A year ago, I paid no attention to English idioms, though my teacher emphasized(强调)the importance again and again. But soon, the importance of English idioms was shown in an amusing experience
One day, I happened to meet an Englishman on the road, and soon we began to talk. As I was talking about how I was studying English, the foreigner seemed to be surprised . Gently shaking his head, shrugging his shoulders, he said, “You don’t say!” “You don’t say!” I was puzzled. I thought , perhaps this is not an proper topic. “Well, I’d better change the topic. “ So I said to him, “Well, shall we talk about the Great Wall? By the way, have you ever been there?” “Certainly, everyone back home will laugh at me if I leave China without seeing it. It was wonderful.” He was deep in thought when I began to talk like a tourist guide. “The Great Wall is one of the wonders in the world. We are very proud of it.” Soon I was stopped again by his words: “You don’t say!” I couldn’t help asking, “Why do you ask me not to talk about it ?” “Well, I didn’t ask you to do so,” he answered, greatly surprised. I said, “Didn’t you say ‘you don’t say’?” Hearing this, the Englishman laughed to tears. He began to explain, ‘You don’t say.’actually means ‘really’! It is an expression of surprise. Perhaps you don’t pay attention to English idioms.” Only then did I know how foolish I had been. Since then I have been more careful with idiomatic expressions. Remember: what the English teachers said is always right to us students.
1. At first, on hearing “You don’t say”, I thought the foreigner meant____.
A. He was not interested in the topic B. He was only interested in the Great Wall
C. I had talked too much D. I had to stop talking
2.The underlined word in the first paragraph probably means____.
A. interesting B. important C. terrible D. unlucky
3.Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A. The Englishman left China without seeing the Great Wall.
B. The Englishman wanted to see the Great Wall after I talked about it.
C. The Englishman wanted me to act as his guide.
D. The Englishman visited the Great Wall and thought it worth (值得) visiting.
4.After the Englishman explained the idiom, _____.
A. I thought the Englishman had made me a fool.
B. The Englishman became a real fool.
C. I felt very foolish
D. I became more careful in everything.
BRITAIN is a popular tourist place. But tours of the country have advantages and disadvantages .
ADVANTAGES
Free museums. No charge for good collections of art works
Pop music. Britain is the only country to rival(与…匹敌)the US on this point.
Cabs. London taxi drivers well know where they are going.
Choice of food. Visitors can find food from every corner of the world .
Fashion. Not only do fashion junkies love deeply and respect highly brand names such as Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen; street styles are justly loved, too.
DISADVANTAGES
Poor service. People can dine out on the rudeness they have experienced,” says Professor Tony Seaton, of Luton University’s International Tourism Research Center.
Poor public transport. Trains and buses are promised to defeat tourists who have the most patience, so the over- crowded London tube is inexplicably(难以理解的) popular.
Rain. Still in the number one complaint.
Overpriced hotels. The only European country with a higher rate of tax on hotel rooms is Denmark.
Drinking hours. Alcohol(酒) is in short supply after 11 pm even in “24-hour cities”.
1.What do tourists complain most?
A. Poor service. B. Poor public transport.
C. Rain. D. Overpriced hotels.
2. When is alcohol not able to get?
A. At 9: 00 pm B. At 10: 00 pm C. At 11: 00 pm D. At 12: 00 pm
3.Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A. You have to pay to visit the museums.
B. Only clothing with brand names are sold in London .
C. You cannot find Chinese food there.
D. The public transport is poor there.
Dear Editor,
I’m a Senior I student in a middle school. This term, my favorite teacher, Miss Mao, no longer teaches us. I want to see her, but I’m afraid that she no longer likes me and I don’t want to trouble her. I really miss her. What should I do?
Tian Yan
Dear Tian Yan,
It’s bad luck that you have lost your favorite teacher, But if she is still in your school , nothing can stop you going to see her. When she isn’t busy, ask her if she minds having a quick chat. You can then tell her she was your favorite teacher------ everyone is happy to know that they are liked!
If she has left the school, it will be more difficult to meet her. It will be hard, but remember people always come and go in their lives. We can’t rely on them to be with us all the time.
You may be sad to say goodbye to her, but we can remember and learn from her. Think of her best qualities.
You could also try looking for similar qualities in your other teachers. Study hard and give your new teacher a chance.In time, you might start to see that he or she has different qualities to learn from.
Finally, you can not completely rely on other people to get you through your studies , or even your life.
Editor
1.The letters are from________.
A book B newspaper C poster D advertisement
2.Which of the following does the editor advise Tuan Yan NOT to do?
A Find a time to see Miss Mao B Have a short chat with Miss Mao
C Tell Miss Mao she likes her D Keep quiet about the thing
3. According to the passage, students can make progress in their studies _______.
A completely by their favorite teachers B completely by their favorite classmates
C mainly by their parents D mainly by themselves
Dear Dad,
I was very upset when I received your letter. I knew you 36 not like my results, but I didn’t realize you and Mum were so 37 with me. This has made me 38 very carefully about myself, and now I 39 how silly I have been.
My poor 40 have come from my own 41 . Of course, I want to do my best. I want you and Mum to be proud 42 me, but somehow when I get to school I just can’t keep my 43 on the subject and I stop 44 the teacher. So many other things seem so much more 45 , but I know that I must not 46 the chance you and Mum have given me. If I don’t work very hard 47 the next few months, I am going to get 48 results. So I am going to study hard this summer. And I will show Mum anything 49 I can’t understand so that she can give me help.
I 50 you will allow me to play some basketball. I think I need some exercise, 51 _ I will control the time I 52 on it properly.
If you want me to stop meeting Cindy, I will — but there is 53 serious. We are just good friends, and she often helps me 54 my schoolwork.
Dad, I am really sorry I have made you angry. I’m going to try my best to 55 my study. I promise that I will make you proud of me soon.
Yours,
Jimmy
1.A. will B. would C. need D. should
2.A. angry B. upset C. strict D. happy
3.A. talk B. speak C. think D. hear
4.A. receive B. believe C. insist D. realize
5.A. results B. memories C. parents D. friends
6.A. stubbornness B. carelessness C. laziness D. illness
7.A. of B. with C. in D. for
8.A. head B. mind C. eyes D. heart
9.A. listening to B. to listen to C. hearing D. to hear
10.A. boring B. dull C. beautiful D. interesting
11.A. find B. share C. waste D. afford
12.A. during B. at C. through D. until
13.A. better B. best C. poorer D. poorest
14.A. which B. that C. whom D. what
15.A. wish B. advise C. hope D. decide
16.A. and B. but C. so D. because
17.A. spend B. take C. cost D. pay
18.A. everything B. something C. anything D. nothing
19.A. in B. on C. with D. by
20.A. develop B. improve C. interest D. finish
Wang kun : Have you looked at a map?
Wang wei : What did you say just now?
Wang kun : I asked you ______________.
A. whether you have looked at a map
B. whether you had looked at a map
C. whether have you looked at a map
D. whether had you looked at a map
The people of the city of Tangshan thought little of these strange events and went to sleep _________ that night .
A. as a result B as a matte of fact C as usual D as well