20．Expressions about water are almost as common as water itself．But many of the expressions using water have unpleasant meanings．
The expression"to be in hot water"is one of them．"Hot water，was used 500 years ago to mean being in trouble．One story says it got that meaning from the custom of throwing extremely hot water down on enemies attacking a castle．
That no longer happens．But we still get in"hot water"．When we are in"hot water"，we are in trouble．It can be any kind of trouble-serious or not so serious．A person who breaks a law can be in hot water with the police．A young boy can be in hot water with his mother if he walks in the house with dirty shoes．
Being in"deep water"is almost the same as being in hot water．When you are in deep water you are in a ditticult position Imagine a person who cannot swim being thrown in water over his head．You are in deep water when you are facing a problem that you do not have the ability to solve．You can be in deep water，for example，if you invest in stocks without knowing anything about the stock market．
"To keep your head above water"is a colorful expression that means staying out of debt．A company seeks to keep its head above water during economic hard times．A man who loses his job tries to keep his head above water until he finds a new job．
"Water over the dam"is another expression about a past event．It is something that is finished．It cannot be changed．The expression comes from the idea that water that has flowed over a dam cannot be brought back again．
"Throwing cold water"also is an expression that deals with ideas or proposals．It means that one doesn't like an idea．For example，you want to buy a new car because the old one has some problems．But your wife throws cold water on the idea because she says a new car costs too much．
56．The expression"hot water"A．
A．has a long history
B．is not used nowadays
C．means arguing with others
D．only means serious trouble
57．Which of the following expressions have the similar meaning？B
A．"Throwing cold water"and"deep water"
B．"Hot water''and"deep water"
C．‘‘Deep water''and‘‘water over the dam''
D．"Hot water''and"water over the dam"
58．If you signed an agreement with Tom yesterday and want to change it now，Tom may retuse and sayC．
A．You should keep your head above water
B．You can't throw cold water
C．It is water over the dam
D．Don't be in deep water
59．Tom borrowed a lot of money，so he has toAto keep his head above water．
A．find a well-paid job
B．break the law
C．swim to the shore
D．invest in stocks blindly
60．What would be the best title for the passage？B
A．An important word in English
B．Expressions about water
C．Several common expressions
D．Water and everyday English．
分析 本文主要讲述了几个与water有关的习语，如hot water，deep water等．
解答 答案：56．A 细节理解题．文章第二段说Hot water，was used 500 years ago to mean being in trouble短语hot water五百年前就被用来指麻烦事，陷入困境．故选A．
57．B 细节理解题．文章第四段说Being in"deep water"is almost the same as being in hot water短语deep water和hot water是意思相同．故选B．
58．C 细节理解题．文章第六段说It is something that is finished．It cannot be changed短语water over the dam的意思是不可改变的事实．故选C．
59．A 细节推断题．文章第五段说A man who loses his job tries to keep his head above water until he finds a new job一个失去工作的人要想摆脱债务就必须找工作．故选A．
60．B 主旨大意题．文章讲述的是与water有关的短语．故选B．
点评 阅读理解是考查语篇理解能力．常考的题型有：推理判断题；主旨大意题；细节理解题；猜测词意题．近几年又出现了两种新的考查方式：写作态度判断题和文章结构题．解题时，在读懂文章的基础上，还有特别注意掌握题型的特征，尤其是细节题和推断题不可混淆：细节题是文章信息的再现；推断题是文章信息的提取．本题是广告类文章，考查主要是以细节题为主，细节题要注意常用的出题陷阱有：夸大，缩小，张冠李戴，偷梁换柱，无中生有等，做题时要看清看准．
