单选题 How man first learnt to invent words is unknown; in other words, the origin of language is a mystery. All we really know is that man, unlike animals, some how 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 stand for 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 association which the things they bring up before our minds. Words became filled with meanings 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 that appeal powerfully to our minds and emotions. We should therefore learn to choose our words carefully and use them exactly, or they will make our speech silly and impolite.

单选题 The origin of language is______.

A. clearly explained in this passage
B. a matter that can not be or has not been explained or understood
C. a question that was difficult to answer
D. a problem already solved

【正确答案】 B

【答案解析】[解析] 细节题 [解题思路] 答案可以在第一段的第一句话"the origin of language is a mystery"得出。

单选题 One of the reasons why men invented certain sounds to express thoughts and actions was that they could______.

A. agree with certain signs
B. write them down
C. make themselves understand each other
D. combine them

【正确答案】 C

【答案解析】[解析] 细节题 [解题思路] 该题答案可以从文章第一段"So that they could communicate with each other"得出。

单选题 What is TRUE about the words?

A. They are used to express feeling only.
B. They can't be written down.
C. They are spoken or written sounds.
D. They are soundless signs.

【正确答案】 C

【答案解析】[解析] 细节题 [解题思路] 该题答案从文章第一段"Those sounds，whether spoken or written in letters，we call words"得出。

单选题 A great writer is one who______.

A. has great thoughts
B. is good at deeply impressing us with the power of correct words
C. is careful in choosing correct words
D. both A and B

【正确答案】 D

【答案解析】[解析] 细节题 [解题思路] 该题答案从文章第三段第一句话得出。

单选题 It is necessary to pick up the words when we tell or write in order______.

A. to show that we are polite
B. to show that we are good at using them
C. to express exactly what we mean
D. to prove that we are not silly

【正确答案】 C

【答案解析】[解析] 细节判断题 [解题思路] 从文章第三段的最后一句可以判断该题答案。