Question

Traditions of giving middle names vary around the world.

Scotland

Middle names are actually a fairly recent discovery in Scotland. However, as the practice has become popular around the world, it has become pretty common for Scottish babies to have middle names. Because last names in Scotland are generally associated with their family roots, and first names usually describe a physical characteristic, many parents see a middle name as an opportunity to give their baby a slightly more creative name.

Spain and Latin America

In Spain and Latin America, a middle name is a way to break free from the cultural code governing first names. In some countries, even first names are legislated(立法) to be of Christian origin. In Chile, most girls are named Maria, after the Virgin Mary, so the middle name is used in practice for differentiation. Maria is the most common name in the Spanish-speaking world, so in all Spanish-speaking countries the middle name takes on great significance.

Russia

In Russia, both boys and girls are given middle names based on their father's first name. For boys, the middle name usually has ovich, or evich, added to its ending. For girls, the middle patronymic(从父名衍生出的名字) name usually has ovna, or evna, added to its ending. People in Russia are often referred to by both their first and middle names, sort of the way parents in America use their children's full names when they're trying to get their attention(or yell at them). Close friends in Russia often don't use their first names completely, and use only patronymic names, when talking to each other.

Australia

According to Law Buddy, an Australian legal advice service, child naming laws in Australia allow Birth Registrars to refuse to register baby names that to be offensive to register to careless, inappropriate, ridiculous. They do allow for children to get a middle name, which is typically reserved for the mother's maiden name(娘家姓),provided, of course, that the mother's maiden name is not offensive, careless, inappropriate, or ridiculous.

1.What do we know about giving middle names in Scotland?

A.It needs to be based on their family roots.

B.It's opposed by the elderly in the country

C.It mainly describes a baby's appearance.

D.It didn't become common until not long ago

2.What role do middle names in the Spanish-speaking countries play?

A.Showing family roots.

B.Showing their unique culture.

C.Describing a physical characteristic.

D.Allowing people to have different names

3.What is a typical feature of middle names in Russia?

A.They usually have the same ending.

B.They're usually very creative names.

C.They're usually difficult to remember.

D.They're based on their father's middle name.

4.What should parents in Australia consider when naming their children?

A.Avoiding a middle name.

B.Avoiding registering baby names.

C.Using the mother's proper maiden name.

D.Using an unusual name for differentiation.

Answer

1.D

2.D

3.A

4.C

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。主要说明了苏格兰、西班牙和拉丁美洲、俄罗斯以及澳大利亚给孩子取中间名的一些传统。

1.细节理解题。根据Scotland部分中Middle names are actually a fairly recent discovery in Scotland.可知中间名实际上是最近在苏格兰才发现的。由此可知，在苏格兰，中间名直到不久前它才变得普遍起来。故选D。

2.细节理解题。根据Spain and Latin America部分中In Spain and Latin America, a middle name is a way to break free from the cultural code governing first names. Maria is the most common name in the Spanish-speaking world, so in all Spanish-speaking countries the middle name takes on great significance.可知。在西班牙和拉丁美洲，中间名是打破名字文化规范的一种方式。玛丽亚是说西班牙语国家中最常见的名字，因此在所有西班牙语国家中，中间的名字都具有重要的意义。由此可推知，在说西班牙语的国家中，中间名扮演着允许人们有不同名字的角色。故选D。

3.细节理解题。根据Russia部分中For boys, the middle name usually has ovich, or evich, added to its ending. For girls, the middle patronymic name usually has ovna, or evna, added to its ending.可知对于男孩来说，中间的名字通常会在结尾加上“ovich”或“evich”。对于女孩来说，中间的父名通常会在结尾加上“ovna”或“evna”。由此可知，在俄罗斯，中间名的典型特征是它们通常有相同的结尾。故选A。

4.细节理解题。根据Australia部分中They do allow for children to get a middle name, which is typically reserved for the mother's maiden name, provided, of course, that the mother's maiden name is not offensive, careless, inappropriate, or ridiculous.可知它们确实允许孩子取中间名，这通常是为娘家姓保留的，当然，前提是母亲的娘家姓不是具有冒犯性的、粗心的、不恰当的或可笑的。由此可知，澳大利亚的父母在给孩子取名时应该考虑使用母亲的娘家姓。故选C。