2024年中考英语时文阅读冲刺-成语故事（五）（含答案）

2024中考英语时文阅读冲刺--成语故事（五）
（一）成语故事《自相矛盾》
His Spear Against His Shield
中华成语故事
His Spear Against His Shield
（文末有阅读测试）
One day, in the Era of Warring States, a man from the Chu State went to sell a spear and a shield. Both of these were ancient weapons in China. The spear had a long handle with a metal point on the end. The shield was a type of personal armor, meant to intercept attacks and protect oneself.
To attract customers and to sell his weapons as soon as possible, he would shout out loudly to all who were coming and going: “Come and see! My spear is the sharpest in the world. It is sharp enough to pierce through anything. Even if it just touches something, it will pierce all the way through it.” Hearing his words, many people came to inspect the spear.
Seeing he had an audience, the man held up his spear and loudly boasted to everyone: “My shield is the strongest in the world! However sharp the spears and arrows are, they cannot pierce through my shield!” As he spoke the boastful words, all the listeners were dumbfounded.
Then, a person stepped out of the crowd. He went and picked up the spear and then the shield. He asked, “If you pierce your shield with your spear, what will happen then ” When the man heard that, he had nothing to say. He blushed with shame. He gathered up his things and fled from the market place in embarrassment.
Storyteller: So if one says something is like “his spear against his shield,” it means that someone has made two statements that are self-contradictory. It is impossible for the strongest shield to coexist with a spear that finds nothing impenetrable.
In our everyday life, you could notice countless examples how people make “his spear against his shield”, and not surprisingly you will find the most among politicians.
生词表
spear n.矛
shield n.盾
weapon n.武器；兵器
armor n.盔甲
boast v. 说大话，吹牛
dumbfounded adj. 目瞪口呆的
韩非子 难一
楚人有鬻盾与矛者，誉之曰：“吾盾之坚，物莫能陷也。”又誉其矛曰：“吾矛之利，于物无不陷也。”或曰：“以子之矛陷子之盾，何如？”其人弗能应也。众皆笑之。夫不可陷之盾与无不陷之矛，不可同世而立。
小测验
Long long ago,a man 1.______（sell）a spear and a shield in the market.He wanted to sell his goods 2.______ (quick),so he was loud in praise of hisshield,"My shield is the strongest shield in the world.My shield is so strong 3. _____ nothing in the world can pierce it.”
核对答案
1
was selling
2
quickly
3
that
He was also loud in praise of his spear.
“My spear is 4._____(sharp)spear in the world.It can pierce anything in the world.”
At this time, an old man in the market asked him,"If the spear is the best weapon in the world as you said, then what 5._____ (happen) if you use your spear to pierce your shield ”The man could not give a good a__6__.
4
the sharpest
5
would happen
6
answer
（二）中华文化成语故事--退避三舍
How long or far is sanshe in the idiom “tuibi sanshe (退避三舍)”
In ancient times, she was a unit of distance. One she is as far as 30 li. One li is 500 meters and 30 li is 15,000 meters. So sanshe is 45 1.__________.
There is a story behind this idiom. During the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), Prince Chong’er of the Jin state ran away 2.__________ his home state. He wanted to travel to other states.
核对答案
1
kilometers
2
from
Once, he went to the state of Chu. King Chengwang of Chu saw him 3.__________ an important guest and served him a feast (盛宴). He asked Chong’er, “If you rule the state of Jin one day, how would you thank me ” “It seems your state has 4.__________ you want. I have nothing that you like,” Chong’er said. However, the king still asked for something. Finally, Chong’er said, “I would ask my army to retreat (撤退) sanshe if we ever fight.”
核对答案
3
as
4
everything
Later, Chong’er returned to his home state of Jin and became 5.__________ (it) ruler called Wengong. Both of the two states wanted to become stronger and get 6.__________ (much) land. They went to war with each other.
核对答案
5
its
6
more
Jin Wengong didn’t break 7.__________ promise. He asked his army to retreat sanshe and stay in Chengpu. The Chu army 8.__________ (think) that the Jin soldiers were afraid to fight, so they followed them. 9.__________ their surprise, the Jin army surrounded (包围) them. In the end, Jin 10.__________ (win) the war. This was the famous Battle of Chengpu. After this war, people used “tuibi sanshe” to mean retreating to avoid a conflict (冲突).
核对答案
7
his
8
thought
9
To
10
won