Question

Societies all over the world name places in similar ways. Quite often there is no official naming ceremony but places tend to be called names as points of reference by people. Then an organized body steps in and gives the place a name. Frequently it happens that a place has two names: One is named by the people and the other by the government. As in many areas, old habits died hard, and the place continues to be called by its unofficial name long after the meaning is lost.

Many roads and places in Singapore（新加坡）are named in order that the pioneers will be remembered by future generations. Thus we have names such as Stamford Road and Raffles Place. This is in keeping with traditions in many countries ---- in both the West and the East.

Another way of naming places is naming them after other places. Perhaps they were named to promote friendships between the two places or it could be that the people who used to live there were originally from the places that the roads were named after. The mystery is clearer when we see some of the roads named in former British bases. If you step into Selector Airbase you will see Piccadilly Circus ---- obviously named by some homesick Royal Air Force personnel.

Some places were named after the activities that used to go on at those places. Bras Basah Road is an interesting example, “Base Basah” means “wet rice” in Malay（马来语）. Now why would anyone want to name a road “Wet Rice Road”? The reason is simple. During the pioneering days, wet rice was laid out to dry along this road.

A few roads in Singapore are named by their shapes. There is “Circular Road” for one. Other roads may have part of their names to describe their shapes, like “Paya Lebar Crescent”. This road is called a crescent（月牙） because it begins on the main road, makes a crescent and comes back to join the main road again.

1.We learn from Paragraph 1 that _____.

A. the government is usually the first to name a place

B. many places tend to have more than one name

C. a ceremony will be held when a place is named

D. people prefer the place names given by the government

2.What does the underlined phrase “die hard” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?

A. Change suddenly.             B. Change significantly.

C. Disappear mysteriously.        D. Disappear very slowly.

3.Which of the following places is named after a person?

A. Raffles Place.                B. Selector Airbase.

C. Piccadilly Circus.             D. Paya Lebar Crescent.

4.Bras Basah Road is named _______.

A. after a person      B. after a place   C. after an activity    D. by its shape

5.What can be inferred from the passage?

A. Some place names in Singapore are the same as in Britain.

B. Some places in Singapore are named for military purposes.

C. The way Singaporeans name their places is unique.

D. Young Singaporeans have forgotten the pioneers. 

 

Answer 1

【答案】

 

1.B

2.D

3.A

4.C

5.A

【解析】

试题分析：本文议论世界上不同地区的人们以类似的方式为地点命名，如：以先驱者的名字命名；以其他地点的名字命名；以活动的名称命名；以形状命名等。

1.推理判断题。从第一段第四句Frequently it happens that a place has two names：One is named...推论可知许多地方不只有一个名字，故选B。

2.词义猜测题。从die hard后句．..and the place continues to be called by its unofficial name long after the meaning is lost.的意思可判断die hard的词义应为：消失得很慢。故选D。

3.细节理解题。根据第二段的第一句(特别是pioneers“先驱者”一词)和第二句的内容得知：Raffles Place应是指先驱者的名字。故选A。

4.细节理解题。根据第四段第一句和第二句内容很明确地判断：Bras Basah是活动名称。故选C。

5.推理判断题。从第三段最后一句可知。Piccadilly Circus皮卡迪利广场(即伦敦戏院及娱乐中心)。故选A。

考点：文化类短文阅读。