Question

The saying “a penny for your thoughts” is an English idiom simply asking people to volunteer their opinions on an issue being discussed. In modern usage, it is often stated as an indirect way of asking what someone is thinking about.

This phrase is basically a proposal (提议), and the speaker is offering to pay to hear the listener’s thoughts. It is an idiom, of course, and not meant literally (字面上的) so no real payment generally takes place.

When the saying originated, a penny was worth a lot more than it is in the 21st century. Therefore, “a penny for your thoughts” likely indicated the thoughts were more valuable to those asking the listener for them than they are by today’s standards. This loss of value can be used ironically(讽刺地), however, through tone(语气) of voice; it can be used to indicate that someone’s idea is bad or worth a penny in modern value.

The phrase is generally credited to a man by the name of John Heywood, who was born sometime just before the 16th century. During his life, he was a writer who penned many plays and a book in 1546, later known as The Proverbs of John Heywood. It is likely Heywood did not actually come up with the phrase “a penny for your thoughts”. Rather, he was simply the first person to have set the phrase down in written form. The actual origins of the term are unknown, and since his book was simply a collection of common idioms and expressions, it was probably familiar to people in the mid 1500s.

Another phrase similar to “a penny for your thoughts” is offering “your two cents” after making a statement. Someone might give his or her opinion and then say, “that’s my two cents,” to indicate the value of his or her idea. While, much like a penny, “two cents” is relatively low in value now, it would have been more valuable at one time and the expression is used in much the same way.

1.When someone says “a penny for your thoughts”, he or she ___________.

A.wants to ask you for advice

B.considers your thoughts unique

C.is curious about what’s on your mind

D.will pay for what you’re thinking about

2.The modern meaning of “a penny for your thoughts” ____________.

A.is more closely connected to the value of the penny

B.can differ greatly according to a speaker’s manner

C.can confuse the listener easily

D.is more popularly accepted

3.In what way is Heywood related to the phrase “a penny for your thoughts”?

A.He came up with it while he was writing.

B.He helps to explain the origins of it.

C.He contributed to the wide use of it.

D.He was the first person to use it.

4.What do we know about the phrase “your two cents”?

A.It is usually used at the end of a statement.

B.It comes from “a penny for your thoughts”.

C.It has witnessed some changes since the 16th century.

D.It is more familiar to people than “a penny for your thoughts”.

Answer

1.C

2.B

3.C

4.A

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文。文章介绍了两个俗语“a penny for your thoughts”和 “that’s my two cents,”的由来，以及它们的发展变化。

1.细节理解题。根据第一段中的“asking people to volunteer their opinions on an issue being discussed”和“asking what someone is thinking about”可知人们想知道别人的想法时会使用这个俗语。故选C。

2.推理判断题。根据第三段内容可知，由于便士的价值在古代和现在相差甚远，因此现在也可以用“a penny for your thoughts”来表达对方的主意一文不值，也就是说，根据说话人的语气，这个习语的意思大相径庭。故选B。

3.推理判断题。根据倒数第二段中的“he was simply the first person to have set the phrase down in written form”和“his book was simply a collection of common idioms ...the mid 1500s”可推测，Heywood 由于将“a penny for your thoughts”这个习语编写到自己关于常用习语和表达的书籍中，从而使得这个习语被人们所熟知。因此，他间接推广了这个习语的应用。故选C。

4.细节理解题。根据最后一段中的“offering ‘your two cents’ after making a statement”可知这句话是被用在人们说的话或者是一段陈述的后面来表明这个想法的价值。故选A。