5．Some English words have more than one meaning．These are called multi-meaning words．
Multi-meaning words have the same pronunciation with different meanings．For example，let's look at the word"ball"．You could have a"ball"which means you would have a good time．You could toss a"ball"which means you throw an object．You could be on the"ball"which means you know what is happening．You could go to a"ball"which means a dance．
______Take the word"can"．You"can"ride a bike which means you are able to ride a bike．You have a"can"of soup which means the soup is in a round-shaped holder．You can do the"can-can"which is a dance from the 1920s．And you might get"canned"if you do a poor job at work，which means you might lose your job．
How about"fly"？You can"fly"an airplane or you can hit a"fly"that is on your food in your house．Or，you can"fly by the seat of your pants"which means you don't make a plan before taking an action．And，you know that the"fly"of a zipper（拉链）is the top part of the zipper．
There are hundreds of words that are multi-meaning words．The word"set"has more meanings than any other word in the English language．When you have time，why don't you try to think of all the ways the word"set"is used？
If you look at the title of this book Can a Fly，Fly？…you know that the answer is"Yes"because you have seen an insect named a"fly"go up in the air and move around through the air…which is what"fly"means．Can a Fly，Fly？Of course，it can!
38．If Tom is often late for work and fails to finish his tasks，he willB
A．do the can-can
B．get canned
C．be on the ball
D．go to a ball
39．According to the passage，the word"C"has the most meanings in the English language．
A．ball
B．can
C．set
D．fly
40．Which of the following is the best sentence to fill in the blank in paragraph 3？A
A．Let's try another word．
B．Let's make a word list．
C．Here's a survey report．
D．Here's the guessing game．
41．The writer writes the passage in order toB．
A．tell a story about learning English words
B．introduce a book on learning English words
C．share an experience in learning English words
D．present different pronunciations of the same word．
分析 有些英语单词有一个以上的意思．这些词被称为多意词．
多意词是指具有相同的发音但有不同的含义．这里先以"ball"为例子，讲了"ball"这个单词的四个不同的含义，比如说你可以有一个"ball"，这意味着你会过的很愉快；再比如你可以去"ball"，这意味着可以跳舞．
其次又以"can"为例，介绍了"can"的四个不同意思和用法，例如你"can"骑自行车，这意味着你可以骑自行车；你可以跳"can-can"，"can-can"这里是指一个20世纪20年代的舞蹈．如果你在工作上做得很差，你可能会得到"canned"，这意味着你可能会失去你的工作．
然后又以"fly"为例介绍了"fly"的不同意思和用法．例如你可以"fly"（飞行）飞机，或你可以击中在你的房子食物上的一个"fly"（苍蝇）．
又介绍了有数百个词是一词多义词．"set"这个词在英语中比其他任何单词有更多的意义．当你有时间的时候，你为什么不试着去想"set"这个词的所有用法呢？
这本书的书名为Can a Fly，Fly，两个"fly"有着不同的意思，所以我们在遇到这种一词多义的情况时，应该认真分析每个词的不同意思和用法．
解答 38．B．细节理解题．根据And you might get"canned"if you do a poor job at work，which means you might lose your job．可知在工作中表现不好，就会失去工作，也即get canned．故选B．
39．C．细节理解题，根据"the word"set"has more meanings than any other word在这里的意思就是the word"set"has the most meanings"．可知这个词是set．故选C．
40．A．推理判断题．文章第二、三段都在介绍单词的多种意思，上一段介绍了"ball"的意思，下一段介绍了"can"，故中间缺一衔接句，A项符合．故选A．
41．B．主旨大意题，根据If you look at the title of this book Can a Fly，Fly？…可以看出文章介绍的是一本关于学习英语词汇的书，ACD三项的内容都没有提及．故选B．
点评 本篇是一篇教育文化类阅读．主要介绍了一词多义的情况．解答时，首先理解问题，然后带着问题快速阅读短文，找出与问题有关的句子，并理解大意，最后仔细斟酌，找出答案，并核对．
