6．Every language has its own special words and expressions．And a story can be told about each of them．"Hot"is a simple，easily-understood word．So are most of the expressions made with the word"hot"．But not always，as we shall see．
Take the phrase"hot potato"for example．The potato is a popular vegetable in the United States．Many people like baked potatoes，cooked in an oven or fire．Imagine trying to carry a hot，baked potato in your hand．It would be difficult，even painful，to do so．One such hot potato is taxes．Calling for higher taxes can mean defeat for a politician．And yet，if taxes are not raised，some very popular government programs could be cut，which can also make a politician very unpopular．
Another expression is"not so hot"．If you ask someone how she feels，she may answer："Not so hot．"What she means is that she does not feel well．"Not so hot"is also a way of saying that you do not really like something．
"A hot shot"is a person，often a young person，who thinks he can do anything．At least he wants to try．He is very sure he can succeed．But often he fails．The expression came from the army．A hot shot was a soldier who fired without aiming carefully．
A person who becomes angry easily is called"a hothead"．An angry person's neck often becomes red．We say he is"hot under the collar"．You could say that your friend is no hothead．But he got hot under the collar when someone took his radio．
The hot line was a direct communication link between the leaders of the Soviet Union and the United States．The hot line had an important purpose：to prevent accidental war between the two competitors during the period known as the Cold War．The American president and the Soviet leader were able to communicate directly and immediately on the hot line．
32．If you describe something as a hot potato，itC．
A．is very popular
B．has a high temperature
C．is very difficult to deal with
D．can't be held in your hand
33．According to the text，which of the following statements is NOT true？A
A．All of the expressions made with the word hot are simple，easily-understood．
B．Taxes can be a hot potato for a politician if not handled carefully．
C．The expression"a hot shot"was born in the army．
D．If you say that the new play you saw last night is not so hot，you do not consider it a success．
34．"Hot"is a word that is often used to talk about anger，which two phrases are associated with this meaning？C
A．a hot shot，a hot potato
B．a hothead，a hot shot
C．hot under the collar，a hothead
D．a hot potato，hot under the collar
35．The purpose of the first hot line wasB．
A．to stop the Cold War
B．to prevent accidental war between the two superpowers
C．to promote the cooperation between the Soviet Union and the United States
D．to make direct telephone links for the people in Moscow and Washington．
分析 本文主要讲述了"hot potato"这一固定表述的不同的含义，在不同的场合和地点有着不同的特定意义．
解答 32．C 细节理解题．根据文章第一段．Many people like baked potatoes，cooked in an oven or fire．Imagine trying to carry a hot，baked potato in your hand．It would be difficult，even painful，to do so． potato是很受欢迎的，而且人们喜欢用火烤，但是拿着烫手的土豆就是一件难事了，由此可知，hot potato代表的含义是困难的，故C为正确选项．
33．A 细节理解题．根据One such hot potato is taxes．Calling for higher taxes can mean defeat for a politician．And yet，if taxes are not raised，some very popular government programs could be cut，which can also make a politician very unpopular．说明B正确，The expression came from the army．A hot shot was a soldier who fired without aiming carefully．C为正确选项，．"Not so hot"is also a way of saying that you do not really like something．由该句可知，not so hot用来说明某事物不好．文章提到了hot 有关的很多用法，意义很多，因此是复杂的，并非简单，故A的描述出错．
34．C 细节理解题．由该句An angry person's neck often becomes red．We say he is"hot under the collar"．You could say that your friend is no hothead可知，答案为C．
35．B 细节理解题．根据文章最后一段The hot line had an important purpose：to prevent accidental war between the two competitors during the period known as the Cold War．可知，The hot line 的存在是为了阻止二国的战争，故B为正确选项．
点评 本文是社会文化类阅读理解．做这类题材阅读理解时要求考生对文章通读一遍，做题时结合原文和题目有针对性的找出相关语句进行仔细分析，结合选项选出正确答案．推理判断题也是要在抓住关键句子的基础上合理的分析才能得出正确答案，切忌胡乱猜测，一定要做到有理有据．
