Question

阅读理解 　　Although gifts play an important role in business around the world, you run the risk of offending(冒犯)a colleague if you present an inappropriate gift．In many eyes, a poor gift choice is worse than not offering a gift at all． 　　Every culture has specific items that are considered taboo(忌讳)or bad luck．Many of these traditions aren't followed as much these days by the younger generations or within more modem and global companies．However, it's a good idea to be careful when you're deciding on a gift, particularly if the recipient is an older person． 　　Here are some gifts that you should avoid in certain parts of the world： 　　Europe：Red roses symbolize a romantic relationship in many parts of Europe．An arrangement containing 13 flowers is considered bad luck in Germany and Switzerland．In addition, the preference is for flower arrangements to have an even number of flowers． 　　China：Sharp objects symbolize the cutting off of the relationship．Clocks are not appropriate because the Chinese phrase to give a clock sounds the same as to attend a dying parent．Handkerchiefs imply sadness．Never give an odd(奇数)number of an item; odd numbers symbolize separation, loneliness, and death．Do not bring food when you're invited to a meal because that implies your host cannot provide enough food． 　　The Middle East：Buying alcohol is forbidden in the Islamic faith, so don't present wine to your host．Pigs are banned because they're considered scavengers, so you shouldn't bring pork products, either． 　　India：Cows are sacred in India, so items made from cowhide are very offensive． 　　Latin America：Since some of the world's finest leather goods are made in Latin America, it would be insulting to bring leather from another country．Also, chrysanthemums(菊花), white asters, carnations(康乃馨), and yellow and purple flowers are sent only for funerals(葬礼)． 　　Korea and Japan：Don't give items in groups of four or nine．The words in Korean and Japanese that sound the same as the words for four and nine are related to death．In Japan, individual flowers are only for courting, death, or an illness． 　　Germany, Switzerland, and Scandinavia：Keep your gifts simple．Large and expensive gifts are considered tasteless． (1) What does the author want to tell us in this passage? [　　] A． Not all the people like gifts． B． You shouldn't send gifts to people in some countries． C． You should make the right choice when sending gifts to people． D． It's better not to send gifts when you are in a foreign country． (2) The choice of flowers is important in ________ while the number of flowers is important in ________． [　　] A． Japan…Switzerland B． Korea…Europe C． Scandinavia…Latin America D． Latin America…Germany (3) An expensive painting would not be a good choice of gift in ________． [　　] A． China B． Scandinavia C． India D． The Middle East (4) From the passage we can infer that ________． [　　] A． some taboos are connected with everyday behaviors B． every culture has its gift taboos C． you needn't care about taboos when sending gifts to young people D． all the gift taboos are similar in western countries

Answer 1

答案：1．C;2．D;3．B;4．A;
解析：

(1)	主旨大意题。全篇文章的主题就是根据不同的文化，我们在送礼物时要有正确的选择。
(2)	事实细节题。从文中Latin America这一部分可以看出在拉丁美洲许多花是只用于送葬礼的，所以在拉丁美洲花的选择是很重要的；在Europe这一部分提到德国和瑞士都不喜欢13朵花。所以D项是正确的选择。
(3)	事实细节题。从最后一段可以看出在德国、瑞士及斯堪的纳维亚地区，礼品要送得简单，大而昂贵的礼物会被认为没有品位，所以送一副昂贵的画在斯堪的纳维亚地区不是一个好的选择。
(4)	推理判断题。文章第二段指出每种文化都有他们的忌讳，而这些忌讳就能够影响到日常生活的各种行为。B项是一个事实，勿需推断，不符合本题的要求。