Question

Folklore is the branch of the study of man which deals with local customs, tales and traditions. Everybody is a storehouse of folklore, though not everybody realizes it. Often, in deed, those who have never heard the word folklore have the greatest store of it, for the people with least book education commonly cherish most firmly old ideas and superstitions (迷信) which have been passed on by word of mouth for generations. Everyone has heard stories of ghosts, witches, fairies, and giants. We all know some proverbs and have come across such ideas as, for example, that it is lucky to see black cat and unlucky to see a single magpie (喜鹊). We keep certain seasons of the year as festivals, such as Christmas, and we are familiar with the special customs connected with weddings and funerals. All such things are of interest to those who study folklore.

People who study folklore won’t criticize the old beliefs and practices they come across as silly, childish, or old-fashioned. Instead, they will try to collect accurate records of them and then see how these are connected with other ideas and customs of other places or times. By comparing with what is known of olden times or the folklore of other countries, they try to discover how certain beliefs and practices came into being, and what purpose they serve now or used to serve in the past.

Often we find that the beliefs which seem most peculiar and unreasonable, and the customs which appear least practical, are of the greatest interest and importance because they are commonly the oldest. Sometimes they were part of an ancient ritual (惯例) or served a useful purpose when people’s way of life was different from what it is now. So we not only learn about what people thought and did in the past but are better able to understand present customs. People often keep up customs when they have forgotten the original reason for them, and in the course of time a fresh reason gets attached to the custom. Thus, when some joker ties an old shoe to the back of the taxi taking the bride and bridegroom to the station for their honeymoon, he would say it was “for luck”, but actually a shoe is an old fertility (繁殖力) symbol and has a place in the wedding customs of China and Palestine.

1.The underlined word “they” (in Para.2) most probably refers to _________.

A. practices and beliefs                B. customs and traditions

C. records and tales                   D. places or times

2.It is most unlikely for people who study folklore to _________.

A. collect as many records of old beliefs and practices as possible

B. compare the present customs with those of the olden times

C. criticize the old beliefs and superstitions as silly or childish

D. find out the purpose the certain beliefs and practices serve or used to serve

3.Which of the following statements is true about customs?

A. The customs which do not appear practical mean nothing to most people.

B. The reasons for certain customs may change in the course of history.

C. People who practice customs are quite familiar with their origins.

D. The wedding customs in China and Palestine are of great similarity.

4.What would be the best title for the passage?

A. What Does Folklore Really Mean?

B. How Do People Keep Up Customs?

C. Who Studies Tales And Traditions?

D. When Did Some Old Beliefs Begin?

Answer

1.A

2.C

3.B

4.A

【解析】

试题分析:本文是一篇说明文，介绍了有关民俗学的一些内容。民俗学是传承和研究整个民间生活和文化的学科。而民俗则是日常人民生活形态的真实反映，这种约定俗成的习惯与风俗，不仅是对人们生活的提升与满足，更是民族生存不可或缺的精神支柱。

1. 词义猜测题。根据上句内容how certain beliefs and practices came into being可知此处they指代beliefs and practices，选A。

2.细节理解题。从文章第二段首句 People who study folklore won’t criticize the old beliefs and practices they come across as silly, childish, or old-fashioned.可知研究民俗的人们不会去批评他们所见到的古老的信仰或者惯例，故答案选C。

3. 推理判断题。根据文章末段People often keep up customs when they have forgotten the original reason for them, and in the course of time a fresh reason gets attached to the custom.以及下文的例子可知作者认为有的习俗的由来可能会被遗忘，而随之被赋予其他的意义，故判断选B。

4.主旨大意题。文章首段提出民俗学的定义，介绍了一些民间的习俗，然后在下文中又进行了细致的讲解和介绍，由此判断本文主要介绍民俗学，故选A。

考点：考查社会生活类短文阅读