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
There was once a man called Mr. Flowers, and flowers were his only joy in life. He spent all his free time in one of his four glass-houses and grew flowers of every color, with long and difficult names, for competitions (比赛). He tried to grow a rose of a new color to win the silver cup (银杯) for the Rose of the Year.
Mr. Flowers’ glass-houses were very near to a middle school. Boys of around thirteen of age were often tempted (引诱) to throw a stone or two at one of Mr. Flowers’ glass-houses. So Mr. Flowers did his best to be in or near his glass-houses at the beginning and end of the school day.
But it was not always possible to be on watch at those times. Mr. Flowers had tried in many ways to protect his glass, but nothing that he had done had been useful. He had been to school to report to the headmaster; but this had not done any good. He had tried to drive away the boy that threw stones into his garden; but the boys could run faster than he could, and they laughed at him from far away. He had even picked up all the stones that he could find around his garden so that the boys would have nothing to throw; but they soon found others.
At last Mr. Flowers had a good idea. He put up a large notice (布告) made of good, strong wood some meters away from the glass-houses. On it he had written the words: DO NOT THROW STONES AT THIS NOTICE. After this, Mr. Flowers had no further trouble; the boys were much more tempted to throw stones at the notice than at the glass-houses.
1.It was Mr. Flowers’ hope to ________.
A. build glass-houses in his free time
B. grow the Rose of the Year in a silver cup
C. win a silver cup for growing a rose of a new color
D. grow a rose with the longest name
2. Boys were often tempted to ________.
A. throw stones at Mr. Flowers’ glass-house
B. throw stones at Mr. Flowers from their school
C. be in or near by Mr. Flowers’ glass-houses
D. play with Mr. Flowers near his glass-houses
3. Mr. Flowers stayed in or near by his glass-houses _______.
A. at times when school-boys were walking near them
B. all the school day when there were no boys about
C. where he could not be seen by the boys passing
D. in his free time at the beginning and end of the school day
4.Mr. Flowers had tried to ______ to protect his glass.
A. be on watch in his free time
B. ask the headmaster for help
C. pick up all the stones around his garden
D. do all the above
King’s College Summer School
King’s College Summer School is an annual(每年的) training program for high school students at all levels who want to improve their English. Courses are given by the teachers of King’s College and other colleges in New York. Trips to museums and culture centers are also organized. This year’s summer school will be from July 25 to August 15.
More information is as follows:
Application (申请) date Students in New York should send their applications before July 18, 2012. Students of other cities should send their applications before July 16, 2012. Foreign students should send their applications before July 10, 2012. | Courses English Language Spoken English: 22 hours Reading and Writing: 10 hours American History: 16 hours American Culture: 16 hours |
Steps A letter of self-introduction A letter of recommendation ﹡ The letters should be written in English with all the necessary information. | Cost Daily lessons: $200 Sports and activities: $100 Travels: $200 Hotel service: $400 ﹡You may choose to live with your friends or relatives in the same city. |
Please write to: Thompson, Sanders 1026 King’s Street New York, NY 10016, USA E-mail: KC-Summer-School@ yahoo, com | |
1.Which of the following is true about King’s College Summer School?
A. Only top students can take part in the program.
B. King’s College Summer School is run every other year.
C. Visits to museums and culture centers are part of the program.
D. Only the teachers of King’ s College give courses.
2.If you are to live with your relatives in New York, you will have to pay the school _____.
A. $200 B. $400 C. $500 D. $900
3. What information can you get from the text?
A. The program will last two months.
B. You can write to Thompson only in English.
C. As a Chinese student, you can send your application on July 14, 2012.
D. You can get in touch with the school by e-mail or by telephone.
完形填空,阅读下列短文，从文后各题所给的四个选项中选出一个最佳答案。
Lisa has always been overweight. She wanted to lose weight, not just because she wanted to _______ more beautiful and he healthier, but also because it would make life easier. For example, it was______ for Lisa to find ready-made clothes that would fit. She had to ask a tailor(裁缝) ______ clothes that were large enough. In school, she needed a special chair______ was bigger and stronger than the other chairs. If she went for a walk, she got tired very quickly. She was also unhappy about the way people treated______ sometimes. “People look at me and even make fun of me. That’s unfair! It’s true that I’m overweight, but I don’t think people______ treat me differently because I’m big. I can’t enjoy _____ with my friends because I’m afraid of getting fatter.” Her friends and family never made fun of her. They tried to help her______ . They wanted her to be happy and healthy. Sometimes when Lisa was feeling sad, she didn’t want to speak to _____.
But now things ____ quite different. Last month her classmates were preparing for the School_____ Week. Someone advised Lisa to play the lead role of the proud Queen(女王) who was tall and fat. Lisa ____ and practiced a lot.
Soon after the play, Lisa became the star! She did _____ well that everybody remembered the proud Queen. They stood around her and said “ _____ ” to her. She even won the School Best Actress Award for her wonderful performance.
Now Lisa doesn’t worry ______ being fat any more. She believes in the English saying “Every dog has its day.”
1.A. see B. watch C. notice D. look
2.A. easy B. difficult C. wrong D. right
3.A. making B. makes C. make D. to make
4.A. who B. what C. that D. whose
5.A. her B. him C. me D. you
6.A. can B. may C. should D. must
7.A. having dinner B. to have dinner C. doing sports D. to do sports
8.A. however B. instead C. though D. either
9.A. nobody B. someone C. anyone D. everyone
10.A. was B. is C. were D. are
11.A. Sports B. Art C. Science D. Environment
12.A. agreed B. disagreed C. refused D. allowed
13.A. very B. too C. such D. so
14.A. Sorry B. Good luck C. Congratulations D. Good-bye
15.A. with B. about C. in D. for
___Would you mind my sitting beside you? ______,it’s for my daughter.
A. Certainly B. You’d better not.
C. You’re welcome D. Of course not
No matter what happens, the fact that Diaoyu Island belongs to China will ______ change.
A. ever B. never C. seldom D. hardly
