Generally speaking, a British is widely regarded as a quiet, shy and conservative person who is ___1___ only among those with whom he is acquainted. When a stranger is at present, he often seems nervous, ___2___ embarrassed. You have to take a commuter train any morning or evening to ___3___ the truth of this. Serious-looking businessmen and women sit reading their newspapers or dozing in a corner; hardly anybody talks, since to do so would be considered quite offensive. ___4___, there is an unwritten but clearly understood code of behavior which, ___5___ broken, makes the offender immediately the object of ___6___. It has been known as a fact that the a British has a ___7___ for the discussion of their weather and that, if given a chance, he will talk about it ___8___. Some people argue that it is because the British weather seldom ___9___ forecast and hence becomes a source of interest and ___10___ to everyone. This may be so. ___11___ a British cannot have much ___12___ in the weathermen, who, after promising fine, sunny weather for the following day, are often proved wrong ___13___ a cloud over the Atlantic brings rainy weather to all districts! The man in the street seems to be as accurate---or as inaccurate---as the weathermen in his ___14___.
/ D5 L3 a2 X' G9 r2 `5 Z Foreigners may be surprised at the number of references ___15___ weather that the British make to each other in the course of a single day. Very often conversational greetings are ___16___ by comments on the weather. "Nice day, isn't it?" "Beautiful!" may well be heard instead of "Good morning, how are you?" ___17___ the foreigner may consider this exaggerated and comic, it is worthwhile pointing out that it could be used to his advantage. ___18___ he wants to start a conversation with a British but is ___19___ to knowswheresto begin, he could do well to mention the state of the weather. It is a safe subject which will ___20___ an answer from even the most reserved of the British.
o6 O' n/ y/ k. v8 u, s4 t 1. A. relaxed B. frustrated C. amused D. exhausted
; V6 f, ^7 J8 c" } 2. A. yet B. otherwise C. even D. so
7 R: Q" O! U) `3 x _4 f$ @ 3. A. experience B. witness C. watch D. undergo
1 Y4 n2 T& S: X) v 4. A. Deliberately B. Consequently C. Frequently D. Apparently
+ q1 P* j; M8 v: u D6 l# G$ ` 5. A. unless B. once C. while D. as- P/ a9 n% R8 m% [' w8 T
6. A. suspicion B. opposition C. criticism D. praise
: C) | M- c% K4 N 7. A. emotion B. fancy C. likeliness D. judgement
: W/ I1 F7 M2 z5 W9 P% v 8. A. at length B. to a great extent C. from his heart D. by all means# y8 S0 b. l& G( u8 V8 W
9. A. follows B. predicts C. defies D. supports
: U6 E9 e* @# m( ^# C, F- A3 { 10. A. dedication B. compassion C. contemplation D. speculation; a: G$ s- U& @
11. A. Still B. Also C. Certainly D. Fundamentally
- c* f$ [3 n7 Z- y3 x 12. A. faith B. reliance C. honor D. credit; k/ a. t4 A& b4 M5 c4 ?
13. A. if B. once C. when D. whereas7 M- v3 d% m$ a: u5 G
14. A. propositions B. predictions C. approval D. defiance
4 B" O8 e# ~- {* n 15. A. about B. on C. in D. to7 Z6 P3 M* g6 {: n
16. A. started B. conducted C. replaced D. proposed4 L5 y6 P; u- S+ }2 ^
17. A. Since B. Although C. However D. Only if
. w& g7 I' H) K9 r6 E# y 18. A. Even if B. Because C. If D. For
. F+ b# `! ]4 z1 }# X& l 19. A. at a loss B. at last C. insgroupsD. on the occasion- C/ A3 z3 g' K- p7 B5 ~9 [$ m
# R t- T! r+ N1 C6 ` 20. A. stimulate B. constitute C. furnish D. provoke |