Expressions about water are almost as common as water itself. The expression to

Expressions about water are almost as commonas water itself.

The expression to be in hot water isa very old expression. Hot water was used five hundred years ago to mean beingin trouble. One story says it got that meaning from the custom of throwingextremely hot water down on enemies attacking a castle.

That no longer happens. But we still get inhot water. When we are in hot water, we are in trouble. It can be any kind of trouble—serious or not so serious. A personwho breaks a law can be in hot water with the police. A young boy can be in hotwater with his mother, if he walks in the house with dirty shoes.

Being in deep water is almost the same as beingin hot water. When you are in deep water, you are in a difficult position.

To keep your head above water is a colorful expression that means stayingout of debt. A company seeks to keep its head above water during economic hardtimes. A man who loses his job tries to keep his head above water until hefinds a new job.

Water over the dam is another expression about a past event. Itis something that is finished. It cannot be changed. The expression comes fromthe idea that water that has flowed over a dam cannot be brought back again.

Another common expression to hold water,is about the strength or weakness of an idea or opinion that you may be arguingabout. It probably comes from a way of testing the condition of a container.;If it can hold water, it is strong and has no holes in it. If your argument canhold water, it is strong and does not have any holes.

Throwing cold water also is an expression that deals with ideasor suggestions. It means to not like an idea. For example, you want to buy anew car because the old one has some problems. But your wife throws cold wateron the idea, because she says a new car costs too much.

1.If Robert says he is in deep water, we mayguess_________.

A.he is swimming under the water

B.he is tired of changing shoes

C.he nearly breaks a law

D.he faces a difficult choice

2.What can you say to your friend Jane, whois troubled by a mistake she has made?

A.Keep your head above water.

B.Throw cold water.

C.It is water over the dam.

D.It can hold water.

3.If your argument doesn’t hold water, thenit is _________.

A.weak          B.convincing           C.logical              D.disappointing

4.The passage explains the origins of thefollowing expressions EXCEPT_________.

A.to be in hot water

B.to keep your head above water

C.water over the dam

D.to hold water

试题答案

【答案】

1.D

2.C

3.A

4.B

【解析】文章讲述了与water有关的一些谚语及其来源。

1.细节题。根据第4段When you are in deep water, you are in adifficult position.可知D正确。

2.推理题。根据第6段It is something that is finished. Itcannot be changed.可知这是一句安慰别人的话。故C正确。

3.细节题。根据文章倒数第2段第1行Another commonexpression to hold water, is about the strength or weakness of anidea or opinion that you may be arguing about。

4.细节题。文章第二段解释了A的起源；倒数第三段解释了C；倒数第二段解释了D。