In England three foreign gentlemen came to a bus stop. They studied the information on the post sign and decided which bus to take. About five minutes later the bus they wanted came along. They prepared to get on. Suddenly people rushed onto the bus and tried to push them out of the way. Someone shouted insulting remarks about the foreigners. The bus conductor came rushing down the stairs to see what all the trouble was about. The three foreign gentlemen looked puzzled and ashamed. No one had told them about the British custom of lining up for a bus so that the first person who arrived at a bus-stop is the first person to get on the bus.
Learning the language of a country isn’t enough. If you want to ensure a pleasant visit, find out as much as possible about the manners and customs of your hosts. You will probably be surprised just how different they can be from your own. A visitor to India would do well to remember that people there consider it impolite to use the left hand for passing food at table. The left hand is supposed to be used for washing yourself. Also in India, you might see a man apparently(显然地)shaking his head at another and assume (认为) that he is disagreeing. But in many parts of India a rotating (旋转) movement of the head is a gesture that express agreement or acceptance. Nodding your head when offered a drink in Bulgaria is likely to leave you thirsty. In that country you shake your head to express “yes” — a nod means “no”.
In Europe it is quite usual to cross your legs when sitting talking to someone, even at an important meeting. Doing this when meeting an important person in Thailand, however, could cause offence (冒犯). It is considered too informal an attitude for such an occasion. Also when in Thailand avoid touching the head of an adult — it’s just not done.
Attitudes to women vary considerably(相当地)around the world. In Japan, for example, it is quite usual for men to plan evening entertainments for themselves and leave their wives at home.
Knowing about customs and attitudes is useful when you are travelling, but you also need to know the language used to express different degrees of formality (礼节).The three foreign gentlemen looked puzzled and ashamed because __________________.
A.they didn’t know the English language |
B.someone called their names |
C.they didn’t know the custom of lining up for a bus |
D.they knocked someone down while getting on the bus |
According to the passage, which attitude to women is usual in Japan?
A.Men always go to parties with women. |
B.Men plan evening entertainments for their wives. |
C.Men and women have equal rights to go to parties. |
D.Men plan evening entertainments for themselves, while their wives stay home. |
What’s the meaning of the underlined word “insulting” in Para. 1 ?
A.善意的 | B.咨询的 | C.商量的 | D.无礼的 |
From the passage, we know that shaking head means Yes in ______________.
A.India and Thailand | B.India and Bulgaria |
C.Bulgaria and Thailand | D.Thailand and Japan |
The underlined sentence “Nodding your head when offered a drink in Bulgaria is likely to leave you thirsty.” means ____________.
A.It’s probably that you are thirsty if you nod your head |
B.You’re possibly eager to have a drink if you nod your head |
C.You probably refuse to drink when you nod your head |
D.You’d like to have a cup of tea because you nod your head |
Top Kid-Friendly Summer Vacations
Dude Ranch
If you have little cowboys and cowgirls at home, thrill them by visiting a dude ranch (度假牧场) on your next vacation. Your children can learn about nature, enjoy horseback riding, and gain an entirely new perspective. You can choose between programs that have you spending quality time with your kids, and programs that are for children only. This summer, enjoy the great outdoors — at a dude ranch!
For more information, visit: www.ranchweb.com/categorydisplay.htm
Six Flags Great Adventure
Have a classic vacation by visiting one of the most famous theme park chains. With locations all over the USA., there’s sure to be a Six Flags near you. Take the whole family and be back at work on Monday. Escape the summer heat with countless water rides. Take your kids to have brunch with Bugs Bunny, or check out the new Safari Park, where you can interact with real animals.
For more information, visit: www.sixflags.com/national/index.aspx
Roswell UFO Festival
Do you have science fiction fans in your household? Encourage their interests and experience a special vacation at the annual Roswell UFO Festival. Come in costume (化妆服) if you wish, and join the parade (游行). Attend lectures by famous authors and researchers, or watch up-and-coming bands perform. Even if you’re not a believer, you can still enjoy the artwork, music, and great celebration.
For more information, visit: www.roswellufofestival.com
Earthplace
It’s not easy being green, but it can be fun if you visit the exhibits at Earthplace in Westport, Connecticut. This 62-acre wildlife reserve is committed to educating the public about the environment and promoting positive action to preserve nature. The exhibits provide hands-on features that make learning fun for your kids. After touring the exhibits, visit the garden and the playground, and enjoy the summer weather.
For more information, visit: www.earthplace.org/index.htmlDude Ranch and Six Flags Great Adventure are similar in that ____
A.they are both suitable for a family vacation |
B.they both take place in the city |
C.they both allow people to have brunch |
D.they both provide water rides |
Which will you join if you want to learn how to protect nature?
A.Dude Ranch. | B.Six Flags Great Adventure. |
C.Roswell UFO Festival. | D.Earthplace. |
Who would be most interested in Roswell UFO Festival?
A.A kid who loves music. |
B.A kid who likes adventure. |
C.A kid who is interested in aliens. |
D.A kid who likes first-hand experience. |
It is quite reasonable to blame traffic jams, the cost of gas and the great speed of modern life, but manners on the road are becoming horrible. Everybody knows that the nicest men would become fierce tigers behind the wheel. It is all right to have a tiger in a cage, but to have one in the driver's seat is another matter altogether.
Road politeness is not only good manners, but good sense too. It takes the most cool-headed drivers great patience to give up the desire to beat back when forced to face rude driving. On the other hand, a little politeness goes a long way towards reducing the possibility of quarrelling and fighting. A friendly nod or a wave of thanks in answer to an act of politeness helps to create an atmosphere of good will and becomes so necessary in modern traffic conditions. But such behaviors of politeness are by no means enough. Many drivers nowadays don't even seem able to recognize politeness when they see it.
However, misplaced politeness can also be dangerous. Typical examples are the driver who waves a child crossing the street at a wrong place into the path of oncoming cars that may not be able to stop in time. The same goes for encouraging old ladies to cross the road wherever and whenever they want to. It always amazes me that the highways are not covered with the dead bodies of these grannies
An experienced driver, whose manners are faultless, told me it would help if drivers learnt to correctly join in traffic stream without causing total blockages that give rise to unpleasant feelings. Unfortunately, modern drivers can't even learn to drive. Years ago, experts warned us that the fast increase of the car ownership would demand more give-and-take from all road users. It is high time for all of us to take this message to heart.According to the passage, troubles on the road are often caused by ________.
A.road conditions | B.the speed of modern life |
C.the large number of cars | D.the behavior of the drivers |
In the writer’s opinion, ________.
A.drivers should show road politeness properly. |
B.strict traffic rules are badly needed. |
C.unskillful drivers should be punished. |
D.drivers should avoid traffic jams. |
The underlined word “give-and-take” in the passage means________
A.politeness and impoliteness |
B.willingness to give in to each other’s wishes. |
C.offering help to others as much as possible. |
D.good manners and bad manners. |
What is the best title of the passage?
A.Road politeness | B.Traffic problems |
C.Bad Manners on the Road | D.Good Drivers and Bad Drivers |
I moved from Chicago to Brooklyn in July of 2010, just in time to watch my mother die. Our parents were both gone now. I took with me as many things they had left behind as I could.
I was out walking one Saturday later that summer when something caught my eye - a pale green dress. Laid out on the pavement was stuff like earrings, glass candle-holders, books. Hanging on the fence behind were a few pairs of jeans and a green cotton dress.
The woman, the host of the stoop (门廊)sale, looked like she was getting rid of a past she didn’t need or want. A dress that was too big for her. A chest of drawers that took up too much space, space she needed, maybe, to heal , recover, or grow.
I wasn’t planning on buying anything really, but now I needed to show her that I appreciated her things and I would give them a safe home. Then I had my first stoop sale —I paid her 20 dollars for her green cotton dress and her blue candle-holder.
From that day on, I became interested in stoop sales. Some of my favorite things are from someone else’s life. I find no joy in shopping at regular stores any more. I love trying to sniff out a memory from a bud vase or a drawer. It is comforting to know that someone has breathed and laughed inside a sweater before me.
A few weeks ago, I carried my mother’s dresses to a friend’s stoop. These were her best items, which were once worn by the most important person in my life. For many hours, I watched from across the path people advancing the stoop, some leaving with Mom1S dress. I used to think that her stuff was as forever sacred (神圣的)as my memory of her, I know now that once I love a scarf or shirt too dearly, it needs to find a new home. Even that green dress is long gone by now.The author took her mother’s dresses after her death because ______
A.she valued the things used by her mom |
B.she didn’t want to throw them, away |
C.she could sell them later |
D.they were her mom’s best items |
From the passage, we know that ______.
A.the things the author bought from the woman are too big |
B.the author is fond of imagining others’ life experiences |
C.the author will never shop at regular stores any more |
D.the author still keeps most of her mom’s things |
In the last paragraph, the author tries to tell us that ______.
A.her mom is the number one person in her life |
B.she didn’t really want to sell her mom’s dresses |
C.she still thinks of her mother quite often |
D.love doesn’t mean holding on to something tightly |
It can be inferred that the author will ______.
A.not sell her own things at stoop sales |
B.keep her mom in her mind in another way |
C.be sad about all the memory of her mom |
D.move to another city for a new life |
Should we allow modern buildings to be built next to older buildings in historic area of a city? In order to answer this question, we must first examine whether people really want to preserve the historic feel of an area. Not all historical buildings are attractive. However, there may be other reasons—for example, economic(经济的) reasons—why they should be preserved. So, let us assume that historical buildings are both attractive and important to the majority of people. What should we do then if a new building is needed?
In my view, new architectural styles can exist perfectly well alongside an older style. Indeed, there are many examples in my own home town of Tours where modern designs have been placed very successfully next to old buildings. As long as the building in question is pleasing and does not dominate(影响)its surroundings too much, it often improves the attractiveness of the area.
It is true that there are examples of new buildings which have spoilt(破坏)the area they are in, but the same can be said of some old buildings too. Yet people still speak against new buildings in historic areas. I think this is simply because people are naturally conservative (保守的)and do not like change.
Although we have to respect people's feelings as fellow users of the buildings, I believe that it is the duty of the architect and planner to move_things_forward. If we always reproduced what was there before, we would all still be living in caves. Thus, I would argue against copying previous architectural styles and choose something fresh and different, even though that might be the more risky choice.What does the author say about historical buildings in the first paragraph?
A.Most of them are too expensive to preserve. |
B.Some of them are not attractive. |
C.They are more pleasing than modern buildings. |
D.They have nothing to do with the historic feel of an area. |
Which of the following is true according to the author?
A.We should reproduce the same old buildings. |
B.Buildings should not dominate their surroundings. |
C.No one understands why people speak against new buildings.j-y |
D.Some old buildings have spoilt the area they are in. |
By “move things forward” in the last paragraph, the author probably means “________.”
A.destroy old buildings |
B.respect people's feelings for historical buildings21 |
C.put things in a different place |
D.choose new architectural styles |
What is the main purpose of the passage?
A.To argue that modern buildings can be built in historic areas. |
B.To explain why people dislike change. |
C.To warn that we should end up living in caves. |
D.To admit how new buildings have ruined their surroundings. |
Americans plan parties for many reasons. As in other cultures, many Americans attend parties for weddings and religious or national holidays. But some parties are especially American. For example, a group of neighbors may gather on their street to eat food, play music and visit with one another. This is called a block party. A woman might invite a group of women to a party called a baby shower for a friend who is about to give birth. Guests bring presents for the new baby.
Americans also attend tailgate parties. A tailgate is the back end of a truck or other vehicle that opens down. The tailgate parties are a big part of sports culture in the United States. Friends bring food and drink to a sports event. They eat together in the parking area of the sports stadium.
Birthday parties are also very popular. Many parents organize a party for their child around a theme. Birthday parties usually include gifts and a birthday cake with candles. In many parts of the United States, cupcakes have become a popular replacement for cakes.
Birthday parties can be low cost or very costly. Some parents take their children’s birthday parties very seriously, even when the child is too young to fully understand the celebration.
One group of parents started a website called Birthdays Without Pressure. They decided that some parents were under too much social pressure to plan costly parties for their children. The group sees this movement as an example of America’s culture of “too much stuff”. The group’s website gives suggestions on how to keep birthday celebrations simple, meaningful and fun without spending a lot of money. Their advice may be very helpful during this period of economic recession (萧条).What can be the best title for the passage?
A.Reasons for parties | B.Birthdays without pressure |
C.Different parties in the world | D.American parties |
How many kinds of parties does the passage mention?
A.5. | B.7. | C.6. | D.8. |
Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
A.Birthday parties are the most popular in America. |
B.Some parties in America are the same as in other countries. |
C.There’s a party for the mother before her new baby is born. |
D.Block party is especially American |
The purpose of Birthdays Without Pressure is to advise people to _________.
A.relieve people’s pressure |
B.make birthday parties meaningful and costly |
C.have meaningful birthday parties with low cost |
D.spread America’s culture |