According to the traditional Chinese lunar calendar, we officially welcome the Year of the Horse better than others.
The horse has played an important role throughout human history all over the world. Horses were used for thousands of years as a means of transportation, a weapon of war and a plougher of fields(犁地农具), but "the horse was more than just a vehicle - it had more character than a car, a tank or a tractor," Clare Balding wrote for The Telegraph.
In the Middle Ages in Western societies, the horse was a symbol of chivalry（骑士神）and nobility(贵族). In fact, the word "chivalry" comes from "cheval" in Old French, which meant horse. The idea of chivalry helped to fashion the 19th-century "gentleman", which was about good manners, courage and honesty to friends.
Nowadays, because of economic(经济) development, people in Western societies are less likely to see or ride horses. People living in cities, in particular, hardly ever experience horses except through movies, paintings or books. But horse racing, and betting .money on horse races, is still popular. The Kentucky Derby is one of the most popular sporting events every year in the US.
In the UK, the royal police still go around the city on horseback and the Queen rides in a traditional horse-drawn carriage on "ceremonial occasions (正式场合)”．
Some sayings about horses are still used in English today. For example, people still say "hold your horses" to mean “slow down". If someone seems too proud, people might tell him or her to "get off his or her high horse". And since horses are strong and energetic, there are expressions such as "as strong as a horse", "workhorse" and "horsing around". .
Interestingly, the horse also appears in many Chinese sayings, such as Qianlima, which means a talented person. Other Chinese horse sayings include Madaochenggong (instant success) and Baimawangzi (prince charming).
Besides their physical strengths, horses are smart and have "excellent memories", according to Discovery News. Maybe that's why Chinese people say, "An old horse never gets lost".
Since the horse is honored as a symbol of many great qualities, people born in the Year of the Horse are said to share them.
小题1:According to Chinese tradition, which year is welcomed best officially?
A．the Year of the Snake
B．the Year of the Tiger
C．the Year of the Mouse
D．the Year of the Horse小题2:According to the passage, which is NOT the role of the horse nowadays?
A．A weapon of war.
B．The royal police's transportation to go around in the UK.
C．Race horses.
D．Animal actors in movies.小题3:If a friend of yours is overconfident, what are you supposed to tell him or her?
A．Hold your horses.
B．Get off your high horse.
C．Be as strong as a horse
D．An old horse never gets lost小题4:According to the passage, which is NOT the reason why people like horses?
A．The horse has played an important role throughout human history all over the world
B．The horse was a symbol of chivalry and nobility in the Middle Ages in Western societies.
C．Besides their physical strengths, horses are smart and have “excellent memories".
D．Horses are only used as a means of transportation like a car, a tank or a tractor.小题5:From the passage we know that .
A．Economy develops a lot, so people in Western societies hardly see or ride horses nowadays.
B．The Kentucky Derby is one of the most popular betting events every year in the US.
C．Qianlima in Chinese means a person who can run one thousand kilometers a day.
D．Since the horse is honored as a symbol of many great qualities, people born in the Year of the Horse are said to be as strong as a horse.
小题1:D
小题2:A
小题3:B
小题4:D
小题5:A
题目分析：这篇短文中给我们介绍的是今年是中国农历的马年，马在人类发展的历史上起着重要的作用，如交通工具、犁地工具、战争武器等。但现在随着社会的发展，马的作用跟以前也不一样了。短文中作者还给我们介绍了汉语和英语中几个跟马有关的短语。
小题1:细节理解题。根据短文第一段的开头According to the traditional Chinese lunar calendar, we officially welcome the Year of the Horse better than others.可知，根据传统的中国农历，我们更喜欢马年。故选D。
小题2:推理判断题。根据短文第二段和第三段的内容可知，马在人类历史上扮演过很多中角色，如交通的工具、战争的武器、犁地的工具等。现在骑马、赌马仍然很受欢迎。故A马作为战争武器这个角色，现在已经不是这样了。故选A。
小题3:细节理解题。根据短文第五段中If someone seems too proud, people might tell him or her to "get off his or her high horse".可知，如果有人太骄傲了，你可以对他说：get off his or her horse。故选B。
小题4:推理判断题。根据短文第二段中the horse was more than just a vehicle - it had more character than a car, a tank or a tractor可知D选项的说法是不对的；根据The horse has played an important role throughout human history all over the world可知A是对的；根据In the Middle Ages in Western societies, the horse was a symbol of chivalry（骑士神）and nobility(贵族)可知B是对的；根据Besides their physical strengths, horses are smart and have "excellent memories"可知C也是对的。
小题5:细节理解题。根据短文第四段中Nowadays, because of economic(经济) development, people in Western societies are less likely to see or ride horses可知，随着经济的发展，现在西方国家的人们可能很少看到马或骑马了。故选A。根据The Kentucky Derby is one of the most popular sporting events every year in the US可知B不对；根据such as Qianlima, which means a talented person可知C不对；根据Since the horse is honored as a symbol of many great qualities, people born in the Year of the Horse are said to share them可知D不对。