Question

Although English is not as old as Chinese, it is spoken by many people around the world every day. English speakers are always creating new words, and we are often able to know where most words come from.

Sometimes, however, no one may really know where a word comes from. Did you ever think about why hamburgers(汉堡包) are called hamburgers, especially when they are not made with ham(火腿)? About a hundred years ago, some men went to America from Europe. They came from a big city in Germany called Hamburg. They did not speak good English, but they ate good food. When some Americans saw them eating round pieces of beef, they asked the Germans what it was. The Germans did not understand the question and answered, “We come from Hamburg.” One of these Americans owned a restaurant, and had an idea. He cooked some round pieces of beef like those which the men from Hamburg ate. Then he put each between two pieces of bread and started selling them. Such bread came to be called “hamburgers”. Today “hamburgers” are sold in many countries around the world.

Whether this story is true or not, it certainly is interesting. Knowing why any word has a certain meaning is interesting. too. This reason, for most English words, can be found in any large English dictionary.

1.Hamburg is_____________.

A.a kind of food B.a round piece of beef

C.the name of a village D.a city in Germany

2.According to the story, ________________.

A.few Americans like hamburgers

B.hamburgers are only made with beef

C.hamburgers are made with ham

D.hamburgers were first sold about a century ago

3.According to the writer, which of the following can often be found in any large English dictionary?

A.Where all the new words come from

B.Where those Germans came from

C.The reason why a word has a certain meaning

D.The reason why English is spoken around the world

4.According to the story, the word “hamburger” comes from_________________.

A.China because it has a long history

B.England because Germans don’t speak good English

C.the round pieces of beef which those people from Hamburg were eating

D.English speakers because they always create new words

Answer

1.D

2.D

3.C

4.C

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文。文章主要讲了英语单词每天都在被创造，并讲了Hamburger这个名字的由来

1.

细节理解题。由They came from a big city in Germany called Hamburg可知Hamburg是一个德国的大城市。故选D。

2.

细节理解题。由第二段About a hundred years ago, some men went to America from Europe. They came from a big city in Germany called Hamburg. They didn’t speak good English, but they ate good food. When some Americans saw them eating round piece of beef, they asked the Germans what it was. The Germans didn’t understand the question and answered, “We come from Hamburg.” One of these Americans owned a restaurant, and had an idea. He cooked some round piece of bread and started selling them. Such bread came to be called “hamburgers”. Today, “hamburgers” are sold in many countries around the world.可知，汉堡包大约在一百年前被出售。故选D。

3.

细节理解题。由文章最后一段This reason, for most English words, can be found in any large English dictionary.可知这个原因，对于大多数英语单词，可以在任何大的英语词典中找到。C正确。

4.

细节理解题。由文章第二段He cooked some round pieces of beef like those which the men from Hamburg ate. Then he put each between two pieces of bread and started selling them. Such bread came to be called “hamburgers”.可知“汉堡包”这个词来自汉堡人吃的圆形牛肉片。C正确。