An American friend has invited you to visit his family. You’ve never been to an American’s home before, and you’re not sure what to do. Should you take a gift? How should you dress? What time should you arrive? What should you do when you get there? Glad you asked. When you’re the guest, you should just make yourself at home. That’s what hospitality(款待) is all about: making people feel at home when they’re not. 

The question of whether or not to bring a gift often makes guests squirm（难为情）. Giving your host a gift is not just a social manner in some cultures-it’s expected. But in American culture, a guest is not necessary to bring a present. Of course, some people do bring a small present to their host to show their thanks. The right gifts for the host might be flowers, candy, and you can bring toys if the family has small children. If you choose not to bring a gift, don’t worry. No one will even notice.

1.The passage talks about ______.

A. where to find a friend in need              B. what to do while visiting your friends

C. how to make friends                      D. when to visit your friend

2.The underlined word “manner” means ________ in Chinese.

  A. 弊端           B. 礼节           C. 趋势        D. 挑战

3.You can _______ if you want to bring a gift to your friend according to the passage.

  A. bring a bundle of beer

  B. bring him some beautiful clothes

  C. bring delicious food

  D. buy a bunch of fowlers

4. The underlined sentence wants to tell us _______.

A. you are impolite if you don’t bring a gift

B. how to pick out a gift for our friend

C. the host won’t care if you don’t bring a gift

D. bringing a gift is very necessary

 

An American friend has invited you to visit his family. You’ve never been to an American’s home before, and you’re not sure what to do. Should you take a gift? How should you dress? What time should you arrive? What should you do when you get there? Glad you asked. When you’re the guest, you should just make yourself at home. That’s what hospitality(款待) is all about: making people feel at home when they’re not. 
The question of whether or not to bring a gift often makes guests squirm（难为情）. Giving your host a gift is not just a social manner in some cultures-it’s expected. But in American culture, a guest is not necessary to bring a present. Of course, some people do bring a small present to their host to show their thanks. The right gifts for the host might be flowers, candy, and you can bring toys if the family has small children. If you choose not to bring a gift, don’t worry. No one will even notice.
【小题1】The passage talks about ______.

A．where to find a friend in need	B．what to do while visiting your friends
C．how to make friends	D．when to visit your friend

【小题2】The underlined word “manner” means ________ in Chinese.

A．弊端

B．礼节

C．趋势

D．挑战

【小题3】You can _______ if you want to bring a gift to your friend according to the passage.

A．bring a bundle of beer

B．bring him some beautiful clothes

C．bring delicious food

D．buy a bunch of fowlers

【小题4】 The underlined sentence wants to tell us _______.

A．you are impolite if you don’t bring a gift

B．how to pick out a gift for our friend

C．the host won’t care if you don’t bring a gift

D．bringing a gift is very necessary

In the United States, it is not usual to telephone someone early in the morning. If you telephone early in the day, while he is shaving or having breakfast, the time of the call shows that the matter is very important and requires immediate(立即的) attention. So it is with the telephone calls made after 11:00 pm. If someone receives a call during sleeping hours, he may think that it’s a matter of life and death. The time chosen for the call communicates its importance.

In social life, time plays a very important part. In the USA guests are likely to feel they are not highly regarded if the invitation to a dinner party reaches them only three or four days before the party date. But it is not true in all countries. In other areas of the world, it may be thought silly to make an appointment(约会) too far ahead because plans which are made for a date more than a week away may be forgotten. The meaning of time is not the same in different cultures that treat time differently; being on time is valued highly in American life, for example. If people are not on time, they may be regarded as impolite or not fully responsible(责任). In the USA no one would think of keeping a business friend for an hour; it would be too impolite. A person who is 5 minutes late is asked to make a shout apology (道歉). If he is less than 5 minutes late, he will say a few words of explanation(解释), though perhaps he will not complete the sentence.

1.A call at midnight would mean_________.

A．the matter is less important

B．the matter is too difficult to handle

C．the matter requires immediate attention

D．it is a matter of life and death

2.According to the passage, time plays a very important part in__________.

A．everyday life                           B．personal life

C．getting along with others                  D．business

3.In the passage, the writer suggests that invitation cards should be sent___________.

A．three or four days before the party date in all cultures

B．three or four days before the party date in some cultures

C．three or four days before the party date in the USA

D．at your chosen time

 

An American friend has invited you to visit his family. You’ve never been to an American’s home before, and you’re not sure what to do. Should you take a gift? How should you dress? What time should you arrive? What should you do when you get there? Glad you asked. When you’re the guest, you should just make yourself at home. That’s what hospitality(款待) is all about: making people feel at home when they’re not. 
The question of whether or not to bring a gift often makes guests squirm（难为情）. Giving your host a gift is not just a social manner in some cultures-it’s expected. But in American culture, a guest is not necessary to bring a present. Of course, some people do bring a small present to their host to show their thanks. The right gifts for the host might be flowers, candy, and you can bring toys if the family has small children. If you choose not to bring a gift, don’t worry. No one will even notice.
【小题1】The passage talks about ______.

A．where to find a friend in need	B．what to do while visiting your friends
C．how to make friends	D．when to visit your friend

【小题2】The underlined word “manner” means ________ in Chinese.

A．弊端

B．礼节

C．趋势

D．挑战

【小题3】You can _______ if you want to bring a gift to your friend according to the passage.

A．bring a bundle of beer

B．bring him some beautiful clothes

C．bring delicious food

D．buy a bunch of fowlers

【小题4】 The underlined sentence wants to tell us _______.

A．you are impolite if you don’t bring a gift

B．how to pick out a gift for our friend

C．the host won’t care if you don’t bring a gift

D．bringing a gift is very necessary

缺词填空（根据短文内容及首字母提示，填入所缺单词）（共10空，每空1分，满分10分）

Many books have been written about “the art of giving”. But what about the art of r  1  ? Sometimes, receiving a gift can be difficult, especially when someone buys you a gift you don’t want!

“I remember when I was about twelve years old, my parents b  2  me a purple purse,” laughs Guo Xiaojing. “It really made me feel embarrassed(尴尬), because I thought the purse was really ugly！Still, I pretended (假装)that I liked it b  3  I knew it would make my parents happy!”

Han Ling agrees. “That sounds like my grandparents！A few years ago, my grandparents gave me an orange sweater f  4  my birthday. I used to wear it every time I visited them, but when I left their house, I took it off! Of course, this made me feel g  5  . It was a very nice thought, but my grandparents have different taste from me! I think it’s hard to buy clothes or other personal things for people.”

To make things easier, some people would rather just give money. In some cultures, h  6   , receiving money can make people uncomfortable. “When someone gives me money, it j   7    makes me think they’re being lazy,” says John Wilson. “In England, we have a saying: It’s the thought that counts. When s   8   gives me money, I feel they don’t think at all. I prefer to receive a gift that has some thought behind it. I don’t mind if it’s something I don’t need. If someone has thought about a g   9   for me, it always makes me happy.”

Different people have very different thoughts on this subject! So maybe the art of receiving is e 10   more difficult than the art of giving! What do you think?