Question

According to the traditional Chinese lunar calendar, we officially welcome the Year of the Horse better than others.
The horse has played an important role throughout human history all over the world. Horses were used for thousands of years as a means of transportation, a weapon of war and a plougher of fields(犁地农具), but “the horse was more than just a vehicle – it had more character than a car, a tank or a tractor,” Clare Balding wrote for The Telegraph.
In the Middle Ages in Western societies, the horse was a symbol of chivalry (骑士精神) and nobility(贵族). In fact, the word “chivalry” comes from “cheval” in Old French, which meant horse. The idea of chivalry helped to fashion the 19th-century “gentleman”, which was about good manners, courage and honesty to friends.
Nowadays, because of economic(经济) development, people in Western societies are less likely to see or ride horses. People living in cities, in particular, hardly ever experience horses except through movies, paintings or  books. But horse racing, and betting money on horse races, is still popular. The Kentucky Derby is one of the most popular sporting events every year in the US.
In the UK, the royal police still go around the city on horseback and the Queen rides in a traditional horse-drawn carriage on “ceremonial occasions (正式场合)”.
Some sayings about horses are still used in English today. For example, people still say “hold your horses” to mean “slow down”. If someone seems too proud, people might tell him or her to “get off his or her high horse”. And since horses are strong and energetic, there are expressions such as “as strong as a horse”, “workhorse” and “horsing around”.
Interestingly, the horse also appears in many Chinese sayings, such as Qianlima, which means a talented person. Other Chinese horse sayings include Madaochenggong (instant success) and Baimawangzi (prince charming).
Besides their physical strengths, horses are smart and have “excellent memories”, according to Discovery News. Maybe that’s why Chinese people say, “An old horse never gets lost”.
Since the horse is honored as a symbol of many great qualities, people born in the Year of the Horse are said to share them.

【小题1】 According to Chinese tradition, which year is welcomed best officially?

A．the Year of the Snake	B．the Year of the Tiger
C．the Year of the Mouse	D．the Year of the Horse

【小题2】According to the passage, which is NOT the role of the horse nowadays?

A．A weapon of war.

B．The royal police’s transportation to go around in the UK.

C．Race horses.

D．Animal actors in movies.

【小题3】 If a friend of yours is overconfident, what are you supposed to tell him or her?

A．Hold your horses.	B．Get off your high horse.
C．Be as strong as a horse	D．An old horse never gets lost

【小题4】 According to the passage, which is NOT the reason why people like horses?

A．The horse has played an important role throughout human history all over the world

B．The horse was a symbol of chivalry and nobility in the Middle Ages in Western societies.

C．Besides their physical strengths, horses are smart and have “excellent memories”.

D．Horses are only used as a means of transportation like a car, a tank or a tractor.

【小题5】 From the passage we know that ____________.

A．Economy develops a lot, so people in Western societies hardly see or ride horses nowadays.

B．The Kentucky Derby is one of the most popular betting events every year in the US.

C．Qianlima in Chinese means a person who can run one thousand kilometers a day.

D．Since the horse is honored as a symbol of many great qualities, people born in the Year of the Horse are said to be as strong as a horse.

Answer 1

【小题1】D
【小题2】A
【小题3】B
【小题4】D
【小题5】A

解析试题分析：这篇短文主要介绍了马年在中国的传统的阴历年中比较受欢迎。在中外历史上都有着重要的作用，但是随着经济的发展人们不再骑马，但是一些有关马的成语流传至今。由于马是很多好品质的象征，所以马年出生的人被人们认为也具有了那些品质。
【小题1】细节理解题。根据短文第一段According to the traditional Chinese lunar calendar, we officially welcome the Year of the Horse better than others.故选D。
【小题2】细节理解题。根据第二段Horses were used for thousands of years as a means of transportation, a weapon of war and a plougher of fields(犁地农具)可知作为战争武强，是在古代，不是现代，结合问题，故选A
【小题3】推理判断题。根据第六段If someone seems too proud, people might tell him or her to “get off his or her high horse”.可知对骄傲的人说的成语，结合题意，故选B
【小题4】是非判断题。根据第二段“the horse was more than just a vehicle – it had more character than a car, a tank or a tractor,”可知D项错误，故选D。
【小题5】归纳理解题。根据第四段Nowadays, because of economic(经济) development, people in Western societies are less likely to see or ride horses故选A。
考点：文化类短文阅读。