6．Etymology，the study of words and word roots，may sound like the kind of thing done by boring librarians in small，dusty rooms．Yet etymologists actually have a uniquely interesting job．They are in many ways just like archaeologists digging up the physical history of people and events．The special aspect of etymology is that it digs up history，so to speak，through the words and phrases that are left behind．
The English language，in particular，is a great field to explore history through words．As a language，English has an extraordinary number of words．This is partly due to its ability to adapt foreign words so readily．For example，"English"words such as kindergarten （from German），croissan （from French），and cheetah （from Hindi） have become part of the language with little or no change from their original sounds and spellings．So English-language etymologists have a vast world of words to explore．
Another enjoyable thing about etymology for most word experts is solving word mysteries．No，etymologists do not go around solving murders，like the great detective Sherlock Holmes．What these word experts solve are mysterious origins of some of our most common words
One of the biggest questions English language experts have pursued is how English came to have the phrase OK．Though it is one of the most commonly used expressions，its exact beginning is a puzzle even to this day．Even its spelling is not entirely consistent-unless you spell it Okay，it is hard even to call it a word．
Etymologists have been able to narrow OK's origin down to a likely，although not certain，source．It became widely used around the time of Martin Van Buren's run for president in 1840．His nickname was Old Kinderhook．What troubles word experts about this explanation is that the phrase appeared in some newspapers before Van Buren became well known．It is likely that Van Buren could be called its primary source Etymologists will doubtlessly keep searching for the initial source．However，it is clear that OK's popularity and reputation have topped those of the American president to whom it has been most clearly linked．
63．The author mentions the words like"croissant"in Paragraph 2to indicateA．
A．English has absorbed many words from other foreign languages
B．what English-language etymologists are exploring now
C．words have changed a lot in the two languages
D．the English vocabulary is difficult to the non-English-speaking people
64．The underlined word"pursued"in Paragraph 4meansC．
A．looked upon
B．put in
C．dug up
D．set down
65．We can learn from the passage that etymologistsD．
A．explore the English language as well as the recent events
B．help detectives to solve mysterious murders
C．write interesting stories for some newspapers
D．discover the possible origin of words
66．What is the main purpose of the passage？B
A．To present the history of English words．
B．To introduce the pleasure of the study of words and word roots．
C．To explain the procedure of an etymologist's job．
D．To teach readers how to distinguish English and non-English words．
分析 本文属于说明文阅读，作者通过这篇文章主要向我们描述了对于各种语言根源的研究，发现词汇的来源，是非常有趣的．
解答 63．A．细节理解题．根据第二段中"This is partly due to its ability to adapt foreign words so readily．"可知，作者以"croissant"为例来证明英语引进了许多外来词．故选A．
64．C．词义猜测题．根据语境可知，语言学家努力需找"OK"这一词的由来，相当于深挖它的根源．故选C．
65．D．细节理解题．根据文章最后一段的第一句话Etymologists have been able to narrow OK's origin down to a likely，although not certain，source和文章的第一句话Etymology，the study of words and word roots，may sound like the kind of thing done by boring librarians in small，dusty rooms可知语言学家就是发现词汇的来源．故选D．
66．B．写作意图题．根据第一段中"Yet etymologists actually have a uniquely interesting job．"以及第三段中"Another enjoyable thing about etymology for most word experts is solving word mysteries（谜）．"可知，文章主要写作目的是为了给我们介绍研究语言起源的乐趣．故选B．
点评 考察学生的细节理解和推理判断能力，做细节理解题时一定要找到文章中的原句，和题干进行比较，再做出正确的选择．在做推理判断题不要以个人的主观想象代替文章的事实，要根据文章事实进行合乎逻辑的推理判断．
