A

(2016·湖北省八校联考)We do not usually think about how our language works. Talking is such a natural, everyday activity that we do not often stop to consider how it actually works. When we do study our language, though, we are often surprised that we are able to understand our conversations. Words can mean so many different things. However, it turns out that the speaking situation helps a lot in making language work.

First, the speaking situation helps make words more particular. For example, the word “dog” can describe a dog that a speaker saw in a dream. It can also be used to discuss a neighbor's dog. No language has a separate word for the idea “dog that I saw yesterday” and another word for the idea “dog that I saw in a dream”. This is because the speaking situation makes it clear what speakers mean when they use words. So, when you have a conversation with your neighbor, the knowledge that you have a dog tells your neighbor what the word “dog” probably means in that situation.

The speaking situation also helps make language clearer. For example, the word “bank” has two possible meanings. It can mean “a place where people keep money”， but it can also mean “the side of a river”. So the sentence “I went to the bank” is not clear. It could mean I went to the side of the river or it could mean I went to the place where my money is kept. However, if the speaker is talking about fishing or going to the mountains, others probably know that “bank” means “the side of a river”.

The things that speakers say may not always be clear. Sometimes the words are not very particular, but the speaking situation can provide the meaning. Other times words may have many meanings. Then the speaking situation limits the right meaning. This extra knowledge from the situation is very important to understand language.

1.The passage is mainly about ________.

A.the best time and place to talk to others

B.how the speaking situation helps language work

C.what to say in difficult situations

D.how our language works

2.According to the passage, we can safely say that ________.

A.the speaking situation does not affect the meaning of words

B.speaking is not very natural for most people

C.the speaking situation is not important

D.people often do not consider how talking works

3.By using the example of the word “dog”， the writer wants to show that ________.

A.a word may need to be explained in a conversation

B.a word may have different meanings

C.the speaking situation helps people understand the particular meaning of a word

D.the meaning of words is not particular

4.According to the passage, we can know the meaning of the word “bank” by referring to ________.

A.the time and the place where the conversation happens

B.the occupation of the person who uses the word

C.earlier or later parts of the conversation

D.a reliable dictionary

B

“How are things back at the office?” one of the gentlemen in my bicycle tour group asked me as we were nearing the end of another lengthy ride through Croatia's scenic countryside.

“I assume they are going fine，” I said. “I haven't had any contact and I don't plan to.”

“Your phone isn't on?” he asked, incredulously. “You haven't checked your email?”

“My phone is off and no, I'm not planning on checking email，” I said.

My wife Heidi and I took our children, Daniel and Rachel, on a two­week trip to Croatia, one of the most beautiful countries in the world. We made the choice to spend some of our money on this wonderful experience so we could spend time bonding with each other and the kids.

Why would I destroy the environment we had traveled thousands of miles to create by bringing my work environment into it? That would be counter­productive to everything I wanted out of this trip. If I had worked during this experience, I would have taken time away from my family and sent them the message that work takes priority over them.

In addition to sharing this incredible experience, I wanted to take us all out of the activity­driven world we live in. If I had had my cell phone on and been constantly searching out a wireless connection to keep up with the office, I would just have brought that hyper­connected enviroment into the peaceful, meaningful world I was trying to create.

In addition to creating lifelong memories with my family, another wonderful thing happened as a result of this bike trip. As we were returning home, I was flooded with new ideas. I came up with concepts for nine blog posts and several ideas that I want to incorporate into my business.

Taking time off restored and rejuvenated me and allowed my creative spirit to really come to the surface. How can you accomplish that goal if you simply move the source of that stress to a different location?

5.From the conversation at the beginning of the text, we can infer that________.

A.the author had no access to the Internet during the tour

B.the gentleman was quite concerned about the author's

work

C.the author's phone was off because he didn't want to be disturbed

D.the speakers both experienced an unpleasant bicycle tour in Croatia

6.One of the purposes of the author's Croatia's bicycle tour is________.

A.to spend some time creating closer ties with his family

B.to experience a primitive life without phone calls

C.to tell his family that his work is more important for him

D.to escape from his boring work environment at the office

7.What would the author probably do after returning home from their bike trip?

A.He would be busy with all his office work again.

B.He would be caught in a big flood of new businesses.

C.He would have many new fresh ideas for his business.

D.He would make up for his missing blog posts during the journey.

8.The underlined word “rejuvenated” in the last paragraph means “________”.

A.get one exhausted

B.drive one mad

C.cause one to lose temper

D.make one more energetic

C