Different gestures (手势) mean different things in different countries. Sometimes a gesture that is polite in one country is not polite in another and should not be used. Different meanings of gestures can also cause problems in understanding what another person is trying to say. A gesture that many people do not understand is one that uses the thumb. Most westerners will sometimes show that they like something by holding out a closed hand with the thumb lifting in the air. This is called give someone or something "the thumbs up". Often, only one thumb is used, so it should be "the thumb up".

The usual explanation (解释) for the origin of this gesture is not really correct. It says that in ancient Roman times, when people were pleased with the way a gladiator (角斗士) had fought, they showed their thumbs up. When they were not pleased, they gave the thumbs down. When a gladiator was given the thumbs up, the emperor allowed him to live. When a gladiator was given the thumbs down, the emperor ordered him to be killed.

The truth is, however, it was translated into a wrong meaning by mistake. If people wanted to save the gladiator, they put out their hands and hid their thumbs in their hands. If they wanted the gladiator to die, they pointed their thumbs straight at him.

1.Westerners lift their thumbs when they ________.

A. want someone to die B. like something

C. want to go to a playground D. want someone to live

2.Most people think that in ancient Rome, "thumbs up" meant that ________.

A. the emperor could die

B. the people wanted the gladiator to live

C. the fighting could continue

D. the people were not pleased

3.In fact, if people wanted a gladiator to live, they ________.

A. hid their thumbs

B. pointed their thumbs down

C. lifted their thumbs up

D. pointed their thumbs at him

4.From the article we know that ________.

A. different gestures have different meanings in different countries

B. a friendly gesture is always the same in different countries

C. the meaning of "thumbs up" is the same both now and the past

D. we should often use the thumbs

5.The main idea of this article is about ________.

A. gestures around the world

B. closed thumbs

C. gestures in ancient Rome

D. the thumbsup gesture

I arrived in Cali, the second largest city in Colombia. The sun was truly shining. Cali was great, the people were friendly and helpful. One thing I knew about Colombia before I came was the coffee. I drank it every day while dreaming about South American adventures in my cold, wet hometown of England.

What I wasn’t prepared for was the beauty there. Even the bus ride was a pleasure. I never thought I would say like this in South America. The landscape was so unexpected, I didn’t imagine Colombia to have this much beauty. There lay fresh mountain waterfalls as well as luminous green hills at every turn, it was so amazing!

Bogota was my next stop. In the beginning, I thought it was a boring city with nothing different from any other. Then I opened my eyes and my heart. It attracted me. The smiles from the locals were infectious(有感染力的), love poured from their hearts.

For me, Bogota and the Colombian people changed my view on everything. I took a walk alone one night to pick up some goods. It was dark, and I was in a strange neighborhood.Yet all I could think about was how safe I felt, I almost felt like I was in my local town. People smiled and carried on with their own business. I walked more slowly and stayed for longer, that moment, I knew I had to change foreigners’ opinion on Colombia.

Thinking about the last month in Colombia, I couldn’t believe how much I had fallen in love with it. I’ve done seven countries in seven months and over twenty-five in my lifetime, and Colombia is right up there at number one! It was like a holiday romance.I will always love Colombia and anyone that tells you it is dangerous has obviously never been there before.

1.___________ impressed the writer most when he was in Cali.

A. Nice weather and mountain waterfalls

B. Friendly people and beautiful views

C. Safe neighborhood and nice people

D. Tasty coffee and beautiful views

2.Which of the statements is the writer’s opinion?

A. Cali is the second largest city in Colombia.

B. Bogota was great, and the people were friendly.

C. The writer has been to seven countries in seven months.

D. It is dangerous to travel in Colombia like other countries.

3.What writing techniques (手法)does the writer use in Paragraph 4?

A. Giving examples B. Making a definition

C. Making a comparison D. Explaining cause and effect

4.Who may be interested in this article?

A. People who like making coffee by hand.

B. People who want to have adventures.

C. People who want to do business with others.

D. people who like travelling around the world.

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