单选题
How men first learnt to invent words is unknown; in other words, the origin of language is a mystery. All we really know is that — men, unlike animals, somehow invented certain sounds to express thoughts and feelings, actions and things, so that they could communicate with each other; and that later they agreed upon certain signs, called letters, which could be combined to represent those sounds, and which could be written down. Those sounds, whether spoken, or written in letters we call words.
The power of words, then, lies in their associations — the things they bring up before our minds. Words become filled with meaning for us by experience; and the longer we live, the more certain words recall to us the glad and sad events of our past; and the more we read and learn, the more the number of words that mean something to us increase.
Great writers are those who not only have great thoughts but also express these thoughts in words which appeal powerfully to our minds and emotions. This charming and telling use of words is what we call literary style. Above all, the real poet is a master of words. He can convey his meaning in words which sing like music, and which by their position and association can move men to tears. We should therefore learn to choose our words carefully and use them accurately, or they will make our speech silly and vulgar.
单选题
______ men invented certain sounds to express thoughts and actions.
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】[解析] 文章细节理解题。首先根据题干，可以迅速将该题定位在本文的第一段的第二句“…invented…so that thev could communicate with each other…”其意为“为了相互交流……发明了……”，然后浏览四个选项就可以判断出C选项为正确答案。
单选题
Which is true about words?
【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】[解析] 文章细节理解题。文章第一段的第一句“How men first learnt to invent words is unknown; in other words, the origin of language is a mystery.”与D选项说法一致，为正确答案。
单选题
Which of the following sentences is true according the passage?
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】[解析] 文章细节理解题。文章中“…the more we read and learn, the more the number of words that mean something to us increase…”正是“The more we read and learn, the more learned we will become.” 的含义。所以A选项为正确答案。
单选题
We can improve our speeches and writings
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】[解析] 文章细节理解题。B项by using words with care and accuracy正是文中“We should therefore learn to choose our words carefully and use them accurately, or they will make our speech silly and vulgar”语句的改写，意思完全一样，所以B选项为正确答案。
单选题
Which of the following sentences is true according to this passage?
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】[解析] 文章细节理解题。A项It is by our experience that words are filled with meaning for us. 与文章中“Words become filled with meaning for us by experience…”说法一致，所以A选项为正确答案。