Question

【题目】What does Wi-Fi stand for?

Long gone are the days of dial-up and waiting for your turn to use the computer. It’s easier than ever to connect to the Internet in the digital world today. 【1】

Wi-Fi is a wireless network that uses radio frequency signals to connect to the Internet or send messages between devices without wires. Everything from your phone and laptop to tablets and printers can use Wi-Fi, thanks to these waves. 【2】 Two years later, a group of companies formed the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA, now the Wi-Fi Alliance), a global non-profit organization created to promote the new Wi-Fi standard.

None of that history explains what Wi-Fi stands for, because the phrase doesn’t stand for anything. Wi-Fi is a trademarked term describing the device or technology based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) wireless communication standard 802.11, according to the Wi-Fi Alliance.【3】 So the Wi-Fi Alliance hired the marketing company Interbrand to come up with a shorter name: Wi-Fi, according to one of the founding Alliance members.

【4】 The rumor that it stands for “Wireless Fidelity (无线保证)” is thanks to the Alliance. Some members didn’t understand the branding or marketing for Wi-Fi. They felt consumers would want an explanation for the name. So the Alliance agreed to include a tagline: The Standard for Wireless Fidelity. That’s why so many people assume Wi-Fi stands for wireless fidelity, but the tagline came after the name.【5】 Don’t add to the confusion and stop miss-associating these phrases by learning the real meaning behind these acronyms (缩略词).

A. That’s a mouthful.

B. This is mostly thanks to Wi-Fi.

C. The name caused a misconception about Wi-Fi.

D. There is some debate surrounding the question what Wi-Fi stands for.

E. In 1997, a committee of industry leaders approved a common Wi-Fi standard.

F. Several years ago, a common standard of Wi-Fi was set up by several companies.

G. Plus, the Alliance removed the tag, although the confusion it brought still lives on today.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】B

【2】E

【3】A

【4】D

【5】G

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。主要说明了Wi-Fi的历史，Wi-Fi这个名字的由来以及就这个名字背后所代表的含义引发的一些争议。

【1】根据上文Long gone are the days of dial-up and waiting for your turn to use the computer. It’s easier than ever to connect to the Internet in the digital world today.（拨号和等待轮到你使用电脑的日子已经一去不复返了。在当今的数字世界，连接互联网比以往任何时候都容易。）以及下文Wi-Fi is a wireless network that uses radio frequency signals to connect to the Internet or send messages between devices without wires.（Wi-Fi是一种无线网络，它利用无线频率信号连接到互联网或在无线设备之间发送信息。）可知是在说明Wi-Fi带给人们的便利，连接互联网比以前更容易应归功于Wi-Fi。故B选项“这主要归功于Wi-Fi。”符合上下文语境，故选B。

【2】根据下文Two years later, a group of companies formed the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA, now the Wi-Fi Alliance), a global non-profit organization created to promote the new Wi-Fi standard.（两年后，一些公司成立了无线以太网兼容联盟(WECA，即现在的Wi-Fi联盟)，这是一个全球性的非盈利组织，旨在推广新的Wi-Fi标准。）可知本句为说明推出了新的通用的Wi-Fi标准。故E选项“1997年，一个行业领袖委员会批准了一个通用的Wi-Fi标准。”符合上下文语境，故选E。

【3】根据下文So the Wi-Fi Alliance hired the marketing company Interbrand to come up with a shorter name: Wi-Fi, according to one of the founding Alliance members.（因此，Wi-Fi联盟聘请了营销公司Interbrand，根据该联盟的一名创始成员的说法，他们想出了一个更简短的名字:Wi-Fi。）可知因为上文提出的名字过于拗口，因此Wi-Fi联盟想出了一个更简短的名字。故A选项“真拗口。”符合上下文语境。故选A。

【4】根据下文The rumor that it stands for “Wireless Fidelity” is thanks to the Alliance. Some members didn’t understand the branding or marketing for Wi-Fi. They felt consumers would want an explanation for the name.（它代表“无线保真”的谣言是由于联盟。一些会员不了解Wi-Fi的品牌和营销。他们认为消费者会希望对这个名字有一个解释。）可推知对于Wi-Fi代表什么有一些不一致的意见，存在一些争议。故D选项“关于Wi-Fi代表什么有一些争论。”符合上下文语境。故选D。

【5】根据下文Don’t add to the confusion and stop miss-associating these phrases by learning the real meaning behind these acronyms.（不要混淆，不要通过学习这些缩略词背后的真正含义来把这些短语联系起来。）可推知为了避免造成混乱，联盟去掉了tagline这个标签，但是混乱今天仍然存在。故G选项“此外，该联盟去掉了这个标签，尽管它带来的混乱今天仍然存在。”符合上下文语境。故选G。