Question

  In the early days of human history,people survived by hunting wild ani?mals,or gathering wild grains and plants for food. Then,some people learn?ed to grow crops and raise animals for food. They were the first farmers.

  Since the 16th century,the word "farm" has meant agricultural land. But a much older meaning of the word " farm" is linked to economics. The word "farm" comes from the Latin word, "firma", which means an unchanging payment.

  Experts say the earliest meaning of the English word "farm" was a yearly payment made as a tax or rent.

  Farmers in early England did not own their land. They paid every year to use agricultural land.

  Farmers know that it is necessary to make hay (干草) while the sun shines.

Hay has to be cut and gathered when it is dry. So a wise farmer never postpones gathering his hay when the sun is shining. Rain may soon appear.

  A wise person copies the farmer. He works when conditions are right.

  A new mother,for example,quickly learns to try to sleep when her baby is quiet,even in the middle of the day. If the mother delays,she may lose her chance to .sleep. So,the mother learns "to make hay while the sun shines".

  Beans are a popular farm crop. But beans are used to describe something of very little value in the expression "not worth a hill of beans". The expres?sion is often used today.

  You could say,for example,that a bad idea is " not worth a hill of beans". Language expert Charles Earle Funk said the expression was first used almost seven hundred years ago. He said Robert of Gloucester described a message from the King of Germany to King John of England as altogether "not worth a bean.”

1. Which of the following is NOT the meaning of "farm"?

   A. Agricultural land.

   B. An unchanging payment.

   C. A yearly payment.

   D. Different kinds of businesses.

2. Which can explain the meaning of "to make hay while the sun shines"?

   A. To make hay dry when it is fine.

   B. To make good use of an opportunity.

   C. To cut grass to feed animals.

   D. To gather hay when it is fine.

3. What does the expression "not worth a hill of beans" mean?

   A. Very little value.

   B. Proper conditions.

   C. A possible loss.

   D. A bad idea.

4. How is the passage developed?

   A. By giving the facts.

   B. By giving examples.

   C. By comparing.

   D. By the order of time.

5. What can we know from the passage?

   A. Charles Earle Funk was an ancient language expert.

   B. Robert of Gloucester is a German language expert.

   C. The word "farm" got its new meaning since the 18th century.

   D. The phrase "not worth a hill of beans" was used about 700 years ago.

 

Answer 1

[文章大意]本文讲述了英语中的一些词汇以及它们的故事。

1. D细节理解题。根据第二段中的"Since the 16th centu?ry,the word ' farm^y has meant agricultural land."可知， A项是farm的意思;由第二段中的"…which means an unchanging payment."可知，B项是farm的意思;由第三段中的"…a yearly payment made as a tax or rent.”口]"知， C项是farm的意思。故选D项。

2. B词义猜测题。根据文中的"A wise person copies the farmer. He works when conditions are right.”可知，该短语意为"把握时机"。'故选B项。

3. A细节理解题。根据倒数第二段中的"But beans are used to describe something of very little value in the ex?pression 'not worth a hill of beans'. "tij Jfl A项正确。

4. B写作方法题。根据倒数第三段的"A new mother,for example,..."可知，文章的发展是通过举例子来说明的。故选B项。

5. D细节理解题。根据最后一段中的"…Charles Earle Funk said the expression was first used almost seven hun?dred years ago.”可知D项正确。