Question

Usually, when your teacher asks a question, there is only one correct answer. But there is one question that has millions of correct answers. That question is “What’s your name?” Everyone gives a different answer, but everyone is correct.

Have you ever wondered about people’s names? Where do they come from? What do they mean?

People’s first names, or given names, are chosen by their parents. Sometimes the name of a grandparent or other member of the family is used. Some parents choose the name of a well-known person. A boy could be named George Washington Smith; a girl could be named Helen Keller Jones.

Some people give their children names that mean good things. Clara means “bright”; Beatrice means “one who gives happiness”; Donald means “world ruler”; Leonard means “as brave as a lion”.

The earliest last names, or surnames, were taken from place names. A family with the name Brook or Brooks probably lived near a brook (小溪); someone who was called Longstreet probably lived on a long, paved road. The Greenwood family lived in or near a leafy forest.

Other early surnames came from people’s occupations. The most common occupational name is Smith, which means a person who makes things with iron or other metals. In the past, smiths were very important workers in every town and village. Some other occupational names are: Carter—a person who owned or drove a cart; Potter—a person who made pots and pans.

The ancestors of the Baker family probably baked bread for their neighbors in their native village. The Carpenter’s great-great-great-grandfather probably built houses and furniture.

Sometimes people were known for the color of their hair or skin, or their size, or their special abilities. When there were two men who were named John in the same village, the John with gray hair probably became John Gray. Or the John who was very tall could call himself John Tallman. John Fish was probably an excellent swimmer and John Lightfoot was probably a fast runner or a good dancer.

Some family names were made by adding something to the father’s name. English-speaking people added –s or –son. The Johnsons are descendants of John; the Roberts family’s ancestor was Robert. Irish and Scottish people added Mac or Mc or O. Perhaps all of the MacDonnells and the O’Donnells are descendants of the same Donnell.

1. Which of the following aspects do the surnames in the passage NOT cover?

A. Places where people lived.                      B. People’s characters.

C. Talents that people possessed.               D. People’s occupations.

2.According to the passage, the ancestors of the Potter family most probably _______.

A. owned or drove a cart                                  B. made things with metals

C. made kitchen tools or containers.     D. built houses and furniture.

3.Suppose an English couple whose ancestors lived near a leafy forest wanted their new-born son to become a world leader, the baby might be named ________.

A. Beatrice Smith                                        B. Leonard Carter     

C. George Longstreet                                   D. Donald Greenwood

Answer

1.B

2.C

3.D

【解析】

试题分析：你知道人类名字的来源和意义吗？ 人的名字由他们的父母选择。有时用祖父母或者其他的家庭成员的名字。一些家长选择的一个著名的人的名字。有些人给他们的孩子的名字的意思是美好的东西。 最早的姓氏来自地名。 其他早期的姓氏来自人们的工作。人们有时会用一些人的头发和皮肤的颜色，或个头大小，或其特殊能力特点来命名。孩子通过给父姓添加一些什么得来。说英语的人加–s或–son。 爱尔兰和苏格兰人加Mac 或者Mc或者O。

1.推理判断题。根据文中介绍可知，最早的姓氏来自1.人们生活的地点；2.人们的工作；3.与他们的特殊能力有关。没说人的姓与人的性格有关。故选B项。

2.细节理解题。根据Potter—a person who made pots and pans.（Potter是一个制作锅的人。）

可知选C 。

3. 推理判断 题。根据The Greenwood family lived in or near a leafy forest.和Donald means “world ruler”可知，如果一对夫妇他们的祖先住在茂密的森林附近，想让他们新出生的孩子将来成为一个“世界的统治者”，那么叫Donald Greenwood最合适，所以选D。

考点：文化类短文阅读。