Question

    Food expressions are popular with language learners.1. Today we are going to talk about the expressions that use the word “potato”．

The potato is a kind of common food. We have an expression that uses “potato” to describe a person like that: simple and common. If someone is a meat­and­potatoes kind of person, he prefers simple and common things, such as potatoes and blue jeans. 2. It can also describe the most important part of an activity. For example, we might say that trying our best is the meat­and­potatoes of taking part in an racing competition.

You may know that “hot potato” is a party game. In the game, players form a circle and pass on a small object quickly to each other when music plays. Everyone wants to pass on the object to the next person as fast as possible.3.

However, “hot potato” is more than a game. It can also mean a difficult issue(事情). And if an issue is too difficult to deal with, it might be a good idea to “drop it like a hot potato”.

4. They are unimportant matters. If someone describes an issue as a “small potato”， he means the issue is not worth his time. For example, if the police in a big city do not have enough resources, they probably won't waste much time on “small potatoes”， like bicycle thieves. 5. But please note. We may say “small potatoes” for unimportant matters. But, we do not say “big potatoes” for important ones. English is funny that way!

根据材料内容，从下面五个选项中选出能填入文中空缺处的最佳选项，使文章意思通顺、内容完整。

A.They have tasks that are more important.

B.Besides describing people, there is another way to use meat­and­potatoes.

C.The expressions combine two important things of culture: food and language.

D.“Hot potatoes” might be important issues but “small potatoes” are just the opposite.

E.It's because when the music stops, the player holding the object must leave the game.

Answer

1.C

2.B

3.E

4.D

5.A

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文。主要介绍了几个和potato有关的英语表达的含义。

1.根据前句“Food expressions are popular with language learners.”可知所选句子和“expressions”有关，结合备选项可知C项“这些表达结合了两个重要的文化内容：食物和语言。”符合语境。故选C。

2.第二段介绍meat­and­potatoes这个表达的含义。空格前的内容介绍了用这个表达形容人的含义，空格后内容介绍了用这个短语形容事情的含义，结合备选项可知B项“除了描述人，meat­and­potatoes还有另外一种用法。”符合语境。故选B。

3.空前的内容介绍“hot potato”这个游戏的玩法，结合空前句子“Everyone wants to pass on the object to the next person as fast as possible.”及备选项可知E项“因为当音乐停止时，拿着物品的玩家必须离开游戏。”符合语境。故选E。

4.前一段后两句介绍了hot potato表示重要事情的含义，空后句子介绍small potato表示不重要的事情。结合备选项可知D项“‘hot potatoes'可能指重要的事情，‘small potatoes'正好有相反的含义。”符合语境。故选D。

5.结合前句“For example, if the police in a big city do not have enough resources, they probably won't waste much time on ‘small potatoes’，like bicycle thieves”及备选项可知A项“他们有更重要的任务。”符合语境。故选A。