Question

【题目】 English is full of funny expressions that don’t always make sense. What do they mean? How do we use them? And where did they come from? Idioms are phrases and sentences that do not mean exactly what they say. Even if you know the meaning of each word you see or hear, you may not understand the idiom because you don’t understand the culture behind it. Here are some English idioms based on animals.

When children jump around and act silly, for example, their parents may tell them to stop “monkeying around”. To “monkey around” means to do things that are not useful or serious, or to simply waste time.

But spending time playing with their family pets wouldn’t count as “monkeying around”. Many American families have a pet dog, which keeps the children company and makes them happy. Bu for some reason, which American language experts do not know, Americans use “dog” in a phrase that means to feel unwell. If you are “as sick as a dog”, you’re really, really sick and will have to stay home and rest or even go and see a doctor.

Apart from dogs, cats are also beloved in U.S. households. Sometimes you may hear them mentioned in Americans’ conversations, “I told you to keep that secret, but you have just ‘let the cat out of the bag’!” You probably guessed it — that idiom means to reveal a secret or tell facts that were previously unknown.

Dogs and cats don’t always get along, but they appear side by side in a commonly used idiom. When it rains heavily, people might say it’s “raining cats and dogs” outside.

Bad weather often ruins people’s plans for outdoor activities. But on a lovely day, they can go on an outing or have a picnic in the park. If a swarm of tiny bugs decide they love your picnic food and start to hover (盘旋) around you and your friends, then it would be really annoying, wouldn’t it? That experience perfectly explains why people often tell someone who keeps bothering them to “stop bugging me”.

Idioms are very common in both spoken and written English, so learning them is very important. If you need to understand English, or if you want to speak or write natural-sounding English, you have to learn idioms.

【1】According to Paragraph 1, idioms are_____.

A.phrases and sentences based on animals

B.expressions with rich cultural background

C.funny expressions that always make sense

D.the total sum of the meanings of the words

【2】“Monkeying around” can be used to describe children_____.

A.jumping around and wasting time

B.doing something useful and serious

C.playing with monkeys with their parents

D.spending time playing with their family pets

【3】What can be learned from the text?

A.Dogs and cats are friends by nature.

B.Bugs can be used to show your annoyance.

C.Americans believe cats can give away secrets.

D.Americans know the origin of the idiom “as sick as a dog”.

【4】How does the text mainly develop?

A.By sharing experiences.B.By making comparisons.

C.By providing examples.D.By quoting experts' words.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】B

【2】A

【3】B

【4】C

【解析】

本文是说明文。英语中有很多成语，即使你知道其中每一个单词的意思，你也可能不理解这个成语，因为成语的表达有着丰富的文化背景。

【1】细节理解题。根据第一段Even if you know the meaning of each word you see or hear, you may not understand the idiom because you don't understand the culture behind it.可知，即使你知道你看到或听到的每一个单词的意思，你也可能不理解这个成语，因为你不理解它背后的文化。由此可知，成语是有着丰富的文化背景。故选B项。

【2】细节理解题。根据第二段When children jump around and act silly, for example, their parents may tell them to stop “monkeying around”. To “monkey around” means to do things that are not useful or serious, or to simply waste time.可知，例如，当孩子们到处乱蹦乱跳，做出傻事时，他们的父母可能会告诉他们停止“monkeying around”。monkey around的意思是做一些没有意义或不严肃的事情，或者只是浪费时间。由此可知，monkeying around可以用来形容孩子们乱蹦乱跳，浪费时间。故选A项。

【3】推理判断题。根据第六段If a swarm of tiny bugs decide they love your picnic food and start to hover (盘旋) around you and your friends, then it would be really annoying, wouldn’t it?可知，如果一群小虫子决定喜欢你的野餐食物，开始在你和你的朋友周围转来转去，那就真的很烦人了，不是吗？由此可知，bugs可以用来表达你的烦恼。故选B 项。

【4】推理判断题。文章举出了一些基于动物的英语成语，如monkeying around，as sick as a dog，rain cats and dogs等，说明成语的表达有着丰富的文化背景。因此文章是通过举出例子的方法来展开的。故选C项。