The American expression "shoo-in" means someone or something that seems sure to win a race or competition.
Before a big football game, supporters of each are certain to argue (争论) about which side will win. Sometimes, however, one team appears so much stronger than the others that everyone agrees it will win. The stronger team is a shoo-in. there is no way that it can lose.
The expression "shoo-in" comes from horse racing. It comes from the word "shoo". That is not the shoe we wear on our feet. It's another word, S-H-O-O. To shoo is an expression hundreds of years old that means to force an animal to move in a desired direction.
Many years ago dishonest riders sometimes agreed secretly to control their horses so that one chosen horse would win the race. All but one of the riders would hold back their horses. The chosen rider would shoo his horse ahead of the others, and win the race. The other riders would secretly bet large amounts of money that the chosen horse would win. The public soon learned about such races. They began to call the winner of such a race a "shoo-in".
These days, people use shoo-into describe any athlete or competitor that seems certain to win, even without cheating. American runner Edwin Moses won more than hundred races before he ran the hurdle race in the nineteen-eighty-four Olympic Games. Everyone said Moses was a shoo-in, and that he could not lose. And they were
right. He won the gold medal.
24. One of the dishonest riders was sure to win the race because ________.
A. the other riders had agreed to fail in the race B. be used to be the best in riding
C. the public had belief in him D. he could not control his horse easily
25. Which of the following statements is Not true?
A. "Shoo-in" came from the word "shoo".
B. The public did not know they were being cheated.
C. Some runners bet a lot of money on the chosen horse.
D. US runner Moses was worthy of a shoo-in.
26. The main idea of the passage is that "shoo-in" ________.
A. is used to admire a person who seems to be sure to win a race
B. is a word used to describe a dishonest person
C. is used for any athlete or competitor that seems too clever to be cheated
D. is used for anyone or anything that is certain to win a game
27. This passage can best be titled_______.
A. Be Sure to Win B. Shoo-in, a Sure Winner
C. Winner in a Competition D. The Birth of Shoo-in
ABDB
A. Profits enlarging B. Technology developing C. Education investing D. Benefits transferring E. Dominance disappearing F. A nation rising |
The following is an imaginary diary entry written by US president. This diary is part of Global Trends 2025, which was written by the US National Intelligence Council
80
The
81
The
82
Global wealth and economic power will shift from West to East.
83
84
The transition from old fuels to new will be slow, as will the development of new technologies that present feasible alternatives to fossil fuels or help eliminate food and water problems. All current technologies are inadequate, and new ones will probably not be commercially possible by 2025