小题训练 04(阅读理解)

小题训练之七（阅读理解）

A

Introductory Chemistry was taught at Duke University for many years by professor Bonk, One year, two guys took the class and did pretty well on all the quizzes and mid-terms. They each had a solid A. These two friends were so confident in going into the final that the weekend before finals week, despite the Chemistry final being on Monday, they decided to go to the University of Virginia to party with some friends.

They had a great time there. However, with their hangovers(宿醉) and tiredness, they overslept all day Sunday and didn't make it back to Duke until early Monday morning. Rather than taking the final then, they found professor Bonk after the final and explained to him how they missed the final. They told him they went up to the University of Virginia for the weekend and had planned to come back in time to study, but they had a fiat tire on the way back and didn't have a spare. So they were late getting back to campus.

Bonk thought this over and agreed that they could take the final the following day. The two guys, happily and relieved, studied that night and went in the next day at the time that Bonk had told them. He placed them in separate rooms and handed each of them a test booklet. He told them to begin.

They looked at the first problem which was something simple about solution(溶解). It was worth 5 points. "Cool," they thought, "this is going to be an easy final". They then turned the page. They were unprepared, however, for what they saw on it. The question contained only two words: (95 points) Which tire?

56. The two guys decided to go to the University of Virginia because

A. they were afraid of the final

B. there .was a party there

C. the final would be held there

D. they thought they can pass the final easily

57. At last they took the final on

A. Sunday

B. Monday

C. Tuesday

D. Saturday

58. From the passage we know __

A. the two guys came back to campus late on purpose

B. Bonk wasn't strict with the two guys

C. repairing the flat tire took the two guys a lot of time

D. Bonk didn't believe the two guys' explanation

59. After the final, they ___

A. might apologize to Professor Bonk

B. must have the same scores

C. wouldn't be confident in their Chemistry

D. would feel happy and relieved

60. From the passage we can get a lesson that __

A. he who makes no mistakes makes nothing

B. he is wise that is honest

C. one never loses anything by politeness

D. think twice before you do

B

It is commonly believed among many Chinese that Westerners who take "yes" and "no" by their face meanings are more straightforward than Chinese.

This makes some sense. Normally Westerners don't have to adopt Chinese strategies like sweeping the floor or constantly checking the clock to indicate to a guest that it's time to leave. They don't have to hesitate in saying "no" when they are not able to, or don't want to, offer help to a friend in need. There is no embarrassment attached to this behavior.

But it is too simple to conclude that Westerners are more direct speakers than the Chinese. There are many occasions when the way Westerners express themselves make Chinese look more straightforward and honest.

When I was a fresh international student, the director of our program once asked students in an e-mail what we thought about a new professor. I simply said "She seems to know a lot but doesn't know how to teach." And the director replied with "Thank you for being honest and straightforward."

Only years later when 1 better understood the new culture, I realized why I had gone too far. If that question were asked now, the reply would have three paragraphs devoted to the qualities of the professor before the last line came out -- "There are some gaps in her teaching methodology." Still tough, but at least it wouldn't be considered rude.

Indeed, the introverted (内敛的) social norms and the deeply-rooted "face issue" make honest speaking risky in China, Americans have their own reasons to be slippy (圆滑的). This results partly from suffocating (严格的)political correctness. It also results from several generations of people who have been told they have done well even when they have failed. It may not be unfair to suggest that many Americans are oversensitive and possess a perfect self image.

So, the next time you hear about the inscrutable (不可预知的) and indirect Chinese, it would be worth challenging the source and pointing out that the cultural comparisons are much more complex. But maybe you should do it in a roundabout way, to be polite.

61. How would Westerners indicate to the guests it's time to leave?