Many daily American expressions are based (以……为基础) on colours.
Red is a hot colour.Americans often use it to represent heat.When they say “red-hot”, that means they are very angry about something.Loud music is popular with many people.Some may say that such music is red-hot.
Pink is a lighter kind of red.People sometimes say “I'm in the pink” when they are in good health.The expression was first used in America at the beginning of the 20th century.It probably comes from the fact that many babies are born with a nice pink colour that shows that they are in good health.
Blue is a cool colour.The old Blues music in the United States is the opposite of red-hot music.Blues is slow and sad.Someone who is “blue” is very sad.
The colour green is natural for trees and grass.But it is an unnatural colour for humans.A person who has an upset stomach may say “I'm feeling a bit green”.A person on a boat who is feeling very sick from high waves can be said “look very green”.Sometimes a person may be very jealous because he does not have anything as nice as someone has, like a fast new car.That person may say “I'm green with envy”.Some people are green with envy because someone has more dollars or “greenbacks”.Dollars are called greenbacks in American slangs because that is the colour of the bottom of their bank notes.
The colour black is used often in expressions.People may say “it's a black day” when everything goes wrong on that day.
In some cases, colours describe a situation.Blackouts were common during the World War II.All the lights in a city were turned off at night to make it difficult for enemy planes to find their aims in the dark.
(1)
What does “I'm in the pink” mean?
[ ]
A.
I'm sad.
B.
I'm happy.
C.
I'm healthy.
D.
I'm worried.
(2)
We describe a day on which everything goes wrong as ________.
[ ]
A.
a red day
B.
a green day
C.
a pink day
D.
a black day
(3)
What does the underlined word, “blackouts” mean in Chinese?
[ ]
A.
漆黑的夜晚
B.
穿黑衣服外出
C.
灯火管制
D.
去掉黑色
(4)
Which of the following sentences is TRUE, according to the passage?
[ ]
A.
People in the USA use the colour black to express heat.
B.
If you are blue, you are very happy.
C.
Blue and red are both warm colours.
D.
If someone is very rich, you may be green with envy.
Food may help you understand more about yourself.Choose your favourite food from the five below.See the answers.Does your choice really tell you who you are?
A.noodles with beef(the hotter, the better);
B.big dinner with all kinds of dishes;
C.pizza;
D.fried chicken;
E.cakes.
Answer:
A.You always try to make yourself different others.Success and fame are your only interests.
B.You finish things quickly and don't like changing your ideas.You're never afraid of hard work.But you always buy lots of things that you don't need.
C.You work hard and always save money.But sometimes you aren't kind to others and always think you are right.
D.Exercise is not your favourite thing.You don't like staying by yourself very much.People think that you're shy but sweet.
E.Because you are nice and easy-going, you have lots of friends.You are always ready to help others.
(1)
The passage is probably a/an ________.
[ ]
A.
news report
B.
science discovery
C.
personality test
D.
interesting story
(2)
According to the passage, a person who has a lot of friends may choose ________.
[ ]
A.
noodles with beef
B.
fried chicken
C.
big dinner with all kinds of dishes
D.
cakes
(3)
Who will works hard, but always wastes money according to the passage?
[ ]
A.
the man who chooses pizza
B.
the man who chooses cakes
C.
the man who chooses noodles with beef
D.
the man who chooses a big dinner with all kinds of dishes
Jack is a twenty-year-old young man.Two years ago, when he finished middle school, he found work in a shop.Usually he works until ten o’clock in the evening.He is very tired when he gets home.After a quick supper he goes to bed and soon falls asleep.His grandma who lives downstairs is pleased with him.
One day, on his way home, he met his friend Mary.They were both happy.He asked the girl to his house, and she agreed happily.He bought some fruit and drinks for her.And they talked about their school, teachers, classmates and their future.They talked for a long time.
“Have a look at your watch, please,”said the girl.“What time is it now?”
“Sorry, something is wrong with my watch,”said Jack.“Where’s yours?”
“I left it at home.”
Jack thought for a moment and found a way.He began to stamp his foot on the floor, “Bang! Bang! Bang!”
The sound woke his grandma up.The old woman shouted downstairs, “It’s twelve o’clock in the night, Jack.Why are you still jumping upstairs?”
(1)
Jack was ________ when he finished middle school.
[ ]
A.
sixteen
B.
eighteen
C.
twenty
D.
fifteen
(2)
The old woman is satisfied with Jack because ________.
[ ]
A.
he’s her grandson
B.
he’s clever
C.
he can keep quiet
D.
he gets home on time
(3)
From the story, we can know that Mary is Jack’s ________.
[ ]
A.
classmate
B.
colleague (同事)
C.
aunt
D.
wife
(4)
The word “stamp” in the story means ________ in Chinese.
[ ]
A.
盖印
B.
跺
C.
贴邮票
D.
承认
(5)
Jack stamped his foot on the floor inorderto (为了)________.