Mary’s face is a ____ that she ____ rather weak after the operation.

　 A. sign; was　　 B. suggestion; be C. sign; be　　　 D. suggestion; is

I was born and brought up in the small town of Pineville, which I left at the age of sixteen. Twenty years　　1　　I found myself back on a visit. I went to see my　　2　 friend Tom Clark, who, active as ever, was chairman of the local　　3　 . He was busy preparing to welcome　　4 　 writer, invited to give a talk on modern literature in the public library　 5　 evening. Since I happened to have read his works, when Tom invited me to go with him I　 6　 accepted.

Tom was going to　　7　 the guest speaker to the audience. Therefore we went a little　　8　 to greet him. As the honored guest had not yet　 9　 , I left Tom and went into the main reading room　　10　 a large crowd had gathered. I was disappointed to find that I didn't　 11 　 a single person there. So I found a seat in the corner and　　12 　 patiently waiting.

When it was just about time for the　　13 　 to begin, I saw Tom standing at the doorway making a sign for　　14　 to come out. He looked worried. So I got up immediately and went out to him. He 　 15　 that he had just had a　 16　 from the writer's secretary. Our guest speaker had missed his　 17 　 and would not be arriving! While we were thinking about the problem, Tom suddenly asked me　 18 　 mind filling in as a speaker. I　 19　 had time to think about the matter when all at once I found I was being　　20 　 back into the reading room to speak to the waiting audience!

1. A. ago B. before C. earlier D. later

2. A. new B. old C. forgotten D. welcome

3. A. school B. restaurant C. market D. club

4. A. a well-known B. an unknown C. a local D. an ordinary

5. A. every B. one C. that very D. any other

6. A. gladly B. sadly C. had D. was

7. A. direct B. move C. introduce D. describe

8. A. early B. later C. late D. soon

9. A. spoken B. rested C. eaten D. arrived

10. A. although B. where C. after D. since

11. A. say B. receive C. meet D. know

12. A. sat B. stood C. lay D. hid

13. A. party B. show C. talk D. dinner

14. A. him B. everybody C. me D. the guest

15. A. suggested B. explained C. introduced D. insisted

16. A. greeting card B. telephone call C. picture D. present

17. A. way B. flight C. speech D. time

18. A. that I should B. whether to C. not to D. if I would

19. A. hardly B. still C. already D. quickly

20. A. sent B. driven C. led D. carried

In the United States, friendships can be close, constant, intense, generous, and real, yet fade away in a short time if things change. Neither side feels hurt by this. Both may exchange Christmas greeting for a year or two, perhaps a few letters for a while—then no more. If the same two people meet again by chance, even years later, they pick up the friendship where it's left off and are delighted.

In the States, you can feel free to visit people's homes and share their holidays without fear that you are taking on a lasting obligation. Do not hesitate to accept hospitality because you cannot give it in return. No one will expect you to do so for they know you are far from home. Americans will enjoy welcoming you and be pleased if you accept their hospitality easily.

Once you arrive there, the welcome will be full and warm and real. Most visitors find themselves easily invited into many homes there. In some countries it is considered inhospitable to entertain at home, offering what is felt as "merely" home cooked food, not "doing something" for your guest. It is felt that restaurant entertaining shows more respect and welcome. Or for various other reasons, such as crowded space, language difficulties, or family custom, outsiders are not invited into homes.

In the United States, both methods are used, but it is often considered more friendly to invite a person to one's home than to go to a public place, except in pure business relationships. So, if your host or hostess brings you home, do not feel that you are being shown inferior treatment.

60. In the United States, friendships might ________ if things become different.

A. disappear little by little　　　　　　　　　　 B. last forever　

C. be heartbreaking　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. end suddenly

61. All the following factors but ________ prevent people from inviting their friends home for dinner according to the passage.

A. different languages　　　　　　　　　 B. naughty children　

C. different customs　　　　　　　　　　 D. small houses
62. We can infer that ________ in America according to this passage.

A. friendships are difficult to get but easy to lose　

B. it is hard for a person to pick up the friendship when he comes across his long lost friend

C. you might be considered as a person hungry for social activities if you accept an invitation too easily　

D. people care little about where they are invited to go for dinner

63. Why is giving a dinner party at home considered less hospitable in some countries?

A. Because eating at the restaurant is a sign of respect.

B. Because having dinner at home seems less friendly.　
C. Because dishes prepared at home are less delicious.　
D. Because a dinner at the restaurant is more expensive.