A
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 clear definition，it was easy to spot the difference.Not so in adulthood，where we are expected to “foot” the bill，“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 estimated 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 the 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—an authoritative(权威性的)book 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 replaced by an already existing popular verb.Make sure it's descriptive but not sillysounding, he says.
In the end，however，style is subjective.The 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.
[语篇解读] 在英语中把名词动词化的做法很普遍，但是很多语法学家反对这种做法，而且有时这样做也可能会让我们失望，因此我们要慎用名词的动词化。
1．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 since last century.
D．It is easily replaced by existing verbs in practice.
解析：细节理解题。根据第三段最后一句“Since 1900，about 40 percent of all new verbs have come from nouns.”可知，自1900年以来，大约40%的新动词来自名词。据此可知，自20世纪以来，名词的动词化就成了常见的现象，故C项正确。
答案：C
2．What is most leading experts' attitude towards the practice of the verbing of nouns?
A．Cautious. B．Satisfied.
C．Disappointed. D．Unconcerned.
解析：推理判断题。 根据第四段的内容，尤其是“Many nouns lately have been pressed into service as verbs.Not all are bad，but all are suspect.” 可知，针对名词的动词化，两位权威的语法学家认为并非所有这种做法都是不好的，但所有都是不可靠的。据此可推知，权威专家对把名词动词化的做法持谨慎的态度，故A项正确。
答案：A
3．What does the author think of ending the verbing of nouns?
A．Predictable. B．Practicable.
C．Approaching. D．Impossible.
解析：推理判断题。 根据最后一段最后一句“Not every coinage passes into general use，but as for trying to end verbing altogether, forget it.”可知，不是每个新创的词语都会被普遍使用，但是至于试图结束名词的动词化，那就算了吧。据此可推知，作者认为结束名词的动词化是不可能的，故D项正确。A项意为“可预见的”，B项意为“可行的，行得通的”，都与文义不符。
答案：D
4．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?
解析：标题归纳题。通读全文可知，文章首段以summer一词为例引出主题：名词的动词化；接着文章表述把名词动词化的做法很普遍，但有很多语法学家反对这种做法，而且这样做有时可能会让我们失望，因此我们要慎用名词的动词化。故B项最适合作本文标题。
答案：B
