阅读理解

　　In most cultures, when you meet acquaintances for the first time during a day, it is normal to greet them．The main purpose of this greeting is to build up a good relationship between the people concerned, and each language usually has a number of set phrases which can be used for this purpose．Sometimes there can be considerable differences in the type of phrases which can be used, and cultural misunderstanding can easily result．The following is a true example．

　　A young British woman went to Hong Kong to work, and at the time of her arrival she knew nothing ?about? the Chinese culture or language．On her way to school one day she went to the bank to get some money．To her surprise, the bank clerk asked her if she had had her lunch．She was extremely surprised at such a question because in the British culture it would be regarded as an indirect invitation to lunch．Between unmarried young people it can also indicate the young man’s interest in dating the girl; so since this bank clerk was a complete stranger to the British girl, she was very much surprised and hastily commented that she had eaten already．

　　After this she proceeded to school and was even more surprised when one of the teachers asked her the same question．By now, she realized that it could not be an invitation, but was puzzled as to why they asked it．In the following days, she was asked the same question again and again, and she spent hours trying to work out why so many people kept asking her this．

　　Eventually she came to a conclusion：the people must be concerned about her health．She was somewhat underweight at the time, and so she concluded they must be worried that she was not eating properly!Only much later did she discover that the question had no real significance at all－it was merely a greeting．

完形填空

　　A high school history teacher once told us, “If you make one close fried in school, you will be most fortunate．A true friend is someone who stays with you for life．” 　　1　　 teaches that he is right．Good friendship is just not easily 　　2　　．

　　It is possible that we simply do not stay in one place long enough for a true friendship to 　　3　　．However, there can be 　　4　　 disagreement in the need for each of us to think carefully about what kind of friendship we want．

　　To most of us, 　　5　　 are considered very important, but we need to make it clear in our minds what kind of friendship we want．Are they to be close or 　　6　　 at arm’s length? Do we want to 　　7　　 ourselves or do we want to walk on surface? For some people, many friendships on the surface are 　　8　　 enough and that’s all right．But at some point we need to make sure that our 　　9　　 are the same as our friends’ expectations．The sharing of 　　10　　 experiences including our tears as well as our dark dreams is the surest way to 　　11　　 friendships．But it must be undertaken(进行)slowly and 　　12　　 only if there are signs of interest and action 　　13　　．

　　What are some of the 　　14　　 of friendship? The greatest is the attraction to expect too much too soon．Deep relationships 　　15　　 time．Another “major difficulty” is the selfishness to think one “　　16　　” the other, including his time and attention．　　17　　, friendships require actions in return．In other words, you must give as 　　18　　 as you take．Finally, there is a question of taking care of．Unless you spend 　　19　　 time together, talking on the phone, writing letters, doing things together, friendships will die 　　20　　．