can create a name that is special

3.The word “initial” in paragraph 3 probably means_________.

A.nickname            B.the first letter        C.short form        D.title

4.The author will name a newly born baby girl             .

A.Bertha               B.Fanny             C.Yunyun          D.Elizabeth

5.What is the main idea of this passage?

A.Names have great significance to Americans.    

B.Names change when time goes by.

C.Chinese people should be careful when choosing their English names.

D.Roses smell sweet by any other name.

 

Can you understand the beginning of this essay?

“My smmr hols wr CWOTT. B4, we usd 2go2 NY 2C my bro, his GF & 3 kds FTF.”

The Scottish teacher who received it in class had no idea what the girl who wrote it meant. The essay was written in a form of English used in cell phone text messages. Text messages (also called SMS2) through cell phones became very popular in the late 1990s. At first, mobile phone companies thought that text messaging would be a good way to send messages to customers, but customers quickly began to use the text messaging service to send messages to each other. Teenagers in particular enjoyed using text messaging, and they began to create a new language for messages called texting.

A text message is limited to 160 characters, including letters, spaces, and numbers, so messages must be kept short. In addition, typing on the small keypad of a cell phone is difficult, so it’s common to make words shorter. In texting, a single letter or number can represent a word, like “r” for “are,” “u” for “you,” and “2” for “to.” Several letters can also represent a phrase, like “lol” for “laughing out loud.” Another characteristic of texting is the leaving out of letters in a word, like spelling “please” as “pls.”

Some parents and teachers worry that texting will make children bad spellers and bad writers. The student who wrote the essay at the top of this page said writing that way was more comfortable for her. (The essay said, “My summer holidays were a complete waste of time. Before, we used to go to New York to see my brother, his girlfriend, and their three kids face to face.”)

Not everyone agrees that texting is a bad thing. Some experts say languages always evolve, and this is just another way for English to change. Other people believe texting will disappear soon. New technology for voice messages may soon make text messages a thing of the past.

1.What is the writer’s opinion of text messaging?

A. It is fun and easy to do.

B. It is not bad for children.

C. It will make children bad writers.

D. The writer does not give an opinion.

2.Which characteristic of texting is NOT described in the passage?

A. Using phrases to represent essays

B. Using numbers to represent words

C. Using letters to represent phrases

D. Using letters to represent words

3.Which of the following was most probably the title of the student’s essay?

A. My Gr8 Tchr          B. CU in LA          C. My GF        D. My Smmr Hols

4.  Why do some people think that texting is bad?

    A. It costs too much.                           B. It’s too difficult to type.

    C. Children won’t learn to write correctly.          D. It’s not comfortable.

5.Why aren’t some people worried about the effect of texting?

A. Not many people use texting.

B. Spelling in English is too difficult.

C. Children quickly become bored with texting.

D. Texting will disappear because of new technology.

 

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