在日常会话中,我们常会用到一些习语.所谓习语,是指英语中的短语、成语,也包括谚语和熟语等.这些习语所包含的单词看上去都不难,但是却不能根据构成习语的各个单词的意思去猜测整个习语的意思.例如,习语pull one's leg是"取笑某人",而不是"拉某人的腿";pick up one's socks 是"鼓起勇气",而不是"提起袜子".

　　四级听力对话的题材取自日常生活,里面常含有某些习语,如果不了解习语的意义,就难于理解对话的内容.这就是习语题的难点所在.有些习语类的试题就是测试考生对某些习语的理解.如果考生能理解其中的某个习语,问题便迎刃而解了.

　　例1:

　　A) She eats too much when she plays chess.

　　B) She won't join the chess club.

　　C) Chess is her favorite game.

　　D) She doesn't enjoy chess as much as she used to.

　　M: Are you going to join the chess club this year?

　　W: Chess eats up too much of my time.

　　Q: What can be inferred from the woman?

　　【解析】答案为B).本题关键要理解eat up这一动词短语.eat up是"耗尽"的意思.了解了这一点,便可知女士的意思是"下棋耗掉了我太多的时间".由此可以断定:她将不参加象棋俱乐部.

　　例2:

　　A) Now Ellen can fly a plane.

　　B) Ellen hates mathematics.

　　C) Ellen had a narrow pass.

　　D) Ellen had a good score on her test.

　　M:How did Ellen do on her math test?

　　W:She passed it with flying colors.

　　Q:What is the woman saying about Ellen?

　　【解析】答案为D).解题关键在于理解"with flying colors".该短语在此意为"成功地",故pass it with flying colors意为succeed in passing it.所以D)是答案.

　　习语类试题在四级考试中并不鲜见,有的习语的真正意义与字面意义差异很大,切不可望文生义.平时多积累才是最根本的办法.下面这些是需要记忆的最常见的习语:

　　as good as gold (小孩)很乖

　　at the top of the ladder / tree 名列前茅

　　beat around / about the bush 旁敲侧击

　　close / shut one's eye to 无视;对……置之不理

　　come off with flying colours 凯旋;大功告成

　　do sb. a favour 帮(某人)一个忙

　　to be done in by sb. 上某人当;受某人欺骗

　　dying for 渴望;非常想

　　fish in troubled water混水摸鱼;趁火打劫

　　get into hot water 陷入困境

　　have the game in one's hand 稳操胜券

　　let the cat out of the bag泄露秘密

　　lose one's heart to爱上了;非常喜欢

　　move heaven and earth竭尽全力;全力以赴

　　out of the question 完全不可能的

　　ring a bell 使想起(某事);听起来觉得耳熟

　　take a short-cut 走捷径

　　wash one's hands不管;不过问

　　what's what具体情况;真相

　　with open arms热烈地、亲切地(表示欢迎)

　　例3:

　　A) He falls in love with her.

　　B) He feels sick when he sees her.

　　C) That girl hurts him very much.

　　D) He has no confidence in loving her.

　　W:What do you think of that girl?

　　M:Oh, I almost lost my heart to her.

　　Q:What does the man mean?

　　【解析】答案为A).解题关键在于理解"lose one's heart to sb."的意义.这个习语不是"失去信心",而是"爱慕(喜欢)某人".所以A)是正确答案.

　　习语类题目的命题特点是,在第一人讲话之后,第二人用一个带有习语的句子对其加以回答或做出反应.而问题又往往是针对第二人的话语提出的.常见的习语类试题的提问形式有:

　　What does the woman / man mean?

　　What does the woman / man imply (about)?

　　What does the woman / man say (about...)?

　　What does the woman / man feel?

　　What are they talking about?

　　例4:

　　A) Roger should get some rest.

　　B) Roger should come to the meeting anyway.

　　C) The man should cancel the meeting if Roger can't attend.

　　D) Someone should replace Roger.

　　W:Roger was fevered yesterday. I'm not sure if he is up to attending today's meeting.

　　M:Then can someone fill in for him?

　　Q:What does the man mean?

　　【解析】答案为D).本题含有两个短语:be up to(胜任,适于)和fill in for (临时替代).了解这两个短语的意思,就理解男士的意思了:应该由某人替代他.所以D)是正确答案.

　　例5:

　　A) Go out to work.

　　B) Listen carefully to John.

　　C) Be calm and patient.

　　D) Do the easiest thing.

　　W:I'm really angry with John. He never listens to me.

　　M:Take it easy, Ellen. Things will work out.

　　Q:What does the man advise Ellen to do?

　　【解析】答案为C). 解题关键在于理解take it easy和work out两个习语的意义.take it easy意为"不慌不忙,别紧张,放松";work out意为"产生结果";Things will work out.的意思是"事情总会有结果的".故C)是答案.

　　(文/李树德　英语辅导报大学一年级版03~04学年第35期;版权归英语辅导报社所有，独家网络合作伙伴新浪教育，未经许可，不得以任何形式进行转载。)