A
A year ago, I paid no attention to English idioms, though my teacher emphasized the importance ag
ain and again. But soon, the importance of English idioms was shown in an amusing experience.
One day, I happened to meet an Englishman on the road, and soon we began to talk. As I was talking about how I was studying English, the foreigner seemed to be astonished gently shaking his head, shrugging his shoulders, saying, “You don’t say!” “You don’t say!” I was puzzled. I thought, perhaps this is not an appropriate topic. “Well, I’d better change the topic.” So I said to him, “Well, shall we talk about the Great Wall By the way, have you ever been there. “Certainly, everyone back home will laugh at me if I leave China without seeing it. It is magnificent.” He was deep in thought when I began to talk like a tourist guide, “The Great Wall is one of the wonders in the world. We are very proud of it.” Soon I was interrupted again by his order, “You don’t say!” I couldn’t help asking. I said, “Didn’t you say you don’t say” Hearing this, the Englishman laughed to tears. He began to explain, “You don’t say actually means really It is an expression of surprise. Perhaps you don’t pay attention to English idioms.” Only then did I realize I had made a fool of myself. Since then, I have been more careful with idiomatic expressions.
21. A year ago, I paid no attention to English idioms because .
A. English idioms were too difficult to master
B.I did not realize the importance of them
C. My teacher didn’t emphasize the importance
D.I had no interest in English learning
22. When I first heard “You don’t say!”, I thought .
A. the Englishman was not interested in the topic
B. the Englishman was only interested in the Great Wall
C. I had talked too much
D.I had to stop talking at once
23. We can learn from the second paragraph that .
A. the Englishman was leaving China without seei
ng the Great Wall
B. the Englishman wanted to see the Great Wall after I talked about it
C. the Englishman wanted me to act as his guide
D. the Englishman visited the Great Wall and thought it worth visiting
24. After the Englishman explained the idiom,
A. the Englishman made me a fool
B. the Englishman made a fool of himself
C.I felt very silly
D.I felt proud of my understanding
