Question

I had learned English for 11 years, but I knew few English idioms (習(xí)慣用語(yǔ)). When I went to study in America last year, I had trouble communicating with Americans at times.

One day, I asked my roommate Kevin, “Shall we play soccer tomorrow?” He answered, “Let’s play it by ear.” I was so puzzled. “Ear can play soccer?” He smiled and explained, “It means let’s see. The weather report says tomorrow is rainy.”

Last October, I was waiting for bus in a station. Beside me sat a young man. When he knew I was a Chinese, he asked me about the Great Wall. I told him, “The Great Wall is more than 20,000 kilometers long.” The man said, “You don’t say.” I was surprised, “There must be something wrong with him.” I thought. Later, I knew he meant “Really?”

I was once invited to my classmate’s home. His mother said to me, “Break your ice, please.” I wondered, “Where is the ice?” Later my classmate told me she meant I could make myself relaxed in their home.

From, then on, I realized English idioms had special meanings. It was wrong to them word by word.

1.What did the writer go to America for?

A. He studied in a college B. He spent holidays.

C. He did business in America D. He visited his relatives.

2.“Let’s play it by ear.” means ______ in the passage.

A. “Kevin was good at listening.”

B. “Kevin could play soccer with his ear.”

C. “Kevin refused the writer’s suggestion.”

D. “Whether to play soccer depends on the weather.”

3.From the 3rd paragraph (段落), we can know________.

A. the writer wanted to take a train

B. the young man knew the Great Wall well

C. the young man was the writer’s good friend

D. the young man was surprised to know how long the Great Wall was

4.“Break your ice.” means ______ in the passage.

A. “help yourself ” B. “the ice is too large”

C. “ice can make you cool here” D. “it’s polite to break the ice”

5.What’s the best title (題目) for the passage?

A. The Most Useful Language—English

B. Importance of Knowing English Idioms

C. Differences between Universities in America

D. How to Communicate with Americans

Answer 1