首页
登录
职称英语
[originaltext] I would like to talk about interesting words that have someth
[originaltext] I would like to talk about interesting words that have someth
游客
2023-08-04
41
管理
问题
I would like to talk about interesting words that have something to do with money today.
Almost every language in the world has a saying that a person can never be too rich. Americans, like people in other countries, always want more money. One way they express this is by protesting that their jobs do not pay enough. A common expression is, "I am working for chickenfeed." It means working for very little money. The expression probably began because seeds fed to chickens made people think of small change. Small change means metal coins of not much value, like nickels which are worth five cents.
An early use of the word chickenfeed appeared in an American publication in 1930. It told about a rich man and his son. Word expert Mitford Mathews says it read, "I’ll bet neither the kid nor his father ever saw a nickel or a dime. They would not have been interested in such chickenfeed."
Chickenfeed also has another interesting meaning known to history experts and World War Ⅱ spies and soldiers. Spy expert Henry S. A. Becket writes that some German spies working in London during the war also worked for the British. The British government had to make the Germans believe their spies were working. So, British officials gave them mostly false information. It was called chickenfeed.
The same person who protests that he is working for chickenfeed may also say, "I am working for peanuts." She means she is working for a small amount of money. It is a very different meaning from the main one in the dictionary. That meaning is small nuts that grow on a plant. No one knows for sure how a word for something to eat also came to mean something very small. But, a peanut is a very small food.
The expression is an old one. Word expert Mitford Mathews says that as early as 1854, an American publication used the words peanut agitators. That meant political troublemakers who did not have a lot of support.
Another reason for the saying about working for peanuts may be linked to elephants. Think of how elephants are paid for their work in the circus. They receive food, not money. One of the foods they like best is peanuts.
When you add the word gallery to the word peanut you have the name of an area in an American theatre. A gallery is a high seating area or balcony above the main floor. The peanut gallery got its name because it is the part of the theatre most distant from where the show takes place. So, peanut gallery tickets usually cost less than other tickets. People pay a small amount of money for them.
19.What does "a person can never be too rich" mean according to the talk?
20.What’s a person’s purpose of saying "I am working for chickenfeed"?
21.What can we learn about the German spies in World War II, according to the talk?
22.What is the talk mainly about?
选项
A、Some common chicken food in America.
B、The living and working conditions of Americans.
C、The German and British spies in World War Two.
D、Some American expressions related to money.
答案
D
解析
本题考查的是这篇讲话的主旨大意。讲话开头部分明确提到:“我想探讨一些与钱有关的有趣词汇”,继而又提到:“世界上几乎所有语言都有关于钱永远都不嫌多的说法。美国人……他们常用的一句话是……”,由此可知这篇讲话主要介绍了美语中与金钱有关的一些表达,故答案为D。其他三项都不是这篇讲话的主要内容,应排除。
转载请注明原文地址:https://www.tihaiku.com/zcyy/2897812.html
相关试题推荐
[originaltext]InAmericatoday,lotsofpeoplearegettingtattoos—especial
[originaltext]Haveyoueverfoundyourselfinthissituation:Youhearaso
[originaltext]Haveyoueverfoundyourselfinthissituation:Youhearaso
[originaltext][12]Musicwhichisoriginalisindividualandpersonal.That
[originaltext][12]Musicwhichisoriginalisindividualandpersonal.That
[originaltext][9]Americanswhoremember"thegoodolddays"arenotalone
[originaltext][9]Americanswhoremember"thegoodolddays"arenotalone
[originaltext]W:Hi,ProfessorHiggins.M:Hi,Julia.W:[5]Wouldyoubeable
[originaltext]W:Hi,ProfessorHiggins.M:Hi,Julia.W:[5]Wouldyoubeable
[originaltext]W:Hi,ProfessorHiggins.M:Hi,Julia.W:[5]Wouldyoubeable
随机试题
软件质量保证的主要目标不包括______。A.通过预防、检查与改进来保证软件质量
下列哪些不属于肾脏的功能()A.原尿形成 B.水电解质平衡 C.调节血压
建筑业总产值包括( )。A.建筑工程产值 B.被安装设备本身价值 C.生产
患者,女性,67岁,单位体检时发现血压升高,180/110mmHg,血常规示Hb
2,3,7,16,65,()A.146 B.256 C.321 D
某公司从境外进口小轿车30辆,每辆小轿车货价15万元,运抵我国海关前发生的运输费
传导快痛的神经纤维是A.Aα类纤维 B.Aβ类纤维 C.Aδ类纤维
PPP项目需要编制实施方案,作为政府和社会资本合作(PPP)项目的决策依据和实施
变压器的纵联差动保护应符合的规定有()。A.应能躲过励磁涌流; B.应能躲过
胰腺癌与胆总管结石的主要鉴别点是A、进行性黄疸 B、肝功能改变 C、淀粉酶改
最新回复
(
0
)