How men first learned to invent words is unknown; 【C1】______, the origin of language is a mystery. All we really know is that men, unlike animals, somehow invented certain 【C2】______ to express thoughts and feelings, actions and things,【C3】______they could communicate with each other; and that later they agreed 【C4】______certain signs, called letters, which could be 【C5】______ to represent those sounds, and which could be【C6】______. Those sounds, whether spoken,【C7】______written in letters, we call words. The power of words, then, lies in their 【C8】______—the things they bring up before our minds. Words become 【C9】______ with meaning for us by experience; 【C10】______the longer we live, the more certain words【C11】______ to us the happy and sad events of our past; and the more we 【C12】______ , the more the number of words that mean something to us 【C13】______ . Great writers are those who not only have great thoughts but also express these thoughts in words which appeal 【C14】______to our minds and emotions. This 【C15】______and telling use of words is what we call 【C16】______ style. Above all, the real poet is a master of【C17】______. He can convey his meaning in words which sing like music, and which【C18】______their position and association can【C19】______men to tears. We should, therefore, learn to choose our words carefully and use them accurately, or they will【C20】______our speech or writing silly and vulgar. 【C8】

A. functions
B. associations
C. roles
D. links