A
When the sun shines brightly, it provides a great chance to get outdoor things done. Like making hay! At least, that is what farmers from the past would say. ―Make hay while the sun shines.This idiom is very old, dating back to Medieval times. Rain would often ruin the process of making hay. So, farmers had no choice but to make hay when the sun was shining.
Today, we all use this expression, not just farmers. When conditions are perfect to get something done, we can say, ―It’s a good idea to make hay while the sun shines.In other words, you are taking advantage of a good situation or of good conditions. You are making the most of your opportunities. These all mean ―making hay while the sun shines.
And sometimes we use this expression to mean we beat someone to the punch, or we got ahead of someone else. And other times you make hay while the sun shines to make good use of the chance to do something while it lasts. You are being opportunistic – taking advantage of a good opportunity. For example, my friend Ozzy was sick for a week and could not go to work. So, his co-worker Sarah -- who doesn’t like him -- took advantage of his illness and stole his project! Talk about making hay while the sun shines.
Sometimes when you make hay while the sun shines you are staying ahead of a problem – like in this example:
Hey, do you want to go hiking with me and my friends this weekend? The weather is going to be beautiful! I wish I could. But I have to finish my taxes. It’s the last weekend before they’re due.
Oh, that’s too bad.
Wait. What about your taxes?
My taxes are done. I was off from work a couple of weeks ago and made hay while the sun shined. I got all of it done!
I wish I would have taken advantage of my time off last week___1___All I did was lay around the house.
And that’s all the time we have for these Words and Their Stories. But join us again next week. You can listen while you’re making dinner or riding to work. Yeah, make hay while the sun shines.
1. Which of the following best matches ―make hay while the sun shines in paragraph 2?
A. Sow nothing, reap nothing. B. Sharp tools make good work.
C. Strike while the iron is hot. D. One swallow doesn’t make a summer.
2. According to the underlined sentence, what feeling does the speaker express?
A. Admirable B. Regretful
C. Annoyed D. Indifferent
3. Where is the passage probably taken from?
A. A radio program B. A magazine
C. A brochure D. A novel
【答案】1. C 2. B 3. A
【解析】
【分析】本文是一篇说明文，主要讲的是“Make hay while the sun shines”这个习语的意思。
【1题详解】
推理判断题。根据第二段的“In other words, you are taking advantage of a good situation or of good conditions. You are making the most of your opportunities. These all mean ―making hay while the sun shines.（换句话说，你是在利用一个好的情况或条件。你正在充分利用你的机会。这一切都意味着——晒草要趁太阳好。） ”可知，“make hay while the sun shines”的意思是“抓紧时机”，和C选项Strike while the iron is hot.（趁热打铁。）相匹配，A.Sow nothing, reap nothing.（不播种就不会收获。）B.Sharp tools make good work.（工欲善其事，必先利其器。）D.One swallow doesn’t make a summer.（一燕不成夏。），因此C选项正确，故选C。
【2题详解】
推理判断题。根据“I wish I would have taken advantage of my time off last week. All I did was lay around the house.（我希望上周我能好好利用我的休息时间。我只是躺在家里无所事事。）”可知，作者是后悔没有好好利用休息时间，因此说话人所表达的感觉是“后悔”，即regretful。故选B。
【3题详解】
推理判断题。根据最后一段的“And that’s all the time we have for these Words and Their Stories. But join us again next week. You can listen while you’re making dinner or riding to work.（以上就是本期词汇掌故节目的全部内容。欢迎下周继续收看。你可以在做饭或骑车上班的时候听。） ”可推知，本文来自于一个广播节目，故选A。
