解题技巧 :
谈到习语, 没有太多的捷径, 只有熟练掌握常用美国习语，正确理解其惯用语境合场合才能事半功倍.千万不要从词语的字面意思来揣摩词义，事实上，习语往往与该词的字面意思相差千里;再解答该类题型时，可以遵循这样一种逻辑：见到什么，不选什么。例如， 再课堂演讲结束之前，教授通常会总结一下所论述的观点。教授说：To wrap up… 大家知道，wrap字面上作“包装，包裹”之意，但与up结合，即成了“总结”之意。在答案中遇到“包装，包裹”的字眼，完全可以不予理会。例如:
(一)
Professor: I have chosen to limit this study to the reactions of Whitman’s admirers for the simple reason that the opinions of his detractors have remained static. Early critics, like later ones, violently objected to Whitman’s technique and subject matter. Among them was Henry James, whose criticism was nothing short of bitterness.
Narrator: Listen again to part of the lecture. Then answer the question.
Professor: Among them was Henry James, whose criticism was nothing short of bitterness.
What does the professor mean when he says this?
A: Henry James was one of the critics who had very few comments on Whitman.
B: Henry James was one of the critics who thought Whitman’s works lacked sweetness.
C; Henry James was one of the critics who firmly believed Whitman was good.
D: Henry James was among those who criticized Whitman’s works intensely.
解析 :
Nothing short of 是 “一点儿也不少,非常” 之意.
答案A,B将该习语强行分割开, 如将nothing 对应few, 将short of 对应lack. 因此A,B 予以排除.
答案C正好将词义本末倒置,也予以排除. 答案为D.
因此正确答案为D.
(二)
What does big shot refer to?
A：Do you know Mr. Smith?
B：No, but I know of him. He’s a big shot in the local politics.
A：I’m told he’s only a yes-man.
B：Yes, I hate that. At present, what we want is a strong, independent leader, not a bunch of yes-man.
解析 :
1. 通过上下文所谈论的可以知道是在谈关于领导人的话题, 材料大意:
甲：你认识史密斯先生吗?
乙：不认识，但我知道这人，他在本地政界是个举足轻重的人物 。
甲：我听说他是个和事佬。
乙：没错儿，我就恨这个。现在，我们要的是强有力的、有主见的领导人，可不是和事佬儿。
2. 从上下文的推断中,可以了解到big short 是指地位高有实力的这么一个人, 可以理解为”要人” 因此可以得到问题的答案了.
总之在做习语题的时候一定要多多积累,根据材料的上下文去推断.不要解释习语的字面意思, 脱离语境，制造混乱, 不准确或不完整的解释。切记切记!
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