牛津译林版九年级英语上册Unit2_阅读理解专练（含答案）

Unit2 阅读理解专练

    Have you ever heard someone use the phrase “once in a blue moon”? People use this expression to describe something that they do not do very often. For example, someone might say that he tries to avoid (避免) eating sweets because they are unhealthy，but will eat chocolate “ once in a blue moon”. Or someone who does not usually like to go to the beach might say “I visit the shore once in a blue moon”. While many people use this phrase, not everyone knows the meaning behind it.

The first thing to know is that the moon itself is never really blue. This is just an expression. In fact, the phrase “blue moon” has to do with the shape of the moon, not the color.

As the moon travels around the earth, it appears to change shape. We associate (联系) certain names with certain shapes of the moon. For example, when we can see a small part of the moon, it is called a crescent moon. A crescent is a shape that looks like the tip (尖端) of a fingernail (指甲) When we cannot see the moon at all, it is called a new moon. When we can see the whole moon, it is called a full moon. Usually, there is only one full moon every month. Sometimes, however, there will be two full moons in one month. When this happens, the second full moon is called a “blue moon”.

Over the next 20 years, there will only be 15 blue moons. As you can see, a blue moon is a very rare event. This fact has led people to use the expression “once in a blue moon” to describe other very rare events in their lives.

1. Which of the following would be a good example of using the phrase “once in a blue moon”?

A. Simon often tells jokes. Simon tells jokes once in a blue moon.

B. Tom rarely remembers to do exercise. Tom does exercise once in a blue moon.

C. Mary likes to go shopping every weekend. Mary goes shopping once in a blue moon.

D. Cindy hates to stay up, but she stays up every day. Cindy stays up once in a blue moon.

2. When does a blue moon happen in nature?

A. When the moon has a blue color.

B. When we cannot see the moon at all.

C. When there are two full moons in one month.

D. When we can only see a small part of the moon.

3. Which of the following is another example of something that has a crescent shape?

A. The letter “0”.     B. The letter “M”.

C. The letter “H”.    D. The letter “C”.

4. How often will a blue moon happen over the next twenty years?

A. Once a year.

B. Less than once a year.

C. More than once a year.

D. At least twice a year.

5. What does the underlined part “This fact” in the last paragraph refer to (所指)?

A. A blue moon is a very rare event.

B. The moon appears to change shape.

C. The moon itself is never really blue.

D. A blue moon has to do with the shape of the moon.

参考答案及解析

1. B  通读全文、特别是最后一句可知，只有很难出现的事才用这个短语表达。而四个选项中只有B项符合这种情况。故选B。

2. C  由第三段最后两句话可知，在自然界中有时一个月出现两次满月，第二次满月便称为a blue moon。故选C。

3. D  由第三段“A crescent is a shape...fingernail”可推断选D。

4. B  由最后一段第一句话“Over the next 20 years, there will only be 15 blue moons.”可知选 B。

5. A  由最后一段最后一句可推断，这个事实是指蓝月亮的出现是概率很小的事件。故选A。