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．

1．The word "hello" came from ______．

[　　]

A．an unknown origin　　 　B．old English

C．the German　　　　　　　D．the French

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

  [ ]

A．sounds sincere

B．is pleasant to the ear

C．sounds sincere

D．sounds awkward and unsuitable

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

[　　]

A．sound better

B．save the speakers time and energy

C．add varieties to the language

D．express the meaning more clearly

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

[　　]

A．to say "hello" to the caller

B．to say "hi" to the caller

C．to start talking immediately

D．to listen without saying anything

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

[　　]

A．Of course, there are other ways Americans greet one another

B．Laziness is a strong force in changing language

C．Not long age, people often said, "How are you?" when they first met someone

D．Then, someone thought that two syllables were too much and "hiyah" became "hi"