题目内容

There are some stories behind English words.

You've spent a lot of time studying how to use English in a proper way. But have you ever wondered why English speakers say some of the things they say? For example, why do they say "an easy task" is "a piece of cake"? Why do the two letters "OK" means "all right"?

Many English words and phrases have stories behind them. Sometimes these stories can help us look back into old western history. Let's take a look at a few of the original * common English words and phrases: OK

"OK" was an American who lived in the 19th century. His name was "Old Kinderhook". In one year he was trying to take the place of the leader of his town. His supporters went around the town shouting " OK \ OK \" The supporters thought their future leader was " all right". The expression caught on, and now if something is "all right" , people like to say "OK|"

Boss*

Is your boss nice to you? If not, just be glad you weren't living in the old times. Back to that time, bosses could do anything bad to their men and could even beat* them! That explains why the word "boss" comes from an old German word meaning "to beat".

A piece of cake

A famous American writer named Ogden Nash lived in the 1930s. Many readers enjoyed his poems and wrote them down in their notebooks. In one of his poems, Nash wrote, " Her picture's in the papers now, and life's a piece of cake. " His readers found these words interesting and quickly wrote them down. They thought that if one picture in a newspaper could make you famous, wouldn't life be easy?

For nearly 70 years, "a piece of cake" has meant any task or activity that is easy.

1. Some of English words can tell us stories about_________.

A. how people learned English

B. how English speakers create the words

C. how people spoke English

D. how people taught others to speak English

2.The word "boss" in old German means "_________".

A. to work B. to help

C. to beat D. to kill

3."OK" comes from "_________".

A. Old King B. Old Kindman

C. Old Kinderhook D. Old Mcdonald

4. In this passage "a piece of cake" means "_________".

A. an easy task or activity

B. a difficult task or activity

C. a simple newspaper to read

D. a famous picture in a newspaper

练习册系列答案
相关题目

Every year on my birthday, from the time I turned 12,a white gardenia(栀子花)was sent to my house. No card came with it.Calls to the flower shops were not helpful at all. After a while I stopped trying to discover the sender's name and was just very pleased with the beautiful white flower in soft pink paper.

But I never stopped imagining who the giver might be, Some of my happiest moments were spent daydreaming about the sender. My mother encouraged this imagining. She'd ask me if there was someone for whom I had done a special kindness. Perhaps it was the old man who I looked after when he was ill. As a girl, I had more fun imagining that it might be a boy.

One month before my graduation, my father died. I felt very sad and didn't want to go to the coming graduation dance at all. And I didn't care whether I had a new dress or not. But my mother, in her own sadness, would not let me miss any of those things. She wanted her children to feel loved and lovable. In truth, my mother wanted her children to see themselves much like the gardenia-lovely, strong and perfect with perhaps a bit of mystery.

My mother died ten days after I was married. I was 22. That was the year the gardenia stopped coming.

1.Which statement is true according to the passage?

A. The author found the sender by calling the flower shops.

B. In fact, the flower was sent by a boy.

C. It was a pleasant moment for the girl to imagine the sender.

D. The author got a gardenia every year after she was married.

2.The mother let her daughter go to the graduation dance because_______.

A. She hoped she would miss her father.

B. She thought education was most important.

C. She hoped she would find a friend.

D. She wanted her to be happy and strong.

3.Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?

A. A Childhood Dream. B. A Mother's Love.

C. A Graduation Party. D. A Special Birthday.

违法和不良信息举报电话:027-86699610 举报邮箱:58377363@163.com

精英家教网