Question

In Europe people hold the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right throughout the meal, a system that is generally agreed to be more efficient than the American zigzag（曲折的）method. Americans hold both the fork and the knife in their right hands throughout the meal, so they continually change their forks to the left hand when they have to cut their meat. It seems to be funny for the Europeans to see Americans busy changing their dinner sets, making a lot of noises. A few explanations for this American style are as follows:

(1)Americans are practical and efficient. Since most of us are right-handed, it is reasonable to keep our working tools at all times in the right hand that can use them most efficiently.

   (2)Americans, the master of the New World are rebels（判逆者).. They use the zigzag method to break the rules in the Old World and in this way they are thumbing their nose at Mother England. Americans are a restless kind. They do not like to sit in one spot for very long when dining.

(3)Forced to do so, they respond by “playing” with the silver.

Whatever the reason for the practice, it is now certainly as American as apple pie. Europeans recognize this and are quick to attack it as evidence of American innocence of form. Arguments against the zigzag method rest not only on grounds of efficiency but also on those of tradition. In Old World Dining, the knife is held in the right hand continually because it can serve as an instant defense against the uninvited intruders. However, such alertness（警觉）is out of place in the New World, as every American believes that this is the home of the brave. Americans juggle their silverware, perhaps, to show that they are not afraid and that one of them holding a fork is worth any number of them holding blades（刀）.

41．Americans use _______ to hold their fork to pick up the salad.

       A．the right hand  B．the left hand   C．both hands          D．either of the two hands

42．As the masters of the New World, Americans use a different cutting method from that in the Old World to_____ .

       A．show their independence of Mother England

    B．show their disrespect to Mother England

       C．add a new tradition to those in Mother England

       D．show off their creativeness to Mother England

43．In the sentence, the word “juggle” probably means           .

       A．hold                   B．play with             C．pick up               D．lay down

44．Also in the last sentence, the two “them” refer to          .

       A．Americans                                          B．Europeans

       C．Americans and Europeans separately      D．Europeans and Americans separately

45.What could be the best title of the text?

A. Old World Dining                   B. zigzag method

C. New World Dining                  D. Juggling fork and knife

Answer 1

41-45: BABCA

解析:

41．细节理解题，美国人用右手握刀叉。

42．推断题，显出独立精神。从“rebels”可以得知。

43．词义猜测。根据上下文。

44．分析判断题。 代词them分别指代美国人和欧洲人。

45．主旨大意题。 归纳文章题目。