Question

Britain and France are separated by the English Channel, a body of water that can be crossed in as few as 20 minutes. But the cultures of the two countries sometimes seem to be miles apart.

Last Thursday Britain and France celebrated the 100th anniversary (周年纪念) of the signing of a friendship agreement called the Entente Cordiality. The agreement marked a new beginning for the countries following centuries of wars and love-hate partnership.

But their relationship has been ups and downs over the past century. Just last year, there were fierce disagreements over the Iraq war---which British Prime Minister Tony Blair supported despite French President Jacques Chirac speaking out against it. This discomfort is expressed in Blair and Chirac's body language at international meetings. While the French leader often greets German Chancellor（总理） Gerhard Schroeder with a hug (拥抱), Blair just receives a handshake. However, some political experts say the war in Iraq could in fact have helped ties.

The history of divisions may well be because of the very different ways in which the two sides see the world. But this doesn't stop 12 million Britons taking holidays in France each year. However, only 3 million French come in the opposite direction. Surveys (调查) show that most French people feel closer to the Germans than they do to the British. And the research carried out in Britain has found that only a third of the population believes the French can be trusted. Perhaps this bad feeling comes because the British dislike France's close relationship with Germany, or because the French are not happy with Britain's close links with the US.

Whatever the answer is, as both sides celebrate 100 years of "doubtful friendship", they are at least able to make jokes about each other. Here's one: What's the best thing about Britain's relationship with France? The English Channel (英吉利海峡).

31. For centuries, the relationship between Britain and France is ________.

A. friendly

B. impolite

C. brotherly

D. a mixture of love and hate.

32. The war in Iraq does ________ to the relationship between France and Britain.

A. good

B. harm

C. neither good nor harm

D. both good and harm

33. The British are not so friendly to ________ and the French are not so friendly to ________.

A. Germany; America

B. America; Germany

C. Germany; Germany

D. America; America

34. ________are more interested in having holidays in ________.

A. American people … Britain

B. British people … Germany

C. French people … Britain

D. British people … France

35. What does the last sentence mean? ________

A. As long as the English Channel exists, no further disagreement will form between France and Britain.

B. The English Channel can prevent anything unfriendly happening in both France and Britain.

C. France and Britain are near neighbors, and this will help balance the relationship between them.

D. The English Channel is the largest enemy between France and Britain.

Answer 1

DDADC