If you're riding in a "lift" or an "elevator"，or eating "chips" versus "fries"，these words all depend on whether you're in the UK or US.Although the，both speak English，there are many phrases and idioms that differ between the cultures.
For example，have you ever just not been in the mood to go out with friends？In the US you might say you don't feel like doing that activity，but in the UK you would say， "I can't be asked. "
Maybe you're about to take a test and feel a little anxious.In the US，you might say you are nervous，but in the UK，one could say they are "having kittens".If someone in the UK were feeling they were under pressure，they might say they are '"under the cosh".
Even many native English speakers are often confused by the meanings of these terms.Stephanie Stone，a US native，recalls her experience studying in the UK. "People would ask， 'You all right？' For months I thought I looked unwell until I realized it just meant 'How's it going？ ".
If you want to know more about US and UK idioms，you'd better " have a butcher's hook" at some phrase books.It can be quite interesting to find，the equivalent（对应的）phrases in your own language.
（1）What would you say in America if you are unwilling to go out with friends？
| A． |
I can't be asked. |
| B． |
I'm under the cosh. |
| C． |
I don't feel like doing that. |
（2）How might Stephanie Stone feel at first when asked 'You all right？' in the UK？
| A． |
Surprised. |
| B． |
Pleased. |
| C． |
Tired. |
（3）What does the phrase " have a butcher's hook" in the last paragraph mean？
| A． |
Get many skills. |
| B． |
Have a look. |
| C． |
Find some words. |
（4）What is the text mainly about？
| A． |
The meanings of phrases and idioms in the UK and US. |
| B． |
The history of phrases and idioms in the UK and US. |
| C． |
The differences of phrases and idioms in the UK and US. |
You might have noticed that the cost of food has gone up.In fact the price of wheat and rice has nearly doubled in the past few years.It’s thought that right now，850 million people—that’s more than 10 times the population of the UK—are short of food because it’s too expensive or there’s not enough of it.
The price of basic food such as wheat and corn has stayed the same for quite a long time，about 30 years.But as the world’s population is getting bigger，there’s more pressure to feed more people，plus there’s less land and water to go round.
Another reason is climate（气候）change.Droughts and floods make it hard to grow crops like rice and grain.The price of oil has gone up and that makes it more expensive for farmers to run their tractors and to transport the food they make.And lots of fields are being used to grow crops to make other things that can’t be eaten—which is bad news for hungry people.
The main losers are poor people who live in cities in poor countries，who are facing higher prices for food.Some people are doing well out of the food crisis（危机） though.Farmers in rich countries like the US，Canada and Australia are getting record prices for their harvests.
World leaders are meeting in the Italian capital Rome to talk about the problem of rising food prices.Some countries are helping out with the cost of foods and international aid agencies have called for more money for food production in poor countries.The price of food goes up because all of the following EXCEPT _____.
| A．there are more and more people in the world. |
| B．American farmers are getting richer and richer. |
| C．many farm lands are used to make other things rather than food. |
| D．climate change makes it harder to grow food. |
Who lose the most because of the food crisis?
| A．Farmers in rich countries. |
| B．Farmers in developed countries. |
| C．Poor people in cities in poor countries. |
| D．Poor people in cities in developed countries. |
What does the food crisis mean to farmers in Canada?
| A．They can get a lot of money from the government. |
| B．They have to save a lot of money. |
| C．They can make more money from the high price. |
| D．They are losing a lot of money. |
What is the best title for this passage?
| A．Why is the Price of Food Going Up？ |
| B．How Many People are Short of Food? |
| C．What Can We Learn from the Food Crisis? |
| D．Who Can Benefit（受益） from the Food Crisis? |
（By CCTV correspondent Vanessa Duffy 04/28/2013 08:36）
It’s been eight days since a 7.0-magnitude strong earthquake hit China’s Lushan Ya’an Sichuan Province.How the earthquake has affected one of Sichuan Province’s special residents（居民）—pandas.How are the animals living? And do they have enough food to eat?
There are more than 80 pandas living here at the Chengdu Panda Breeding Base（繁育基地）.The quake was felt strongly in Chengdu.Fortunately，all of the pandas here were out on the grounds when the earthquake hit，so they were very safe.
Several days have passed and the earthquake seems to have made no negative（不利的） impact on the pandas.These two baby pandas Chengshuang and Chengdui are playfighting with each other and climbing trees.When they climbed too high，the breeders have to rescue them from the trees.
The quake zone is not only the home of these pandas，it’s also the source of their food.Fortunately，enough bamboo(竹子) has been stored away in five bamboo storehouses for the pandas，so there are no worries about food supplies.
Wu Kongju，Breeder，Chengdu Panda Breeding Base，said，“When the Wenchuan earthquake happened on May 12，2008，we were unprepared and had a shortage of bamboo.But we’ve been able to handle this earthquake event more smoothly.There are no problems with the food supply.”When did the 7.0-magnitude earthquake happen in Lushan Sichuan Province?
| A．On April 28，2013 |
| B．On May 12，2008 |
| C．On April 20，2013 |
| D．On May 20，2013 |
The underlined word “ rescue” in this passage means ______ in Chinese.
| A．保存 | B．阻止 | C．放任 | D．营救 |
How did the Panda Breeding Base deal with the food supply after the earthquake in Wenchan in 2008?
| A．They built 5 bamboo storehouses to store food for pandas. |
| B．They were unprepared and had a shortage of bamboo. |
| C．They handled this earthquake more smoothly. |
| D．They let pandas out on the grounds. |
My problems started after I went to a boarding（寄宿） school.I was only 14，and at first I missed my family a lot.I often called them and cried on the phone.But after two weeks，I found I enjoyed being with my classmates at school. I had many friends who were boys.I thought of them as my best friends-but only friends.I never guessed my friendships with boys would become a problem.
Then，three months later，my friends told me that some teachers and girls said I was hanging out with boys all day long in order to get attention from them.Seven months after that，the head teacher Mr.Wang asked the class to choose some students to join the Student Union（学生会）.I thought I could win for I was doing well in school.I’d already won prizes for the best math and English exams.A week later，the list came out and it didn’t include me.I was sad.
Mr.Wang came to me and said，“Don’t be sad.I know you’re excellent! Maybe you are a little distant（疏远的）from the girls in our class.They don’t know much about you，so some of them didn’t choose you.It doesn’t matter.Do your best to get along well with everyone and I think you’ll make it next time.”What was the writer’s problem when she first entered the boarding school?
| A．She didn’t like her new school. |
| B．She didn’t get along well with her classmates. |
| C．She missed her family very much. |
| D．She didn’t like her new teacher. |
Why did the writer fail to join the Student Union?
| A．Her teachers didn’t like her. |
| B．She was a poor student. |
| C．Some girls didn’t choose her. |
| D．She likes showing off herself. |
Which of the following is NOT true，according to the passage?
| A．The writer won prizes for the best science and English exams. |
| B．The writer didn’t realize that her friendships with boys would cause problems. |
| C．The writer was sad because she failed to join the Student Union. |
| D．The teacher thought she was an excellent student. |
| Title |
Time |
Event |
| Grandmother Student |
today |
An 83—year—old great grandmother received a bachelor’s degree(学士学位) from South—Eastern University today, more than 50 years after she took her first college course. |
| Early Spring Storm |
last night |
An early spring heavy snow dumped 18 inches of snow on the city in less than six hours last night. |
| Two Men Win Freedom |
today |
Two men picked up for disorderly conduct(不法行为)won their freedom today when they helped police officers save 20 persons from burning North Side apartment building. |
| Henley Street Bridge Closed |
On Friday |
The Henley Street Bridge over the Tennessee will be closed at 8:00 on Friday, a State Highway official said today. |
| Husband Kills Wife |
today |
Just 15 minutes after he shot and killed his unfriendly wife , a 22-year –old truck driver jumped to his death from the State Street Bridge. |
From the first piece of news we know that ______.
| A．it took the old woman over 50 years to study at South-Eastern University. |
| B．the great grandmother was the oldest who received a bachelor’s degree. |
| C．the 83-year-old woman’s story surprised everyone. |
| D．the 83-year-old woman has a strong will. |
The underlined word “dumped” means____.
| A．fell | B．left | C．hit | D．lasted |
In the third piece of news, “picked up” means ______.
| A．given a ride | B．saved from danger | C．freed | D．caught |
Which of the following is right according to the last piece of news?
| A．The wife was a 22-year-old truck driver. |
| B．The wife was shot after her husband died. |
| C．Shortly after having shot his wife, the young truck driver finished himself. |
| D．The wife died, but the husband didn’t. |
Which is TRUE according to the news above?
| A．A person who is about 70 years old can get a bachelor’s degree. |
| B．It never snows heavily at night in spring. |
| C．There were only 20 persons living in North Side apartment building. |
| D．Maybe today is Wednesday. |
According to some predictions, human beings will die out in 2012. Nearly all people think it’s impossible, but there are some more earthquakes in recent years.
Animals can predict the weather or other natural events. It may sound strange, but farmers living in the countryside think so. For hundreds of years , they have observed animals.
“Animals ’ behavior can be connected to future weather conditions or events.” They say. For example, if cows lie down, a rainstorm is coming. There are many traditional stories connecting animals and natural events. Many people think that these stories don’t have scientific evidence( 根据 ) at all. Scientists, however, are beginning to take another look at some of these ideas.
A Japanese earthquake researcher named Kiyoshi Shimamura noticed an increase in dog bites a short time before earthquake hit. Then he did research on twelve public health centers in Kobe, Japan. These health centers treated people after the 1995 earthquake . He got some interesting information about the month before the big earthquake: treatment for animals’ bites had increased . In fact, aggressive(侵略的)behavior in dogs, such as biting and barking loudly , jumped 60 percent.
There are also other changes in animals’ behavior before the earthquake. For example, fish began swimming together in large groups , but only in the middle of the water and not near the edges. Birds flew away from their nests for many days, leaving their eggs unprotected . These animals’ behavior suggests that animals may be able to predict natural events better than people.What would cows behave before a rainstorm?
| A．Running | B．Biting | C．Lying down | D．Sleeping |
What do dogs begin to do just before an earthquake?
| A．They leave their homes. | B．They hurt people. |
| C．They lie down in grass. | D．They stay together in large groups. |
Which of the following animals behave strangely before an earthquake according to this passage?
| A．Fish | B．Cows | C．Pigs | D．All of the above. |
In Kiyoshi Shimamura’s investigation(调查)，before the big earthquake, treatment for animals’ bites had _________.
| A．disappeared | B．increased | C．been the same as before. | D．never changed. |
What is the main idea of the passage?
| A．Natural events and animals’ actions. |
| B．What animals do during earthquakes |
| C．Many earthquakes of Japan. |
| D．Some stories about animals. |
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