Question

A year ago, I paid no attention to English idioms (習語), though my teacher told us the importance again and again. But soon, the importance of English idioms was shown in an amusing experience.

One day, I happened to meet an Englishman on the road, and soon we began to talk. As I was talking about how I was studying English, the foreigner seemed to be surprised. Gently shaking his head, shrugging his shoulders, he said, “You don’t say!” “You don’t say!” I was puzzled. I thought, perhaps this is not a right topic. “Well, I’d better change the topic.” So I said to him. “Well, shall we talk about the Great Wall? By the way, have you ever been there?” “Certainly, everyone back home will laugh at me if I leave China without seeing it. It was wonderful.” He was deep in thought when I began to talk like a tourist guide. “The Great Wall is one of the wonders in the world. We are very proud of it.” Soon I was interrupted (打斷) again by his words: “You don’t say!” I couldn’t help asking, “Why do you ask me not to talk about it?” “Well, I didn’t ask you to do so,” he answered, greatly surprised. I said, “Didn’t you say ‘you don’t say’?” Hearing this, the Englishman laughed to tears. He began to explain, “ You don’t say’ actually means ‘really!’ It is an expression of surprise. Perhaps you don’t pay attention to English idioms.” I realized I had made a fool of myself. Since then I have been more careful with idiomatic expressions. Remember: what the English teachers said is always right to us students.

1.A year ago, I paid no attention to English idioms because ______.

A.I found they were so boring

B.I did not realize the importance of them

C.it’s difficult for me to learn English idioms

D.my teacher didn’t tell us the importance of them

2.On hearing “You don’t say,” I thought the foreigner meant ______at first.

A.he was not interested in the topic B.I had to stop talking

C.I had talked too much D.he was only interested in the Great Wall

3.After the Englishman explained the idiom, ___________.

A.I felt I was very silly B.I thought the English teacher was really a fool

C.I became more careful in everything D.the Englishman became a real fool

4.What do you think the writer will do after this experience?

A.He will not go to the Great Wall any more.

B.He will pay more attention to what the teacher says in class.

C.He will spend more time learning English grammar.

D.He will be afraid to talk to an Englishman.

Answer 1