Could you imagine your parents choosing your husband or wife for you? And can you imagine not setting eyes on him or her until your wedding day? This situation is common in India, the Middle East and many parts of Africa．Marriage customs around the world often differ from our own．We don’t realize that people in other places often get married in very different ways and with different motives．
In many countries, marriage is a practical matter．A marriage provides a safe and stable home for the husband and wife．It also joins two families, which benefits the couple’s parents and makes them happy．Marriage also brings children, making sure the couple will be taken care of in old age．Because a marriage is important for the whole family, some cultures don’t let young people choose whom to marry．
Just as there are many different reasons for marriage, there are also many different wedding rituals．Every culture has its own ways of bringing good luck to the happy couple．In a typical Western wedding, the bride seeks good luck by wearing “something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue”．Something old represents the past．Something new represents success in the future．Something borrowed reminds the bride she can get help from her friends and family．And something blue reminds her to be true to her husband．
In Poland, one wedding tradition is not only lucky, but also very practical．The wedding guests pin money to the bride’s dress while she is dancing．The money is meant to bring luck and to help the young couple build their new life．In Bermuda, the young couple plants a tree in the yard of their new home．Once they move in, they take good care of the tree and make it grow．The planting of the tree is a good metaphor（比喻） for marriage．A truly good marriage is something that grows with care．
【小题1】Which of the following statements does NOT support the idea that marriage is a practical matter?

A．The couple may have a safe home through their marriage．

B．The parents had better help their children choose whom to marry．

C．A marriage benefits the couple’s parents and makes them happy．

D．A marriage brings children who will take care of the couple when they are old．

A．People across the world get married in different ways and for different reasons．

B．Every culture has its own ways of bringing good luck to the young couple．

C．A truly good marriage is something that grows with care．

D．In many countries, marriage is a practical matter．

Over time, the custom of kissing developed as a way for adults to express their love and affection for one another. The roots of this form of affection can be traced back to primitive times, when mothers fondled their children, much as mothers do today.

　　Much later, in the sixth century, society apparently accepted the custom of kissing between adults as an expression of their affection. Not surprisingly, France first accepted kissing in courtship (求爱). There, figure dancing was popular, and each dance was sealed with a kiss.

　　The custom of kissing swept from France through Europe to Russia, where Russian nobility loved to imitate the French. Eventually, the kiss was incorporated into marriage ceremonies, and today lip locks couples into sweet matrimony.

　　The custom of kissing today, as well as in ancient times, serves to pay homage to another.  Early Romans kissed each other on the mouth or on the eyes to greet one another in a manner they thought to be dignified. One Roman emperor even ranked a person's importance by the body part he was allowed to kiss. He allowed important nobles to kiss his lips, less important ones to kiss his hands, and the least important ones to kiss his feet.

In Russia, the highest sign of recognition from the Crown meant a kiss from the Tsar himself. Today, natives of many African tribes pay homage to their Chief by kissing the ground over which he has walked.

1.What’s mainly talked about in the passage?

A. The way to express love and respect.             B. The expression of affection.

C. The custom of kissing.                                 D. The function of kissing.

2.Which of the following can best explain the underlined word “homage” in the 4^th paragraph？

A. recognition            B. respect                 C. importance                      D. loyalty

3.It can be learned from the passage that ___________.

A. kissing is a widely accepted way to show love and affection

B. kissing used to be a proper way to show love on the wedding ceremony

C. kissing is a widely accepted way of greeting in the world

D. kissing from the Tsar is only sign of being accepted from the Crown

4.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. It was France that made the custom of kissing go to the whole world.

B. Early Africans kissed each other on the mouth or on the eyes to greet one another.

C. One Roman emperor allowed important nobles to kiss his nose.

D. Russian nobility followed the custom of kissing from the French.

5. We can infer from the passage that __________.

A. mothers created the custom of kissing

B. kissing means differently on different occasions

C. figure dancing was usually sealed with a kiss in Russia

D. society found it hard to accept kissing in public in the sixth century

阅读理解

　　As I travel across China, I hope to learn as much as I can about the Chinese people, your history, and your dreams for the future and I hope to help the Chinese people understand more of America's history, the lessons the American people have drawn from it, and the dreams we hold for the 21st century.

　　I believe both Chinese and Americans aspire(立志，有愿望) to many of the same things--to provide for our families, to teach our children, to build our communities, to protect our earth, to shape our own futures, and pass brighter possibilities on to our children.

　　There may be those here and back in America who wonder whether closer ties and deeper friendship between America and China are good. Clearly, the answer is yes. We have a powerful ability to help each other grow. We can learn much from each other. And as two great nations, we have a special responsibility to the future of the world. The steps we take over the next week can lead to far greater strides for our people in the years ahead.

　　Here in this city of your magnificent history, we must always remember that we, too, are ancestors(祖先). Someday our children and their children will ask if we did all we could to build just societies and a more peaceful world. Let our monument be their judgment that we did that. Let our progress include all people, with all their differences, moving toward a common destiny.

　　Let us give new meaning to the words written in the ancient Book of Rites, what you call the Li Shi: When the great way is followed, all under heaven will be equal.

1．It becomes clear from the passage that _____.

[　　]

A．both China and America are the most powerful countries in the world

B．both China and America should do something for the future of the world

C．both China and America are great countries with a long history

D．both China and America can provide their children with good education

2．Which of the following statements is NOT mentioned in the passage?

[　　]

A．America will encourage their children to learn the Chinese history.

B．The speaker is in the city with the magnificent Chinese history.

C．Both Chinese and Americans share some desires and interests.

D．The speaker wants Chinese to understand more of American history.

3．The underlined word“here”used in Paragraph 3 refers to“_____”.

[　　]

A．in the city　　　　　　　B．on the platform

C．at the ceremony(仪式)　　D．in China

4．It can be inferred that the person who made the speech is a _____.

[　　]

A．scientist　　　　B．statesman

C．businessman　　D．professor