Question

The other day, my friend Jane was invited to a 40th birthday party. The time printed on the invitation was 7.30pm. Jane went off with her husband, expecting a merry evening of wine, food, and song.

By 9.45, everybody was having great fun, but no food had appeared. Jane and David were restless. Other guests began whispering that they, too, were starving. But no one wanted to leave, just in case some food was about to appear. By 11.00, there was still no food, and everyone was completely off their heads. Jane and David left hungry and angry.

Their experience suggests that the words on the printed invitations need to be made clearer. Everyone reads and understands the invitations differently. Most of us would agree that 6.30-8.30pm means drinks only, go out to dinner afterwards; 8.00pm or 8.30pm means possible dinner, but 9.30pm and any time thereafter means no food, eat beforehand, roll up late.

But this is not always the case. If asked to a students' party at 6.30pm, it is normal for guests not to appear before midnight, if at all, and no one cares. Being the first to arrive-looking eager-is social death. When my mother is asked to a party for 6.30, she likes to be there, if not on time, then no later than seven. My age group（late thirties） falls somewhere between the two, but because we still think we're young, we're probably closer to student-time than grown-up time.

The accepted custom at present is confusing(混乱的), sometimes annoying, and it often means you may go home hungry, but it does lend every party that precious element(成分) of surprise.

1.The underlined words "off their heads" probably mean______.

A. tired B. crazy

C. curious D. hopeless

2.Jane and David' s story is used to show that______ .

A. petty-goer8 usually get hungry at parties

B. party invitations can be confusing

C. people should ask for food at parties

D. birthday parties for middle-aged people are dull

3.For some young people, arriving on time for a students' party will probably be considered_______.

A. very difficult

B. particularly thoughtful

C. friendly and polite

D. socially unacceptable

4.According to the writer, people in their late thirties_______.

A. are likely to arrive late for a party

B. care little about the party time

C. haven' t really grown up yet

D. like surprises at parties

5.What is the general idea of the text?

A. It' s safe to arrive late just when food is served.

B. It' s wise to eat something before going to a party.

C. It' s important to follow social rules of party-going.

D. It' s necessary to read invitations carefully.

 

Answer 1

1.B

2.B

3.D

4.A

5.C

【解析】

试题分析：不同年龄段的人到达晚会的时间不同，对晚会时间的理解也不同。不遵从社会习惯，便会出现饿肚子等现象。所以，按社会习俗参加晚会是极为重要。

1.By 9.45,...they, too, were starving...By 11.00, there was still no food”可知，参加晚会的人们在饥饿中等到11点都饿疯了。off one’s head欢喜若狂，失去自制力；发狂，精神错乱，故选B。

2.Their experience suggests that the words on the printed invitations need to be made clearer.”可知，他们的经历说明邀请函上面的文字说明通常是含糊不清的，故选B。

3.Being the first to arrive-looking eager-is social death.”可知，准时到达同学的聚会被认为是一种社会弊病，故选D。

4.y age group (late thirties)...we're probably closer to student-time”可知，三十几岁的人到达聚会的时间与年轻的学生到达聚会的时间接近，根据“If asked to a students' party at 6.30pm, it is normal for guests not to appear before midnight”可知，年轻人参加聚会通常会迟到，故选A。

5.but it does lend every party that precious element(成分) of surprise”可知，尽管那些约定俗成的风俗让人感到困惑，但是这些风俗确实给聚会增添了惊喜的成分，说明人们还是应该遵守参加聚会的风俗习惯的，故选C。

考点：社会类短文阅读