Question

阅读理解

阅读下列文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳答案。

The expression. “lame duck”, can be heard in almost any American town or city, especially where people discuss politics. Most often, they use it to describe a politician who has come to the end of power-a Congressman, for example, who has a few more weeks in office and will then be out of a job.

    There are a number of ideas as to where “lame duck” came from although the picture is clear enough—-a duck that has had its wings clipped, or its web feet injured, and can no longer walk or waddle ( walk with short steps, bending from one side to the other) like a healthy one.

    The term seems to have crept (move slowly and quietly with the body close to the ground) into the American language some time after the Civil War of 1861~ 1865. One explanation is that it came from the language of hunters who felt that it was foolish to waste power or time on a dead duck.

    Another explanation, however, says that the expression came from England. There it was used to describe a man who lost all his money in stocks (股票交易), was cleaned out (倾家荡产) and could not pay his debts. And—so the story does,—people showed little mercy (kindness or pity) for the poor fellow.

    But in the United States people took the phrase to describe a congressman who failed to get reelected but still had a little time in office until his successor was sworn in (be sworn in take office).

    In time, the expression was used in a broader sense, generally describing any man whose days of power were coming to the end. It has often been to describe the position of an American president in the last 2 years or so of his 2nd term. It is a difficult time for him, when Congress is ready to oppose him at every turn (at every moment; in every place). It may refuse to work with him simply because his days in the White House are numbered. His sun is setting. It is not a happy time. It is like old age coming on. And people, like animals, are cruel to lame ducks, ready to drive him out. Their eyes are already turned towards the new leader, the new man in command.

1．  It is likely that the expression “lame duck” ________.

A. has been widely used in the American language before the Civil War

    B. has quietly come into the American language some time after the year of 1865

    C. was used in the old English

    D. has been used in both the USA and the UK since 1865 to express the same meaning

2．When a person lost all his money in stocks, people ________.

    A. usually showed mercy for him

    B. always has sympathy with him

    C. hardly has sympathy with him

    D. never drove him out

3．Who was the lame duck in the USA last term?

A. George Bush.

B. Ronald Reagan.

C. John Kennedy.

D. Bill Clinton.

 

Answer 1

答案：1B2C3D
解析：

1.　　  信息句为 “The term seems to have crept (move slowly and quietly with the body close to the ground) into the American language some time after the Civil War of 1861~ 1865.” 2.　　  “There it was used to describe a man who lost all his money in stocks (股票交易), was cleaned out (倾家荡产) and could not pay his debts. And—so the story does,—people showed little mercy (kindness or pity) for the poor fellow.” 根据这句可知，答案为C。 3.　　  “It has often been to describe the position of an American president in the last 2 years or so of his 2nd term.” 根据这句，再加上Clinton刚刚下台，便可知道答案。