新視野大學英語視聽說教程第二冊 Unit 4 Task 3: Don’t even think about it!

　　“Don’t even think about it!” is a phrase commonly used in the United States when a person emphatically denies or refuse something.

　　In 1995, Shaquille O’ Neal, a popular basketball player, made a Pepsi commercial in which this phrase was used. The commercial begins with Shaq playing basketball, and a little kid is watching him. Then the boy cries out the name of this basketball star. Shaq turns to see the kid with a Pepsi n his hand. He walks over to the boy and says, “Hey, can I have it?” He bends over, supposing that his admirer will give him the Pepsi. But then the kid says, “Don’t even think about it!” This commercial was rather popular, and it had been shown on TV for about three years. The commercial seems to have a more dramatic effect than that produced by the Coca-Cola company in the 1970s. In the Coke ad a young boy meets football star “Mean” Joe Green as he is leaving the field a game. The boy gives his hero a bottle of Coke, and in exchange for the drink, the football player throws to the boy, who excitedly catches the souvenir.

　　The phrase “Don’t even think about it!” is used on many other occasions. Visitors to New York City are often amused to see a road sign with these words: “Don’t even think about parking here.” This road sign means that people are strictly prohibited from parking there.

　　1. A 2.D 3.B 4.C 5.C