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While many of us may have been away somewhere nice last summer, few would say

英语试题 05-05
While many of us may have been away somewhere nice last summer, few would say that we’ve “summered.” “Summer” is clearly a noun, more precisely, a verbed noun.
Way back in our childhood, we all learned the difference between a noun and a verb. With such a tidy definition, it was easy to spot the difference. Not so in adulthood, where we are expected to “foot” bills, “chair” committees, and “dialogue” with political opponents. Chances are you didn’t feel uncomfortable about the sight of those verbed nouns.
“The verbing of nouns is as old as the English language,” says Patricia O’Conner, a former editor at The New York Times Book Review. Experts estimate that 20 percent of all English verbs were originally nouns. And the phenomenon seems to be snowballing. Since 1900, about 40 percent of all new verbs have come from nouns.
Even though conversion (转化) is quite universal, plenty of grammarians object to the practice. William Strunk Jr. and E.B.White, in The Elements of Style — the Bible for the use of American English — have this to say: “Many nouns lately have been pressed into service as verbs. Not all are bad, but all are suspect.” The Chicago Manual of Style takes a similar standpoint, advising writers to use verbs with great care.
“Sometimes people object to a new verb because they resist what is unfamiliar to them,” says O’Conner. That’s why we’re comfortable “hosting” a party, but we might feel upset by the thought of “medaling” in sports. So are there any rules for verbing? Benjamin Dreyer, copy chief at Random House, doesn’t offer a rule, but suggests that people think twice about “verbifying” a noun if it’s easily replaceable by an already existing popular verb. Make sure it’s descriptive but not silly-sounding, he says.
In the end, however, style is subjective. Easy conversion of nouns to verbs has been part of English grammar for centuries; it is one of the processes that make English “English.” Not every coinage (新创的词语) passes into general use, but as for trying to end verbing altogether, forget it.
12. What can we learn about the verbing of nouns?
A. It hasn’t recently been opposed by many grammarians.
B. It is more commonly accepted by children than adults.
C. It hasn’t been a rare phenomenon in the past century.
D. It is easily replaced by existing verbs in practice
13. What is most leading experts’ attitude towards the practice of the verbing of nouns?
A. Cautious. B. Satisfied.
C. Disappointed. D. Unconcerned.
14. What does the author think of ending the verbing of nouns?
A. Predictable. B. Practicable.
C. Approaching. D. Impossible.
15. What is the best title for the text?
A. Are 40 Percent of all new verbs from nouns?
B. Are Summering and Medaling Annoying?
C Are You Comfortable about a New Verb?
D. Are There Any Rules for Verbing?

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