Question

The easiest way for the English to deal with their social discomfort is to avoid social interaction altogether, by choosing either leisure (闲暇) activities that can be performed in the privacy of one’s own house, or outdoor activities that follow their interest without direct contact with anyone other than one’s own family members, such as going for a walk, or to the cinema, or shopping.

In recent survey, over half of all the leisure activities were of this private domestic type, and of the top ten pastimes, only two—having friends round for a meal or drink, and going to the pub—could be described as ‘sociable’. The most domestic activities are the most popular: watching TV, listening to the radio, reading, DIY （Do It Yourself） and gardening. Even when the English are being sociable, the survey findings show that most of them would much rather entertain a few close friends or relatives in the safety of their own homes than venture out  among strangers.

In the latest national census survey （人口普查）, over half of the entire adult male population had been DIYing in the four weeks before the census date. Nearly a third of the female population had also been busily improving their homes, and their work with their gardens was equally obvious: 52 percent of all English males and 45 percent of females had been out there, cutting branches and weeding grass.

Even among people claiming to belong to a particular religion, only two percent attend services every week. The rest of the population can be found every Sunday at their local garden center or DIY superstore. And when they want a break from caring about their own homes and gardens, they go on trips to visit bigger and better houses and gardens, such as the stately homes and gardens opened to the public by the National Trust and the Royal Horticulture Society. Visiting grand country houses always ranks as one of the most popular national pastimes.

The result of the survey shows that ________.

A. about half English people enjoy working in their gardens

B. 8 out of 10 pastimes can be described as social activities

C. 2 percent of the religious people enjoy visits to public houses

D. visiting stately homes is the most popular national pastime

According to the passage, the English enjoy all of the following EXCEPT________.

A. the social activities, such as gathering with friends

B. working at home and in their gardens

C. dining out in a public place among strangers

D. visits to stately homes and gardens

The underlined word “domestic” probably means________.

A. public      B. household          C. outdoor            D. collective

The passage mainly tells us about________.

A. why the English don’t like social activities

B. how the English spend their leisure time

C. what the result of a recent census survey is

D. where the English hold their private activities

Answer 1

【小题1】A

【小题2】C

【小题3】B

【小题4】B

解析:

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