This is a list of the origins of some slang words or phrases that we all use regularly．These words are common in almost all English speaking nations．

Cool

    Who hasn't used this word at least once in their life when speaking highly of something? This meaning of the word is relatively new in English，but not as new as you might think．The earliest record found so far is from 1884 in the phrase“Dat’s  cool!”

Kick the Bucket

   This means“to die”．Many people consider the term to have come from a guilty man standing on an upturned bucket which was then kicked out from under his feet leaving him to hang，but there is no written evidence that this is the case．In fact，it is more likely from a different type of bucket entirely．In butchery(肉食店)，when a pig was killed it would be hung from a pole．It is mostly likely that in his death throes(垂死挣扎)，the pig’s  feet would bang against the rail(横杆)to which they were tied．Therefore，kicking the bucket was a term referring to the last actions of the pig before he finally died．

Bob’s  Your Uncle

    Bob’s  your uncle generally means that something is simple or easy or a“job done”．It is most likely that this phrase came about as a result of nepotism(裙带关系)．In the late 1800s， Lord Salisbury(first name Robert)was prime-minister of Great Britain．After his third term he was succeeded by his nephew Arthur．Arthur had been made Chief Secretary of Ireland in 1886． Suspicions arose that Robert was favoring his nephew Arthur．The term“Bob’s  your uncle”could be used at the time as a reference to this charge of nepotism．

36．What does the passage mainly talk about?

    A．The most commonly used slang words in the world．

    B．The origins of some most．commonly used slang words or phrases．

    C．The origins of English words and phrases．

    D．Common words and phrases in English speaking countries．

37．If you want to praise something，the slang words or phrase you may use is“      “．

    A．Cool                                                          B．Kick the Bucket

    C．To Die                                                      D．Bob’s  Your Uncle

38．From the passage we can infer that the slang phrase“Kick the Bucket”――．

    A．is the oldest in meaning among all the English slang words or phrases

    B．has the same meaning as“Kick the Ball”

    C．will be never used in the future

    D．has something to do with pigs

39．The underlined word“succeeded’’in Paragraph 4 means“        “．

    A．taken position of    B．brought up           C．killed                     D．driven away

40．You may read this passage in         ．

    A．a science fiction                                        B．a cook book

    C．an English vocabulary text                          D．an advertisement

The UN Security Council was created in 1945. It is made up of 10 rotating (轮值的) members and five permanent members, which have a veto, the power to stop a resolution (决议). Most UN members now consider the organization's structure outdated． But any changes need the agreement of two-thirds of the 191 members, and no veto from any of the five permanent council members.

Last year, Japan, Germany, Brazil and India formed a lobbying (游说) group to get permanent council seats. But North and South Korea have doubts about Japan, Italy opposes Germany for a seat, Pakistan is against India's candidacy (候选资格) and Mexico and Argentina frown on Brazil.

A wave of emotion swept through China last week as millions voiced their opposition to Japan's permanent membership of the United Nations (UN) Security Council. By last Friday over 22 million Chinese had signed an online petition (请愿) against Japan's bid for a permanent seat on the council.

According to major Chinese websites, such as sina.com, more than 170,000 overseas Chinese also signed． This is the first online activity of its kind．

The petition was started by US-based Alliance for Preserving the Truth of the Sino-Japanese War (抗日战争史实维护会). They want Japan to apologize for crimes during World War II. The group also plans to present the petition to the UN this autumn.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said he didn't think the petition shows anti-Japanese feeling. He believed instead it is a request for Japan to take a responsible attitude towards history.

What’s the main idea of the first paragraph?

       A．Function of the UN in world affairs.     B．Members of the UN.

       C．Facts about the UN Security Council.   D．Reform of the UN Security Council.

Which statement is true according to the text?

A．Four countries, such as Japan, Germany, Brazil and India are applying for joining the UN.

B．Some countries, such as North and South Korea, Italy, Pakistan, Mexico and Argentina propose ticking the four countries out of the UN.

C．If the countries’ bids for permanent membership of the Council are turned down, the

opponent countries will take the place.

D．The UN Security Council is going to take in new members.

The underlined phrase “frown on” in the third paragraph can be replaced by _____.

       A．agree on                B．disapprove of  

       C．give a firm support to          D．say yes to

What’s the main reason for China’s opposition to Japan’s permanent membership of the Council?

       A．Japan is unwilling to admit to its crimes against the Chinese in the World War II.

       B．Millions of people in Asia signed a petition against it.

       C．The Chinese people have strong anti-Japanese feeling.

       D．Japan is an irresponsible country that once had a history of invasion.

The UN Security Council was created in 1945. It is made up of 10 rotating (轮值的) members and five permanent members, which have a veto, the power to stop a resolution (决议). Most UN members now consider the organization's structure outdated． But any changes need the agreement of two-thirds of the 191 members, and no veto from any of the five permanent council members.

Last year, Japan, Germany, Brazil and India formed a lobbying (游说) group to get permanent council seats. But North and South Korea have doubts about Japan, Italy opposes Germany for a seat, Pakistan is against India's candidacy (候选资格) and Mexico and Argentina frown on Brazil.

A wave of emotion swept through China last week as millions voiced their opposition to Japan's permanent membership of the United Nations (UN) Security Council. By last Friday over 22 million Chinese had signed an online petition (请愿) against Japan's bid for a permanent seat on the council.

According to major Chinese websites, such as sina.com, more than 170,000 overseas Chinese also signed． This is the first online activity of its kind．

The petition was started by US-based Alliance for Preserving the Truth of the Sino-Japanese War (抗日战争史实维护会). They want Japan to apologize for crimes during World War II. The group also plans to present the petition to the UN this autumn.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said he didn't think the petition shows anti-Japanese feeling. He believed instead it is a request for Japan to take a responsible attitude towards history.

What’s the main idea of the first paragraph?

       A．Function of the UN in world affairs.     B．Members of the UN.

       C．Facts about the UN Security Council.    D．Reform of the UN Security Council.

Which statement is true according to the text?

       A．Four countries, such as Japan, Germany, Brazil and India are applying for joining the UN.

       B．Some countries, such as North and South Korea, Italy, Pakistan, Mexico and Argentina

propose ticking the four countries out of the UN.

       C．If the countries’ bids for permanent membership of the Council are turned down, the

opponent countries will take the place.

       D．The UN Security Council is going to take in new members.

The underlined phrase “frown on” in the third paragraph can be replaced by _____.

       A．agree on         B．disapprove of  

       C．give a firm support to          D．say yes to

What’s the main reason for China’s opposition to Japan’s permanent membership of the

Council?

       A．Japan is unwilling to admit to its crimes against the Chinese in the World War II.

       B．Millions of people in Asia signed a petition against it.

       C．The Chinese people have strong anti-Japanese feeling.

       D．Japan is an irresponsible country that once had a history of invasion.

The UN Security Council was created in 1945. It is made up of 10 rotating (轮值的) members and five permanent members, which have a veto, the power to stop a resolution (决议). Most UN members now consider the organization's structure outdated. But any changes need the agreement of two-thirds of the 191 members, and no veto from any of the five permanent council members.
Last year, Japan, Germany, Brazil and India formed a lobbying (游说) group to get permanent council seats. But North and South Korea have doubts about Japan, Italy opposes Germany for a seat, Pakistan is against India's candidacy (候选资格) and Mexico and Argentina frown on Brazil.
A wave of emotion swept through China last week as millions voiced their opposition to Japan's permanent membership of the United Nations (UN) Security Council. By last Friday over 22 million Chinese had signed an online petition (请愿) against Japan's bid for a permanent seat on the council.
According to major Chinese websites, such as sina.com, more than 170,000 overseas Chinese also signed. This is the first online activity of its kind.
The petition was started by US-based Alliance for Preserving the Truth of the Sino-Japanese War (抗日战争史实维护会). They want Japan to apologize for crimes during World War II. The group also plans to present the petition to the UN this autumn.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said he didn't think the petition shows anti-Japanese feeling. He believed instead it is a request for Japan to take a responsible attitude towards history.

1. 1.

   What’s the main idea of the first paragraph?

   1. A.
      Function of the UN in world affairs.
   2. B.
      Members of the UN.
   3. C.
      Facts about the UN Security Council.
   4. D.
      Reform of the UN Security Council.
2. 2.

   Which statement is true according to the text?

   1. A.
      Four countries, such as Japan, Germany, Brazil and India are applying for joining the UN.
   2. B.
      Some countries, such as North and South Korea, Italy, Pakistan, Mexico and Argentina
      propose ticking the four countries out of the UN.
   3. C.
      If the countries’ bids for permanent membership of the Council are turned down, the
      opponent countries will take the place.
   4. D.
      The UN Security Council is going to take in new members.
3. 3.

   The underlined phrase “frown on” in the third paragraph can be replaced by _____.

   1. A.
      agree on
   2. B.
      disapprove of
   3. C.
      give a firm support to
   4. D.
      say yes to
4. 4.

   What’s the main reason for China’s opposition to Japan’s permanent membership of the
   Council?

   1. A.
      Japan is unwilling to admit to its crimes against the Chinese in the World War II.
   2. B.
      Millions of people in Asia signed a petition against it.
   3. C.
      The Chinese people have strong anti-Japanese feeling.
   4. D.
      Japan is an irresponsible country that once had a history of invasion.