In this section, you are going to hear interesting theories about the origin of some English idioms. Your task is to choose the correct answer(s). Please note that in this task both answers may be correct. However, there is always at least one correct answer. This means you might have to choose answer A, B or both. First, you will have some time to look at the task, and then we will play the whole recording in one piece. Then, you will hear the recording again, but this time we will play the text in shorter sections to give you enough time to choose your answers. If you make a mistake, please try again until you find the correct answer. Use the arrows <= and => to move between the questions or click on "Show all questions" to see all the questions. You needn't answer the questions in the given order but you must answer them all to complete this task.
According to the text ...
it is sometimes possible to guess correctly where an idiom comes from.
knowing history helps you guess where an idiom might have come from.
A and B are both correct
Surgeons asked their patients to bite the bullet because...
anaesthesia was unknown at the time.
they thought it would distract patients from the pain.
A and B are both correct
The word ‘red’ in the idiom ‘caught red-handed’ refers to...
blood.
freshly cut meat.
A and B are both correct
At a feast during the Middle Ages, ...
receiving the organs of an animal was considered to be a real honour.
the kind of pie you received informed the others of your status.
A and B are both correct
Admiral Nelson...
looked through his telescope with his blind eye.
was defeated by the Danish fleet in the battle.
A and B are both correct
Giving somebody the cold shoulder...
used to show good manners towards one’s guests.
meant that the guests were given cold meat as a sign that they should leave.
A and B are both correct
In ancient Greece, beans...
were used to cast votes for candidates.
in the containers were not supposed to be seen before the voting was over.
A and B are both correct
People who were afraid to be buried alive...
had a bell connected to their coffin.
asked their family to listen for any bells ringing.