Idioms are one of the hardest parts of learning a language. For those of you who don't know, an idiom is a phrase which has a meaning, but the meaning is not clear from the words themselves. If you translate an idiom word for word, it sometimes makes no sense at all. They are like puzzles and even native speakers can get confused when someone uses a phrase that they've never heard of.
With that in mind, here are five common English idioms that you can use in a variety of Situations.
1．Get your act together (Meaning: you need to improve your behaviour/work)
This might be something your teacher says to you if you score badly in an exam or if you misbehave in class. You can also use it to talk about people in general. For example, if your friend is being mean or nasty for no reason, then you can tell them that they need to get their act together.
2．Pull yourself together (Meaning: calm down)
This is a somewhat impolite way of telling someone that they are overreacting and that they need to relax. Only use this if you think the person you are speaking to is getting upset over something insignificant. If your friend tells you that their close relative has died, it is NOT the time to tell them to pull themselves together.
3．I'm feeling under the weather (Meaning: I'm sick)
Yes, it's longer and more difficult to say than 'I'm sick', but if your English teacher asks you why you haven't done your homework, he or she is more likely to forgive you if you say that you were feeling under the weather. You may not have done your English homework, but your teacher might be impressed that you know how to make eloquent excuses in a foreign language.
4．It's a piece of cake (Meaning: it's easy)
I don't know why this means what it does, but sometimes you just have to accept that English people use weird phrases.
5．Break a leg (Meaning: good luck!)
This is perhaps one of the most confusing yet well-known English idioms. If someone says this to you, do not take offence or think they are threatening you; they are just wishing you luck. It is most often used for people wishing success to actors and actresses before they perform on the stage, but it can be said in other situations, too.
All in all, learning a new language can be challenging. It's definitely not a piece of cake, especially when there are so many confusing idioms. However, with enough hard work and interest, you will succeed in no time. Break a leg!
1. Which idiom is proper for you to say to your worried classmate who is to take part in the 800-metre race at the school sports meet?| A．Get your act together. | B．Pull yourself together. |
| C．Break a leg. | D．It's a piece of cake. |
| A．"What's wrong with you?" |
| B．"Don't worry. Let's call 120." |
| C．"Get up and finish your homework." |
| D．"Why don't you take an umbrella with you?" |
| A．They sometimes make no sense at all. |
| B．Native speakers have trouble understanding idioms sometimes. |
| C．Idioms are the hardest part of learning a language. |
| D．We can guess the meaning of an idiom from the words in it. |
相似题推荐
How words came into being is unknown.All we assume is that some early men invented cortain sounds,in one way or another,to express thoughts and feelings,actions and things,so that they could talk with each other.Later they agreed upon certain signs,called letters,which could be put together to show those sounds,and which could be written down.Those sounds,whether spoken or written in letters,are called words.
The power of words,then,lies in their associations-the things they bring up to our minds.Words become filled with meaning for us by experience;and the longer we live,the more certain words bring back to us the happy and sad events of our past;and the more we read and learn,the more the number of words that mean something to us increases.
Great writers are those who not only have great thoughts but also express these thoughts in words which have powerful effects on our minds and feelings.This clever use of words is what we call literary style.Above all,the real poet is a master of words.He can express his meaning in words which sing like music,and which by their position and association can move men to tears.We should therefore learn to choose our words carefully and use then correctly,or they will make our speech silly and common.
1. We learn from the text that language might have begun with( )
| A．expressions | B．actions | C．signs | D．sounds |
| A．The ……of new words | B．The importance of old words |
| C．The relation of human experience with words | D．The gradual change and development of words |
| A．Use words skilfully | B．Make musical speeches |
| C．Learn poems by heart | D．Associate with listeners |
After all, squeezing past others sometimes can't be avoided．and the bus driver is merely doing his job．I used lo think the same way, without questioning it, until I started traveling to the British Isles and came to appreciate some more polite ways of communicating with people．
People thank each other everywhere in England, all the time．When people buy something in a shop, customer and retail assistant in most cases thank each other twice or more．In Germany, it would be exceptional to hear more than one thank you in such a conversation．British students thank their lecturers when leaving the room．English employers thank their employees for doing their jobs as opposed to Germans, who would normally think that paying their workers money is already enough．
Another thing I observed during my stay was that English people rarely criticize others．Even when I was working and mistakes were pointed out to me．my employers stressed several times but none of their explanations were intended as criticism．It has been my impression that by avoiding criticism, English people are making an effort to make others feel comfortable．This also is shown in other ways．British men still open doors for women, and British men are more likely to treat women to a meal than German men．However, 1 do need to point out here that this applies to English men a bit more than it would to Scottish men' Yes, the latter are a bit tightfisted．
1. What is the author's attitude towards English politeness?
| A．He appreciates it | B．He gives no personal opinion |
| C．He thinks it is artificial | D．He thinks it goes too far． |
| A．It's always a retail assistant who says thank you． |
| B．A customer never says thank you to a retail assistant． |
| C．They always say thank you to each other． |
| D．They may say thank you only once． |
| A．are more likely to be involved in a fighting． |
| B．are not so willing to spend money for women． |
| C．are more polite than English men. |
| D．treat women in a polite way. |
| A．giving comments | B．telling stories |
| C．making comparisons | D．giving reasons |
Canada is one of the few nations in the world to have two official languages: English and French. There are 10 provinces in the country but only one of these—Quebec is known as “French Canada”. This is because it was founded by French explorers while British adventurers discovered the rest.
Canada left the British empire(帝国) in 1867 to become an independent country and English and French have been recognized as the official languages ever since.
Most people speak English as their first language and the two national television networks broadcast in English throughout the country. Apart from in Quebec and a few places on the east coast, French television is very rare.
The same goes for traffic signs and menus, for example, outside of Quebec, there are only a few places where you’ll see traffic signs in French. In restaurants, it’s almost impossible to find French on the menu unless you are in the heartland (中心地带) of French Canada. However, all products sold in Canada must, by law, have labels (标签) and instructions in both languages.
In Canada’s English speaking provinces, official bilingualism (双语) means that students can choose to complete a special French language course. Under this program, they are taught most of their subjects in French.
If a student begins the course in kindergarten (幼儿园) or Grade One, it is likely that all their lessons will be in French. However, if they start at junior high school, 25 percent of the teaching will continue to be in English.
1. How many provinces are there in Canada?
| A．Ten. | B．Nine. | C．Eleven. | D．Two. |
| A．France. | B．Britain. | C．America. | D．Germany |
| A．Only in Quebec. |
| B．In Quebec and a few other places. |
| C．From the two national television networks. |
| D．All over Canada |
| A．In English speaking provinces only English courses are offered. |
| B．If you choose a special French language course, most of the subjects are taught in French. |
| C．The courses in primary school are all taught in English. |
| D．Most of the courses in junior high schools are taught in English. |
【推荐1】Artificial intelligence (AI) plays an important role in the Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 and Asian Para Games. These terms might sound familiar, but how smart are they when applied to the 56 Asian Games venues (场地)?
Their smartness can be found in running the venues with less human labor forces. At the Huanglong Sports Center, a system called Smart Stadium Brain is built. A 25 square meter high definition screen lays in the venue’s information center, which guarantees a friendly environment for the athletes and audiences. A small screen on each seat is designed to be at the audience’s service. By finger touching, the audience can control it conveniently to watch and keep contact with the event. What’s more, supported by the 5G technology.
AI also means further protection on environment. At the Fuyang sports Center, although it has been raining for days, the roof of the venue still remains dry. And the secret lies in its attractive sky garden. The garden, is not only eye-catching but also useful. It allows the greening rate of the entire stadium to reach as high as 45%, being energy-saving. Under the cobblestones (鹅卵石), a recovery system is filtering (过滤) and collecting rainwater for the venue’s water system, and irrigation water.
1. Which of the following can replace the underlined word “guarantee” in Para2?| A．Adapt to. | B．Take advantage of. | C．Get used to. | D．Make sure of. |
| A．Small screen must be supported by the 5 G technology. |
| B．The audience can control small screens on their seats easily. |
| C．The stadium is environmentally friendly and advanced but costly. |
| D．Their smartness of AI will replace workers |
| A．By saving energy. | B．By recycling the rainwater. |
| C．By collecting rainwater system of the sky garden. | D．By improving the greening rate. |
| A．More Connections with Smart Devices. | B．A Sports Center with Smart Stadium Brain. |
| C．Asian Games with Artificial Intelligence. | D．Smart Asian Games with High-tech Venues. |
Tu’s finding has saved millions’ lives during the 40 years. This also proves the value of her research product. The reward is never too late in that aspect. The moment of joy and satisfaction came when she discovered the artemisinin( 青蒿素) after all kinds of failures in experiments.
As the first Chinese mainland Nobel Prize Winner of natural science award, Tu’s winning completely surprised Chinese people, who have long been wondering when the first Chinese Nobel laureate in natural science would appear.
Let’s backtrack to 40 years ago. Tu accomplished the breakthrough findings without access to any advanced equipment, communication with outside world and papers to research. However, over the 40 years, improvements and innovations have transformed everything. Nowadays, Chinese scientists have the passion to invent. As Premiere Li Keqiang mentioned in his letter, “Tu’s winning the prize signifies China’s prosperity and progress in scientific and technological field”.
Tu’s record-breaking winning serves as a reminder to those who are too eager for instant success. Science is never about instant success. There is no way to measure how much you spend on scientific research and compare it with how much reward you get.
1. Which magazine this passage may be mostly selected from?
| A．The Times | B．Science Fiction |
| C．Fortune | D．National Geography |
| A．Science is just about the cure of the disease for mankind. |
| B．Tu is the first Chinese to win the Nobel Prize of natural science award. |
| C．Tu’s achievements tell us that victory doesn’t come in one day. |
| D．Tu made the breakthrough in discovering the artemisinin with advanced technology. |
| A．Tu’s experience has made her way up to the Nobel Prize. |
| B．China displays its strength in Traditional Chinese Medicine. |
| C．Tu honors us Chinese by winning the Nobel Prize. |
| D．We should not expect to succeed in a short period of time. |
【推荐3】Four Most Incredible Stadiums in North America
Estadio Azteca
Maybe it’s not the nicest， but it is a must-visit stadium(体育馆)in Mexico. Lying in the suburbs of Santa Ursula in Mexico City, it is the stadium that hosts the national soccer game in Mexico. When the 1970 World Cup was there, it hosted 10 matches, including the semi-final, and the final between Brazil and Italy. Estadio Azteca is the largest stadium in Mexico, with a capacity (容量)of 87,523．
Olympic Stadium
Given that Canada doesn’t have that many professional sports teams (at least not with the same popularity of US teams), stadiums north of the border are generally smaller and don’t quite get the same investment(投资)that stadiums south of the border do. The stadium was used for the Montreal Expos, and now is carefully used for soccer games. In fact, it’s set to host some World Cup games in 2026, but anybody who’s been inside can tell you it’s not a stadium fit to host such a big event.
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden is one of the best stadiums in North America, and not just for sports, but for concerts and other events as well. If you are traveling into New York City by train, you will see the stadium right as you enter the city, above the train station. Before you get to your seats, the outskirts of the stadium actually look like a high-end hotel. It won’t disappoint(使失望)you.
Michigan Stadium
Would you be surprised to know that the second largest stadium in the world is a college football stadium? That’s right. Michigan Stadium, home of the University of Michigan Wolverines, is the largest stadium in the United States and the second-largest stadium in the world. It has a capacity of 107,601.When you see Michigan Stadium, you know you’re talking about college football.
1. What do Estadio Azteca and Olympic Stadium have in common?| A．They were built at the same time. |
| B．They both hosted World Cup games. |
| C．They don’t have modern technology. |
| D．They both can be used to host soccer games. |
| A．It used to be a hotel. |
| B．It can also serve as a theater. |
| C．It is the best stadium in North America. |
| D．It will host some World Cup games in the future. |
| A．Estadio Azteca. |
| B．Olympic Stadium. |
| C．Michigan Stadium. |
| D．Madison Square Garden. |
【推荐1】Amazon Best Sellers: Best Books
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In his book, James Comey, the former FBI director, shares his experiences from his career of American government, exploring what good, ethical（道德的）leadership looks like. His journey provides a remarkable lesson in what makes an effective leader.
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What does everyone in the modern world need to know? Famous psychologist Jordan B. Peterson's answer combines the truths of ancient tradition with the findings of scientific research.
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How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading Revised Edition by Mortimer J. Adler, Charles Van Doren
With half a million copies in print, How to Read a Book is the best guide to reading comprehension for the general reader, completely rewritten and updated with new material.Originally published in 1940, this book is a rare phenomenon, a living classic that introduces and clarifies the various levels of reading and how to achieve them—from elementary reading, through systematic skimming, to speed reading.
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Everybody, Always: Becoming Love in a World Full of Setbacks and Difficult People- April 17, 2018 by Bob Goff
What happens when we stop avoiding difficult people and simply love everyone? In his inspiring follow-up to the New York Times bestselling phenomenon Love Does, Bob Goff takes readers on a journey into the secret of living without fear, care, restriction, or worry.
Paperback $10.19
1. If you want to become an effective leader, which book can you try?
| A．How to Read a Book | B．A Higher Loyalty |
| C．12 Rules for Life | D．Everybody, Always |
| A．It has been published since 1940. |
| B．It is completely the same as the original one. |
| C．It is written by Mortimer J. Adler alone. |
| D．It is about living without fear. |
| A．All the four books are paperbacks. |
| B．Jordan B. Peterson is the former FBI director. |
| C．Paperbacks are cheaper than hardcovers. |
| D．Bob Goff is a famous psychologist. |
【推荐2】Craziest Food Festivals sounds like a joke topic, but once you start looking into it, you’ll realize they’re everywhere — the crazier, the better.
1. Bibimbap Festival
In the South Korean town of Jeonjuloves, their “mixed rice” dish is a hearty serve of rice topped with raw beef, a rainbow of vegetables, a raw egg and gochujang sauce so much. They take four days out of October to celebrate it.
Like any festival there’s music, entertainment and magic, but making it that little bit different is the bibimbap that’s whipped (搅拌) up in a big bowl by dozens of chefs and served to over 400 people.
2. Waikiki Spam Jam
Who knew this canned meat had so much love? Well, it turns out that a can of Spam is the go-to item in Hawaii, along with a grass skirt and garland (花环). The people of Hawaii love Spam so much that they even spend a day in May giving out the best Spam, a type of cheap canned meat made mainly from pork.
3. Bessieres Easter Egg Festival
At Easter time, for those in the French town of Bessieres it’s all about an egg far less sweet.
Here they celebrate the holiday by getting dozens of chefs to make one large omelette (煎蛋卷) — 15,000 eggs strong — for the townsfolk (市民).
4. Potato Days Festival
This festival actually takes place in Barnesville, Minnesota, the US. Over the last Friday and Saturday in August the town celebrates its potato-growing skills by hosting potato picking and peeling contests, as well as a Miss Tater Tot pageant (盛典) for five- and six-year-old girls.
1. What makes Bibimbap festival special?| A．They take four days to celebrate it. |
| B．The mixed rice is rich in many vegetables. |
| C．There’s music, entertainment and magic during the festival. |
| D．The rice dish needs to be mixed in one big bowl by dozens of chefs together. |
| A．The spam is the most favorite for Hawii people. |
| B．People spend one day to prepare the Jam. |
| C．The Jam isn’t affordable for the plain townsfolk. |
| D．The Jam is mainly made from raw beef. |
| A．Bibimbap Festival | B．Waikiki Spam Jam |
| C．Bessieres Easter Egg Festival | D．Potato Days Festival |
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Choose from 80 unique ideas to create an extraordinary living space. The projects are practical， as well as attractive， and will improve your home and yard and can be made in a weekend. These 80 well-designed projects are presented in a clear， easy-to follow style that addresses readers in an accessible， user-friendly tone.
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Plenty of health complaints can be handled at home. Each and every remedy will be tested by a doctor to make sure it is safe and sound. Dozens of conditions are covered， from headaches， sunburn bad breath and blisters(起泡；起疮) to allergies， and hiccups(打嗝).
1. You can most probably read the passage in a| A．travel guide | B．medicine booklet |
| C．textbook | D．newspaper |
| A．$10.20. | B．$6.46. |
| C．$13.96. | D．$19.80. |
| A．Off the Beaten path. |
| B．Container gardens by Number. |
| C．1801 Home remedies. |
| D．Best Weekend Projects. |
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1. This material is taken from a website of film _______ .
| A．review | B．introduction | C．rating | D．downloading |
| A．how good the movie is according to the viewers. |
| B．how mainstream media think of the movie |
| C．what critics have written about the movie |
| D．what credits newspaper offices have given |
| A．Almost half of the reviews on Life in a Day are very negative. |
| B．In terms of positive reviews, user group has a lower percentage than critic group. |
| C．If you click SEE ALL 18 REVIEWS, you will be sure to find a score less than 58. |
| D．Life in a Day belongs to the category of realism in this website. |
| A．minorities, who suffer racial discrimination |
| B．the lower class, for which I feel quite sorry |
| C．the upper class, of which I am very jealous |
| D．ordinary people, from whom I can learn a lot |
Glynis Davis:
I first piled on the pounds when I was in the family way and I couldn’t lose them afterwards. Then I joined a slimming club. My target was 140 pounds and I lost 30 pounds in six months. I felt great and people kept saying how good I looked. But Christmas came and I started to slip back into my old eating habits. I told myself I’d lose the weight at slimming classes in the new year…but it didn’t happen. Instead of losing the pounds, I put them on. I’d lost willpower and tried to believe that the old bag of fish and chips didn’t make any difference but the scales don’t lie.
Roz Jumab:
To be honest, I never weigh myself any more. I’ve learnt to be happy with myself. It seemed to me that I would feel sorry about every spoonful of tasty food that passed my lips. My idea is simple. You shouldn’t be too much thinking about food and dieting. Instead, you should get on with life and stop dreaming of a super thin body. This is obviously the size I’m meant to be and, most of all, I’m happy with it.
Lesley Codwin:
I was very happy at winning Young Slimmer of the year. I’d look into the mirror unable to believe this slim lady was me! That might have been my problem—perhaps from then on I didn’t pay any attention to myself. Winning a national competition makes everything worse, though, because you feel the eyes of the world are fixed upon you. I feel a complete failure because I’ve put on weight again.
Ros Landfod:
Before moving in with my husband Gavin, I’d always been about 110 pounds, but the pleasant housework went straight to my waist and I put on 15 pounds in a year. Every so often I try to go on a diet…I’m really good on a few days, then end up having the children’s leftovers or eating happily chocolate—my weakness. I’d like to be slim, but right now my duty is the children and home. I might take more exercise when my kids are older.
1. What do you think the four women were all talking about?| A．Their own slimming matter. | B．Their life after marriage. |
| C．Their work as a housewife. | D．Different diets they prefer. |
| A．Talks on the air. | B．Advertisements on the wall. |
| C．Book in a library. | D．Magazines for housewives. |
| A．The coach in the slimming club. | B．Some tool to measure weight. |
| C．Glynis Davis’ dear husband. | D．The salesperson in a food shop. |
| A．Losing weight is a painful process which is unbearable. |
| B．Being thin can also be harmful. |
| C．It is necessary to force ourselves to lose weight. |
| D．We should learn to live comfortably with the way we look. |
1．Glynis Davis 2．Roz Jumab 3．Lesley Codwinc 4．Ros Langfodd
a．I put on weight soon after I got married. b．Fame doesn’t necessarily mean success.
c．Facts speak much louder than words. d．I like myself as I am, and to be what you are.
| A．1- a; 2 – d; 3 – b; 4 – c | B．1 – c; 2 – b; 3 – d; 4 – a |
| C．1 - c; 2 – d; 3 – b; 4 – a | D．1 – a; 2 – b; 3 – c; 4 –d |
【推荐3】How to visit Argentina
What can holidaymakers do in Argentina? Express. co. uk might help you to find more.
When is the best time of the year to visit Argentina?
As with most holiday destinations, when you want to visit depends on what you wish to do during your trip.
If you want to avoid crowds and peak price(人群和高峰价) while still enjoying everything on offer, Lloyd Boutcher advises visiting from October to mid-December(Argentinian spring) and April to mid-June(their autumn).
If you want to see the Patagonia penguins(企鹅), Tom Bourlet advises going between October and March.
If you like to party, Tom Hughes recommends heading to Argentina during carnival(狂欢节) time in February.
Where are the best places to visit in Argentina and why?
Thanks to Argentina’s size, the country has something to offer everyone.
“Buenos Aires is a melting pot of cultures,” said Tom Hughes. “Here travellers will discover a wealth of culture, not to mention it is the birthplace of a fast dance, tango. Nature lovers should head to the world’s largest waterfall system, Iguazu Fail.”
“I highly recommend San Carlos de Bariloche—a beautiful and fantastic town in the Andes mountains,” Tom Bourlet said. “It also acts as a good base for exploring the Lake District.”
What is the best accommodation in Argentina?
Lloyd advises avoiding some of the chain hotels. “While it may be attractive to stay at well-known hotels, I recommend some of the smaller boutique hotels in the city,” he said.
1. Which of the following will be the best time of the year to visit Argentina for an animal lover?| A．June | B．April |
| C．December | D．September |
| A．Discover diverse culture. |
| B．Explore the Lake District. |
| C．Get to know the origin of tango. |
| D．Appreciate the world’s largest waterfall system. |
| A．Science | B．Travelling |
| C．Education | D．Nature |
