题干

   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.
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同类题1

   Every Chinese-language textbook starts out with the standard phrases for greeting people. But as an American, I always found myself unable to speak freely when it came to _____ guests at the door. Just a goodbye would not do, yet that was all I had ever _____ the books. So I would smile and nod, bowing like a Japanese and searching _____ for words that would smooth over(缓和)the visitors' leaving and make them feel they would be _____ to come again. In my unease, I often hid behind the skirts of my Chinese husband's kindness.

Then finally, listening to others, I began to pick up the phrases that _____ relationships and sent people off not only successfully but also skillfully.

The parting for the Chinese includes a lot of necessary habitual practice. Although as a _____ I'm not expected to observe or even know all the rules, I've had to learn the expressions of politeness and _____ at a leave-taking.

The Chinese feel they are _____ to see a guest off to the farthest possible point-down the flight of stairs to the street below or perhaps all the way to the _____bus stop. I've sometimes waited half an hour or more for my husband to ______ from seeing a guest off, ______ he's gone to the bus stop and waited for the next bus to arrive.

That's all very well, but when I'm the guest being seen off, my polite refusals are always ______ .My hostess or host, or both, insist on ______ me down the stairs and well on my way, with my repeating the "Don't ______ to see me off" at every landing. If I try to go fast to ______ them from following, they are simply out to the discomfort of having to run after me. Better to ______ the inevitable(不可避免的).

Besides, that's going against Chinese ______ , because haste(doing things quickly)is to be avoided. What do you say when you ______ someone?People often say "Go slowly" ______ "Farewell". To the Chinese it means" Take care" or" Watch your ______ ", or some such caution, but translated literally(按字面)it means "Go slowly".

【小题1】
A.taking overB.talking aboutC.seeing offD.worrying about
【小题2】
A.picked upB.learned fromC.known ofD.referred to
【小题3】
A.madlyB.explicitlyC.endlesslyD.cautiously
【小题4】
A.contentB.readyC.welcomeD.eager
【小题5】
A.spedB.brokeC.stressedD.eased
【小题6】
A.wifeB.guestC.hostessD.foreigner
【小题7】
A.declineB.laughC.explainD.weep
【小题8】
A.likelyB.responsibleC.certainD.supposed
【小题9】
A.farthestB.nearestC.biggestD.shortest
【小题10】
A.disappearB.recoverC.returnD.escape
【小题11】
A.althoughB.unlessC.ifD.since
【小题12】
A.effectiveB.unnecessaryC.uselessD.adequate
【小题13】
A.bringingB.seeingC.invitingD.pushing
【小题14】
A.troubleB.guaranteeC.decideD.refuse
【小题15】
A.forbidB.protectC.discourageD.separate
【小题16】
A.acceptB.ignoreC.attainD.inform
【小题17】
A.lawsB.customsC.traditionsD.beliefs
【小题18】
A.speak withB.meet withC.part fromD.call on
【小题19】
A.in case ofB.other thanC.instead ofD.as well as
【小题20】
A.footB.healthC.itemD.step

同类题3

语法填空

Different countries have different customs. First,let's talk about the time 【小题1】(open)the present. If you are in China,it is rude to open it as soon as you receive it. But in Britain and America,people will open it at once,because the givers like to see 【小题2】 the person reacts.

Now let's talk about different wedding 【小题3】(ceremony). In Korea,people will have a live hen and a live rooster — a hen is for good luck,and a rooster is for driving away bad things.

In Brunei,at wedding receptions,men and women sit in separate areas. The men are with the bridegroom while the women with the bride. Furthermore,alcohol 【小题4】(prohibit)in Brunei's weddings,which is 【小题5】(complete)different in China. Similar 【小题6】 parts of China, Brunei's people will play drums for hours or even a whole night for a wedding.  Another common custom to parts of China is that people will take off shoes before entering others' room.

Different languages can explain the cultural differences, but it's not always right. The British and the Americans share the same language, 【小题7】 they do not always have the same customs.

Take Bonfire Night as an example, the British 【小题8】(be) fond of it, while the Americans are not familiar with it.

All in all, there are many cultural differences around the world. Only by having 【小题9】 good knowledge of them can we behave properly when 【小题10】 (communicate).

同类题5

   Apart from decoration purposes, the paint symbols  were mainly used during wars to express secret messages to the other members of the tribe. Native Indians believed that the designs that they painted had certain magical power that would protect them. The symbols were a reflection of the happenings and events during a war.Given below are the different symbols with  their meanings.

Eye of a Medicine Man Symbol


It was a very powerful symbol thatrepresented the medicine man or shaman.The outer(外部的)lines indicated the four directions.

The inner lines showed the spirit world and the dot in the center meant the eye of the medicine man and his spiritual vision.

Lightning Symbol


It was a common symbol that wasseen painted on the face or across the forehead of almost all the soldiers. It was believed that itbrought power and speed to the wearer. A lightning symbol also symbolized the thunderbird , which brought lightni ng.

Four Ages of Man Symbol


It indicated four stages of a man's life. They were childhood, youth and adolescence , maturity  in middle age, and wisdom in old age.

Indian Camp Symbol


It indicated an Indian village that consisted of tent-like houses made of wood and animal skins.

It was easy to build and dismantle(拆卸)quickly.

Homecoming Symbol


It indicated the return of soldiers and ceremonies were held to welcome the brave soldiers.

 

So, these were a few war paint symbols along with their meanings. These were some of the widespread symbols. Each and every tribe had different symbols and colors , which indicated different things. They were not only used during wars, but also for hunting and decorations.

【小题1】The native Indians may disagree that the paint symbols can be used to __________ .
A.share secret messages among tribe members
B.protect tribe members with magical power
C.reflect the events happening during wars
D.prevent tribe members from being attacked by insects
【小题2】A soldier may use a lightning symbol to __________ .
A.gain strength and speed
B.show his courage and bravery
C.celebrate his narrow escape
D.show off his victory over enemies
【小题3】Which symbol represents different periods of human beings?
A.Homecoming Symbol.
B.Lightning Symbol.
C.Four Ages of Man Symbol.
D.Indian Camp Symbol.
【小题4】What is the main idea of the passage?
A.Native Indian war paint symbols and their meanings.
B.Meanings and symbolism of different war paint colors.
C.Widespread symbols are of great use during wars.
D.Different colors and symbols indicate different