As is known to all, colors appear in every language to express people’s feeling and thoughts. Then, what is the situation in American English?
Red is a hot color. Americans may say they are red hot about something unfair. They are red hot when they are very angry about something. The small hot-tasting peppers found in many Mexican foods are called red hot for their color and their fiery taste. Fast loud music is popular with many people. They may say the music is red hot, especially the kind called Dixieland Jazz.
Pink is a lighter kind of red. People sometimes say they are in the pink when they are in good health. The expression was first used in America at the beginning of the twentieth century. It comes from the fact that many babies are born with nice pink skin that shows that they are in good health.
The color black is often used in expressions. People describe a day on which everything goes wrong as a black day. People or things on a blacklist are connected with things illegal now. But at one time, some businesses refused to employ people who were on a blacklist for belonging to unpopular organizations.
The color green is natural for trees and grass. But it is an unnatural color for humans. A person who has a sick feeling in his stomach may say he feels a little green. A passenger on a boat who is feeling very sick from high waves may look very green.
Sometimes a person may be upset because he does not have something as nice as a friend has. That person may say he is green with envy. Some people are green with envy because a friend has more dollars or greenbacks. Dollars are called greenbacks because green is the color of the back side of the paper money.
1.Americans use “red hot” to describe the following EXCEPT _______.
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A．something unfair |
B．small hot-tasting peppers |
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C．the person who is very angry |
D．popular music like Dixieland Jazz |
2.When we say someone feels a little green, it means he/she _______.
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A．enjoys himself in boating |
B．is hit by a high wave |
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C．has a stomachache |
D．likes trees and grass |
3.In the writer’s eyes, what is related to a black day?
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A．Being sent a beautiful gift. |
B．Passing a very difficult test. |
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C．Failing in an important interview. |
D．Being invited to an exciting party. |
Once I went to a railway station near New York. I 36 to take the night train there. 37 of people were pushing into the 38 train. I found a railway official and asked him if I could get a place in a sleeping car, 39 he said sharply, “No, you can’t. The train is full. Don’t 40 me any more.”
I was very 41 indeed. I said to the friend who was with me, “ he talked to me like this 42 he doesn’t know that I am a famous writer. If he knew…But before I could 43 my sentence my friend said, “Don’t be 44 . How could that help you? Whoever you are, there are no 45 seats on the train.” I was 46 he was wrong, so I went up to the same official again and told him that I was Mark Twain. But all he said, “I told you not to trouble me any more.”
Just then I 47 a young porter in a sleeping car looking at me, He whispered something to the train conductor, and that conductor came over to me and said very 48 , “ Can I help you, sir?” “ I 49 do.” I answered.
The porter took out boxes and we got on to the train. When the porter saw we were comfortably 50 in our places, he said, “Now. Is there anything you want, sir? Because you can have whatever you 51 .”
After the porter had gone, my friend looked 52 . He said. “I am 53 sorry I said those things to you just now…” Just then the porter came again and said. “ Oh. Sir, I 54 you immediately”. “Really?” I said happily, “of course”, he said. “I recognized you the 55 I saw you and told the conductor that you are Mr Smith, the mayor of New York City.”
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Many towns and villages had their water supply ________ because there was no electricity.
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A．cut through |
B．cut off |
C．cut up |
D．cut down |
The key the earth is to change the way we live.
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A．to save; / |
B．to saving; / |
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C．to save; how |
D．to saving; how |
There are over 100 night clubs in the city, but you don’t often see that is empty.
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A．one |
B．the one |
C．it |
D．that |
It is _____ we do ---- you and I ____ changes the world.
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A．that; that |
B．that; what |
C．what; that |
D．what; what |
