Expressions about water are almost as common as water itself. But many of the ex

Expressions about water are almost as common as wateritself. But many of the expressions using water have unpleasant meanings.

The expression “to be in hot water" is one ofthem. It is a very old expression. “Hot water” was used 500 years ago to meanbeing in trouble. One story says it got that meaning from the custom ofthrowing extremely hot water down on enemies attacking a castle.

That no longer happens. But we still get in “hotwater”．When we are in “hot water”, we are introuble. It can be any kind of trouble—serious or not so serious. A person whobreaks 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 being inhot water. When you are in deep water, you are in a difficult position. Imaginea person who cannot swim being thrown in water over his head.

You are in deep water when you are facing a problemthat you do not have the ability to solve. The problem is too deep. You can bein deep water, for example, if you invest in stocks without knowing anythingabout the stock market.

“To keep your head above water” is a colorfulexpression that means staying out of debt. A company seeks to keep its headabove water during economic hard times. A man who loses his job tries to keephis head above water until he finds a new job.

“Water over the dam” is another expression about apast event. It is something that is finished. It cannot be changed. Theexpression comes from the idea that water that has flowed over a dam cannot bebrought back again.

1.Which of the following two expressions have almost thesame meaning?

A．To be in hotwater；To be in deep water.

B．To be in hotwater；To keep your head above water.

C．To be in deepwater；Water over the dam.

D．Water overthe dam；To be in hot water.

2.If a person tries to keep his head out of water，we can say that       .

A．he is indanger of losing his life

B．he is tryingto pay off his debt

C．he is tryingto keep his promise

D．he is tryingnot to get into debt

3.What can you infer from the passage?

A．“To be in hotwater” can only be used to mention serioustrouble.

B．“Water overthe dam” is an expression about a future event.

C．Water couldbe used in the war in the past.

D．All of theexpressions using water have unpleasant meanings.

4.This passage is written mainly to tell us        .

A．the use ofwater

B．how to usesome expressions about water

C．expressionsabout water and their meanings

D．expressionswith negative meaning

试题答案

【答案】

1.A

2.D

3.C

4.C

【解析】

试题