Question

Why are black cats bad?

November 17 is an important day for black cats in Italy. An animal rights group has named that day “Black Cat Day” to stop the killing of thousands of the cats. Why do people the animal so much? It is because people believe black cats bring bad luck if they walk across your path.

The black cat is just one of the of superstition(迷信）.You may already know that Western people don’t like the number 13. They also believe that walking under a ladder, opening an umbrella indoors and a mirror can also bring bad luck.

According to Andrew Macaskill, who works for Times , British people believe it is to see one magpie(喜鹊). But two bring good luck. “In Britain, people like to have a horseshoes over the door. They believe it can bring good luck,” Macaskill said. “But the horseshoe needs to be the right way up. The luck if it is upside down.”

In the US, people usually spit on a new baseball bat before using it for the first time. They think this can bring good luck. Also, it is believed that good spirits live in trees. So by knocking on anything made from wood, people can call upon those spirits for protection against misfortune. People in the US also believe there are evil（邪恶的） spirits in blooms（扫帚）. So lean a broom against a bed. The evil spirits will cast a spell on the bed.

1.A.love B.keep C.hateD.raise

2.A.symbolsB.storiesC.waysD.means

3.A.buyingB.breakingC.borrowingD.bringing

4.A.luckyB.unluckyC.possibleD.impossible

5. A.throws awayB.runs awayC.gives awayD.puts away

6. A.alwaysB.usuallyC.sometimesD.never

 

Answer 1

1.C

2.A

3.B

4.B

5.B

6.D

【解析】

试题分析：这篇短文告诉我们几个国家的一些禁忌。意大利人很讨厌黑猫，认为黑猫走过你的路会带来霉运。西方人不喜欢数字13。英国人认为看到一只喜鹊不好，看到两只喜鹊会有好运气。美国人认为扫帚里有精灵等等。

1.动词及语境的理解。句意：人们为什么那么讨厌这种动物呢？A.love喜爱，B.keep养，C.hate讨厌，D.raise饲养。据It is because people believe black cats bring bad luck if they walk across your path.可知人们是讨厌黑猫。故选C。

2.黑猫只是迷信的象征之一。A.symbols象征，B.stories故事，C.ways方式，D.means方法。据下文the number 13 与walking under a ladder, opening an umbrella indoors等几个象征实例可知答案。故选A。

3.动名词及语境的理解。句意：他们也相信在梯子下走，在室内打开伞，打破镜子也会带来霉运。A.buying买，B.breaking打破，C.borrowing借， D.bringing带来。B符合题意，故选B。

4.形容词及语境的理解。句意：英国人相信看到一只喜鹊是不幸的。A.lucky幸运的，B.unlucky不幸的，C.possible可能的，D.impossible不可能的。据But two bring good luck.看到两只喜鹊会带来好运可知，看到一只喜鹊是不幸的，故选B。

5.动词短语及语境的理解。句意：如果它放倒了，运气就会跑走了。A.throws away扔掉，B.runs away跑掉，C.gives away赠送，D.puts away放到一边。据But the horseshoe needs to be the right way up.马蹄铁需要正面朝上（能带来好运）可知，如果它放倒了，运气就会跑走了，故选B。

6.所以从不让扫帚斜靠着床。A.always总是，B.usually通常，C.sometimes有时候，D.never从不。据People in the US also believe there are evil（邪恶的） spirits in blooms（扫帚）.人们相信扫帚上有邪恶的灵魂可知，人们从不让扫帚斜靠着床放。故选D。

考点：文化类短文。