“How are you?” is a nice question. It’s a friendly way that people in the United States greet each other. But “How are you?” is also a very unusual question. It’s a question that often doesn’t have an answer. The person who asks “How are you?” hopes to hear the answer “Fine”, even if the person’s friend isn’t fine. The reason is that “How are you?” isn’t really a question and “Fine” isn’t really an answer. They are simply other ways of saying “Hello” or “Hi”.

  Sometimes, people don’t say what they mean, either. For example, when someone asks “Do you agree?”, the other person might be thinking, “No, I disagree, I think you are wrong …” But it isn’t very polite to disagree so strongly, so the other person might say “I’m not sure.” It’s a nicer way to say that you don’t agree with someone.

   People also don’t say exactly what they are thinking when they finish talking with other people. For example, many talks over the phone finish when one person says “I’ve to go now.” often, the person who wants to stop gives an excuse: “Someone’s at the door.” “Something is burning on the stove.” The excuses might be real, or it might not. Perhaps the person who wants to hang up simply doesn’t want to talk any more, but it isn’t polite to say that. The excuse is more polite, and it doesn’t hurt the other person.

  Whether they are greeting each other, talking about an idea, or finishing a talk, people often don’t say exactly what they are thinking. It’s an important way that people try to be nice to each other, and it’s all part of the game of language.

35. If you have different opinions from someone, it is polite to say “_______”.

   A. You’re wrong                        B. I’m not so sure if you are right

   C. Of course, I disagree                  D. No, I don’t agree with you

36. Which of the following is a polite way to finish a talk?

   A. I have no time to talk with you now.     B. I want to stop.

   C. I have to go now.                     D. I don’t want to talk any more.

37. According to the passage, when a person says “Something is burning on the stove”, it

means that _______.

   A. he is giving an excuse                      B. he is hurting someone’s feelings

   C. he is talking to a person at the door          D. he is going to another place

38. One of the rules of the game of language is probably ________.

   A. “Always say what you mean”               B. “Don’t disagree with people”

   C. “Usually say exactly what you are thinking”  D. “Be polite”

Now you’ve finished three years of English study. There’s one way to demonstrate(展示) what you’ve learned－take a test!
Do you have any special methods(方法) you use to help you do better on a test? How well you do is often a matter of how well prepared you are. Here are some ways to make sure you’re at your best on test days.
Go to bed early. The night before a test is not the time to stay up watching TV. You want to be rested and wide-awake for test day.
Have a good breakfast. Test day isn’t a morning for donuts(面包圈). Nor is it a time to starve yourself. Eat plenty of low-sugar, high-enegy food to keep your brain and body working their best.
【小题1】     . Make sure you have two pencils and anything else you were asked to bring.
【小题2】    . Make sure that the number of the items on your answer sheet matches the number of the question.
【小题3】     . Don’t assume that choice A is correct until you’ve checked the others. You may find a better one. And it is wrong to eliminate any choice that you can see at once. You’ll have a better chance of finding the right answer.
【小题4】    . Make sure you allow yourself enough time to answer every question and go back and check your answers. Don’t spend too much time on any difficult question. Skip(跳读) it and come back to it later.
Keep up with your schoolwork all year long. That’s how you get the skills you need for taking tests.
从A、B、C、D中选择正确的选项作为文章第5-8段小标题，并填入四个空格中。
A、Watch the numbers
B、Check the clock
C、Be prepared
D、Look over all the answer choices
【小题5】The passage is mainly about________________________________________。

　　How is it done? Here are several skills （技能）that good talkers have. If you follow the skills, they will help you put people at their ease （自在）, and make friends with them quickly.

　　First of all, good talkers ask questions. Almost anyone, no matter how shy he is, will answer a question. One well-known businessman says, “At business lunches, I always ask people what they did this morning. It's a common question, but it will get things going.” From there you can move on to other matters. Sometimes What he answers to really personal questions and how he answers will let you know how far you can go.

　　Second, once good talkers have asked questions, they wait for the answer. This point seems clear, but it isn't. Your questions should have a point and help to tell what kind of person you are talking to. And to find out, you really have to listen carefully and attentively.

　　Real listening at least means something. First it means not to change the subject of conversation. If someone sticks （坚持）to one topic, you can take it as a fact that he will be really interested in it. Real listening also means not just listening to words, but to tones （调子）of voice if the voice sounds dull, then it's time for you to change the subject.

　　Finally, good talkers know well how to deal with the situation （场合）of parting. If you're saying goodbye, you may give him a firm handshake and say, “I've really enjoyed meeting you.” If you want to see that person again, don't keep it secret. Let people know what you feel, and they may walk away feeling as if they've known you half their life.

（　）1. You'll like to stay with certain people because ________ .

A. they know well how they can get along with others

B. you can often get much help from them

C. they are always glad to do anything for you

D. they will never get you into trouble

（　）2. Asking questions might be quite a good way ________ .

A. for you to make more and more new friends

B. to begin your business talks

C. to get the conversation going smoothly

D. for you to make a deep and lasting impression on others

（　）3. After having asked somebody a question, it'll be polite of you to ________ .

A. make clear what kind of person he is

B. listen to his answer attentively

C. wait quietly and patiently for his answer

D. ask another question

（　）4. Generally speaking, good talkers are persons who ________ .

A. are good at making any topic interesting

B. never talk too much or too little

C. always speak in a gentle way

D. know how and when they should change the topic of the talk

（　）5. If you are really happy in meeting someone again, ________ .

A. it seems necessary for you to let him know it

B. you may take him as your lifelong trustworthy friend

C. it's right for you to give him a second handshake

D. it'll be helpful for you to have further understanding of him