Question

In many cultures white is often associated with something positive. A white-collar job, for instance, is the kind of job many people look for, working with your brain and not your hands.

White has a clean and pure image. That is why doctors, dentists, and nurses usually wear white uniforms. Babies are dressed in white at baptisms（洗礼）and brides wear white wedding gowns at weddings. White in these cases is the symbol of innocence or purity.

Sometimes white is used in expressions that are not good. “Whitewash” is one such expression. At first, “whitewash” meant to paint over something with white paint to make it look better. However, it means something different today: to hide or to cover up mistakes or failures.

A “white elephant” is another example of white used in a negative way. In ancient Thailand, a white elephant was regarded as a sacred animal, but it was very expensive to keep. The kings of those days presented a white elephant to the people they wanted to ruin. Once they received this holy, royal animal as a gift, they were not allowed to sell or kill it. Today, a “white elephant” means something that is big, useless, and unwanted. In America, when people want to get rid of their furniture or clothes, they often have a “white elephant sale”.

1.The text is mainly about________.

A. the history of some English idioms

B. the meanings of white in English culture

C. some interesting customs in English culture

D. some useful English words and expressions

2. Which expression has a historical background?

A. White elephant. B. White-collar.

C. White-wash. D. White elephant sale.

3.In which statement does “white” have a negative meaning?

A. A boy is dressed in white at baptisms.

B. A bride wears a white wedding gown.

C. A girl finds a white collar job.

D. A man whitewashes his crime.

4.The author develops the text mainly by ______.

A. analyzing its cause and effect

B. comparing different ideas

C. providing typical examples

D. following the time order

Answer 1

1.B

2.A

3.D

4.C

【解析】

试题分析：“白色”所体现的正反寓意。

1.B主旨大意题。通读全文可知，该文重在对“白色”所体现的正反寓意加以叙述，故该题正确答案为B.

2.A细节信息题。根据文章最后一段对 “white elephant”这一贬义词历史由来的解释，可知“white elephant”一词的贬义由来，是有历史渊源的，故该题正确答案为A.

3.D细节信息题。文章第一、二段讲述的是white所体现出正面的积极的意义的一些场合（白领、受洗礼时孩子穿白色的衣服、结婚时新娘子穿着白色的婚纱），而三、四两段则告诉读者white体现出消极意义的场合（“whitewash”和“white elephant”），由此细节可知该题正确答案D.

4.C考查文章结构。通读文章可知，作者主要是使用“举例子”的方式来告诉读者“白色”所体现的正反寓意的。故该题正确答案为C.

考点：社会文化类文章的阅读