54. The underlined sentence “Nodding your head when offered a drink in Bulgaria is likely to leave you thirsty” means in Bulgaria _______.

A. you are probably thirsty if you nod your head

B. you’re possibly eager to have a drink if you nod your head

C. you probably refuse to drink when you nod your head

D. you’d like to have a cup of tea because you nod your head

53. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to this passage?

A. In Europe, using the left hand is considered less respected.

B. In India, the left hand is not used as a sign of respect to others.　　

C. In Thailand, you’d better cross your legs when sitting or talking.　　　　

D. In Japan, it is considered bad manners to touch the head of an adult.

52. What’s the meaning of the underlined word “insulting” in Para. 1?

A. Modest.　 B. Entertaining.　　　 C. Misunderstanding.　　　 D. Rude.

51. The three foreign gentlemen looked puzzled and ashamed because ________.

A. they didn’t know the English language

B. the bus conductor told them to jump the queue

C. they didn’t know the custom of lining up for a bus

D. they thought they were looked down upon

50. The best title for the passage would be ______.

　 A. Mother’s beauty　　　　　 B. My father hates onion　

C. Hard-working mother　　　 D. Mother’s hands

B

In England three foreign gentlemen came to a bus stop. They studied the information on the post sign and decided which bus to take. About five minutes later the bus they wanted came along. They prepared to get on. Suddenly people rushed onto the bus and tried to push them out of the way. Someone shouted insulting remarks about the foreigners. The bus conductor came rushing down the stairs to see what all the trouble was about. The three foreign gentlemen looked puzzled and ashamed. No one had told them about the British custom of lining up for a bus so that the first person who arrived at a bus-stop is the first person to get on the bus.

Learning the language of a country isn’t enough. If you want to ensure a pleasant visit, find out as much as possible about the manners and customs of your hosts. You will probably be surprised just how different they can be from your own. A visitor to India would do well to remember that people there consider it impolite to use the left hand for passing food at table. The left hand is supposed to be used for washing yourself. Also in India, You might see a man apparently shaking his head at another and assume (认为) that he is disagreeing. But in many parts of India a rotating (旋转) movement of the head is a gesture that express agreement or acceptance. Nodding your head when offered a drink in Bulgaria is likely to leave you thirsty. In that country you shake your head to express “yes” - a nod means “no”.

In Europe it is quite usual to cross your legs when sitting, talking to someone, even at an important meeting. Doing this when meeting an important person in Thailand, however, could cause offence (冒犯). It is considered too informal an attitude for such an occasion. Also when in Thailand avoid touching the head of an adult - it’s just not done.

Attitudes to women vary considerably around the world. In Japan, for example, it is quite usual for men to plan evening entertainments for themselves and leave their wives at home.

Knowing about customs and attitudes is useful when you are travelling, but you also need to know the language used to express different degrees of formality (礼节).

49. Which of the following words best describe the writer’s mood towards her mother?

　 A. Content.　　 B. Disappointed.　　 C. Loving.　　 D. Considerate.

48. The underlined sentence “I　realize　I　am feeling　them　as　they　shaped　my　youth” probably means that ______.　

A. Mother’s hands witnessed my growth as a youth

B. Mother’s hands are similar to mine as a youth

C. I like to feel mother’s hands when she was young

D. I realize her hands were exactly like those in her youth

47. What can we learn about the writer’s father according to the passage?

　 A. He might have passed away for years.

　B. He goes out for a walk by himself.

C. He is out doing something with Rick.

D. He loves the writer’s mother deeply.

Almost no　color　at　all.　And　as　I　stare　at　them,　I　realize　I　am feeling　them　as　they　shaped　my　

youth.　Hands　that　packed　a　thousand　lunches　and　wiped　a million　tears　off　my　cheeks.　

Now my　hands　have　grown　into　those　of　my　mother's.　Hands　that　have　cooked　uneaten　

meals,　held　my　own　daughter's　frightened　fingers　on　the first　day　of　school　and　dried　tears　

off　her　face.　 I　grow　lighthearted.　I　can　feel　my　mother　kiss　me　goodnight,　check　to　see　if　the　window　is

locked,　then　blow　another　kiss　from　the　doorway.　Then　I　am　my　mother,　blowing　that　same

kiss　to　Anna.　 Outside　everything　is　still.　Shadows　fall　among　the　trees,　shaped　like　pieces　of　a　puzzle.

Someday　my　daughter　will　be　standing　in　my　place,　and　I　will　rest　where　my　mother　now　sits.　 Will　I　remember　then　how　it　felt　to　be　both　mother　and　daughter?　Will　I　ask　the　same

question　too　many　times?　 I　walk　over　and　sit　down　between　my　mother　and　her　granddaughter.　 “Where　is　Rick?”　my　mother　asks,　resting　her　hand　on　the　table　next　to　mine. And　in　that

instant　I　know　she　remembers.　She　may　repeat　herself　a　little　too　much.　But　she　remembers.　 “He’ll　be　here,”　I　answer　with　a　smile.　

46. What’s wrong with the writer’s mother?

A. She is very old.　　　　　 B. She suffers forgetfulness.

C. She is absent-minded.　　　 D. She is eager to see Rick.

　is　a　trick　I　have　learned　from　my　mother,　along　with　a　trillion　other　things: cooking,　sewing,　

dating,　laughing,　thinking.　I　learned　how　to　grow　up.　

And　I　learned　that　when　my　mother　was　around,　I　never　had　to　be　afraid.　 　　 So　why　am　I　afraid　now?