Question

Societies all over the world name places in similar ways. Quite often there is no official naming ceremony(仪式) 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 die 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(斯坦福路) 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. “Bras 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. a ceremony will be held when a place is named

C. many places tend to have more than one name

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 very slowly.

D. Disappear mysteriously.

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

A. Selector Airbase.

B. Raffles Place.

C. Piccadilly Circus.

D. Paya Lebar Crescent.

4.What can be inferred from the passage?

A. Young Singaporeans have forgotten the pioneers.

B. Some places in Singapore are named for military(军事) purposes.

C. The way Singaporeans name their places is unique.

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

Answer

1.C

2.C

3.B

4.D

【解析】

试题分析：世界各地的人们给道路或地方命名的方式有着相似之处。一个地方往往有两个名字，一个是人们之间约定俗成的，另一个是官方命名的。在新加坡，一些道路和地名是为了纪念先驱，一些是以其它国家的地名来命名的，还有的是以人们的日常活动来命名的，另外一些是根据它们的形状来命名的。

1.Frequently it happens that a place has two names: one is named by the people and the other by the government.”可知，一个地方通常有两个名字，一个是人们约定俗成的，另一个是官方命名的。说明很多地方有不止一个名字，故选C。

2.long after the meaning is lost”可知，古老的风俗习惯随着时间的流逝而逐渐消失，即使过了很久，那个地方的名字依然保持不变，故选C。

3.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.”可知，为了让后人记住那些先驱们，新加坡的很多道路和地方都以他们的名字命名，Stamford Road和Raffles Place就是用人名命名的，故选B。

4.in order that the pioneers will be remembered by future generations”排除A；根据第二至五段的首句“Many roads and places in Singapore (新加坡) are named in order that the pioneers will be remembered...Another way of naming places is naming them after other places. ...Some places were named after the activities...A few roads in Singapore are named by their shapes.”可知，在新加坡，没有地名是出于军事目的而命名的，排除B；根据第一段“Societies all over the world name places in similar ways.”可知，世界各地的人，给道路或地点起名字的方法是相似的，排除C；根据第三段“some of the roads named in former British bases”可知，新加坡有一些道路是用前英国的军事基地命名的，再联系本段首句可知，新加坡有一些地名和英国的一样，故选D。

考点：历史类短文阅读