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 region
of modern France, conquered England at the Battle of Hastings. The repercussions of this battle can be felt to this day. One
of the most profound effects of the event was the mixing of French with English that has resulted in modern English
spoken today.
Before the Battle of Hastings, England was made up of many small areas, like little kingdoms, each led by a local
lord. These lords were ruled by a single Saxon king, Edward the Confessor, but his control over the lords was weak. After
Edward’s death, three successors to the throne fought for supremacy: Harold, a Saxon from England; William, a Norman
from France; and Harold, a Viking from Norway. Harold of Saxon had the advantage of being English, and the lords
preferred an English king over one coming from foreign regions. Unfortunately, Harold of Saxon’s two competitors
attacked at the same time, forcing him to fight on two fronts. William, known afterward as the Conqueror, finally defeated
Harold of Saxon and captured the throne.
From his home in Normandy, William brought native French-speaking advisers to England to help him rule. This
created a divided system of government and culture. Within a decade, the language of government had been converted to
French while the business of the towns was still carried out in English. Even though the Normans were eventually
dethroned, 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 counterpart
attorney. The English word books sounds more formal when the French word literature is used instead. This is a source of
confusion for many people who are trying to learn English. They might be surprised to learn the Battle of Hastings is the
reason that cows become beef, pigs become pork, and sheep become mutton when they are put on the dinner table.
【題組】41. According to the article, what is an effect of the Battle of Hastings that is still felt today?
(A) It caused the deaths of many people.
(B) It led to a new form of government.
(C) It brought one language into another.
(D) It led to a bitter hatred between two countries.