“Dutch” expressions heard in American English were first used in England in the 17^th century. That was a time of fierce competition between England and Holland . At that time, the British used “Dutch” as a word for something bad, or false.

   A Dutch agreement was one made between men who had drunk too much alcohol. Dutch leave was what a soldier took when he left his base without permission.

   Some of these old expressions are still used today with a little different meaning. Long ago, a Dutch treat was a dinner at which the invited guests were expected to pay for their own share of food and drink. Now, Dutch treat means that when friends go out to have fun, each person pays his own share.

    Another common expression heard a few years ago was “In Dutch”. If someone told you that you were in Dutch, they mean that you were in trouble.

   Some of the Dutch expressions heard in American English have nothing to do with the Dutch people at all. In the seventeen hundreds, Germans who moved to the United States often were called Dutch. During the American Civil War, supporters of the northern side in the central state of Missouri were called Dutch, because many of them were German settlers. President Theodore Roosevelt once noted that anything foreign and non-English was called Dutch.

59.Why does the word “Dutch” often have a negative(消极的)meaning in English?

A.     Because in the 17^th century , the Dutch were timid(胆小的)

B.      Because in the 17^th century , the Dutch often drank a lot of alcohol.

C.      Because in the 17^th century , the Dutch often fought with the British .

D.     Because in the 17^th century , the Dutch didn’t like to pay for others.

60.If you want to tell your friend that he is in trouble, you can use “________”

A.  A Dutch       B. Go Dutch       C. In Dutch      D. Dutch leave

61.Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A. The original meaning of “Dutch” refers to the people in the British.

B. “Dutch” sometimes means all that is non-English in American English.

C. The Dutch uncles are often very severe.

D. “Dutch” expressions in English didn’t come from the Dutch at all.

62.What’s the passage mainly about?

A. Telling us that“Dutch” is not a good  word.

B. Showing that “Dutch” means differently between the British and the American.

C. Telling us there was fierce competition between England and Holland.

D. Helping us enlarge the knowledge about the word “Dutch”.

“Let’s go Dutch, shall we?” Jim said after a dinner to his friends in a restaurant. What does Jim mean?

Long ago, there was a kind of dinner called Dutch treat (款待). At a Dutch treat, the invited guests were expected to pay for their own share of the food and drink. Now, Dutch treat means when friends go out to have fun, each person pays his or her own share.

There are many other expressions related with “Dutch” in American English. However, most of them were first used in England in the 17th century. At that time, the British and the Dutch were war enemies. So when British people talked about something wrong or bad, they would like to use the word “Dutch”.

A common expression heard a few years ago was in Dutch. A friend may tell you, “You are in Dutch. The teacher is angry with you. Be careful!” When a soldier took Dutch leave, he left the army without permission. Dutch courage was the false courage produced by the effects of drinking wine.

There is one expression that did come from the Dutch. That is to talk like a Dutch uncle. The Dutch were known for the strict and serious way they educated their children.

59. What did people mean by saying “Let’s go Dutch”?

A. The guests should leave first.

B. Each person should pay his or her own bill

C. The food should be better next time.

D. People should go to another restaurant.

60. According to the passage, the British in the 17th century ___________.

A. first used the word “Dutch”            B. were mistaken for Dutch people

C. got along well with the Dutch people     D. used the word “Dutch” for something bad

61. If your friend says that he is in Dutch, he most probably means that ___________.

A. he is happy       B. he is lucky      C. he is in trouble     D. he is on vacation

62. If someone spoke to you in a very serious way, you may say that he ___________.

A. was like a Dutch uncle                 B. would take a Dutch leave

C. had Dutch courage                    D. had a Dutch treat