Question

It is one of the most annoying words in the English language and it seems there is no escaping it．The word “huh?” is in worldwide use, a study found．

Researchers discovered that languages spoken in countries from Ghana and Laos to Iceland and Italy all include ‘‘huh?”, or something that sounds very like it. They said that while the study may sound silly，the word is an absolutely necessary part of speech．Without it and similar words，it would be impossible to show that we haven’t heard or understood what had been said and this would lead to constant misunderstandings．

But while other words used in the same context，such as ‘‘sorry'’ or‘ ‘what”，vary widely across languages，“huh?” remains unchanged．

The Dutch researchers carefully studied ten languages from around the world，including Siwu, which is spoken in Ghana, and an Australian Aboriginal language，as well as Italian，Spanish，Dutch and Mandarin Chinese．

They analyzed tapes of recorded conversations for words that sounded like ‘‘huh?” and were used to request that whatever had just been said be repeated．All contained a version of ‘‘huh?”．The word was also found in another 21 languages．While there were subtle differences in each country, all sounded basically the same．

This is surprising because normally unrelated languages will use very different words to describe the same thing．For instance，the Japanese for “dog’’ is ‘‘inu”，while the French is‘ ‘chien”．It is thought that languages around the world have developed their own version of “huh?’’ because the sound is quick and simple to form，as well as being easily understood．

The researchers，said that it might seem unimportant to carry out scientific research into a word like “huh?'’ but in fact this little word is an essential tool in human communication．They also have an answer for those who claim that ‘‘huh?’’ isn’t a word．They say that it qualifies because of the small differences in its pronunciation in different languages．It also can be considered a word because it’s something we learn to say，rather than a grunt or cry that we are born knowing how to make．

1.According to researchers，the word “huh?” is very important in speech because of .

A. its important function in communication B．its simple and easy sound and spelling

C. its popularity in every language D．its stable meaning in language development

2.If you hear someone you’re speaking to say “huh?”, what should you do?

A. You should apologize to her for speaking in a low voice．

B. You should invite her to share her different views politely．

C. You should try to say what you’ve just said again in a clearer way．

D. You should ask her to repeat what she says before that.

3.The main method used in the research of “huh?” was_____________．

A. comparing different words with the same meaning in different languages

B. interviewing language experts in universities

C. talking with people from ten different countries

D. analyzing the recorded conversations in different languages

4. According to researchers，‘‘huh?” should be considered a word rather than a sound because __________ .

A. it is pronounced quite differently around the world

B. it is something humans learn to say

C. there is a clear and consistent spelling of the word

D. it is listed in most dictionaries

 

Answer 1

1.A

2.C

3.D

4.B

【解析】本文主要講述了在不同的語言中都用諸如huh這樣的詞，研究人員對不同語言中的這樣的詞接下來分析研究，發(fā)現(xiàn)這些詞都有相近的用法。

1.A

【試題解析】推理題。根據(jù)文章第二段最后2行Without it and similar words，it would be impossible to show that we haven’t heard or understood what had been said and this would lead to constant misunderstandings可知如果沒有這些單詞，我們就無法理解別人所說的話也會(huì)導(dǎo)致誤解。說明這些單詞在交流中是非常重要的。故A正確。

2.2】C

【試題解析】推理題。根據(jù)文章第五段1,2行They analyzed tapes of recorded conversations for words that sounded like ‘‘huh?” and were used to request that whatever had just been said be repeated．可知當(dāng)你請求對方再次重復(fù)所講內(nèi)容的時(shí)候，可以使用這些詞。也就是說當(dāng)你聽見這些詞的時(shí)候，你要把自己說過的話更清楚地再說一遍。故C項(xiàng)正確。

3.3】D

【試題解析】推理題。根據(jù)文章4,5段第一句The Dutch researchers carefully studied ten languages from around the world和They analyzed tapes of recorded conversations for words that sounded like ‘‘huh?”可知研究人員仔細(xì)研究全世界的十種語言，對每種語言中的huh這樣的詞的對話進(jìn)行了分析。所以他們使用的是分析使用了這些詞的對話。故D正確。

4.4】B

【試題解析】細(xì)節(jié)題。根據(jù)文章最后兩句It also can be considered a word because it’s something we learn to say，rather than a grunt or cry that we are born knowing how to make．可知研究人員認(rèn)為這是一個(gè)詞，而不是一個(gè)簡短的聲音。我們要學(xué)習(xí)這個(gè)詞所表達(dá)的含義。故B正確。

【長難句解析】

Researchers discovered that languages spoken in countries from Ghana and Laos to Iceland and Italy all include ‘‘huh?”, or something that sounds very like it.

【翻譯】研究人員發(fā)現(xiàn)從加納、老撾到冰島和意大利的語言里都含有‘‘huh?”或者聽起來像它的詞。

【分析】本句中的動(dòng)詞discover后面含有that引導(dǎo)的賓語從句，賓語從句中含有過去分詞短語spoken in countries from Ghana and Laos to Iceland and Italy修飾名詞languages。同時(shí)在后面句子含有另外一個(gè)定語從句that sounds very like it修飾先行詞something, 關(guān)系代詞that在這個(gè)定語從句中做主語。