The question this week comes from our listener Herve Acard, who asks about the American word “OK”, which means “all right” or “acceptable”. It expresses agreement or approval. The word is used more often than any other word in the world.
Language expert Allen Walker Read said the word began as a short way of writing a different spelling of the words “all correct”. Old stories say some foreign-born people would write “all correct” as o-l-l k-o-r-r-e-c-t and spoke it as “OK”. Some people say it came from the Native American Indian tribe known as the Choctaws. The Choctaw word “okeh” means the same as the American word “OK”. Experts say early explorers in the Western America spoke the Choctaw language in the nineteenth century. The language spread across the country.
According to some people, “OK” was a way to shorten Greek words that mean everything is fine. It is also said that a railroad worker named Obadiah Kelly invented the word. He is said to have put the first letters of his names — O and K — on each object people gave him to place on the train.
Another explanation is that “OK” was invented by a political organization that supported Martin Van Buren for president in the 1800s. They called their organization the OK Club. The letters O and K were taken from the name of the town where Martin Van Buren was born — Old Kinderhook, New York.
Not everyone agrees with these explanations, but experts do agree that the word is purely American and has spread to almost every country on Earth. Yet in the United States, it is used mostly in speech. Serious writers prefer using words, such as “agree”, “approve” or “confirm” instead.
小題1:Where does the passage probably come from?
A.A newspaper.B.A textbook.
C.A radio program.D.A language magazine.
小題2:Of the following origins, which one has the same meaning as the American word “OK”?
A.The OK Club
B.The Choctaw word “okeh”
C.The word invented by Martin Van Buren
D.The short form of “all correct”
小題3:According to the passage, which statement is NOT true?
A. People disagree about the origin of “OK”.
B. “OK” is often used in formal writing in the USA.
C. The word “OK” is widely used all over the world.
D. Native American language once influenced American English.

小題1:C
小題2:B
小題3:B

試題分析:本文敘述了“OK”這個(gè)詞的歷史,對(duì)于它的來歷不同的人有不同的觀點(diǎn),最后短文指出專家認(rèn)為它是真正的美國人的語言,然后傳到了地球上的各個(gè)地方。
小題1:文章出處題。根據(jù)短文開頭The question this week comes from our listener Herve Acard,這個(gè)問題來自聽眾,所以應(yīng)是收音機(jī)廣播電臺(tái)的節(jié)目,故選C。
小題2:細(xì)節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)The Choctaw word “okeh” means the same as the American word “OK”它們的意思是一樣的,故選B。
小題3:細(xì)節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)Not everyone agrees with these explanations,一些人不同意這個(gè)解釋,故選項(xiàng)A符合原文;has spread to almost every country on Earth.它已經(jīng)被傳到了世界各地,故選項(xiàng)C符合原文;the word began as a short way of writing a different spelling of the words “all correct”它是“all correct”的縮寫,故選項(xiàng)D符合原文,故選B。
點(diǎn)評(píng):文章出處題應(yīng)從文章的內(nèi)容或結(jié)構(gòu)來判斷其出處:報(bào)紙:前面會(huì)出現(xiàn)日期、地點(diǎn)或通訊社名稱。廣告:因其格式特殊,容易辨認(rèn)。產(chǎn)品說明:器皿、設(shè)備的使用說明會(huì)有產(chǎn)品名稱或操作方式,而藥品的服用說明會(huì)告知服用時(shí)間、次數(shù)、藥量等。本篇短文主要看的是開頭的第一句。
練習(xí)冊(cè)系列答案
相關(guān)習(xí)題

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

People in the United States honor their parents with two special days: Mother’s Day, on the second Sunday in May, and Father’s Day, on the third Sunday in June.
Mother’s Day was proclaimed(宣告)a day for national observance by President Woodrow Wilson in 1915. Ann Jarvis from Grafton, West Virginia, had started the idea to have a day to honor mothers. She was the one who chose the second Sunday in May and also began the custom of wearing a carnation(康乃馨).
In 1909, Mrs. Dodd from Spokane, Washington, thought of the idea of a day to honor fathers. She wanted to honor her own father, William Smart. After her mother died, he had the responsibility of raising a family of five sons and a daughter. In 1910, the first Father’s Day was observed(慶祝)in Spokane. Senator Margaret Chase Smith helped to establish Father’s Day as a national commemorative day, in 1972.
These days are set aside to show love to parents. They raise their children and educate them to be responsible citizens. They give love and care.
These two special days are celebrated in many different ways. On Mother’s Day people wear carnations. A red one symbolizes a living mother. A white one shows that the mother is dead. Many people attend religious services to honor parents. It is also a day when people whose parents are dead visit the cemetery(墓地). On these days families get together at home, as well as in restaurants. They often have outdoor barbecues for Father’s Day. These are days of fun and good feelings and memories.
小題1:According to the passage, which of the following about the second Sunday in May is not true?
A.It is a day to show love to mothers.
B.It is a day to wear carnations.
C.It is a day for people to visit the cemetery.
D.It is a day for many people to attend religious services.
小題2:Choose the right time order of the following events.
a. The first Father’s Day was observed.
b. Mother’s Day was proclaimed a day for national observance.
c. Father’s Day became a day for national observance.
d. The idea of honoring fathers was put forward.
A.a(chǎn) b c dB.d a b cC.b a c dD.d a c b
小題3:Who plays the most important role in Father’s Day becoming a national commemorative day?
A.Margaret Chase SmithB.Mrs. Dodd
C.Ann JarvisD.Woodrow Wilson
小題4:From the passage, we know in the U.S. __________.
A.one should wear a red carnation if one’s mother passed away
B.on Mother’s Day, families often go out to have barbecues
C.on Father’s Day, people often stay at home to celebrate the special day
D.the purpose to have these two special days is to show love to parents
小題5:The author’s purpose of writing this passage is to __________.
A.call on people to love and respect their parents
B.introduce Mother’s Day and Father’s Day
C.tell the difference between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day
D.show how important fathers and mothers are

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

Springtime in Paris
Departures: May 5, 12, 19 and June 9
4 days for $129 per person
Paris in the Springtime was, is and always will be, something rather special. Why not experience it for yourself with this excellent break for four days? This attractive city has something to offer everyone and with prices at just $129. It's great value too.
Your break begins with executive coach transfer (中轉(zhuǎn)) from regional (各地的) pick­up points and travel to Paris is via cross­channel ferry (渡船), arriving at your hotel in the evening. The Ibis is an excellent quality hotel with private facilities in all rooms: satellite TV, radio, telephone and alarm clock. It has a bar and a restaurant and is situated about two miles south of Notre Dame enabling you to explore Paris with ease.
The following day, after continental breakfast (included), the coach takes you on a comprehensive sightseeing tour of the city, during which you will see the Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysees, L'Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, in fact almost every famous landmark you will ever have heard of. You then leave Paris and take a short drive to the magnificent Palace of Versailles, the home of Louis XIV. The tour ends mid­afternoon back in Paris where you will have the remainder of the day at your leisure. In the evening there is a ‘Paris By Night’ tour showing you the beautiful buildings with bright lights.
Day three takes you to Montmartre, perhaps the most picturesque quarter of Paris and home of the Sacre Coeur and the Moulin Rouge. In the afternoon you are free to explore this beautiful city as you wish, perhaps a pleasure voyage on the River Seine, wander around the picturesque gardens or look through among the antique shops (古玩店). In the evening you will have the opportunity to visit the best night­club in the city, the splendid Patin. On the final day it's back to the UK via channel ferry.
Included in the price of $129 per person:
* Return executive coach travel to Paris;
* Return ferry crossings;
* Three nights accommodation in a twin bedded room in a Central Paris hotel with private facilities;
* Continental breakfast during your stay;
* Guided sightseeing tour of “Paris By Day” and “Paris By Night”;
* Visit to Chateau of Versailles (admission not included);
* Tour on Montmartre;
* Services of an experienced bilingual tour guide at all times.
小題1:This advertisement is mainly________.
A.to tell tourists the route to Paris
B.to show the price of traveling to Paris
C.to introduce the city of Paris
D.to attract tourists to Paris
小題2:During the stay in Paris, the tourists will________.
A.have a free time of half day
B.have a “Paris By Night” on the first evening
C.have a pleasure voyage on the River Seine together
D.live in a hotel two miles away from Paris
小題3:After paying $129,the tourists will have to pay ________ in Paris.
A.the continental breakfasts
B.tour on Montmartre
C.a(chǎn)dmission ticket to Chateau of Versailles
D.services of a bilingual tour guide
小題4:We learn from the text that________.
A.the tourists can telephone in Ibis without paying
B.the tourists will see the Eiffel Tower on the third day
C.Palace of Versailles is not in the center of Paris
D.it will take you a long time to get to Montmartre from Paris

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

The garden city was largely the invention of Ebenezer Howard(1850~1928). After immigrating from England to the USA, and an unsuccessful attempt to make a living as a farmer, he moved to Chicago, where he saw the reconstruction of the city after the disastrous fire of 1871. In those days, it was nicknamed “the Garden City”,almost certainly the source of Howard’s name for his later building plan of towns. Returning to London, Howard developed his design in the 1880s and 1890s, drawing on ideas that were popular at the time, but creating a unique combination of designs.
The nineteenth-century poor city was in many ways a terrible place, dirty and crowded; but it offered economic and social opportunities. At the same time, the British countryside was in fact equally unattractive: though it promised fresh air and nature, it suffered from agricultural depression(蕭條) and it offered neither enough work and wages, nor much social life. Howard’s idea was to combine the best of town and country in a new kind of settlement, the garden city. Howard’s idea was that a group of people should set up a company, borrowing money to establish a garden city in the depressed countryside, far enough from existing cities to make sure that the land was bought at the bottom price.
Garden cities would provide a central public open space, radial avenues and connecting industries. They would be surrounded by a much larger area of green belt, also owned by the company, containing not merely farms but also some industrial institutions. As more and more people moved in, the garden city would reach its planned limit---Howard suggested 32,000 people; then, another would be started a short distance away. Thus, over time, they would develop a vast planned house collection, extending almost without limit; within it, each garden city would offer a wide range of jobs and services, but each would also be connected to the others by a rapid transportation system, thus giving all the economic and social opportunities of a big city.
小題1:What could be the best title for the passage?
A.City and Countryside
B.A New City in Chicago
C.The Invention of the Garden City
D.A Famous Garden City in England
小題2:How did Howard get the name for his building plan of garden cities?
A.Through his observation of the country life.
B.By using the nickname of the reconstructed Chicago.
C.By taking other people’s advice.
D.Through the combination of different ideas.
小題3:According to Howard, garden cities should be built _______.
A.a(chǎn)s far as possible from existing cities
B.near cities where employment opportunities already existed
C.in the countryside where agriculture was developed
D.in the countryside where the land was cheap
小題4:The underlined phrase“drawing on ”in Paragraph 1 probably means______.
A.making use of
B.making comments on
C.giving an explanation of
D.giving a description of
小題5:What can we learn about garden cities from the last paragraph?
A.People would live and work in the same place.
B.Each one would continue to become larger.
C.Their number would continue to rise.
D.Each one would contain a certain type of business.

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

(The Guardian)More UK universities should be profiting from ideas
  A repeated criticism of the UK's university sector is its noticeable weakness in translating new knowledge into new products and services.
  Recently, the UK National Stem Cell Network warned the UK could lose its place among the world leaders in stem cell research unless adequate funding and legislation could be assured, despite an annual £40m spent by the Department of Health on all kinds of research.
  However, we do have to challenge the unthinking complaint that the sector does not do enough in taking ideas to market. The most recent comparative data on the performance of universities and research institutions in Australia, Canada, USA and UK shows that, from a relatively weak starting position, the UK now leads on many indicators of commercialization activity.
  When viewed at the national level, the policy interventions (interference) of the past decade have helped transformed the performances of UK universities. Evidence suggests the UK's position is much stronger than in the recent past and is still showing improvement. But national data masks the very large variation in the performance of individual universities. The evidence shows that a large number of universities have fallen off the back of the pack, a few perform strongly and the rest chase the leaders.
  This type of uneven distribution is not strange to the UK and is mirrored across other economies. In the UK, research is concentrated: less than 25% of universities are receiving 75% of the research funding. These same universities are also the institutions producing the greatest share of PhD graduates, science citations, patents and license income. The effect of policies generating long-term resource concentration has also created a distinctive set of universities which are research-led and commercially active. It seems clear that the concentration of research and commercialization work creates differences between universities.
  The core objective for universities which are research-led must be to maximize the impact of their research efforts. Their purpose is not to generate funds to add to the bottom line of the university or to substitute other income streams. Rather, these universities should be generating the widest range of social, economic and environmental benefits. In return for the scale of investment, they should share their expertise (expert knowledge or skill) in order to build greater confidence in the sector.
  Part of the economic recovery of the UK will be driven by the next generation of research commercialization spilling out of our universities. On the evidence presented in my report, there are three dozen universities in the UK which are actively engaged in advanced research training and commercialization work.
  If there was a greater coordination(協(xié)調(diào))of technology transfer offices within regions and a simultaneous (happening at the same time) investment in the scale and functions of our graduate schools, universities could, and should, play a key role in positioning the UK for the next growth cycle.
小題1:What does the author think of UK universities in terms of commercialization?
A.They have lost their leading position in many ways.
B.They still have a place among the world leaders.
C.They do not regard it as their responsibility.
D.They fail to change knowledge into money.
小題2:What does the author say about the national data on UK universities’ performance in
commercialization?
A.It masks the fatal weaknesses of government policy.
B.It indicates their ineffective use of government resources.
C.It does not rank UK universities in a scientific way.
D.It does not reflect the differences among universities.
小題3:We can infer from Paragraph 5 that “policy interventions (in Paragraph 4)” refers to _____.
A.concentration of resources in a limited number of universities
B.compulsory cooperation between universities and industries
C.government aid to non-research-oriented universities
D.fair distribution of funding for universities and research institutions
小題4:What dose the author suggest research-led universities do?
A.Fully use their research to benefit all sectors of society.
B.Generously share their facilities with those short of funds.
C.Advertise their research to win international recognition.
D.Spread their influence among top research institutions.

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

The National Gallery
Description:
The National Gallery is the British national art museum built on the north side of European art ranging from 13th-century religious paintings to more modern ones by Renoir and Van Gogh. The older collections of the gallery are reached through the main entrance while the more modern works in the East Wing are most easily reached from Trafalgar Square by a ground floor entrance
Layout:
The modern Sainsbury Wing on the western side of the building houses 13th-to15th-century paintings, and artists include Duccio, Uccello, Van Eyck, Lippi, Mantegna, Botticelli and Memling.
The main West Wing houses 16th-century paintings, and artists include Leonardo da Vinci, Cranach, Michelangelo, Raphael, Bruegel, Bronzino, Titan and Veronest.
The North Wing houses 17th-century paintings, and artists include Caravaggio, Rubens, Poussin, Van Dyck, Velazquez, Claude and Vermeer.
The East Wing houses 18th-to early 20th-century paintings, and artists include Canaletto, Goya, Turner, Constable, Renoir and Van Gogh
Opening Hours:
The Gallery is open every day from 10am to 6pm (Fridays 10anm to 9pm) and is free, but charges apply to some special exhibitions.
Getting There:
Nearest underground stations: Charing Cross (2-minute walk). Leicester Square (3-minute walk), Embankment (7-minute walk), and Piccadilly Circus(8-minute walk).
小題1:In which century’s collection can you see religious paintings?
A.The 13th
B.The 17th
C.The 18th
D.The 20th
小題2:Where are Leonardo da Vinci’s works shown?
A.In the East Wing.
B.In the main West Wing.
C.In the Sainsbury Wing.
D.In the North Wing.
小題3:Which underground station is closest to the National Gallery?
A.Piccadilly Circus.
B.Leicester Square.
C.Embankment.
D.Charing Cross.

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

All around the world, people drink tea. But tea does not mean the same thing to everyone. In different countries people have very different ideas about drinking tea.
In China, for example, tea is always served when people get together. The Chinese drink it at any time of the day at homes or in teahouses. They prefer their tea plain with nothing else in it. Tea is also important in Japan. The Japanese have a special way of serving tea called a tea ceremony. It is very old and full of meaning. Everything must be done in a special way in the ceremony. There is even a special room for it in Japanese homes.
Another tea drinking country is England. In England, the late afternoon is “teatime”. Almost everyone has a cup of tea then. The English usually make tea in teapot and drink it with cream and sugar. They also eat cakes, cookies and little sandwiches at teatime.
In the United States people drink tea mostly for breakfast or after meals. Americans usually use tea bags to make their tea. Tea bags are faster and easier than making tea in teapots. In summer, many Americans drink cold tea --- “iced tea”. Sometimes they drink iced tea from cans, like soda.
小題1:The passage is mainly talking about _________.
A. Chinese tea               B why tea is important
C. the teatime in England     D. different ways of tea drinking
小題2:The word “plain” in line 4 may mean _____________.
A.simpleB.goingC.hardD.drink
小題3:The Chinese drink tea __________.
A.for breakfastB.in a special way
C.when they get togetherD.only in teahouses
小題4: Iced tea is popular _____________.
A.in winterB.in EnglandC.for lunchD.in America
小題5:The English like to _____________.
A.eat something with their teaB.drink their tea plain
C.have tea with dinnerD.drink their tea in teahouses

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

Brighton is in the county of East Sussex, on the South coast of England. Situated between the English Channel and the South Downs, Brighton is 90 km from London. Brighton's nearby neighbor, Hove, is seen by some as a more desirable location than Brighton and it is often referred to by locals as "Hove, actually".
Brighton is a small city but there's probably as much going on here as anywhere in the country except London. Brighton has numerous entertainment facilities, which additionally serve a considerable business conference industry. There's a huge range of entertainment venues, including comedy at the Brighton Komedia, world music, opera and ballet at the Brighton Dome, jazz at the Joogleberry, top stars at the Brighton Centre and pre-West End shows at the Theatre Royal. The live music scene is also alive and well with several bands originating from the Brighton area going on to have commercial success in recent years.
Every year in May, Brighton hosts the "Brighton Festival" ------ the largest arts festival in England. Brighton's theatres, concert halls, streets and some of the city's most extraordinary venues host an array of art, entertainment and extravaganza (盛大表演). The earliest feature of the festival, "Open Houses" ------ homes of artists and crafts people, opened up to the public as galleries and usually sell the works of the inhabitants and their friends.
Students at the two universities in the area give the city a youthful vitality (活力), and in the summer, thousands of young students from all over Europe gather in the city to attend language courses. In addition to the usual coastal attractions, vacationers are drawn to the city's Georgian architecture, trendy shops, and fine restaurants. Points of interest also include the Edwardian Preston Manor, the ornate Royal Pavilion, the engaging Sea Life Center, and a variety of museums and art galleries.
小題1:What's the author’s purpose of writing the passage?
A.To introduce Brighton to the readers.
B.To attract foreign students to study in Brighton.
C.To show his admiration for the city of Brighton.
D.To list entertainments in Brighton.
小題2:What does the first paragraph mainly tell us?
A.The term of "Hove"
B.The situation of Brighton.
C.The county of East Sussex.
D.The distance between Brighton and London.
小題3:According to the passage,where can you go if you enjoy watching opera?
A.Brighton Komedia. B.Joogleberry.
C.Theatre Royal. D.Brighton Dome.
小題4:Why do people in Brighton have a good time in May every year?
A.Because they can enjoy all kinds of music played by top artists.
B.Because top stars from the world will go to Perform there.
C.Because the largest arts festival in England is held there.
D.Because the local people can appreciate works in the Open Houses.

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

One of the speaking rules you need to know might sound strange to most ESL (English as a second language) students, but it is one of the most important rules. If you want to pass examinations, then study grammar. However, if you want to become fluent in English, then you should try to learn English without studying the grammar.
Studying grammar will only slow you down and confuse you. You will think about the rules when creating sentences instead of naturally saying a sentence like a native. Remember that only a small part of English speakers know more than 20% of all the grammar rules. Many ESL students know more grammar than native speakers. I can confidently say this with experience. I am a native English speaker, majored in English Literature, and have been teaching English for more than 10 years. However, many of my students know more details about English grammar than I do. When they sometimes ask me about grammar, I can easily look up the definition(定義) and apply it, but I can’t tell them the answer off the top of my head.
I often ask my native English friends some grammar questions, and only a few of them know the correct answer. However, they are fluent in English and can read, speak, listen, and communicate effectively.
Do you want to be able to recite the definition of a causative verb, or do you want to be able to speak English fluently?
小題1:According to the author, what opinion do most ESL students hold?
A.Grammar matters a lot only in speaking.
B.Grammar doesn’t matter much in speaking.
C.Grammar is very important in English learning.
D.Grammar is not important in English learning.
小題2:What is the author?
A.An ESL student.B.A teacher teaching English natives.
C.A native English student.D.A native English teacher.
小題3:The underlined part “off the top of my head” means         .
A.on purposeB.without consideration
C.a(chǎn)fter thinkingD.with difficulty
小題4:Which of the following titles best suits the text?
A.Fluency or Grammar? B.Grammar Counts!
C.Exams or No Exams? D.No More Grammar!

查看答案和解析>>

同步練習(xí)冊(cè)答案