Continued from yesterday（延續自昨日）
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang
While many early surnames in England were strongly influenced by the work people did, like Carpenter or Plumber, jobs were not the only factor. Physical characteristics, personal nicknames, geographical locations and even parents’ first names also played a role.
Photo: Adobestock I 照片：Adobestock
It’s not hard to imagine how the color of a person’s hair could have led to a surname like “Redhead” or “White,” while a darker complexion might have resulted in the last name “Black.” Meanwhile, someone known as a quick runner might have earned the surname “Swift,” while a clever or cunning individual could have been called “Fox” based on the fact that this animal is typically considered sly.
Even more common than incorporating people’s traits or nicknames in surnames was the practice of naming people after the places they came from, such as villages, towns or even countries. This may explain why some people have last names like “England” or “Yale.” Another common naming tradition involved turning the first name of a parent, usually the father, into a family name. A man named William might have a son whose surname became Williamson or Williams.
These naming traditions remind us that surnames are not just identifiers—they often carry historical and personal significance. It’s something to keep in mind the next time someone uses their full name when introducing themselves.
Photo: Adobestock I 照片：Adobestock
儘管英格蘭許多早期的姓氏深受人們的職業影響— 例如 Carpenter（木匠）或 Plumber（水管工）— 但職業並非唯一的因素。外貌特徵、個人綽號、地理位置，甚至父母的名字也造成了影響。
不難想像，一個人的頭髮顏色可能帶來 Redhead 或 White 這樣的姓氏，而較深的膚色則可能促成 Black 這樣的姓氏。與此同時，以跑得很快而知名的人可能會獲得 Swift（敏捷的）這個姓氏，而聰明或狡猾的人則可能被稱為 Fox，因為狐狸通常被認為是狡詐的。
比起將個人的特徵或綽號納入姓氏，更常見的做法是以人們來自的地方命名，例如村莊、城鎮，或甚至是國家。這也許能解釋為什麼有些人的姓氏會是 England（英格蘭）或 Yale（耶魯）。另一個常見的命名傳統是將父母之一（通常是父親）的名字變成家族姓氏。舉例來說，一個名叫 William 的男子，他的兒子可能會使用 Williamson 或 Williams 作為姓氏。
Photo: Adobestock I 照片：Adobestock
這些命名傳統提醒我們，姓氏不僅僅是身分的標示—它們往往承載著歷史和個人的意義。這是下次有人用全名自我介紹時，我們要銘記在心的事。
What Did You Learn?
1. Which of the following statements is true?
(A) Given names are placed after surnames in Western countries.
(B) Surnames naturally started to appear in England around 1066.
(C) Occupations played a part in shaping surnames in early England.
(D) The popularity of surnames in England was due to religious influence.
2. What does the word “hereditary” most likely mean in the last paragraph of the Day 1 passage?
(A) Chosen freely by each individual depending on their personal experiences.
(B) Passed down from one generation to the next, especially within a family.
(C) Created randomly and used temporarily for identification.
(D) Given by a ruler or government official as a title of honor.
3. What are the Day 1 and Day 2 passages mainly about, respectively?
(A) Day 1 gives examples of modern surnames, while Day 2 explains rules for creating them.
(B) Day 1 compares surnames across countries, while Day 2 discusses how to choose a surname.
(C) Day 1 focuses on famous writers and plays, while Day 2 covers the history of English vocabulary.
(D) Day 1 explains how surnames began and why they are needed, while Day 2 discusses different types and meanings of surnames.
4. Four students are discussing their last names in history class. Whose surname most likely came from
a parent’s first name?
(A) James Hill: “Our family name came from the hill near where our family used to live.”
(B) Eric Mason: “Our surname probably came from a relative whose job was to build stone structures.”
(C) Leo Redman: “One of our ancestors had a very noticeable hair color that made him stand out.”
(D) Jim Peterson: “My father said our last name started with my great-great-grandfather, whose name was Peter.”
答案: 1. C 2. B 3. D 4. D
Word in Use
1. plumber n. 水管工
Please call a plumber to fix this pipe.
請打電話找個水管工來修理這條水管。
2. physical a. 身體的，生理的
Regular physical exercise is important for maintaining good health.
規律的體能鍛鍊對維持良好的健康很重要。
3. characteristic n. 特徵，特點
One characteristic of cats is their ability to see well in the dark.
貓的其中一個特點是牠們能在黑暗中看得很清楚。
4. geographical a. 地理的
The geographical features of the region include mountains, rivers, and forests. 該地區的地理特徵包括山脈、河流和森林。
5. swift a. 迅速的
The horse made a swift run across the field.
那匹馬迅速地跑過田野。
Practical Phrases
1. play a role / part (in. . .)
（對……）造成影響∕起作用
Education plays a key role in shaping a person’s future.
教育在塑造一個人的未來中起著關鍵作用。
2. lead to. . . = result in. . . 導致……
Lack of sleep can lead to poor concentration.
睡眠不足可能會導致注意力不集中。
The heavy rain resulted in flooding in several areas.
大雨導致好幾個地區淹水。
3. name A after B
用 B 為 A 命∕取名（常用於人名、地名、建築物等）
The couple named their son after his grandfather.
那對夫妻以祖父的名字為兒子取名。
聽文章朗讀及講解: https://ivy.pse.is/455bfu
本文出自常春藤解析英語雜誌: www.ivy.com.tw
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