There are many American expressions about insects--- like bees, for example. Bees are known as very hard workers. They appear to be busy, moving around their homes, or hives (蜂窝). So you might say you were as busy as a bee if you spent your weekend cleaning your house. In fact, you might say your house was a beehive of activity if your whole family was helping you clean. You also might say you made a beeline for something if you went there right away. When we go to see a movie, my friend always makes a beeline for the place where they sell popcorn (爆米花) .
Here is an expression about bees that is not used much any more, but we like it anyway. We think it was first used in the 1920s. If something was the best of its kind, you might say it was the bee’s knees. Now, we admit that we do not know how this expression developed. In fact, we do not even know if bees have knees!
If your friend cannot stop talking about something because she thinks it is important, you might say she has a bee in her bonnet (女帽). If someone asks you a personal question, you might say “that is none of your beeswax”. This means none of your business.
Speaking of personal questions, there is an expression when their children ask, “Where do babies come from?” Parents who discuss sex and reproduction (生殖) say this is talking about the birds and bees.
Butterflies are beautiful insects, but you would not want to have butterflies in your stomach. That means to be nervous about having to do something, like speaking in front of a crowd. You would also not want to have ants in your trousers. That is, to be unable to sit still.
1. If you make a beeline for something, you ______ .
A. are as busy as a bee B. go quickly and directly towards it
C. always go to the same place D. buy something at a certain place
2. The underlined expression “ it is the bee’s knees” _______ .
A. is not used at all now B. was first used in the 1820s
C. reminds us that bees have knees D. means “it is very good”
3. If you ask your American friend Jack “How old is your wife?” he may say “______.”
A. It is none of your beeswax B. You have a bee in your bonnet
C. It is the bee’s knees D. You are talking about the birds and bees
4. When you have butterflies in your stomach, you ______ .
A. are too sick to sit still B. have ants in your trousers
C. are nervous about something D. have a stomachache
5. The passage mainly tells us _______.
A. some interesting and useful insects B. some expressions about insects
C. the way of learning expressions D. some newly-invented expressions
