Question

‘Tribes’ everywhere have their own special language

As someone who's been studying English for many years now, you might think you know the English language pretty well. But if you overheard a British person say, "A Billy left some bees and honey in my sherbet(冰冻果露)last night," would you understand what they meant?

Probably not, but many native speakers may not know what this person was saying either.

His or her tribe. In plain English, the sentence would be, " A customer left some money in my cab last night."

So, what exactly is meant by "tribe"?

A recent article on the BBC Culture website pointed out that nearly all of us are a part of a tribe. This is a group that defines(定义) who we are and even how we speak. And with each tribe comes its own "secret language", as the BBC called it.

If you work in a certain industry---education, for example---you may use slang toords(俚 语)and acronyms(首字母缩略词)that only other people who work in that industry would understand. Or if you live in a certain city, you might use a slang word to describe a landmark in the city, that only locals would understand.

These so-called secret languages each have their own fascinating history. In the US, for example, the underground "ballroom"(舞厅) tribe of 1970s and 80s New York City and its language were showcased(展现) in the 2018 FX show Pose.

These secret words don't always stay within their tribes, however. Words from many tribes, especially musical cultures such as rap and hip-hop, often enter people's everyday vocabulary. For example, the phrase "to have beef"--- meaning " to be in a conflict"---was made popular by US rappers. Today, it's widely used by native English speakers all over the world.

As BBC reporter Susie Dent wrote, " We are all surrounded by amazing secret languages, full of history and stories and in-jokes(内部笑话). And one thing is certain: our tribal conversations will never run out.”

1.The example at the beginning of the text is mainly used to      .

A.prove that English is hard to learn

B.explain the meaning of tribes

C.teach readers how to communicate with London cab drivers

D.show how the languages of tribes are often difficult for outsiders to understand

2.What can we know about secret languages?

A.They mostly came from musical cultures.

B.Some words from them are popular in everyday conversation.

C.They first started in New York City in the 1980s.

D.They have failed to become popular among young people.

3.What is Dent's attitude toward the future of secret languages?

A.Confident. B.Worried. C.Uninterested. D.Objective(客观的).

Answer

1.D

2.B

3.A

【解析】

本文是一篇社会类短文阅读。文章主要讲述各地的不同群体都有自己独特的语言。

1.推理判断题。根据文章第二段Probably not, but many native speakers may not know what this person was saying either.许多以英语为母语的人可能也不知道这个人在说什么，从而可以推断出，作者开始举例是为了说明不同群体的语言如何常常难以对外人了解。故选D。

2.细节理解题。根据文章倒数第二段Words from many tribes, especially musical cultures such as rap and hip-hop, often enter people's everyday vocabulary. For example, the phrase "to have beef"--- meaning " to be in a conflict"---was made popular by US rappers. Today, it's widely used by native English speakers all over the world.可知，作者通过举例说明一些来自群体的语言在日常生活中很流行。故选B。

3.推理判断题。根据文章最后一段As BBC reporter Susie Dent wrote, " We are all surrounded by amazing secret languages, full of history and stories and in-jokes(内部笑话). And one thing is certain: our tribal conversations will never run out.” 可知，Susie Dent认为有一件事是肯定的：我们的部落对话永远不会结束，从而推断出Dent对秘密语言未来的态度是很有把握的，故选A。