The English are famous for their manners. The phrase, “Manners maketh the man” was coined by Englishman William of Wykeham back in 1324, but they’re just as important today. Books are written on the subject, advice columns in magazines tell people how to behave, and “finishing schools” still exist to ensure that young girls become young “ladies”.

   The best example of English manners is in their mastery of the art of forming a queue. It is a popular joke in England (the land of sporting failures) to say, “if only queuing was an Olympic sport, we’d win hands down” No one knows exactly how and when it started, but queuing plays an important role in the English social make-up. School children are taught to queue for roll-call, assembly and lunch, and English people across the land form orderly queues at shops, banks, cinemas and bus-stops every day. The English obviously aren’t the only people who queue, but they seem to do it better than anyone else. As one visitor said, “I have travelled across Europe, the Middle and Far East and nowhere have I seen the single-file queues which are formed in England.”

   The English are also famously polite when it comes to language. Whereas many other notions are more direct in their communication, the English prefer a more indirect form of asking for things. For example, an American who wants to talk to a colleague might say, “Got a minute?”; however an English person will often use a more indirect means might of requesting the chat, “Sorry to bother you, but would you possibly have a minute or so to have a quick chat if you don’t mind, please?”

   The English also love to apologize for things. When squeezing past someone, people say “sorry”. And they will apologize if you bump into them, “whoops! Sorry! My fault.” In fact, no one seems to say “sorry” as much as the English: “sorry I’m late. /Sorry I forgot to call you last night./I’m sorry you didn’t get the e-mail.” And so on. They also like to use “please” and “thank you” a lot. In a shop, they will say, “I’d like a packet of crisp, please. Thanks.” British students thank their lectures, and bosses often thank their employees for doing their jobs.

Why does “finishing schools” still exist to help young girls become “ladies”?

   A. Because the English mind their manners very much.

   B. Because the English parents want to marry their daughters to the royal family.

   C. Because the English girls are so rude that they need to be taught to be polite.

   D. Because the English government ensures their existence.

The underlined sentence in paragraph2 implies ________________.

   A. The English love the Olympics very much.

   B. The English spend nothing winning an Olympic medal.

   C. The English are best at queuing.

   D. The English prefer to queue with their hands down.

According to the passage, if Americans say “Waiter! Could I have another fork, please?” how will the English express such a meaning?

    A. Excuse me! Give me another fork, please!

    B. Excuse me! I have to be a bother, but would you mind awfully changing this fork, please?

    C. Hi! Would you mind giving me another fork?

    D. Waiter! Come here and change the fork!

According to the passage, why do the employers often thank their employees for doing their jobs?

    A. The employees can bring them a lot of benefits.

    B. The employees finish their jobs perfectly.

    C. The English employers’ good manners lead them to do so.

    D. The employers do it as a result of the company’s regulation.

第二节摘录信息(共10小题;每小题1分,满分10分)

阅读下面短文,根据所读内容在文后的空格里填上适当的单词或短语。注意:每空不超过三个单词。

My name is Jane. My job is to write stories and newsletters for a magazine. My hobby is traveling and I hope to visit Great Britain one day. I’d like a pen-pal from London, who is interested in discussing the differences between Europe and Asia. I love listening to pop music and playing football.

I’m Manuel. I’m a businessman and have a large company with many workers and clerks. I’d like to find a pen-pal who is also a businessman and lives in North America. I like using the Internet.

I am working in a university. I speak English, French and Russian. My family name is Jackson but my students usually call me Sarah. I’d like a pen-pal who is fond of language learning working in Oxford University. I don’t like using computers for learning and I believe that true language can only happen in a classroom.

I’m Peter and interested in the differences between East Europe and North America. I love riding my horse and listening to jazz. I usually get up at 7 o’clock and go to school around 7:30 in the morning. I want to find a pen-pal who has the same interest as me living in Sydney.

Cindy is my first name. I’m working in a travel agency. Sometimes I am called Mr. Guide as I am working. I’d like to find a pen-pal who comes from Europe. I like playing the piano and listening to jazz. I’m interested in history, but I don’t like to discuss languages.

First name

Vocation(职业)

61.____________

Pen-pal from

Jane

62._____________

Traveling, listening to pop music and 63.________

London

64.__________

Businessman

Using 65._________

North America

Jackson

66._________

Teaching

Oxford University

Peter

Student

67.____________ and listening to jazz

68.__________

Cindy

69.___________

Playing the piano, listening to jazz, history.

70.__________

 

 

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