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  3. English is the most widely-used language in the history of our planet. One in every seven human beings can speak it. More than h

English is the most widely-used language in the history of our planet. One in every seven human beings can speak it. More than h

admin2010-04-24  51
问题      English is the most widely-used language in the history of our planet. One in every seven human beings can speak it. More than half of the world’ s books and three-quarters of international mail are in English. Of all languages, English has the largest vocabulary—perhaps as many as two million words—and one of the noblest bodies of literature.
     Nevertheless, let’s face it: English is a crazy language. There is no egg in eggplant, neither pine nor apple in pineapple and no ham in a hamburger. Sweetmeats are candy, while sweetbreads, which aren’t sweet, are meat.
     We take English for granted. But when we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square, public bathrooms have no baths in them.
     And why is it that a writer writes, but fingers don’t fang, grocers don’t groce, and hammers don’t ham? If the plural of tooth is teeth, shouldn’t the plural of booth be beeth? One goose, two geese—so one moose, two meese?
     If the teacher taught, why isn’t it true that the preacher praught? If a horsehair mat is made from the hair of horses and a camel-hair coat from the hair of camels, from what is a mohair coat made? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?
     In what other language do people drive on a parkway and park in a driveway? Ship by truck and send car- go by ship? Have noses that nm and feet that smell? How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites? How can overlook and oversee be opposites, while quite a lot and quite a few are alike? How can the weather be hot as hell one day and cold as hell the next?
     You must be shocked at a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which your alarm clock goes off by going on.
     English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race (which, of course, isn’t really a race at all). That is why, when stars are out they are visible, but when the lights are out they are invisible. And why, when I wind up my watch I start it, but when I wind up this essay I end it.  
Which of the following pairs mean the same?
选项 A、A wise man and a wise guy.
B、A slim chance and a fat chance.
C、Overlook and oversee.
D、Sweetmeat and sweets.
答案B
解析 细节理解题。见第六段：How can a slim chance and a fat chalice be the same , while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites?可知答案为B。这两种表达的意思相同，都是指“渺茫的希望”。
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