【正文】 tobe or by a relative of the bride acting for her parents, usually just before the newspaper announcement of the engagement. If the bridetobe and her fianc233。 the rich variety of our weather, not to mention our great achievements in cricket and football. As for me, I’m so many feet and inches tall, and weigh so many pounds and ounces. My petrol es in gallons and my milk in pints — from a milkman. I pay for them, in pounds and sterling. The following are some specific aspects of us British: Complaining In order to be British, or at any rate to pass unnoticed in British society, the visitor must learn not to make a fuss. The true Brit cannot stand it. It is equal to drawing attention to you. If the receptionist ignores you, or the hairdresser blows smoke in your face, if the soup is cold or the taxi driver overcharges — say nothing. Who knows what disappointments, what secret sadness their lives might contain? So don’t plain. You can always write to the local newspaper when you get home. Politeness To be popular, and to make good impression on his British hosts, the foreign visitor needs to learn how to apologize, in the street, on the bus, at the hairdresser’s, in the bedroom, going out and ing in. Sorry is one of the most important words in the vocabulary of any true Brit, and a word which should be always on the lips of any foreigner moving among us. Fish and Chips — or rather, “fish’n’chips ” — is another essential experience for the visitor. Britain is an island and eating fish reminds us of our practical and spiritual dependence on the sea. The chips symbolize our people: no two chips are the same, but we are united because we are all cut from the same bag of potatoes, all deepfried in the same oil. This supper should be eaten almost immediately, with the fingers, walking along the street, preferably in the dark. DO NOT take the fish’n’chips home, empty them onto a plate and eat them with a knife and fork. This is not the British way. Mind Your Own Business A respect for privacy is one of the most highly valued social virtues in Britain, and those who offend against it are branded “ Nosey Parkers”. Householders in foreign lands may sit outside their front doors, shelling peas and chatting to the world at large, or else hang from their balconies calling down to passersby in the street. Such behavior makes the British deeply uneasy. 56. According to the passage, people normally associate Britain with . A. the changeable weather B. the destroyed natural environment C. poor performance in cricket and football D. brief but splendid history 57. We know from the passage that the British . A. usually don’t mind being noticed B. are tired of eating fish’n’chips C. hate hanging from their balconies calling down to passersby D. can only write to the local newspaper to plain 58. Which of the following statements is true? A. It’s typical of the British to sit outside their front doors. B. The British are seldom seen saying anything angrily in public. C. The British eat their food with their fingers after emptying it on the plate. D. When the British have their toes stepped on, they will demand an immediate “sorry”. B When a couple decides to marry, they naturally inform both sets of parents and stepparents before having a party planned or telling all their friends. The days are long gone of the man going trembling to the girl’s father and saying, “Sir, may I have the honor of having the hand of your daughter in marriage?” However, a wise couple always discusses their plans for marriage with their respective families, and a young man often suggests a “financial talk” with his future fatherinlaw before the latter is faced with the embarrassment of asking for one. Even if a young woman has supported herself and lives away from home, her parents have the right to know how her fianc233。 A How do you do? Pleased to meet you. If you are a visitor to our country, I expect by now you have realized why we call it Great Britain: our long and glorious history。 but his surprise was 50 on finding the other coin. His feelings 51 him。 A young man, a student in one of our universities, was one day taking a walk with a professor, who was monly called the students’ friend, for his kindness to those who waited on his instructions. As they went along, they saw 36 in the path a pair of old shoes, which they supposed to belong to a poor man who was employed in a field close by, and who had 37 finished his day’s work. The student 38 the professor, saying, “Let’s play the man a(n) 39 : we will hide his shoes, and we stay behind those bushes, and wait to see his 40 when he cannot find them.” “My young friend,” answered the professor, “we should never 41 ourselves at the expense of the poor. You are 42 , and may give yourself a much greater pleasure by means of helping the poor man. Put a 43 into each shoe, and then we will hide ourselves and watch how the 44 affects him.” The student did so, 45 they both placed themselves behind the bushes close by. The poor man soon finished his work, and came 46 the field to the path where he had left his coat and shoes. While 47 his coat he slipped his foot into one of his shoes。 the 22. It is said that about 60% of housewives have a brand before entering the store. A. in mind B. on sale C. in possession D. on purpose 23. — I hate school。 a C. /。 21. Everybody has responsibility to save water, if future generations are to enjoy similar standard of living to the one we enjoy now. A. the。 14. What does the woman think of modern art? A. She thinks very highly of it. B. She thinks most of the modern art is good and only a small part of i