题目内容

阅读理解

To face the music

  Like every language, American English is full of special expressions, phrases that come from the day-to-day life of the people and develop in their own way.Our expression today is “to face the music”.

  When someone says, “well, I guess I’ll have to face the music,” it does not mean he’s planning to go to the concert.It is something far less pleasant, like being called in by your boss to explain why you did this and did that, and why you didn’t do this or that.Sour music indeed, but it has to be faced.At sometime or another, every one of us has had to face the music, especially as children.We can all remember father’s angry voice, “I want to talk to you.”and only because we did not obey him.What an unpleasant business it was!

  The phrase “to face the music” is familiar to every American, young and old.It is at least 100 years old.And where did this expression come from? The first explanation comes from the American novelist, James Fenimore Looper.He said, in 1851, that the expression was first used by actors while waiting in the wings to go on the stage.When they got their cue to go on, they often said, “Well, it’s time to face the music.”And that was exactly what they did-facing the orchestra which was just below them.And an actor might be frightened or nervous as he moved on to the stage in front of an audience that might be friendly or perhaps hostile, especially if he forgot his lines.But he had to go out.If he did not, there would be no play.So the expression “to face the music” come to mean “having to go through something, no matter how unpleasant the experience might be, because you knew you had no choice”.

  Other explanations about the expression go back to the army.When the men faced an inspection by their leader, the soldiers would be worried about how well they looked.Was their equipment clean, shinny enough to pass the inspection? Still the men had to go out and face the music of the band as well as the inspection.What else could they do?

  Another army explanation is more closely related to the idea of facing the results and accepting the responsibility for something that should not have been done.As, for example when a man is forced out of the army because he did something terrible, he is dishonored.The band does not play.Only the drums tap a sad, slow beat.The soldier is forced to leave, facing such music as it is and facing the back of his horse.

(1)

How many ways does the phrase “to face the music” come from?

[  ]

A.

1.

B.

2.

C.

3.

D.

4.

(2)

What’s the meaning of “to face the music”?

[  ]

A.

To face something far less pleasant.

B.

To face the stage.

C.

To face the back of one’s horse.

D.

To face one’s leader.

(3)

Which of the following is a situation of facing the music?

[  ]

A.

When we are playing basketball.

B.

When we are making a speech.

C.

When we are having a party.

D.

When we are talking with somebody.

(4)

The underlined word “hostile” means ________.

[  ]

A.

unfriendly

B.

dislike

C.

unkind

D.

unnecessary

答案:1.C;2.A;3.B;4.A;
解析:

(1)

根据文章第三、四、五段的解释,可推知此题答案为C项。

(2)

细节题。根据文章第二段第二句“It is something far less pleasant”可推知此题答案为A项。

(3)

推断题。根据文章第三段的解释:演讲与演出一样,都要面对观众,可推知此题答案为B项。

(4)

词义猜测题。根据单词所在的语境“friendly or perhaps hostile, especially if he forgot his lines”说明hostile与friendly意义相反,从而可推知此题答案为A项。


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阅读理解

  David Beckham has rejected claims that England players are being greedy over their bonuses(奖金)for the World Cup, insisting the reports suggesting that each player would receive £300 000 for winning were wide of the mark

  “The truth is that we are earning less for this World Cup than we were for the last game, ” said the England skipper.Squad members stood in line to pocket £250 000 each for victory at the 2002 finals.

  “I know for a fact that every one of the players in our team would play for our country for nothing and so would the other players.We don’t go into a game thinking we can make money for winning.There is too much pride and excitement in our team to even suggest that.”

  There is money I football and we talk about bonuses every time a big competition comes around-and-there is always criticism of the players when bonuses are agreed.But money isn’t the motivation(动力)-not at all.When you are a 15-year-old watching the World Cup, you don’t dream of playing in it because you can make loads of money.Players don’t think like that;you want to be there to play on that stage.

  “The FA makes money and the players always get bonuses; that is a fact.And if we do not succeed then the money is not there.”

(1)

The underlined words “wide of the mark” in the first paragraph means _______.

[  ]

A.

too much

B.

record-breaking

C.

far from the fact

D.

acceptable

(2)

Which statement best expresses the main idea of the passage?

[  ]

A.

David Beckham tried to make clear some facts.

B.

David Beckham tried to show his pride in his team.

C.

David Beckham tried to declare more sports events.

D.

David Beckham tried to express his dissatisfaction with reporters.

(3)

What can we conclude from Beckham’s statements?

[  ]

A.

Money isn’t the only motivation for the players.

B.

A man without money is no man at all.

C.

The tongue is not steel, yet it cuts.

D.

The players play football not for money.

(4)

It can be inferred from the passage that _______.

[  ]

A.

a 15-year-old would dream of playing in the World Cup for money

B.

Beckham and his playmates love their motherland

C.

the public are too hard on Beckham and his playmates

D.

the reporters are too sensitive to the salary of the players

阅读理解

     A primary school teacher who left a class of 25 pupils in tears after she told them Santa Claus did not
exist has been fired. When excited youngsters became rowdy as they talked a- bout Santa, the supply
teacher said out suddenly, "It's your parents who leave out presents on Christmas Day."
     The class of seven-year-olds at Blackshaw Lane Primary School, Royton, Greater Manchester burst in
to tears and told their parents when they arrived home. Mothers and fa- thers then complained about the
incident and were sent a letter by the school saying the teacher, who only worked at the school for one day
last week, has been punished.
     The school has now said it will not hire her again.
     One father said, "My son came home and said that his teacher had told the class that Santa doesn't
exist and it's their mum and dad that put out presents for them. Obviously, they were all talking about
Christmas and being a bit rowdy. She just came straight out with it. "
     "My son was in tears and so was everyone else in the class -- especially as it was so close to
Christmas. I thought it was wrong. He was crazy about it. He's only seven-year-old and it's part of the
magic of Christmas to him. "
     "We told him that she did not believe in Father Christmas because of her religion and he's fine now. "
     "The father described the incident as ' shocking' and believed it was done with malicious intent (恶意地). A lot of parents were angry and complained to the school. The teacher, who was supplied by
Rochdale and Oldham Supply Agency, is still listed and will work with other schools," the agency said.
     However, the head teacher in Angela McCormick refused to comment on the incident.

1. Who felt the angriest about the incident?
A. The teacher who was fired.            
B. The parents whose children cried.
C. The pupils who were in tears.          
D. Santa Claus the teacher talked about.
2. The seven-year-old children cried because of        .
A. something about Santa Claus          
B. the letters by the school
C. their teacher's leaving              
D. the presents left out by the parents
3. We can infer from the passage that       .
A. the teacher was fired and couldn't continue her career in teaching
B. the parents complained about the discipline of the school
C. the little pupils felt disappointed after hearing the news told by the teacher
D. in reality, Santa Claus exists and gives out presents once a year
4. What's the meaning of the underlined word "rowdy"?
A. surprised.      
B. noisy.        
C. discouraged.  
D. annoyed
阅读理解。
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