40 至 43 題為題組         The last time the British Isles were conquered was nearly a millennium ago. In 1066, the king of Normandy, a regionof modern France, conquered England at the Battle of Hastings. The repercussions of this battle can be felt to this day. Oneof the most profound effects of the event was the mixing of French with English that has resulted in modern Englishspoken today.
        Before the Battle of Hastings, England was made up of many small areas, like little kingdoms, each led by a locallord. These lords were ruled by a single Saxon king, Edward the Confessor, but his control over the lords was weak. AfterEdward’s death, three successors to the throne fought for supremacy: Harold, a Saxon from England； William, a Normanfrom France； and Harold, a Viking from Norway. Harold of Saxon had the advantage of being English, and the lordspreferred an English king over one coming from foreign regions. Unfortunately, Harold of Saxon’s two competitorsattacked at the same time, forcing him to fight on two fronts. William, known afterward as the Conqueror, finally defeatedHarold of Saxon and captured the throne.
        From his home in Normandy, William brought native French-speaking advisers to England to help him rule. Thiscreated a divided system of government and culture. Within a decade, the language of government had been converted toFrench while the business of the towns was still carried out in English. Even though the Normans were eventuallydethroned, French words remain an important part of English language until today.
         This part of history explains why many of the French words used in English today are related to topics of government,law, arts, and religion. When one speaks about a lawyer in English, it is also possible to use its French-derived counterpartattorney. The English word books sounds more formal when the French word literature is used instead. This is a source ofconfusion for many people who are trying to learn English. They might be surprised to learn the Battle of Hastings is thereason that cows become beef, pigs become pork, and sheep become mutton when they are put on the dinner table.
【題組】40. Which of the following is true according to the passage?
(A) Many modern French words are actually English in origin.
(B) Some famous English kings preferred to speak French.
(C) A king of England traveled to Normandy to learn French.
(D) A Norman became king and changed the English language forever.