In most languages, a greeting is usually followed by “small talk”. Small talk means the little things we talk about at start of a conversation. In English-speaking countries people often make small talk about the weather: “Nice day, isn’t it?” But there is something special about small talk. It must be about something which both people have the same opinion about. The purpose of small talk is to let both people agree on something. This makes meeting people easier and more comfortable. People usually agree about the weather, so it is a safer topic for small talk. But people often disagree about religion or politics so these are not suitable topics for small talk in English. The topics for small talk also depend on where the conversation is taking place. At football matches, people make small talk about the game they are watching: “Great game, isn’t it?” At bus stops, people may comment about the transport system: “The bus service is terrible, isn’t it?”
Greetings and small talk are important parts of conversation in any language. The way people greet each other and the things they talk about, however, may be different from one language to another. This shows that there is much more to learn when we learn a language than just the vocabulary and the grammar of the language. We also have to learn the social behavior of the people who speak it.Small talk __________ .
| A．is a kind of conversation with short words |
| B．is a greeting when people meet each other |
| C．is to let people disagree about something |
| D．is something we talk about to start with a conversation |
Why do people need small talk?
| A．To choose a topic for conversation. |
| B．To agree about the weather. |
| C．To let meeting people become easier and more comfortable. |
| D．To learn a language. |
The passage suggests that when we learn a language ,__________．
| A．we should grasp the importance of the language |
| B．we should know the culture of the language |
| C．we should only master the grammar and vocabulary |
| D．we should learn about the transport system of the country |
Statuses are marvelous human inventions that enable us to get along with one another and to determine where we “fit”in society．As we go about our everyday lives，we mentally attempt to place people in terms of their statuses．For example，we must judge whether the person in the library is a reader or a librarian，whether the telephone caller is a friend or a salesman，whether the unfamiliar person on our property is a thief or a meter reader，and so on．
The statuses we assume often vary with the people we encounter，and change throughout life．Most of us can，at very high speed，assume the statuses that various situations require．Much of social interaction consists of identifying and selecting among appropriate statuses and allowing other people to assume their statuses in relation to us．This means that we fit our actions to those of other people，based on a constant mental process of appraisal and interpretation．Although some of us find the task more difficult than others．most of us perform it rather effortlessly．
A status has been compared to ready－made clothes．Within certain limits the buyer can choose style and fabric．But an American is not free to choose the costume of a Chinese peasant or that of a Hindu prince．We must choose from among the clothing presented by our society．Further more，our choice is limited to a size that will fit，as well as by our pocketbook．Having made a choice within these limits，we can have certain alterations made，but apart from minor adjustments．We tend to be limited to what the stores have on their racks．Statuses too come ready made，and the range of choice among them is limited．In the first paragraph the writer tells us that statuses can help us_________．
| A．protect ourselves in unfamiliar situations |
| B．make friends with other people |
| C．determine whether a person is fit for a certain job |
| D．behave appropriately in relation to other people |
According to the writer，people often assume different statuses ________．
| A．in order to identify themselves with others |
| B．as the situation changes |
| C．in order to better identify others |
| D．as their mental processes change |
The underlined word“appraisal”in the 2nd paragraph most likely means_______．
| A．judgment | B．appreciation | C．involvement | D．presentation |
In the last sentence of the second paragraph，“it”refers to“_________”．
| A．identification of other people’s statuses |
| B．fitting our actions to those of other people appropriately |
| C．selecting one’s own statuses |
| D．constant mental process |
By saying that“an American is not free to choose the costume of a Chinese peasant or that of a Hindu prince”，the writer means___________．
| A．different people have different styles of clothes |
| B．ready－made clothes may need alterations |
| C．our choice of statuses is limited |
| D．statuses come ready made just like clothes |
My cat Toto is aging，and as she ages，her body is failing her．Mentally，she seems sharp，but after nearly sixteen years，Toto’s hips are causing her obvious trouble．In fact，they make it so that she can’t use a litter box effectively．She tries to squat（蹲坐），but mostly she just pisses（撒尿）out the back end of the box．
I spent the summer working with my vet to find things to help Toto，but nothing works．Since we can’t stand the smell of cat urine in the house，two weeks ago I took drastic measures．I banished Toto outside．（She gets to come in while I work，but I put her out for 80％of the day and night．）
Because Toto now lives outside，she eats and drinks outside．I’ ve set up a heating pad on the porch．and given her own food and water area nearby．She seems perfectly content with this arrangement except when she’s out of food，or she wants to be petted．
Strangely enough，she’s been out of food a lot lately．“I think another cat is eating Toto’s food．”I told Kris when I first noticed how quickly she was going through her bowl．
“Actually，”I said a couple of days later，“maybe it’s a dog．Whoever is eating Toto’s food keeps knocking the bowl over．”
But a few days after that，I realized that the food thief probably wasn’t even a dog．Whatever the critter（动物）was，it was messy． Every morning，Toto’s water dish was filled with mud．The food bowl was tipped over and the porch scattered with mud and debris（残渣）．“I’ ll bet it’s a coon（浣熊），”I told Kris．Though we live in a residential neighborhood not far from Portland，we’ ve seen plenty of raccoons in the six years since we moved in．
Today I got to see the cat－food thievery first－hand．Turns out it’s not one raccoon－it’s a family of four．I was lucky enough to have my camera handy as they performed their daring raid：My favorite part of this video is how Toto simply sits on her heating pad and watches the raccoons eat her food．She isn’t bothered at all．Which of the following about Toto is true?
| A．She is physically sharp． |
| B．She is at least sixteen years old． |
| C．She can’t use a litter box properly． |
| D．She stays outside all the while recently． |
The underlined part in the second paragraph is closest in meaning to________．
| A．drove away or forced somebody or something to leave |
| B．put away or stored something |
| C．protected somebody or something from being harmed |
| D．threw something away |
What does the writer like most about what he filmed?
| A．How Toto fought against the raccoons． |
| B．A family of raccoons stole the food together． |
| C．Toto’s casual attitude toward the raccoons． |
| D．How the raccoons made the writer’s porch dirty． |
What would be the best title of the passage?
| A．My Aged Cat | B．A Banished Cat |
| C．An Unforgettable Experience | D．The Raccoons on My Porch |
According to new research，there could be a social hierarchy（等级）attached to where people stand in the lift．More senior men stand at the back，young men in the middle and women of all ages at the front．
Most people know that awkward feeling when you shuffle（拖着鞋走）into an elevator with other people and try not to make eye contact．
But new research suggests it may be down to a subconscious power struggle being played out as you make your way up or down．
A study found that people decide where they stand based on a micro social hierarchy，established within seconds of entering the lift．
Rebekah Rousi，a Ph．D．student in cognitive science，conducted all ethnographic study of elevator behaviour in two of the tallest office buildings in Adelaide，Australia．
As part of her research，she took a total of 30 lift rides in the two buildings，and discovered there was an established order to where people tended to stand．
In a blog for Ethnography Matters，she writes that more senior men seemed to direct themselves towards the back of the elevator cabins．
She said，“In front of them were younger men，and in front of them were women of all ages．”
She also noticed there was a difference in where people directed their gaze half way through the ride．
Men watched the monitors，looked in the side mirrors（in one building）to see themselves，and in the door mirrors（of the other building）to also watch others．
Women would watch the monitors and avoid eye contact with other users（unless in conversation）and the mirrors，she writes．
The doctorate student concluded it could be that people who are shyer stand toward the front，where they can’t see other passengers，whereas bolder people stand in the back，where they have a view of everyone else．According to the passage，where do women likes to stand in the lift?
| A．At the back． | B．At the front． |
| C．In the middle． | D．On the right． |
What causes people to feel uncomfortable when entering the an elevator?
| A．The manner people went into the lift． |
| B．The limited space in the lift． |
| C．The subconscious power struggle. |
| D．The micro social hierarchy． |
Why did Rebekah Rousi take 30 lift rides in buildings in Adelaide，Australia?
| A．To enjoy the tallest office building． |
| B．To make a study of elevator behavior． |
| C．To go to work there． |
| D．To experience the ride by elevator． |
Which of following best summarizes the main idea of the passage?
| A．Women are more attentive than men in the lift． |
| B．Both women and men like to watch the monitors in the lift． |
| C．The shyer you are，the more likely you are to stand at the back in the lift． |
| D．Why where you stand in the lift reflects your social status． |
Don’t invite crime--take basic, sensible precautions. Your house and possession are valuable and must be properly protected. When you buy a lock, you buy time --- and this is the one thing a burglar can’t afford. Most thieves are casual opportunists to whom the best deterrents（遏制性因素） are delay and noise which could mean discovery.
When you leave it, lock it!
First of all, fit security locks to all doors and windows and a safety chain on the front door. Secondly, use them! If you have any ladders or tools, don’t leave them lying about in the garden, lock them away. “Safe” or “secret” places for keys and valuables are not reliable - nine times out of ten, they are the first place a thief will look.
When you move house...
When you move into a new home even if it is fitted with security locks, change them. You don’t know who else may have keys.
Never let strangers into your house. An official - looking cap is not enough, ask for proof of identity and look at it carefully - if you are still not satisfied, don’t let the person in.
Valuables need special protection
Valuables should really be given special protection - preferably by leaving them with your bank. A small security safe works too, but not to the most determined burglar. It is also important to keep an up - to - date list of valuables and their descriptions. In the case of fine art, paintings, or jewelry, color photographs can sometimes be of assistance to the police if you are unfortunate enough to have them stolen. Enter the details on the back of the pictures. But don’t keep such documents in your house, keep them at the hank or with your insurance company.
Going on holiday?
Don’t talk about your holidays and future plans loudly in public. Do remember to cancel the milk and newspapers and also to draw curtains back.
Operate a “Good Neighbor” program to ensure that mail is taken in, the house is checked regularly and that lights are put on.
Call at your local police station and tell them you are going away. Make sure that they know how to contact you in case of trouble.
Don’t leave cash or valuables in the house—take them with you or put them in the bank．How should you deal with your ladders or tools?
| A．You should leave them in the yard． |
| B．You should put them in the safe place and lock the door． |
| C．You should lean them against the tree in the yard． |
| D．You should take them apart． |
When moving into a new house，you are supposed to_______．
| A．stop using the original lock |
| B．buy a safe |
| C．never let officials into your house unless he wears an official cap |
| D．stay away from strangers |
In case of your jewelry being stolen，you should do the following Except__________．
| A．taking a color photo of it |
| B．keep them at the bank |
| C．keep the picture in your house |
| D．keep them with your insurance company |
When you are away for holidays，you_________．
| A．should cancel your mail |
| B．shouldn’t leave your keys to your neighbors |
| C．shouldn’t make it known that your home is empty |
| D．should ask the police to check your house regularly |
An atheist was taking a walk through the woods, admiring all that the “accident of evolution” had created.
“What majestic trees! What powerful rivers! What beautiful animals!” he said to himself. As he was walking alongside the river he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him. He turned to look. He saw a 7 - foot grizzly（灰熊）charge towards him. He ran as fast as he could up the path. He looked over his shoulder and saw that the bear was closing. He ran even faster, so scared that tears were coming to his eyes. He looked over his shoulder again, and the bear was even closer. His heart was pumping frantically and he tried to run even faster. He tripped and fell on the ground. He rolled over to pick himself up but saw the bear right on top of him, reaching for him with his left paw and raising his right paw to strike him.
At that instant the atheist cried out “Oh my God!”
Time stopped. The bear froze. The forest was silent. Even the river stopped moving.
As a bright light shone upon the man, a voice came out of the sky,“ You deny my existence for all of these years; teach others I don’t exist; and even credit creation to a cosmic （宇宙的）accident. Do you expect me to help you out of this difficulty? Am I to count you as a believer?”
The atheist looked directly into the light. “It would be hypocritical（伪善的）of me to suddenly ask you to treat me as Christian now, but perhaps could you make the bear a Christian？”“Very well,” said the voice.
The light went out. The river ran again. And the sounds of the forest resumed.
And then the bear dropped his right paw... brought both paws together... bowed his head and spoke, “Lord, for this food which I am about to receive, I am truly thankful.”According to the passage, the “accident of evolution” refers to the following Except ________.
| A．rivers | B．God |
| C．trees | D．the 7 - foot grizzly |
It can be inferred from the passage that an atheist is a person ________.
| A．who believes that there is God | B．who likes to do good needs |
| C．who makes a living by selling wood | D．who denies the existence of God |
What is the purpose of this text?
| A．To tell a real interesting story. |
| B．To give practical advice. |
| C．To convince readers of the existence of God. |
| D．To entertain readers. |
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