阅读理解
A tree has roots (根). People have roots too. If you get to the root of a problem, you are more likely to solve it. It’s the same thing with words. Dig deeply into a big, unfamiliar (不熟悉的) word, and you may understand where it comes from.
As readers, especially those reading in a second language, we need to deal with the text like “detectives (侦探)” looking for information to unlock the unknown. Like any good detective at a crime scene, the first thing to do when meeting a new and difficult word is to judge the situation, to look at everything that is known and see if it helps us to understand what the word means.
As you know, a prefix (前缀) or a suffix (后缀) can be added to the beginning or end of a word to change its meaning. Know more prefixes and suffixes, and you can have a word-building power. But root words are also important. Take time to learn a few of them, and put them in your memory. Then, you can become an excellent “word detective”.
Let’s look at one common root word used in English. The word “alter” is from Latin (拉丁语), meaning “other”. When you meet this root word, you know that the bigger word has something to do with “other”. Then, look at the word “alternate”, with the Latin root in it. Can you guess what it means according to the following sentences?
· If you and your friend like to eat out, you pay first and the other pays the next time. And this goes on and on. Then you are alternating paying.
· I go to the films on alternate Saturdays—I go on one Saturday, but not the next Saturday; then I go again on the third Saturday.
Learn as many root words as possible in the language you are studying. Then use your “rooting for words” skills. Like in learning any new skill, practice and hard work always pay off.
() 1. What does the underlined word “it” in paragraph 2 refer to?
A. The language. B. The crime scene.
C. A new and difficult word. D. Everything that is known.
() 2. If Jim and Lily go to see films, which one below is “alternating paying”?
A. They each pay half. B. Jim pays every time.
C. They take turns to pay. D. Their parents pay for them.
() 3. How does the writer explain (解释) his ideas about root words?
A. By giving facts. B. By having discussions.
C. By telling stories. D. By giving examples.