Right is right. Right? Of course. But is left wrong? Well, the Romans used to think so. They thought left-handed people were mistakes of nature. Latin, the language of the Romans, had many words that expressed this view. Some words we use today still have this meaning. The Latin word “dexter” means “right”. The English word “dexterous” comes from this word. It means “handy” (clever with hands). So, right is handy. But the Latin word for left is “sinister”. The English word “sinister” comes from this word. Sinister means “evil” (very bad). Is it fair to call right-handed people handy and left-handed people evil? Well, fair or not, many languages have words that express such beliefs. In old English, the word for left means “weak”. That isn’t much of an improvement over “evil”.
Not very long ago, children were often forced to write with their right hands. Doctors have since found that this can be very harmful. You should use the hand you were born to use.
People who use their left hands are just starting to get better treatment. But why they get all these bad names in the first place? One reason may be that there are not as many left-handed people as there are right-handed people. There is one left-handed person for every five right-handed ones. People who are different are often thought to be wrong. But attitudes do seem to be changing. Fair-minded right-handed people are finally starting to give left-handed people a hand.

1. 1.

   What does the passage lead us to believe when one writes?

   1. A.
      He can only use his right hand.
   2. B.
      He can only use his left hand.
   3. C.
      He can use either his left hand or his right hand.
   4. D.
      He can use both his left hand and his right hand.
2. 2.

   The last sentence of this article means ________.

   1. A.
      Fair-minded right-handed people want to change the habit of the left-handed people
   2. B.
      Fair-minded right-handed people are starting to help the left-handed people
   3. C.
      Fair-minded right-handed people are starting to use left hand to write and so on
   4. D.
      Fair-minded right-handed people are starting to give up using their left hands
3. 3.

   After we read the article we can certainly know that _______.

   1. A.
      left-handed people have been treated poorly
   2. B.
      the number of the left-handed people is larger than that of right-handed people
   3. C.
      right-handed people are much cleverer than left-handed people
   4. D.
      left-handed people are less smart but hardworking
4. 4.

   Which of the following is NOT right, according to the article?

   1. A.
      At one time, left-handed people were forced to use their right hands.
   2. B.
      Left-handed people today are being treated better than those in the past.
   3. C.
      There are not as many left-handed people as there are right-handed people today.
   4. D.
      “Dexterous” comes from Latin, means “evil” and English “sinister” means “handy”.

One evening I went out and left my 17-year-old son in charge of his 8-year-old brother and 4-year-old sister. On this occasion, the task was made less troublesome by the presence of his girlfriend. I left with complete confidence that the older children would do a wonderful job of babysitting the younger children and the younger children would do a wonderful job of accompanying the older ones. Later, I discovered that complete confidence was the last thing I should have left home with.

I had decided to return home earlier than planned so that my son and his girlfriend could go out. I called home with this happy news. But instead of hearing his cheerful, grateful voice on the other end of the line, all I heard was the sound of a telephone ringing.

It was, I should point out, after 10 p.m., when the two younger children should have been in bed, and when the two older children should have been answering the phone. “I’ll give him a lesson,” I said. I decided they must be outside. Why they might be outside at 10:30 on a wintry night I had no idea, but it was the only explanation I could come up with.

Finally, in desperation, I called his girlfriend’s house. After what seemed like countless rings, his girlfriend answered. “Yes,” she said brightly, “He’s right here.”

He came on the phone. I was not my usual calm, rational self. After all, one of the rules of survival for modern parents is that you can’t trust modern teenagers. “Where are the children?” I said. He said they were with him. They had done nothing wrong. My son had taken the younger children over to his girlfriend’s house just for ice cream and cake. This was too favorable to be believed. Well, it turned out that I shouldn’t have believed it. It was only part of the truth.

The following Saturday evening we were at my parents’ home, celebrating my birthday. My oldest son gave me the children’s gifts. Mounted(裱装) and framed were a series of lovely color photographs of my children, dressed in their best clothes, and wearing their most wonderful expressions. They are pictures to treasure a lifetime, all taken by the father of my son’s girlfriend.

That was the most precious gift of all.

1.Shortly after the author left home one evening, she discovered that ____.

A．her son had brought his girlfriend home

B．the father of her son’s girlfriend had come to her home to take photos of the children

C．she shouldn’t have completely trusted her son

D．she should have taken the children along with her

2.According to Paragraph 3, “it” means ____.

A．the two younger children have been in bed

B．the older children have been answering the phone

C．the author will give her older son a lesson

D．the older son has gone outside with his girlfriend

3.The sentence “It was only part of the truth.” (Para. 5) implies that the children not only enjoyed ice-cream but also ____.

A．had a birthday party                     B．framed some photographs

C．had their pictures taken                  D．showed off their best clothes

4.Which of the following possible titles best expresses the main idea of this passage?

A．Puppy Love                            B．Brotherhood

C．Mother and Children                     D．A Precious Birthday Gift

“What’s in a name?”According to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, there is not too much. “That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. ”But Shakespeare may have been wrong. In most cultures, names matter a great deal.

Americans choose names for their children with care. Parents usually think about the impression a name gives, not its meaning. Most Americans would consider a“Jennifer”more attractive than a “Bertha”, for example. The last name, or, surname, must also be considered when choosing a first and middle name. A name like Lester Chester Hester would sound poetic, but odd. Parents would avoid names that remind them of people they don’t like. On the other hand, people might name their children after a respected elderly relative or even a famous person. The popularity of certain names can change with each new generation. Names that were once common, like Fanny or Elmer, sound old-fashioned today. But other names—like John and David, Mary and Sarah—have stood the test of time and continue to be favorites.

People in America don’t always call their friends and relatives by their given names. Instead, they often use nicknames. Sometimes nicknames are short forms of a longer name. For instance, a girl named Elizabeth may be called Lisa, Beth or Betsy. As children grow up, they may decide for themselves which nickname they wish to be called. Some people just go by the initials of their first and middle names, like B. J. or R. C. And of course, people may call their children or their sweethearts other special nicknames. Often they have a “sweet” flavor, like Honey or Sugar. What’s in a name? A world of significance. So if you’re choosing an English name for yourself, take care to choose a good one. A made-up name could sound strange to native English speakers. And a translation of your Chinese name may not make an appropriate name, either. But a good name can leave a positive and lasting impression. As an American politician once said,“In real life, unlike in Shakespeare, the sweetness of the rose depends upon the name it bears.”

What does the underlined sentence in paragraph 2 mean?

     A. People change names in order to be popular with the new generation.

B. Names will change by themselves in order to be popular.

C. Some names may no longer be popular among the new generation.

D. No names can stand the test of time.

When choosing names, you should stick to the following principles except that _________.

A. the impression a name gives is more important than its meaning

B. you can name after a well-known person

C. surname should be paid attention to               

D. you can create a name that is special

The word “initial” in paragraph 3 probably means          .

A. nickname            B. the first letter        C. short form        D. title

The author will name a newly born baby girl             .

A. Bertha               B. Fanny             C. Yunyun          D. Elizabeth

What is the main idea of this passage?

A. Names have great significance to Americans.    

B. Names change when time goes by.

C. Chinese people should be careful when choosing their English names.

D. Roses smell sweet by any other name.

“What’s in a name?”According to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, there is not too much. “That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. ”But Shakespeare may have been wrong. In most cultures, names matter a great deal.
Americans choose names for their children with care. Parents usually think about the impression a name gives, not its meaning. Most Americans would consider a“Jennifer”more attractive than a “Bertha”, for example. The last name, or, surname, must also be considered when choosing a first and middle name. A name like Lester Chester Hester would sound poetic, but odd. Parents would avoid names that remind them of people they don’t like. On the other hand, people might name their children after a respected elderly relative or even a famous person. The popularity of certain names can change with each new generation. Names that were once common, like Fanny or Elmer, sound old-fashioned today. But other names—like John and David, Mary and Sarah—have stood the test of time and continue to be favorites.
People in America don’t always call their friends and relatives by their given names. Instead, they often use nicknames. Sometimes nicknames are short forms of a longer name. For instance, a girl named Elizabeth may be called Lisa, Beth or Betsy. As children grow up, they may decide for themselves which nickname they wish to be called. Some people just go by the initials of their first and middle names, like B. J. or R. C. And of course, people may call their children or their sweethearts other special nicknames. Often they have a “sweet” flavor, like Honey or Sugar. What’s in a name? A world of significance. So if you’re choosing an English name for yourself, take care to choose a good one. A made-up name could sound strange to native English speakers. And a translation of your Chinese name may not make an appropriate name, either. But a good name can leave a positive and lasting impression. As an American politician once said,“In real life, unlike in Shakespeare, the sweetness of the rose depends upon the name it bears.”
【小题1】What does the underlined sentence in paragraph 2 mean?

“What’s in a name?”According to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet,there is not too much.“That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”But Shakespeare may have been wrong.In most cultures,names matter a great deal.

Americans choose names for their children with care.Parents usually think about the impression a name gives,not its meaning.Most Americans would consider a“Jennifer”more attractive than a “Bertha”，for example.The last name,or,surname,must also be considered when choosing a first and middle name.A name like Lester Chester Hester would sound poetic,but odd.Parents would avoid names that remind them of people they don’t like.On the other hand,people might name their children after a respected elderly relative or even a famous person.The popularity of certain names can change with each new generation.Names that were once common,like Fanny or Elmer,sound old-fashioned today.But other names—like John and David,Mary and Sarah—have stood the test of time and continue to be favorites.

People in Ameica don’t always call their friends and relatives by their given names.Instead,they often use nicknames.Sometimes nicknames are short forms of a longer name.For instance,a girl named Elizabeth may be called Lisa,Beth or Betsy.As children grow up,they may decide for themselves which nickname they wish to be called.Some people just go by the initials of their first and middle names,like B.J.or R.C.And of course,people may call their children or their sweethearts other special nicknames.Often they have a “sweet” flavor,like Honey or Sugar.What’s in a name? A world of significance.So if you’re choosing an English name for yourself,take care to choose a good one.Amade-up name could sound strange to native English speakers.And a translation of your Chinese name may not make an appropriate name,either.But a good name can leave a positive and lasting impression.As an American politician once said,“In real life,unlike in Shakespeare,the sweetness of the rose depends upon the name it bears.”

1.What does the underlined sentence in paragraph 2 mean?

A.People change names in order to be popular with the new generation.

B.Names will change by themselves in order to be popular.

C.Some names may no longer be popular among the new generation.

D.No names can stand the test of time.

2.When choosing names,you should stick to the following principles except that_________.

A.the impression a name gives is more important than its meaning

B.you can name after a well-known person

C.surname should be paid attention to

D.you can create a name that is special

3.The word “initial” in paragraph 3 probably means_________.

A.nickname            B.the first letter        C.short form        D.title

4.The author will name a newly born baby girl             .

A.Bertha               B.Fanny             C.Yunyun          D.Elizabeth

5.What is the main idea of this passage?

A.Names have great significance to Americans.    

B.Names change when time goes by.

C.Chinese people should be careful when choosing their English names.

D.Roses smell sweet by any other name.