首页
外语
计算机
考研
公务员
职业资格
财经
工程
司法
医学
专升本
自考
实用职业技能
登录
考研
In an article some Chinese scholars are described as being "tantalized by the mysterious dragon bone hieroglyphics." Tantalized
In an article some Chinese scholars are described as being "tantalized by the mysterious dragon bone hieroglyphics." Tantalized
admin
2022-07-29
89
问题
In an article some Chinese scholars are described as being "tantalized by the mysterious dragon bone hieroglyphics." Tantalized is one of many English words that have their origins in myths and legends of the past (in this case, Greek and Roman ones). The meaning of the verb tantalize is a very particular one: "to promise or show something desirable to a person and then take it away; to tease by arousing hope." Many (but not all) English dictionaries give you a brief indication of a word’s origins in brackets before or after the explanation of the meaning. For tantalize the following explanation is given: [> Tantalus]. This means that you should look up the name Tantalus to find out the word’s origins, and if you do, you will find out that in Greek mythology, Tantalus was a king who was punished in the lower world with eternal hunger and thirst; he was put up to his chin in water that always moved away when he tried to drink it and with fruit on branches above him placed just a little bit out of his reach. Can you see why his name was changed into a verb meaning "to tease or torment by arousing desire"?
Another example is the word siren, familiar to us as the mechanical device that makes such an alarming sound when police cars, ambulances, or fire engines approach. This word also has its origins in Greek mythology. The traveler Odysseus (Ulysses to the Romans) made his men plug their ears so that they wouldn’t hear the dangerous voices of the sirens, creatures who were half bird and half woman and who lured sailors to their deaths on sharp rocks. So the word came to be associated both with a loud sound and with danger!
When someone speaks of a "jovial mood" or a "herculean effort", he or she is using words with origins in mythology. Look these words up to find their meaning and relationship to myths.
Many common words, such as the names for the days of the week and the months of the year, also come from mythology. Wednesday derives from the ancient Norse king of the gods, Woden, and Thursday was originally Thor’s day, in honor of Thor, the god of thunder. As a matter of fact, all the planets, except the one we live on, bear names that come from Roman mythology, including the planet that is farthest away from the sun and for that reason was called after the Roman god of the dead. This god has also given his name to one of the chemical elements. Several other elements have names that come from mythology, too.
It seems that myths and legends live on in the English language.
Which of the following can best serve as the title of the passage?
选项
A、Greek and Roman Mythology in Language
B、Mythological Origins of English Words
C、Historical Changes in Word Meanings
D、Mythology and Common Words
答案
B
解析
本题的题干无具体关键词,属于标题题,即主旨题,需综合各段主题进行判断。综合各段主题,可以看出本文主要讲了一些英语单词的神话起源,因此选项B概括全面,是正确答案。选项A以偏概全,因为根据第四段第二句话,星期三(Wednesday)这个词来自古斯堪的纳维亚传说中的众神之神沃登(ancient Norse king of the gods, Woden),所以文中讲的单词不仅起源于希腊罗马神话,还起源于其他的传说和神话。选项C为无中生有,因为文中没有内容表明词义的历史变革。选项D以偏概全,因为神话(mythology)和常见词(common words)属于第四段的主题,不属于全文的共同主题。第五段:神话和传说仍然继续存在于英语中。
转载请注明原文地址:https://kaotiyun.com/show/6Ci4777K
0
考研英语二
相关试题推荐
Migrationisusuallydefinedas"permanentorsemi-permanentchangeofresidence".However,ourconcerniswithmovementbetween
Pricesarcsky-high,withprofitstomatch.Butlookingfurtherahead,theindustryfaceswrenchingchange,saysanexpertofen
Pricesarcsky-high,withprofitstomatch.Butlookingfurtherahead,theindustryfaceswrenchingchange,saysanexpertofen
Anunremarkedconsequenceofournewinformationage—onethatwillinfluencereaders,writers,andpublishersinthefuture—ist
Mosthumanbeingsactuallydecidebeforetheythink.Whenanyhumanbeing—executive,specializedexpert,orpersoninthestreet
Leadingdoctorstodayweighinonthedebateoverthegovernment’sroleinpromotingpublichealthbydemandingthatministersi
Whateverhappenedtothedeathofnewspaper?Ayearagotheendseemednear.Therecessionthreatenedtoremovetheadvertising
Thegreatrecessionmaybeover,butthiseraofhighjoblessnessisprobablybeginning.Beforeitends,itwilllikelychanget
随机试题
外科患者最易出现的脱水类型是______。
心的主要生理功能有:()
我国著名作家杨沫的《青春之歌》是一部( )。
根据《母婴保健法》规定经产前诊断下列情形中医师应当向夫妇双方说明情况.并提出终止妊娠意见的是
甲公司与乙公司约定,由甲公司向乙公司交付1吨药材,乙公司付款100万元。乙公司将药材转卖给丙公司,并约定由甲公司向丙公司交付,丙公司收货后3日内应向乙支付价款120万元。张某以自有汽车为乙公司对丙公司的债权提供抵押担保,双方签订了抵押合同,但未办理抵押登记
建立在日常交往基础上的,由主体与主体之间所结成的丰富而生动的“日常生活世界”,称为()
政府采取()的目的主要是出于公平的考虑。限制某些行业的发展,防止一些垄断行业索取高额利润。
2013年上半年,浙江省规模以上工业企业营业收入和利润总额分别为28544.6亿元和1380.2亿元,同比分别增长8.1%和13.0%,增幅比上年同期分别回升0.6和3.4个百分点;企业亏损面和亏损率分别为20%和12.7%,增幅比上年同期分别回落5.2和
Dopeoplegethappierormorefoul-temperedastheyage?Stereotypesofirritableneighbors【C1】______,scientistshavebeentryi
Whatisimportantwhen...?Recallingproducts-Planmaking-Risktaking--
最新回复
(
0
)