Cats are the most popular pets among Americans. So it is not surprising that there are a lot of expressions about cats. Some cats like to catch small birds, like canaries (金丝雀). If someone looks very proud and satisfied with himself, we say “he looks like the cat that ate the canary.”
Sometimes, a cat likes to play with a small animal it catches. So if you “play cat and mouse” with someone, it means that you change between different kinds of behavior when dealing with another person. For example, a girl might offer something sweet to her little brother and then take it away when he reaches for it.
Americans might say that something is “the cat’s miaow” or “the cat’s pajamas(睡衣)” to describe something that is the best or finest. “A copycat” is someone who acts just like someone else or copies another person’s work. “A fat cat” is a person with a lot of money.
If you tell about something that is supposed to be a secret, we say you “let the cat out of the bag”. If you are not able to speak or answer a question, someone might ask you if “the cat has got your tongue(舌头)”
Have you ever watched children in a classroom when their teacher leaves for a few minutes? “When the cat’s away, the mice will play” means people sometimes act badly when there is no supervision (监管).
You may have heard the expression “curiosity killed the cat”. This means caring too much about things that are not your business might cause problems.
If you have ever had cats as pets, you know it is difficult to train them or to get them to do something. Cats are not like Sheep or cows that can be moved in a group. So we say a difficult or impossible job is like “herding (放牧) cats “

1. 1.

   What can we learn from the passage?

   1. A.
      The expression “a fat cat” is used to describe someone who is very fat
   2. B.
      The expression “play cat and mouse” usually means “play tricks on others”
   3. C.
      It is more difficult to keep sheep or cows than cats
   4. D.
      There are more expressions about cats than those about dogs
2. 2.

   In which of the following situations do we most probably use the expression “curiosity killed the cat”?

   1. A.
      Someone always asked a lady her age or weight and it made her angry
   2. B.
      Someone promised to keep a secret but he failed to do so
   3. C.
      Someone won the first prize in an English singing competition and he felt very excited
   4. D.
      Someone tried to swim across the Yangtze River with his newly broken legs
3. 3.

   Where can you most probably find the passage?

   1. A.
      In a scientific research paper about cats
   2. B.
      On a website telling people how to keep cats
   3. C.
      In a magazine telling various jokes and funny stories
   4. D.
      In a language book that teaches students how to use American slang

One of the most remarkable things about the human mind is our ability to imagine the future. In our minds we can see what has not yet happened. For example, while we are looking forward to 1._____a new place or country, we 2._____what it will be like. We predict( 预料) the habit people will eat, dress and act. Of course, we do not always predict things 3._____. Things are often very different from the way we 4._____them to be.

One of the 5._____ dreams in history is the dream of the German scientist, Kekule, who had been 6._____ to work out a very difficult problem in physics. He had studied and analyzed(分析) the problem from every angle(角度) for days, but there 7._____ to be no way of 8._____ out the answer. Then one night he went to bed and dreamed. When he 9._____ up, he realized that he knew the answer. He had solved the problem in his 10._____.

The hypnotist(催眠者) sat in the chair opposite him and spoke 11._____: I want you to concentrate on my voice. Think about 12._____. You know nothing but my voice. And as you pay attention to my voice, your 13._____ will get heavier. Soon you’ll be asleep.

You will hear my voice and understand my words, but your body will be asleep, your eyes are too heavy. You are almost asleep, and when you wake up you will 14._____ nothing.

You will forget everything. Now I am going to 15._____ slowly from one to five. One, two, three, four, five.

1.                A．visiting         B．seeking         C．reaching  D．discovering

2.                A．imagine        B．know           C．feel  D．guess

3.                A．quickly         B．simply          C．correctly  D．neatly

4.                A．required        B．wished         C．left  D．expected

5.                A．funny          B．dull            C．famous   D．silly

6.                A．managing       B．trying          C．thinking  D．hoping

7.                A．used           B．ought          C．seemed  D．had

8.                A．making         B．finding         C．turning   D．letting

9.                A．gave           B．sat             C．woke D．got

10.               A．dream         B．lesson          C．research  D．exercise

11.               A．softly          B．loudly          C．slowly D．firmly

12.               A．everything      B．something      C．nothing   D．anything

13.               A．eyes           B．feet           C．head D．body

14.               A．accept         B．remember      C．hear  D．receive

15.               A．count          B．say            C．add  D．speak