Question

    It is easy to understand the difference between some homophones(同音异形异义词). But other homophones are difficult, even for native English speakers. One set of commonly confusing homophones are the words bear and bare.

Of course, as a noun, a bear is a large, heavy animal with thick hair and sharp claws. But the word bear can also be a verb. It can mean “to accept or get through something,” usually something difficult. The verb bear is often used with the modal verb can and a negation(否定). Using this structure, “cannot bear” sometimes means “strongly dislike.” If you travel to a very cold place in the middle of winter, you might say, “I cannot bear the cold weather.” Bear can also mean “to assume or accept something, such as a cost or responsibility.” For example, “The man must bear full responsibility for his actions.” Bear can also sometimes mean “to carry.” For example, Americans often talk about the “right to bear arms” or the right of citizens to possess a gun. Sometimes, people make jokes about this expression. They replace the meaning of bear in this example with its meaning as a noun. The phrase then means that people have a right to possess a bear’s arm.

Bare is mostly used as an adjective. It means “not having a covering” or “not covered by clothing, shoes or something else.” If you just moved to a new home, the walls could still be bare. And, if you take your shoes and socks off before entering a room, you will have bare feet. As a verb, bare is similar to its adjectival meaning. To bare means “to remove the covering from something.” It can also mean “to show or expose.” For example, an angry animal might bare its teeth. The past tense of bare is bared.

1.What’s the function of the first paragraph?

A.Introducing the homophones.

B.Analyzing the homophones.

C.Introducing the topic of the passage.

D.Telling the differences between bear and bare.

2.How many meanings does the word bear have when it is a verb?

A.3. B.4.

C.5. D.6.

3.What does he want to tell us if someone says he has the right to possess a bear’s arm?

A.He has the right to get an arm of a bear. B.He has the right to sell a bear’s arm.

C.He has the right to kill a bear. D.He has the right to have a gun.

4.What might the animal decide to do when it bares its teeth?

A.It might attack a person.

B.It might show his respect for people.

C.It might want to have a covering.

D.It might remove the covering from its body.

Answer

1.C

2.B

3.D

4.A

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。本文主要介绍了同音异形异义词bear和bare的一些用法。文章说明了bear做动词时的四个含义，以及bare用作形容词时的意思。

1.推理判断题。第一段主要讲了有的同音异形异义词好区别有的不好区别，其中常见的易混同音异形异义词是bear 和 bare。而下文就是介绍bear和bare两个词，由此可以推出第一段是为了引出主题。故选C。

2.细节理解题。根据第二段中可以看出bear作为动词有to accept or get through something(接受或完成某事)；strongly dislike(强烈的厌恶); to assume or accept something, such as a cost or responsibility(承担或接受某事，如成本或责任)以及to carry(携带)四个意思。故选B。

3.细节理解题。根据第二段中For example, Americans often talk about the “right to bear arms,” or the right of citizens to possess a gun. Sometimes, people make jokes about this expression. They replace the meaning of bear in this example with its meaning as a noun. The phrase then means that people have a right to possess a bear’s arm.可知例如，美国人经常谈论“携带武器的权利”，或者公民拥有枪支的权利。有时候，人们会拿这个表达开玩笑。在本例中，它们将bear的意思替换为作为名词的意义。这个短语的意思是人们有权利拥有一只熊的手臂。由此可知，如果有人说他有权拥有一只熊的胳膊，他想告诉我们他有持枪的权利。故选D。

4.推理判断题。根据最后一段中“For example, an angry animal might bare its teeth.”可知例如，一只愤怒的动物可能会露出牙齿。由此可推知，当动物露出牙齿时，它可能会攻击人。故选A。