历年真题：GRE试题1

　　The common belief of some linguists that each　language is a perfect vehicle for the thoughts of the　nation speaking it is in some ways the exact counterpart　of the conviction of the Manchester school of economics　that supply and demand will regulate everything for the(5)　best. Just as economists were blind to the numerous cases in which the law of supply and demand left actual　wants unsatisfied, so also many linguists are deaf to those instances in which the very nature of a ianguage　calls forth misunderstandings in everyday conversation,(10)　and in which, consequently, a word has to be modified or defined in order to present the idea intended by the　speaker: "He took his stick,no, not John's, but his own." No language is perfec't, and if we admit this truth, we must also admit that it is not unreasonable to investi-(15)　gate the relative merits of different languages or of　different details in languages.

　　24. The primary purpose ofthe passage is to

　　(A) analyze an interesting feature of the English language

　　(B) refute a belief held by some linguists

　　(C) show that economic theory is relevant to linguistic study

　　(D) iilustrate the confusion that can result from the improper use of　language

　　(E) suggest a way in which languages can be made more nearly perfect.

　　25. The misunderstanding presented by the author in lines 13-14 is similar to which of the following?

　　I. X uses the word "you" to refer to a group, but Y thinks that X is referring to one person only.

　　II. X mistakenly uses the word "anomaly" to refer to a typical example,.but Y　knows that "anomaly" means "exception".

　　III. X uses the word "bachelor" to mean "unmarried man:' but Y mistakenly thinks　that bachelor means "unmarried woman."