“Whatever",totally tops most annoying word in the poll .So, you know, it is

“Whatever",totallytops most annoying word in the poll (民意测验).So, you know, it is what it is,but Americans are totally annoyed by the use of‘ whatever"’ in conversations. Thepopular term of indifference (不感兴趣）was found most annoying in conversations by 47 percent ofthe Americans surveyed in a Marist College poll on Wednesday.

“Whatever"easilybeat out “you know",which especially annoyed a quarter ofinterviewers. The other annoying expressions were "anyway"(at 7percent), “it is what it is” (11percent) and “at the end of theday(2 percent).

"Whatever" is anexpression with staying power It left everyone a deep impression in the song by Nirvana(“ohwell, whatever, never mind”）in 1991 and was popularized bythe Valley Girls in the film “Clueless”,later that decade. It is stillcommonly used, often by younger people.

It can be a common argument-ender or a signal ofindifference. And it can really be annoying. The poll found "whatever"to be consistently(始终地) disliked by Americans regardless of theirrace, sex, age, income or where they live.

“It doesn't surprise me because ‘whatever’，is in a special class, probably, said Michael Adams,author of “Slang(俚语)~The People's Poetry" and anassociate professor of English at Indiana University. "It's a word that-and it depends on how a speaker uses it -can suggest being not worthy ofattention or respect.” Adams, who didn't take part in the poll and is notannoyed by "whatever," points out that its use is not alwaysnegative. “It can also be used in place of other neutral(中性的）phrases that have fallen out of favor, like ‘six ofone, half dozen of the other’ ” he said. However, he also noted that thenegative meaning of the word might explain why “whatever” was judged moreannoying than the ever-popular “you know”.

1.Which tops second among the annoying expressionaccording to the passage?'

A. Whatever.              B.You know

C. Anyway.         D. It is what it is.

2.What can we know about the word "whatever"?

A. It became popular because of Nirvana.

B. It can be commonly used at the beginning of anagreement.

C. Old people like it while young people don't.

D. Almost half of the Americans surveyed disliked it.

3.In Adams' opinion, the reason why “whatever”, wasjudged more annoying may be that_____.

A. most of the people don't like it

B. it can be used in place of other neutral phrases

C. it carries certain negative meaning sometimes

D. the poor don't like it

4.Which of the following statements is true?

A.Adams is not only a writer but also a professor.

B.“Whatever” is a signal of concern.

C.Adams is angry at the word “whatever”

D."Whatever" will be replaced by "Youknow”

试题答案

【答案】

1.B

2.D

3.C

4.A

【解析】

试题