题目内容
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. Awful music indeed, but it has to be faced. At sometime or another, every one of us has 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 to go on the stage. When they got their cue(提示) to go on, they often said, “Well, it’s time to face the music.” And that was exactly what they did—facing the orchestra(管弦乐队) 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” came 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(视察) by their leader, the soldiers would be worried about how well they looked. Was their equipment clean, shiny 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 linked to the idea of facing the results and accepting the responsibility for something that should not have been done. 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” comes 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.The underlined word “hostile” means ________.
A.unfriendly B.dislike C.unkind D.unnecessary
1.C
2.A
3.A
【解析】
试题分析:】本文说明了美国习语to face the music的来历和意义,以及它在什么样的情景下使用。
1.细节题。根据文章第三、四、五段的解释,可推知此题答案为C。
2.细节题。根据文章第2段第2句It is something far less pleasant可推知此题答案为A。
3.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
考点:考查文化类短文
点评:这篇文章是说明文中较简单的一种,词义猜测,句意理解贯穿全文。阅读策略就是全文细节阅读。
Writer/ Time | Topic: Who’s a better singer, Andy Lau (刘德华) or Jacky Cheung (张学友)? |
Jim 8-15-2006 5:25 pm. | Some people say Jacky is the best Chinese singer. I don’t think so! Andy is the best. I went to his concert last year. It was so wonderful, I almost cried! OK, I did cry, but that’s because Andy is so handsome! |
Tom 9-3-2006 4:38 pm. | I disagree with Jim. Andy sounds like every other singer. His voice is nothing special. On the other hand, Jacky’s voice is unique, and his songs are so romantic! |
Linda 9-10-2006 8:54 pm. | I think they’re about the same. But Andy is a better actor. I’ve seen almost all of his movies. Remember the one where he was an airplane pilot, and his plane crashed near a farm? I love that movie! |
John 9-16-2006 10:25 pm. | I also think Jacky is a better singer. I prefer his Cantonese (粤语) songs. Maybe they sound better because Cantonese is his first language. |
Tom 10-2-2006 10:12 am. | I agree. Jacky’s Cantonese songs are better than his Mandarin (华语) songs. (Though, I still like all his songs!) |
Who likes Andy Lau the best? .
A. Jim B. Tom C. Linda D. John
Why did Jim cry? Because .
A. she was sad at a concert. B. she had a broken heart.
C. she was angry at Jacky Cheung D. she thought Andy Lau was very good looking
What’s Linda’s opinion? .
A. Andy is a better singer. B. Jacky is a better singer.
C. They both sing equally well. D. Jacky is a better actor.
Why does John think Jacky’s Cantonese songs sound the best? Because .
A. Jacky has no experience singing in Mandarin.
B. it’s his native language
C. his mandarin pronunciation is bad
D. Jacky’s Mandarin songs are boring.
Short Skirts Are Out!
After decades of skimpy skirts and sleeveless tops on game days, some schools in the US are saying cheerleader uniforms will have to meet stricter dress codes when they are worn in class.
In Lake County, Florida, cheerleaders with uniforms too skimpy for the code are being asked to wear long shorts or trousers under their skirts and a T-shirt under the sleeveless tops, according to a district memo. Principals at two of Lake’s eight high schools – Leesburg and Lake Minneola – are not allowing the outfits in school at all.
Michelle Thomas, a cheerleader at Leesburg High School, was disappointed when she learned she couldn’t wear her outfit to school on game days.
“It shows that we’re a team just like all the other sports,” she said.
But the school administrators did not agree. “During the educational portion of the day, they have to meet the dress code just like every other student,” said school board chairwoman Debbie Stivender, who ordered the staff to bring the outfits into line with the dress code.
Bare midriffs are banned across the state by the Florida High School Athletic Association, but no state rules mention cheerleader miniskirts. Sheila Noone, a spokeswoman for cheerleading uniform company Varsity Brands, says the outfits haven’t become more revealing over the last 10 years. She says that the short skirts are designed to help the girls jump and kick.
“Cheerleading is athletic,” Noone said. “There’s a lot of jumping, so you won’t want a knee-length skirt that might hamper a tie touch.”
Most cheerleaders were sad to hear the news, but say they’ll follow the rules. Even male cheerleaders, whose pants and tops meet dress codes, chose not to wear their outfits to show unity.
“I understanding, because they are kind of short,” said Holly Bishop, 14, a Lake Minneola High School cheerleader, about her miniskirt. “It would have been really, really cool to wear them to school.”
1.According to the new dress codes for cheerleaders in some American schools, __________.
A.bare midriffs are banned |
B.cheerleading miniskirts are banned |
C.cheerleader uniforms have switched from skirts to trousers |
D.cheerleaders have to make their uniforms less revealing |
2.Which of the following statement is TRUE according to the article?
A.School administrators believe cheerleader uniforms do not match school dress codes. |
B.Most cheerleaders show understanding of the new dress codes. |
C.Sheila Noone believes that cheerleading miniskirts are not revealing. |
D.School administrators don’t take cheerleading seriously. |
3.Some cheerleaders are not happy about the news because __________.
A.they hate the dress codes that other sports have |
B.they consider their uniforms special and cool |
C.they want to wear revealing clothes |
D.they will have to buy new uniforms |