If someone says you are smart, what do they mean? Is it a good thing or something bad? The answer is not as easy as you might think. This is because the word smart has many meanings.

For example, someone could say you look smart. That means they like what you are wearing .But if something is smart, it can be unkind or hurtful.If you fall down, you might shout, "Ow! That smarts!" Or if a friend says something that hurts your feelings, you can say you are smarting from the hurtful words. In fact, maybe that person is no longer your friend.

But the most common meaning of smart is to be intelligent（聪明的）. If someone is smart as a whip（鞭子）, they are able to think very quickly.

However, different people have different ways of being smart. Some people are considered street smart. They may not have a strong education. But they are good at dealing with people and problems in the real world.

Other people might be book smart. This means they have spent many years in school. But they may not be so smart when dealing with people or real-world problems.

This definition(定义) of smart can also be used as a verb（动词）. If you smart off to the wrong people, they could hit you in the face.

If someone calls you a "Smart Aleck," it might sound like a good thing. But it's not. Smart Alecks are people who think they are smarter than they really are. For a long time, word historians thought Smart Aleck was a general term, not a specific person.

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1.What is the purpose of the first two questions in the beginning of the passage?

A To tell you not to say ‘you are smart’.

B To see whether you know ‘smart’.

C To bring out the topic.

D To draw your attention to a smart dress.

解析：选C。写作意图题。本文开始的设问是为了引出话题，故选C。

2.When you hear someone shout “Ow! That smarts!”,you know that person_______.

A has just been hurt badly

B has just seen a smart chair

C has just had a wonderful trip

D has just hurt someone physically

解析：选A。细节理解题。由第2段地4句可知，从前面说如果“绊倒，会大叫”，可推A 为正确答案。

3.Which can be used for a person with good social skills with little education?

A Smart as a whip.

B Book smart.

C Too smart.

D Street smart.

解析：选D。细节理解题。由第4段可知，street smart是指社会能力强，但文化程度不高的人，故选 D。

4.If you smart off to someone, it means you_____.

A hit someone in the face

B have a good behavior

C do something good to someone

D behave badly

解析：选D。推理判断题。由第6段可知，可能那些人会打你的，可推知smart off to sb是对别人的不敬或伤害了别人，故D为最佳选项。

5.Why don’t you like to be called “Smart Aleck”?

A Because it means the person doesn’t like you.

B Because it means you are too proud of yourself.

C Because it is just a general term.

D Because it means that person is not specific.

解析：选B。细节理解题。由最后一段可知Smart Alecks are people who think they are smarter than they really are.是指那些太自负的人，故选B。