Question

Many years ago, a French naturalist, Comte de Buffon, wrote some books about natural history. The books were a great success even though some critics（批评家）did not like them.

Thomas Jefferson did not like what Comte de Buffon had said about the natural wonders（奇观）of the New World. It seemed to Jefferson that Comte de Buffon had spoken of natural wonders in America as if（好像）they were unimportant.

This troubled Thomas Jefferson. He was also a naturalist, as well as a farmer, an inventor, a historian, a writer and a politician（政治家）. He had seen the natural wonders of Europe. To him, they were no more important than those of the New World.

In 1788, Thomas Jefferson wrote about his home state, Virginia. While writing, he thought of its natural beauty and then of the words of Comte de Buffon. At that moment, Jefferson created a new word—belittle. He said, “Comte de Buffon believes that nature belittles her productions on this side of the Atlantic（大西洋）.”

Noah Webster, the American word expert, liked this word. He put it in the English language dictionary in 1806, “Belittle—to make small, unimportant.”

Americans had already accepted Jefferson’s word and started to use it. In 1797, the Independent Chronicle（独立纪事报）used the word to describe a politician the paper supported. “It is an honorable man,” the paper wrote, “so let the opposition try to belittle him as much as they please.”

In 1872, a famous American word expert decided that the time had come to kill this word. He said, “Belittle shouldn’t become English. And more critical writers of America, like those of Britain, feel no need of it.”

This expert failed to kill the word. Today, belittle is used where the English language is spoken.

1.Thomas Jefferson was NOT a ______.

A. naturalist         B. historian       C. politician     D. musician

2.We can infer（推断）that Jefferson created the word “belittle” out of his ______.

A. anger         B. excitement       C. kindness      D. responsibility

3.What can we know about the word “belittle” from the passage?

A. It has already disappeared from the English language.

B. It had been used before it was put in the English language dictionary.

C. It is used to describe natural wonders now.

D. An American politician decided to kill this word in 1872.

4.What’s the passage mainly about?

A. How the word “belittle” came into being.       B. The argument about natural wonders.

C. Every word has a long history behind.          D. Noah Webster supported Jefferson’s idea.

Answer

1.D

2.A

3.B

4.A

【解析】

试题分析：这篇短文主要介绍了“belittle贬低”一词产生的原因及逐渐为人们使用的经历。

1.D细节理解题。根据He was also a naturalist, as well as a farmer, an inventor, a historian, a writer and a politician（政治家）可知 Thomas Jefferson不是音乐家，故选D。

2.A推理判断题。根据第二段和第三段可知Thomas Jefferson对Comte de Buffon的著作十分不满，所以可以推断他创造belittle一词是比较生气的状态下，故选A。

3.B是非判断题。根据Today, belittle is used where the English language is spoken.可知A错误；根据Belittle—to make small, unimportant.可知C错误；根据In 1872, a famous American word expert decided that the time had come to kill this word.可知D错误，结合Noah Webster, the American word expert, liked this word. He put it in the English language dictionary in 1806,故选B。

4.

考点：文化历史类短文阅读。