On March 17 there will be an explosion of green colour across the world in celebration of St Patrick’s Day. The Irish ___21___wear something coloured green on this day as the colour is ____22___ with Ireland. Another St Patrick’s Day tradition is for the non-Irish to make ___23___ about the Irish. Usually they will be about Irish stupidity or their famous ___24___ for alcohol, or their reputation for telling untrue stories. These characteristics are all part of the famous Irish stereotype (成见) that Irishman are ___25___ drinkers, who love to fight and will do anything to avoid a day’s work.
The real joke, however, is that this __26__ Irish stereotype still exists. The stereotype might have had some truth back in the 19th century when Irish was poverty-stricken and starving. Many Irish moved to the United States to escape famine(饥荒), but there they had to __27___, occasionally with their fists , for jobs and housing with other immigrant groups. It was on America’s streets the Irish earned their reputation for street fighting.
However, it was far from truth today, with the __28__ of the drinking perhaps. Today, the Irish are ___29___ for their story telling gifts and musical talents. It is no accident that several of the greatest writers of the 20th century were Irish. Or that many of today’s most popular music groups such as singer Enya and rock band U2, are Irish born and bred. Lonely Planet(介绍旅行指南的一本书) readers even ranked Ireland as the ___30___ country in the world.
21. | A. especially | B. happily | C. traditionally | D. excitedly |
22. | A. combined | B. concerned | C. associated | D. representative |
23. | A. jokes | B. stories | C. comments | D. talks |
24. | A. taste | B. thirst | C. symbol | D. respect |
25. | A. lazy | B. heavy | C. annoyed | D. hot-tempered |
26. | A. fixed | B. unpleasant | C. spiritual | D. traditional |
27. | A. find | B. use | C. compete | D. challenge |
28. | A. exception | B. habit | C. favour | D. truth |
29. | A. known | B. envied | C. accepted | D. admired |
30. | A. best | B. friendliest | C. most fashionable | D. most honourable |