Esperanto is what is called a planned, or artificial, language. It was created more than a century ago by Polish eye doctor Ludwik Lazar Zamenhof. Zamenhof believed that a common language would help to alleviate some of the misunderstandings among cultures.
In Zamenhof’s first attempt at a universal language, he tried to create a language that was as uncomplicated as possible. This first language included words such as ab, ac, ba, eb, be, and ce. This did not result in a workable language in that these monosyllabic words, though short, were not easy to understand or to retain.
Next, Zamenhof tried a different way of constructing a simplified language. He made the words in his language sound like words that people already knew, but he simplified the grammar tremendously One example of how he simplified the language can be seen in the suffixes: all nouns in this language end in o, as in the noun amiko, which means “friend,” and all adjectives end in -a, as in the adjective beta, which means “pretty” Another example of the simplified language can be seen in the prefix mal-, which makes a word opposite in meaning; the word malamiko therefore means “enemy,” and the word malbela therefore means “ugly” in Zamenhofs language.
In 1887, Zamenhof wrote a description of this language and published it. He used a penname, Dr. Esperanto, when signing the book. He selected the name Esperanto because this word means “a person who hopes” in his language. Esperanto clubs began popping up throughout Europe, and by 1905 Esperanto had spread from Europe to America and Asia.
In 1905, the First World Congress of Esperanto took place in France, with approximately 700 attendees from 20 different countries. Congresses were held annually for nine years, and 4,000 attendees were registered for the Tenth World Esperanto Congress scheduled for 1914, when World War I erupted and forced its cancellation.
Esperanto has had its ups and downs in the period since World War I. Today, years after it was introduced, it is estimated that perhaps a quarter of a million people are fluent in it. Current advocates would like to see its use grow considerably and are taking steps to try to make this happen.
1. The topic of this passage is _____.
2. According to the passage, Zamenhof wanted to create a universal language _____.
3. It can be inferred from the passage that the Esperanto word malespera means _____.
4. Look at the expression “popping up” in Paragraph 4. This expression could best be replaced by _____.
5. The passage following the passage most likely discusses _____.
问题1选项
A.a language developed in the last few years
B.one man’s efforts to create a universal language
C.how language can be improved
D.using language to communicate internationally
问题2选项
A.to resolve cultural differences
B.to provide a more complex language
C.to build a name for himself
D.to create one world culture
问题3选项
A.hopelessness
B.hope
C.hopeless
D.hopeful
问题4选项
A.leaping
B.shouting
C.hiding
D.opening
问题5选项
A.how current supporters of Esperanto are encouraging its growth
B.another of Zamenhof’s accomplishments
C.the disadvantages of using an artificial language
D.attempts to reconvene the World Congress of Esperanto in the 1920s
第1题:B
第2题:A
第3题:C
第4题:D
第5题:A
第1题:
【选项释义】
The topic of this passage is _____. 这篇文章的主题是_____。
A. a language developed in the last few years A. 一种近几年发展起来的语言
B. one man’s efforts to create a universal language B. 一个人努力创造一种通用语言
C. how language can be improved C. 如何提高语言能力
D. using language to communicate internationally D. 使用语言进行国际交流
【考查点】主旨大意题。
【解题思路】通读全文可知,本文主要是讲Zamenhof发明了一种通用语Esperanto(世界语)以及世界语的发展历程。选项B符合原文主题。
【干扰项排除】
A选项“一种近几年发展起来的语言”,根据原文第四段出现的时间词可知“近几年”表述错误,属于曲解原文;
C选项“如何提高语言能力”,原文没有提及,属于无中生有;
D选项“使用语言进行国际交流”,原文没有提及,属于无中生有。
第2题:
【选项释义】
According to the passage, Zamenhof wanted to create a universal language _____. 根据文章,扎门霍夫想要创建一种通用语言_____。
A. to resolve cultural differences A. 解决文化差异
B. to provide a more complex language B. 提供更复杂的语言
C. to build a name for himself C. 为自己树立名声
D. to create one world culture D. 创造一个世界文化
【考查点】事实细节题。
【解题思路】根据题干定位到原文第一段的最后一句“扎门霍夫认为,一种共同的语言将有助于缓解(alleviate)不同文化之间的一些误解(misunderstandings among cultures)”由此可知,选项A符合原文。
【干扰项排除】
B、C、D选项都不是扎门霍夫创建通用语言的目的,属于无中生有。
第3题:
【选项释义】
It can be inferred from the passage that the Esperanto word malespera means _____. 从文中可以推断出世界语单词malespera的意思是_____。
A. hopelessness A. 绝望
B. hope B. 希望
C. hopeless C. 没有希望的
D. hopeful D. 有希望的
【考查点】词义推测题。
【解题思路】根据题干定位到原文第三段最后两句“所有形容词都以-a结尾……另一个简化语言的例子可以在前缀mal-中看到,它使一个词的意思相反”由此可推测,malespera的意思应该是“没有希望的”。
【干扰项排除】
A、B、D选项不符合词义,属于曲解原文。
第4题:
【选项释义】
Look at the expression “popping up” in Paragraph 4. This expression could best be replaced by _____. 请看第四段中的popping up一词。这个表达式最好用_____代替。
A. leaping A. 跃出
B. shouting B. 呼喊
C. hiding C. 躲藏
D. opening D. 打开
【考查点】词义推测题。
【解题思路】根据题干定位到原文第四段的最后一句“世界语俱乐部开始在欧洲各地……到1905年世界语已经从欧洲传播到美洲和亚洲”,结合上下文语境可知,这里的意思应该是指“打开,开拓”,选项D符合。
【干扰项排除】
A、B、C选项不符合词义,属于曲解原文。
第5题:
【选项释义】
The passage following the passage most likely discusses _____. 文章后面的文章很可能讨论了_____。
A. how current supporters of Esperanto are encouraging its growth A. 目前世界语的支持者是如何鼓励它的发展的
B. another of Zamenhof’s accomplishments B. 扎门霍夫的另一项成就
C. the disadvantages of using an artificial language C. 使用人工语言的缺点
D. attempts to reconvene the World Congress of Esperanto in the 1920s D. 试图重新召集20世纪20年代的世界语世界大会
【考查点】推理判断题。
【解题思路】根据最后一段的最后一句“目前的倡导者希望看到它的使用大幅增长,并正在采取措施,试图实现这一点”接下来讲的内容应该是世界语目前的支持者是如何鼓励其发展的,选项A符合原文。
【干扰项排除】
B、C、D选项不符合行文结构,属于曲解原文。