is R­less?

　　That's __1__ Mrs.wasn't always the abbreviation for missus.__2__ (century) ago, it stood for mistress, which at the time __3__ (mean) the woman of the household.A governess who looked __4__ children was also called a mistress.Eventually, the abbreviation became the title for __5__ (marry) women, while men used Mr., pronounced master.

　　Since English speakers have a tendency to shorten words by means of contractions, the moniker (姓名) was pronounced missus at the end of the 18th century.It was probably for the best, since "mistress" __6__ (give) a new definition, the one we know today involving extramarital (婚外恋的) romantic affairs.Confusing the two could land you in __7__ (serious) awkward trouble.

　　Things changed for the gents, too.The __8__ (pronounce) of Mr.eventually went from master to mister, but the whole title was rarely written out.Mister was already a word __9__ referred to an occupation.

　　To cut a long story short, the English language is confusing.At least some grammar rules don't require lessons; we just do them without even __10__ (notice)．

　　1．because　由上文中的Why可知，填because。

　　2．Centuries　century是可数名词，在此表示"几个世纪"，故填centuries。

　　3．meant　由主句谓语stood以及从句的时间状语at the time可知，应用一般过去时态，故填meant。

　　4．after　look after意为"照顾"。

　　5．married　设空处修饰名词women作定语，故填married。

　　6．was given　设空处与主语"mistress"之间存在逻辑上的动宾关系，应用被动语态，且是对过去事实的客观陈述，故填一般过去时的被动语态。

　　7．seriously　设空处修饰形容词awkward，故填seriously。

8．pronunciation　设空处在句中作主语，故填pronunciation。