Question

【题目】The word “Dutch” originally referred to Germans, and even today, the word "Deutschland" means Germany. 【1】 The country, which is on the coast of the North Sea between Germany and Belgium is also known as Holland.

There are many English expressions that include the word“Dutch.”【2】 For example, "Dutch courage" means false courage or bravery gotten by drinking alcohol. A "Dutch uncle" is a person who gives unwanted advice. A "Dutch concert" is just a lot of noise and no music. A "Dutch defense" means surrender（投降），although the Dutch never surrendered an inch of their homeland without a heroic fight.

In these phrases the English imply that the Dutch are cheap and not brave enough. 【3】 When most people think of Holland, they imagine huge fields of tulips（郁金香），tall windmills（风车）and children wearing wooden shoes一pleasant and positive things. So why did the English take such a contrary view of Holland?

【4】 But as the two countries became interested in the East Indies; they competed to control sea routes leading to the East indies and the valuable goods found there. The Dutch and the English fought three wars at sea between 1652 and 1674. In 1667. when the Dutch bravely blocked off the Thames River near London, England, the English were angry!【5】 Today relations between the two countries are quite friendly; but the old phrases remain.

A. Most of them have negative meanings.

B . It was during this time that the unfair war of words began.

C. Dutch is one of the closest relatives of both German and English.

D. Take advantage of any Dutch language center as you learn to speak Dutch.

E. Yet the rest of the world views Holland and the Dutch people much differently.

F. Before the 17th century, the Dutch were respected in English writing and language.

G.But in present-day English,“Dutch”refers to people and things coming from the Netherlands.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】G

【2】A

【3】E

【4】F

【5】B

【解析】文章向读者介绍英语中Dutch一词的来历以及使用。

【1】考查对上下文语境的理解。空前句意：“Dutch”一词最初指的是德国人，甚至今天，单词"Deutschland"的意思是德国。空后句意：位于德国和比利时北海岸的这个国家也被称为荷兰。故这里G（但是在现代英语中， “Dutch”指的是所有来自荷兰的人和事。）符合上下文，故选G。

【2】考查对上下文语境的理解。空前句意：有很多含有单词“Dutch.”的英语表达。下文举例中可看出含有“Dutch.”一词的表达都是贬义词，例如"Dutch courage"指的是假的勇气或者喝醉酒的勇气。可知这里A（大部分都有负面含义。）符合上下文，故选A.。

【3】考查对上下文语境的理解。空前句意：在这些表达中，英国人想要暗示荷兰人很小气，不够勇敢。空后句意：当大部分人想到Holland（荷兰）时，他们想到的是大片的郁金香，很高的风车以及穿着木鞋的孩子们。故这里E（然而，世界上的其他地区认为Holland（荷兰人）和 the Dutch people（荷兰人）是非常不同的。）符合上下文，故选E。

【4】考查对上下文语境的理解。空后句意：但是，当这两个国家都对东印度群岛感兴趣时，他们争夺通向东印度群岛的海路以及在那里发现的贵重货物的控制权。可知这里F（17世纪之前，the Dutch（荷兰人）在英语语言中是受到尊重的。）符合上下文，故选F。

【5】考查对上下文语境的理解。空前句意：1667年，当荷兰人封锁了英格兰，伦敦附近的泰晤士河时。英国人很生气。空后句意：今天，这两个国家的关系非常友好，但是，老的短语保留了下来。故这里B（正式在这期间，不公平的单词大战开始了。）符合上下文，故选B。