A simple flower made headlines (头条新闻)in the British press last week. How could that be? British Prime Minister David Cameron and his ministers were attending a reception hosted by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. They insisted on wearing poppies (罂粟花) in their buttonholes.

What's wrong with that?

According to the Global Times, Chinese officials clearly had asked the UK delegation(代表团) not to wear poppies. The British said that poppies meant a great deal to them on that day and they would wear them all the same.

So what's the importance of the poppy? It's a flower which has different cultural and symbolic meanings for British and Chinese people.

From the Chinese point of view, the poppy is a symbol of China's humiliation at the hands of European powers in the Opium Wars of the 19th century. Britain forced China to open the borders to trade — including in the opium — which was made from poppies grown in India.

Yet from the British viewpoint the poppy is a reminder of the killing during World War Ⅰ. Red poppies grew on the battlefields of Flanders in Belgium where many thousands of British soldiers died or were buried. Since then, Poppy Day (November 11 ) has become a time in the UK to wear poppies and remember the sacrifices of British soldiers and civilians in times of war.

So you can see that the poppy sets off strong feelings in the hearts of Chinese and British people for different reasons.And it makes sense for us to try to understand each other's standpoint(立场).

Of course cultural differences can also be interesting and funny. And what one nation thinks is an acceptable gift may be viewed differently by their guest from overseas. US President Barack Obama gave a gift of an iPod to Britain's Queen — a dull person with no interest in music.  Obama also presented Gordon Brown with a fine selection of American movies. But they were in US format (模式)and impossible to play on British DVD players.

Many countries have diplomats(外交官) stationed overseas. Diplomats provide information and advice to their governments back home. However, sometimes it would seem that even diplomats can overlook (忽视)the cultural importance of a small flower.

64.British Prime Minister David Cameron probably attended a reception in Beijing on ________.

A.October 1   B.November 11    C.December 31   D.January 1

65.The poppy reminds the Chinese of________.

A.the shame caused by European countries in the 19th century

B.the British soldiers who were killed and buried during World War Ⅰ

C.the Chinese soldiers killed during World War Ⅱ

D.the suffering caused by Britain during World War Ⅰ

66.The diplomatic(外交的)problem in Beijing is mainly caused by ________.

A.the translation mistake      B.the language difference

C.the cultural difference       D.the different lifestyle

67.We can infer that ________.

A.Britain's Queen is not interested in art

B.Gordon Brown was fond of American movies US President Barack Obama sent him

C.US President Barack Obama received a gift for music

D.Britain's Queen may not like the iPod US President Barack Obama presented her

                              

A simple flower made headlines in the British press last week. How could that be?
British Prime Minister David Cameron and his ministers were attending a reception hosted by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. They insisted on wearing poppies(罂粟花) in their buttonholes.
What’s wrong with that?
According to the Global Times, Chinese officials apparently had asked the UK delegation not to wear poppies. The British said that poppies meant a great deal to them on that day and they would wear them all the same.
So what’s the significance of the poppy? It’s a flower which has different cultural and symbolic meanings for British and Chinese people.
From the Chinese point of view, the poppy is a symbol of China’s humiliation at the hands of European powers in the Opium Wars of the 19th century. Britain forced China to open the borders to trade —including in the opium —which was made from poppies grown in India.
Yet from the British viewpoint the poppy is a reminder of the killing during Word War I. Red poppies grew on the battlefields of Flanders in Belgium where many thousands of British soldiers died or were buried. Since then, Poppy Day (November 11) has become a time in the UK to wear poppies and remember the sacrifices of British soldiers and civilians in times of war.
So you can see that the poppy sets off strong feelings in the hearts of Chinese and British people for different reasons. And it makes sense for us to try to understand each other’s standpoint.
Of course cultural differences can also be interesting and funny. And what one nation thinks is an acceptable gift may be viewed differently by their guest from overseas. US President Barack Obama gave a gift of an iPod to Britain’s Queen —a dull person with no interest in music. Obama also presented Gordon Brown with a fine selection of American movies. But they were in US format and impossible to play on British DVD players.
Many countries have diplomats stationed overseas. Diplomats provide information and advice to their governments back home. However, sometimes it would seem that even diplomats can overlook the cultural significance of a small flower.
(   ) 【小题1】.  British Prime Minister David Cameron probably attended a reception in Beijing on         .

A.October 1B.November 11C.December 31D.January 1
(   ) 【小题2】.  The poppy reminds the Chinese of         .
A.the shame caused by European countries in the 19th century
B.the British soldiers who were killed and buried during World War I
C.the Chinese soldiers killed during World War II
D.the suffering caused by Britain during World War I
(   ) 【小题3】. The diplomatic problem in Beijing is mainly caused by         .
A.the translation mistakeB.the language difference
C.the cultural differenceD.the different lifestyle
(   ) 【小题4】.  We can infer that         .
A.Britain’s Queen is not interested in art
B.Gordon Brown was fond of American movies US President Barack Obama sent him
C.US President Barack Obama received a gift for music
D.Britain’s Queen may not like the iPod US President Barack Obama presented her
(   ) 【小题5】.  What is the main idea of the 9th paragraph?
A.Cultural difference can also be interesting and funny.
B.Cultural differences can cause a big problem.
C.US President Barack Obama likes to present gifts to other leaders.
D.US leaders and British leaders get along well with each other.

In 1939 two brothers, Mac and Dick McDonald, started a drive-in restaurant in San Bernardino, California. They carefully chose a busy corner for their location. They had run their own businesses for years, first a theater, then a barbecue(烤肉)restaurant, then another drive-in. But in their new operation, they offered a new, shortened menu: French fries, hamburgers, and sodas. To this small selection they added one new idea: quick service,no waiters or waitresses, and no tips.

Their hamburgers were sold for fifteen cents. Cheese was another four cents. Their French fries and hamburgers had a remarkable uniformity(一致性), for the brothers had developed a strict routine(程序)for the preparation of their food, and they insisted on their cooks’ sticking to their routine. Their new drive-in became surprisingly popular, particularly for lunch. People drove up by the hundred during the busy noontime. The self-service restaurant was so popular that the brothers had allowed ten copies of their restaurant to be opened. They were content with this modest success until they met Ray Kroc.

Kroc was a salesman who met the McDonald brothers in 1954 when he was selling milkshake-mixing machines. He quickly saw the special attraction of the brothers’ fast-food restaurants and bought the right to franchise(特许经营)other copies of their restaurants. The agreement included the right to duplicate(复制) the menu, the equipment, even their red and white buildings the golden arches(拱门).

Today McDonald’s is really a household name. In 1976, McDonald’s had over$1 billion in total sales. Its first twenty-two years is one of the most surprising successes in modern American business history.

1.This passage mainly talks about ___.

A. the development of fast food services

B. how McDonald’s became a billion-dollar business

C. the business careers of Mac and Dick McDonald

D. Ray Kroc’s business talent

2.Mac and Dick managed all of the following business except ___.

A. a drive-in    B. a theater

C. a cinema    D. a barbecue restaurant

3. We may infer from this passage that ___.

A. Mac and Dick McDonald never became wealthy, for they sold their ideas to Kroc

B. the place the McDonald brothers chose was the only source of the great popularity of their drive-in

C. forty years ago there were lots of fast-food restaurants

D. Ray Kroc was a good businessman

4.The passage suggests that ___.

A. creativity is an important element of business success

B. Ray Kroc was the close partner of the McDonald brothers

C. Mac and Dick McDonald became broken after they sold their ideas to Ray Kroc

D. California is the best place to go into business

5.Which of the following statement is NOT true?

A. Today McDonald’s is very popular in the world.

B. The first twenty-two years of McDonald’s is the most surprising success in American business history.

C. Mac and Dick McDonald were content with their business at first.

D. It is convenient to eat in a drive-in.

 

A simple flower made headlines in the British press last week. How could that be?

British Prime Minister David Cameron and his ministers were attending a reception hosted by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. They insisted on wearing poppies(罂粟花) in their buttonholes.

What’s wrong with that?

According to the Global Times, Chinese officials apparently had asked the UK delegation not to wear poppies. The British said that poppies meant a great deal to them on that day and they would wear them all the same.

So what’s the significance of the poppy? It’s a flower which has different cultural and symbolic meanings for British and Chinese people.

From the Chinese point of view, the poppy is a symbol of China’s humiliation at the hands of European powers in the Opium Wars of the 19th century. Britain forced China to open the borders to trade —including in the opium —which was made from poppies grown in India.

Yet from the British viewpoint the poppy is a reminder of the killing during Word War I. Red poppies grew on the battlefields of Flanders in Belgium where many thousands of British soldiers died or were buried. Since then, Poppy Day (November 11) has become a time in the UK to wear poppies and remember the sacrifices of British soldiers and civilians in times of war.

So you can see that the poppy sets off strong feelings in the hearts of Chinese and British people for different reasons. And it makes sense for us to try to understand each other’s standpoint.

Of course cultural differences can also be interesting and funny. And what one nation thinks is an acceptable gift may be viewed differently by their guest from overseas. US President Barack Obama gave a gift of an iPod to Britain’s Queen —a dull person with no interest in music. Obama also presented Gordon Brown with a fine selection of American movies. But they were in US format and impossible to play on British DVD players.

Many countries have diplomats stationed overseas. Diplomats provide information and advice to their governments back home. However, sometimes it would seem that even diplomats can overlook the cultural significance of a small flower.

(   ) 1..  British Prime Minister David Cameron probably attended a reception in Beijing on         .

    A. October 1            B. November 11      C. December 31      D. January 1

(   ) 2..  The poppy reminds the Chinese of         .

    A. the shame caused by European countries in the 19th century

    B. the British soldiers who were killed and buried during World War I

    C. the Chinese soldiers killed during World War II

    D. the suffering caused by Britain during World War I

(   ) 3.. The diplomatic problem in Beijing is mainly caused by         .

    A. the translation mistake                      B. the language difference 

C. the cultural difference                          D. the different lifestyle

(   ) 4..  We can infer that         .

    A. Britain’s Queen is not interested in art

    B. Gordon Brown was fond of American movies US President Barack Obama sent him

    C. US President Barack Obama received a gift for music

    D. Britain’s Queen may not like the iPod US President Barack Obama presented her

(   ) 5..  What is the main idea of the 9th paragraph?

    A. Cultural difference can also be interesting and funny.

    B. Cultural differences can cause a big problem.

    C. US President Barack Obama likes to present gifts to other leaders.

    D. US leaders and British leaders get along well with each other.

 

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