|
|
The English policeman has several nicknames ( 绰号 ) but the most frequently
used are "copper" and "bobby". The first name comes from the verb "to cop "
(which is also slang ) , meaning " to take " or " to capture ", and the second
comes from the first name of Sir Robert Peel, the nineteenth-century politician,
who was the founder of the police force as we know it today. An early nickname
for the policeman was "peeler", but this one has died out.
Whatever we may call them, the general opinion of the police seems to be a
favorable one; except, of course, among the criminal part of the community where
the police are given more derogatory nicknames which originated in America, such
as "fuzz" or "pig". Visitors to England seem nearly always to be very impressed
by the English police. It has, in fact, become a standing joke that the visitor
to Britain, when asked for his views of the country, will always say, at some
point or other, "I think your policemen are wonderful. "
Well, the British bobby may not always be wonderful but he is usually a
very friendly and helpful sort of character. A music-hall song of some years ago
was called "If You Want To Know The Time, Ask A Policeman". Nowadays, most
people own watches but they still seem to find plenty of other questions to ask
the policeman. In London, the policemen spend so much of their time directing
visitors about the city that one wonders how they ever find time to do anything
else!
Two things are immediately noticeable to the stranger when he sees an
English policeman for the first time. The first is that he does not carry a
pistol (手枪) and the second is that he wears a very distinctive type of headgear,
the policeman's helmet. His helmet, together with his height, enable an English
policeman to be seen from a considerable distance, a fact that is not without
its usefulness. From time to time it is suggested that the policeman should be
given a pistol and that his helmet should be taken from him, but both these
suggestions are resisted by the majority of the public and the police
themselves.
21. Nowadays British people call the policeman_______.
A. pig B. peeler
C. fuzz D. bobby
22. Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. There are fewer criminals in America than in Britain.
B. The English police usually leave a deep impression on visitors.
C. The British bobby is friendly but not helpful.
D. The English police enjoy having pistols.
23. If you see an English policeman for the first time, you will probably
notice at once that
A. he often tells people time B. he is usually very helpful
C. he has a helmet on his head D. he wears special clothes
24. That an English policeman can be seen from some distance is
_______.
A. of some help to people B. of no help to people
C. very strange and funny D. a standing joke
25. Visitors praise the English police because_______.
A. they are armed with modern equipment
B. they obey orders
C. they are often given thanks by people
D. they are polite and helpful
答案：21. D 22. B 23. C 24. A 25. D |
|
发表于 2016-12-4 13:33:02