2. 外语
  3. When we use a word in speech and writing, its most obvious purpose is to point to some thing or relation or property. This is th

When we use a word in speech and writing, its most obvious purpose is to point to some thing or relation or property. This is th

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问题      When we use a word in speech and writing, its most obvious purpose is to point to some thing or relation or property. This is the word’s" meaning."
     Let us suppose that the one grandparent of the dog was a collie, another was an Irish terrier, another a fox terrier, and the fourth a bulldog. We can express these facts equally scientifically and objectively by-saying that he is a dog of mixed breed. We have in no way gone be yond the requirements of exact scientific description.
     Suppose, however, that we had called the same animal a" mongrel". The matter is more complicated. We have used a word which objectively means the same as" dog of mixed breed", but which also arouse in our hearers an emotional attitude of disapproval toward that particular dog. A word, therefore, can not only indicate an object; but can also suggest an emotional attitude toward it. Such suggestion of an emotional attitude does go beyond exact and scientific discussion because our approvals and disapprovals are individual--they belong to ourselves and not to the objects we approve or disapprove of.
      Once we are on the outlook for this difference between" objective" and "emotional" meanings, we shall notice that words which carry more or less strong suggestions of emotional attitudes are very common and are ordinarily used in the discussion of such debatable questions as those of politics, morals, and religion. This is one reason why such controversies cannot yet be settled.
      There is a well-known saying that the word "firm" can be declined as follows: I am firm, you are obstinate, and he is pigheaded. This is a simple illustration of what is meant. "Firm," "obstinate", and "pigheaded" all have the same objective meaning--that is, following one’s own course of action and refusing to be influenced by other people’s opinions. They have, how ever, different emotional meanings:" firm" has an emotional meaning of strong approval, "obstinate" of mild disapproval, "pigheaded" of strong disapproval.
     In much the same way when, during World War I , thoughts were dominated by emotions, the Americans contrasted the spirit of our heroic boys with ruthlessness of the Germans. Now with the more objective attitude that has been brought by the lapse of time, we can look back and see that the spirit and the ruthlessness are objectively the same. Only the one word has an emotional meaning of approval, the other of disapproval.
The author believes that in World War______.
选项 A、our men showed spirit and heroism, while the Germans displayed ruthlessness
B、although our men acted heroically, they were almost as ruthless as the Germans
C、there was no difference between the actions of the Americans and those of the Germans
D、most people thought that with the passage of time they will realize how savage the Ger mans really were
答案C
解析 具体细节题。根据文章最后两句：随着时间的推移，我们能以更客观的态度回顾过去，并认识到从客观来说，勇敢和残忍的意思是一样的，只不过一个含褒义，一个带贬义而已。所以，选项C是正确答案。
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