It is widely known that any English conversation begins with The Weather. Such a fixation with the weather finds expression in Dr. Johnson’s famous comment that “When two English meet, their first talk is of weather.” Though Johnson’s observation is as accurate now as it was over two hundred years ago, most commentators(评论员) fail to come up with a convincing explanation for this English weather-speak.

Bill Bryson, for example, concludes that, as the English weather is not at all exciting, the obsession with it can hardly be understood. He argues that” To an outsider, the most striking thing about the English weather is that there is not very much of it.” Simply, the reason is that the unusual and unpredictable weather is almost unknown in the British Isles.

Jeremy Paxman, however, disagrees with Bryson, arguing that the English weather is by nature attractive. Bryson is wrong, he says, “because the English preference for the weather has nothing to do with the natural phenomena(现象).” The interest is less in the phenomena themselves, but in uncertainty.” According to him, the weather in England is very changeable and uncertain and it attracts the English as well as the outsider.

Bryson and Paxman stand for common misconceptions about the weather-speak among the English. Both commentators, somehow, are missing the point. The English weather conversation is not really about the weather at all. English weather-speak is a system of signs ,which is developed to help the speakers overcome the natural reserve and actually talk to each other. Everyone knows conversations starting with weather-speak are not requests for weather data. Rather, they are routine greetings, conversation starters or the blank “fillers”, In other words, English weather-speak is a means of social bonding.

【小题1】The author mentions Dr. Johnson’s comment to show that________.

A．most commentators agree with Dr. Johnson

B．Dr. Johnson is famous for his weather observation

C．the comment was accurate two hundred years ago

D．English conversations usually start with the weather

【小题2】What does the underlined word “obsession” most probably refer to?

A．A social trend.	B．An emotional state.
C．A historical concept.	D．An unknown phenomenon.

【小题3】According to the passage, Jeremy Paxman believes that________.

A．Bill Bryson has little knowledge of the weather

B．there is nothing special about the English weather]

C．the English weather attracts people to the British Isles

D．English people talk about the weather for its uncertainty

【小题4】What is the author’s main purpose of writing the passage?

A．To explain what English weather-speak is about.

B．To analyze misconceptions about the English weather.

C．To find fault with both Bill Bryson and Jeremy Paxman.

D．To convince people that the English weather is changeable.

【小题1】His brother was a____________ to Beijing University last year.
【小题2】The Chinese team has won many gold m____________ up to now.
【小题3】I think the problem is of great importance and d___________ considering.
【小题4】Since the problem has a__________, we should take action at once.
【小题5】The boy is very clever and he shows high i______________ in study.
【小题6】Though it’s difficult, we should e__________ all the possibilities.
【小题7】Do not judge a person by his a_____________ which may lead to wrong conclusions.
【小题8】High science and t__________ leads to fast development of economy.
【小题9】Last week we went on a journey to Tibet, where we had a____________(glory) time.
【小题10】She ____________(简化)the instructions so that the children could understand them.
【小题11】I have not _______________(计算)the result of the math problem.
【小题12】The wide ____________(应用)of computers in life will free man from the heavy work.
【小题13】With the help of the ____________(信号)sent by the survivors, the rescue workers found the trapped explorers.
【小题14】The _______________(古老的)building has a long history and many people visit it every year.
【小题15】Since we are short of money, I can’t afford to buy a new car to _____________(替换)my old one.

增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（＼）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词。
2.每句只有一处错。
Nowadays, a lot of people are unwilling to help others. However, Liu Fang acted different. Last Sunday afternoon, on her way back school, Liu Fang came across an old man lie on the ground, seriously hurt in the leg. She immediately stopped, calling 120 and gave first aid. Soon, the ambulance came and took the man to hospital. When anything was OK, she left for school. Such is Liu Fang, the helpful person. Thought there might be misunderstanding or even trouble when we help others, but yet I strongly believe that she has done the right thing. As responsible citizens, it is our duty to help people in needs. Also, if you don’t offer your help when others are in trouble, what can you expect help from others when you were in trouble?