英語四級基礎(chǔ)閱讀訓(xùn)練 Text 19

Text 19

How men first learnt to invent words is unknown; in other words, the origin of language is a mystery. All we really know is that men, unlike animals, somehow invented certain sound to express thoughts and feelings, actions and things, so that they could communicate with each other; and that later they agreed upon certain signs, called letters, which could be combined to represent those sounds, and which could be written down. Those sounds, whether spoken or written in letters, we call words.

The power of words, then, lies in their associations — the things they bring up before our minds. Words become filled with meaning for us by experience; and the longer we live, the more certain words recall to us the glad and sad events of our past; and the more we read and learn, the more the number of words that mean something to us increases.

Great writers are those who not only have great thoughts but also express these thoughts in words which appeal powerfully to our minds and emotions. This charming use of words is what we call literary style. Above all, the real poet is a master of words. He can convey his meaning in words which sing like music, and which by their position and association can move men to tears. We should therefore learn to choose our words carefully and use them accurately, or they will make our speech silly and dull.

1.The origin of language is_______.

A.a legend handed down from the past　　B.a matter that is hidden secretly

C.a question difficult to answer　　　　　D.a problem not yet solved

2.One of the reasons why men invented certain sounds to express thoughts and actions was that_______.

A.they could agree upon certain signs　　　　B.they could write them down

C.they could communicate with each other　　D.they could combine them

3.What is true about the words?

A.They are used to express feelings only.　　　B.They can not be written down.

C.They are simply sounds.　　　　　　　　　D.They are mysterious.

4.In expressing their thoughts, great writers are able_______.

A.to confuse the readers　　B.to move men to tears

C.to move our actions　　　D.to puzzle our feelings

5.Which of the following statements about the real poet is NOT true?

A.He is no more a master of words than an ordinary person.

B.He can convey his ideas in words which sing like music.

C.He can move men to tears.

D.His style is always charming.

長難例句分析

［長難例句］All we really know is that men, unlike animals, somehow invented certain sound to express thoughts and feelings, actions and things, so that they could communicate with each other; and that later they agreed upon certain signs, called letters, which could be combined to represent those sounds, and which could be written down.

［結(jié)構(gòu)分析］本句是主系表結(jié)構(gòu)，all we really know是主語，is是系動詞，that引導(dǎo)的從句作表語。在表語從句中，主干是men...invented...，so that they communicate...and that they agreed upon...which...。主語是men，謂語動詞是invented，接下來的不定式to...作目的狀語，后面so that引導(dǎo)的是兩個并列的目的狀語從句，其中第二個從句中，which引導(dǎo)的非限定定語從句修飾名詞 letters。

［參考譯文］我們只知道人類，不像動物，設(shè)法創(chuàng)造了某個音來表達(dá)思想和感情、行為和事物，因此他們能夠互相交流；而且后來他們對某些符號達(dá)成一致意見，這些符號被稱為字母，它們可以連在一起代表那些音，而且可以用筆記錄下來。

［長難例句］...the longer we live, the more certain words recall to us the glad and sad events of our past.

［結(jié)構(gòu)分析］本句是the more...the more...結(jié)構(gòu)。

［參考譯文］……而且我們活得越長，就有更多的一些詞讓我們回想起過去的悲傷與快樂。

［長難例句］Great writers are those who not only have great thoughts but also express these thoughts in words which appeal powerfully to our minds and emotions.

［結(jié)構(gòu)分析］本句的主干是Great writers are those...，who引導(dǎo)關(guān)系從句修飾those，在這個關(guān)系從句中，which引導(dǎo)的關(guān)系從句用來修飾in的賓語words。

［參考譯文］偉大的作家是那些不但有偉大的思想而且能用強(qiáng)烈感染我們思想感情的詞語把這些思想表達(dá)出來的人。

全文參考譯文

人類最開始時是如何學(xué)會創(chuàng)造詞語的尚未可知，換句話說，語言的起源是個謎。我們僅僅知道人類，不像動物，想法創(chuàng)造了某個音來表達(dá)思想感情、行為和事物，因此他們能夠互相交流；并且后來他們對某些符號達(dá)成一致意見，這些符號被稱為字母，它們可以連在一起代表那些音，而且可以用筆記錄下來。這些音，不管是口述的還是用字母寫下來的，我們都稱之為詞。

詞的力量存在于它們所引起的聯(lián)系——它們能使我們大腦憶起的事物。伴著經(jīng)驗的增長，對于我們來說詞充滿意義，而且我們活得越長，就有更多的一些詞讓我們回想起過去的悲傷與快樂；我們讀得越多，學(xué)得越多，就會知道更多對我們有意義的詞。

偉大的作家是那些不但有偉大的思想而且能用強(qiáng)烈感染我們思想感情的詞語把這些思想表達(dá)出來的人。我們把這種對詞語巧妙的使用稱之為文學(xué)風(fēng)格。真正的詩人尤其是語言大師。他可以用那些唱起來像音樂般的詞語表達(dá)他的意思，這些詞語被安置的位置以及它們所帶來的聯(lián)想能讓人感動得落淚。因此我們應(yīng)該學(xué)會慎重地選擇我們所用的詞語并準(zhǔn)確地使用它們，不然的話，它們會讓我們的談吐變得愚蠢而又無聊。

題目答案與解析

1.人類語言的起源是_________。

A.從過去流傳下來的傳說　　B.秘密隱藏起的事情

C.一個難于回答的問題　　　D.一個還沒得到解決的問題

【答案】D

【解析】本題的依據(jù)是文章第一段的第一句How men first learnt to invent words is unknown; in other words, the origin of language is a mystery. 從中可知D項是正確答案。

2.人類發(fā)明用某種聲音表達(dá)思想和行動的原因之一是_________。

A.他們可以就某些信號達(dá)成一致　　B.他們可以寫下來

C.他們可以互相交流　　　　　　　D.他們可以將它們結(jié)合起來

【答案】C

【解析】本題可參照第一段的第二句，從so that所引導(dǎo)的狀語從句so that they could communicate with each other可知，C項為正確答案。

3.下面關(guān)于詞的說法中哪個正確？

A.它們僅僅被用來表達(dá)感情?！　.它們不能被寫下來。

C.它們僅僅是聲音。　　　　　　D.它們是神秘的。

【答案】C

【解析】本題的依據(jù)是第一段的最后一句話Those sounds, whether spoken or written in letters, we call words. 從中可知，C項為正確答案。A項不對，因為原文提過express thoughts and feelings, actions and things。B項中的not使這一選項與文中的事實相反，D項文中沒有提及，原文只說過語言的起源是mysterious，而不是語言本身。

4.當(dāng)表達(dá)他們思想的時候，偉大的作家能_________。

A.使讀者迷惑　　　　B.使人們感動得流淚

C.改變我們的行動　　D.迷惑我們的感覺

【答案】B

【解析】本題可參照文章的最后一段。從中可知，一位真正的詩人能使人們感動得流淚，因此B項為正確答案。

5.以下關(guān)于一位真正詩人的描述中不正確的是哪一項？

A.與其說他是個語言大師，不如說他是個普通人。

B.他可以用歌唱般的語言來表達(dá)思想。

C.他可以使人感動得流淚。

D.他的風(fēng)格總是很迷人。

【答案】A

【解析】本題可參照文中最后一段的第三句Above all, the real poet is a master of words，A項與之不符，因此A項為正確答案。