八、（2017·北京）阅读短文，根据短文内容回答问题。（共10分，每小题2分）
Centuries ago, most people in England had only one name---their first name. In the 11th century, five or six of the 50 people in a village might be named William, and it was easy to get confused. But in the Middle Ages, people found a way to describe each person exactly. If there were four Williams in one village, one might be referred to as William the son of John. A second might be called William from the hill. A third, William the blacksmith(铁匠). And a fourth, William the brown haired. In conversation, people might refer to the four Williams as William John’s son, William hill, William smith, and William brown.
It was 300 or 400 years before these extra(附加的) names gradually developed into last names, or surnames. They were passed on from generation to generation. By the 1300s, Robert, the son of William Smith, had the name Robert smith, even if he was not a blacksmith like his father. As the last name became widely accepted, the first letter was capitalized, as in Robert Smith. By the 15th century, most people of the upper and middle classes had surnames.
Many surnames were based on father-son relations. The “son of” part was added to the father’s first name, like Johnson, meaning John’s son. Sometimes it was shortened to just “s”, as in Jones or Evans. Surnames like Hill described the place where a person lived. They are the most common type of surname. A third kind of surname was based on a person’s job. Forester was someone who looked after the forest. In the Middle Ages, occupation names such as Baker, Carpenter, and Miller became common. The fourth kind of surname was a nickname(绰号). A man whose surname was Bear might be as fierce as a bear.
Have you ever wondered why some surnames are so common? The most common surname in the English language is Smith. Being able to make metals(金属) into tools was an important skill in the Middle Ages, and many people were trained blacksmiths. The most common American surnames are Smith, Johnson, Williams, and Brown.
61. Where do many American names come from?
62. When did people find a way to describe each person exactly?
63. How long did it take for extra names to develop into last names?
64. What is the fourth paragraph mainly about?
65. Why were many people trained blacksmiths in the Middle Ages?
题材：风俗文化
【主旨大意】本文是一篇说明文。美国人的名字来自英国。那么英国人的名字是怎么发展变化的呢？本文以时间为顺序，介绍了姓名的演变过程。并着重介绍了四种姓氏以及他们的由来。
61. England. 【解析】细节理解题。由短文第一句“Many American names come from England. ”可知，美国名字来自英国。
62. In the Middle Ages.【解析】细节理解题。由短文第二段“But in the Middle Ages, people found a way to describe each person exactly. ”可知。
63. 300 or 400 years.【解析】细节理解题。由第三段第一句“It was 300 or 400 years before these extra（附加的）names gradually developed into last names, or surnames. ”可知。
64. Four kinds of surnames and what they were based on.【解析】主旨大意题。第四段主要介绍了四种姓氏以及他们的由来。
65. Because being able to make metals into tools was an important skill in the Middles Ages. 【解析】细节理解题。由最后一段“Being able to make metals（金属）into tools was an important skill in the Middle Ages, and many people were trained blacksmiths.”可知。注意回答问题时，应用because开头。
（2017·北京）What’s in a Name?
Many American names come from England. But where did most English names come from?Centuries ago, most people in England had only one name---their first name. In the 11th century, five or six of the 50 people in a village might be named William, and it was easy to get confused. But in the Middle Ages, people found a way to describe each person exactly. If there were four Williams in one village, one might be referred to as William the son of John. A second might be called William from the hill. A third, William the blacksmith(铁匠). And a fourth, William the brown haired. In conversation, people might refer to the four Williams as William John’s son, William hill, William smith, and William brown.
It was 300 or 400 years before these extra(附加的) names gradually developed into last names, or surnames. They were passed on from generation to generation. By the 1300s, Robert, the son of William Smith, had the name Robert smith, even if he was not a blacksmith like his father. As the last name became widely accepted, the first letter was capitalized, as in Robert Smith. By the 15th century, most people of the upper and middle classes had surnames.
Many surnames were based on father-son relations. The “son of” part was added to the father’s first name, like Johnson, meaning John’s son. Sometimes it was shortened to just “s”, as in Jones or Evans. Surnames like Hill described the place where a person lived. They are the most common type of surname. A third kind of surname was based on a person’s job. Forester was someone who looked after the forest. In the Middle Ages, occupation names such as Baker, Carpenter, and Miller became common. The fourth kind of surname was a nickname(绰号). A man whose surname was Bear might be as fierce as a bear.
Have you ever wondered why some surnames are so common? The most common surname in the English language is Smith. Being able to make metals(金属) into tools was an important skill in the Middle Ages, and many people were trained blacksmiths. The most common American surnames are Smith, Johnson, Williams, and Brown.
61. Where do many American names come from?
62. When did people find a way to describe each person exactly?
63. How long did it take for extra names to develop into last names?
64. What is the fourth paragraph mainly about?
65. Why were many people trained blacksmiths in the Middle Ages?
题材：风俗文化
【主旨大意】本文是一篇说明文。美国人的名字来自英国。那么英国人的名字是怎么发展变化的呢？本文以时间为顺序，介绍了姓名的演变过程。并着重介绍了四种姓氏以及他们的由来。
61. England. 【解析】细节理解题。由短文第一句“Many American names come from England. ”可知，美国名字来自英国。
62. In the Middle Ages.【解析】细节理解题。由短文第二段“But in the Middle Ages, people found a way to describe each person exactly. ”可知。
63. 300 or 400 years.【解析】细节理解题。由第三段第一句“It was 300 or 400 years before these extra（附加的）names gradually developed into last names, or surnames. ”可知。
64. Four kinds of surnames and what they were based on.【解析】主旨大意题。第四段主要介绍了四种姓氏以及他们的由来。
65. Because being able to make metals into tools was an important skill in the Middles Ages. 【解析】细节理解题。由最后一段“Being able to make metals（金属）into tools was an important skill in the Middle Ages, and many people were trained blacksmiths.”可知。注意回答问题时，应用because开头。
