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．

完形填空

　　This story took place in France during World War Ⅱ．At the edge of the forest lived a French girl named Marie．She spent her time looking 　　1　　 goats in the forest．

　　One day, she was sitting on a fallen tree, 　　2　　 she heard a voice from behind the bush．It said, “Don’t look around, but listen 　　3　　．You know the little window in the roof over your bed and hold your 　　4　　 lamp just under the window for ten minutes．And then put 　　5　　 the light and go to sleep．”

　　She did 　　6　　 the unseen man told her．She could hear a plane flying round and round 　　7　　 her cottage．“I’m helping the plane!” Marie said to 　　8　　．

　　At that time thousands of French people were 　　9　　 in the forests and mountains to resist the Germans．They were in need of food and weapons, which had to be 　　10　　 to them from planes coming from England．In this way, Marie carried out 　　11　　．

　　One morning Marie met the owner of the voice, a young French soldier．He sat near her and said, “Thank you, Marie, for what you have done．Tonight is very important．Things of great 　　12　　 will be dropped and the light must be shown at 3 o’clock in the morning．Can you keep 　　13　　 till then?” “I’ll not 　　14　　,” Marie answered．Night fell．Two 　　15　　 soldiers burst in, gun in hand．They searched the cottage and remained in her room and she was 　　16　　 to go outside．She sat still, wondering what she could do．She couldn’t stand on the bed to show the light．She remembered her 　　17　　 to the French soldier．The enemies were asleep．Just then she had an idea．Noiselessly she got out of the room and 　　18　　 fire to the hay．In a moment the cottage was burning．She ran 　　19　　 the forest．In the morning, the French soldier came．“You’ve done well, Marie,” he said, “You did not fail．The plane 　　20　　 us what we need．Your parents are safe．Come and join us．”