背景知识
从古至今，人们对自己姓与名十分珍重，我国的姓与名，经历了漫长的演变过程，才发展到了今天人们所惯用的“姓名”。但在我国古代，并不是一开始就使用姓名的，而是先有姓与氏，后有名、字、别号，古人的一生有很多名字，各有用途，意义不同。
“姓”字，为左右结构，左从“女”右为“生”，从“女”而生，在母系社会里，子女只知其母，而不知其父，母姓为后代惟一能确定的尊亲，正如《白虎通?三纲六纪》所云：“古元时，未有三刚六纪，人民但知有母，不知有父”。“姓”是一个集合名词，是家族的标识，或表示与某个大家族的某一血缘关系更为亲近的部分。
氏只是在汉朝以前才独立存在，它是“姓”的分支，“姓”是氏族的族号，氏族的成员都是以这个族号作为自己的姓。
“名”是指个人的符号，带有个人的烙印。在我国传统习俗中，“名”是在婴儿出生百日之后由父亲取定的，据《礼记?内则》记载，到了这一天，由母亲和保姆抱着婴儿来到厅堂见他的父亲，父亲郑重地握住孩子的手，给他取名。名取定以后，母亲和保姆把孩子抱回内室，然后把孩子的名字通告亲戚，父亲则立即把这个消息告诉朋友，并报告地方长官，入籍登记。因此命名仪式非常隆重，是孩子一生中的第一件大事，这种习俗现在虽然没有了，但给孩子过“百岁”的风俗依然长盛不衰。
扩展阅读
Remembering names is an important social skill. Here are some ways to master it.Recite and repeat in conversation.
When you hear a person’s name，repeat it. Immediately say it to yourself several times without moving your lips. You could also repeat the name in a way that does not sound forced or artificial.
Ask the other person to recite and repeat.
You can let other people help you remember their names. After you’ve been introduced to someone，ask that person to spell the name mad pronounce it correctly for you. Most people will be pleased by the effort you’re making to learn their names.
Admit you don’t know.
Admitting that you can’t remember someone’s name can actually make people relaxed. Most of them will feel sympathy if you say. “I’m working to remember names better. Yours is right on the tip of my tongue. What is it again?”
Use associations.
Link each person yon meet with one thing you find interesting or unusual. For example，you could make a mental note: "Vicki Cheng -- tall, black hair. " To reinforce you’re your associations, write them on a small card as soon as possible.
Limit the number of new names you learn at one time.
When meeting a group of people, concentrate on remembering just two or three names. Free yourself from remembering every one. Few of the people in mass introductions expect you to remember their names. Another way is to limit yourself to learning just first names. Last names can come later.
Go early.
Consider going early to conferences, parties and classes. Sometimes just a few people show up on time. That's fewer names for you to remember. And as more people arrive, you can hear them being introduced to others—an automatic review for you.
1. How will most people feel when you try hard to remember their names?
A. They will be moved. B. They will be annoyed.
C. They will be delighted. D. They will be discouraged.
2. If you can't remember someone's name, you may __
A. tell him the truth B. tell him a white lie
C. ask him for pity D. ask others to help you
3. When you meet a group of people, it is better to remember __
A. all their names B. a couple of names first
C. just their last names D. as many names as possible
4. What does the text mainly tell us?
A. Tips on an important social skill. B. Importance of attending parties.
C. How to make use of associations. D. How to recite and repeat names.
答案
1.C
解析：文章第一个小标题后面的内容指出，当你很认真地试图记住对方的名字的时候，人们会很开心。
2.A
解析：文章的第二个小标题为Admit you don’t know.根据本段的内容，我们可以知道当我们忘记对方的姓名的时候，我们应该诚实地告诉对方真相。
3.B
解析：文章第四个小标题后的内容指明，不要试图去记住所有人的名字，事实上这很难做到，并且人们也并不期望你能记住。所以只要集中注意力记住其中一部分人的名字就可以了。B选项的意思和原文相符，所以为正确答案。
4.A
解析：纵观全文，我们可以看出，作者写这篇文章的目的在于提出一些建议来帮助人们记名字，而记名字又是一项重要的社交技能。综上A选项符合题意，应选。
