4.After this first burst of creative energy, the Americans went along, North and South, for about a century with little change in their naming-habits. Biblical names continued to give color in New England, but elsewhere it was particularly true with women's names, in the middle and southern colonies, and the excessive use of Elizabeth, Ann, Mary, and Sarah was only saved by the also liberal use of variations such as Betsy, Sally, Nanny, Nancy, and Molly.

The great German immigration of the early eighteenth century had some influence. Johann, often shortened to Hans, was by far the commonest name among these Germans, with Jocob and Heinrich following. Except where people continued to talk German, these names were rapidly Anglicized, and so increased the popularity of John, Jocob, and Henry. The Scotch-Irish immigration also exerted an influence by building up the already popular James, and adding Alexander and Archibald.

About 1740 the use of middle names began to grow. Probably the Germans had some influence here, for they generally, even as immigrants, bore two given names, of which the first was usually Johann. Another strong influence was family pride, which led to the desire to preserve the mother's family name. Purely practical, as the towns grew larger, was the need to distinguish a man more clearly from others bearing the same names. Once started, the custom grew steadily to popularity until by 1850 the man without a middle name was in a small minority, as he has since remained. The use of the middle name soon produced another typical American habit. Since the full signature of three names was too long for practical purposes, men began to use merely the middle initial, and eventually the typical American was John Q. Public.

In England, on the other hand, such a form is not used. An Englishman has to be J. Q. Public, J. Qincy Public, or John Quicy Public.

Question:In the middle and southern colonies, ________.

A. a small number of women's names were too often repeatedly used

B. women liked to use different names such as Betsy, Sally, Nanny, Nancy, etc.

C. people preferred the use of Elizabeth, Ann, Mary and Sarah to that of Betsy, Sally, Nanny, Nancy, etc.

D. the use of