Question

Societies all over the world name places in similar ways. Quite often there is no official naming ceremony 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 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, “Base 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.many places tend to have more than one name

C.a ceremony will be held when a place is named

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 mysteriously. D.Disappear very slowly.

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

A.Raffles Place. B.Selector Airbase.

C.Piccadilly Circus. D.Paya Lebar Crescent.

4.Bras Basah Road is named _______.

A.after a person B.after a place C.after an activity D.by its shape

5.What can be inferred from the passage?

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

B.Some places in Singapore are named for military purposes.

C.The way Singaporeans name their places is unique.

D.Young Singaporeans have forgotten the pioneers.

Answer

1.B

2.D

3.A

4.C

5.A

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。本文说明世界上不同地区的人们以类似的方式为地点命名，如：以先驱者的名字命名；以其他地点的名字命名；以活动的名称命名；以形状命名等。

1.细节理解题。从第一段第四句Frequently it happens that a place has two names可知，一个地方常常有两个名字。所以许多地方不只有一个名字。故选B。

2.词义猜测题。由第一段“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 可知，像在许多地区一样，旧习惯很难消失，这个地方在失去意义很久之后，仍然以它的非正式名称命名。所以通过上下文的语境可以判断出，die hard的意思是“消失得很慢”。故选D。

3.细节理解题。由第二段“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，新加坡的许多道路和地方都被命名，以便后代记住这些先驱者。因此我们有Stamford Road 和Raffles Place广场这样的名字。所以Raffles Place是以人的名字命名的。故选A。

4.细节理解题。根据第四段Some places were named after the activities that used to go on at those places. Bras Basah Road is an interesting example可知，有些地方是以过去在这些地方进行的活动命名的。Bras Basah路就是一个有趣的例子。所以Bras Basah是活动的名称命名的。故选C。

5.推理判断题。从第三段最后一句“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 ”可知，当我们看到一些以前英国基地命名的道路时，这个谜就变得更加清晰了。如果你走进Selector Airbase，你会看到皮卡迪利广场（即伦敦戏院及娱乐中心)——显然是由一些想家的皇家空军人员命名的。故推断出新加坡的一些地名与英国的一些地名相同。故选A。