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．

1．If you describe something as a hot potato, it _____．

A．is very popular                            B．has a high temperature

C．is very difficult to deal with                      D．can’t be held in your hand

2．According to the text, which of the following statements is NOT true?

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 military forces．

D．If you say that the new play you saw last night is not so hot, you do not consider it a success．

3．“Hot” is a word that is often used to talk about anger, which two phrases are associated with this meaning?

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

4．The purpose of the first hot line was _____．

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