Generally speaking, a British is widely regarded as a quiet, shy and conservative person who is ___1___ only among those with whom he is acquainted. When a stranger is at present, he often seems nervous, ___2___ embarrassed. You have to take a commuter train any morning or evening to ___3___ the truth of this. Serious-looking businessmen and women sit reading their newspapers or dozing in a corner; hardly anybody talks, since to do so would be considered quite offensive. ___4___, there is an unwritten but clearly understood code of behavior which, ___5___ broken, makes the offender immediately the object of ___6___. uhp.Yv@c
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It has been known as a fact that the a British has a ___7___ for the discussion of their weather and that, if given a chance, he will talk about it ___8___. Some people argue that it is because the British weather seldom ___9___ forecast and hence becomes a source of interest and ___10___ to everyone. This may be so. ___11___ a British cannot have much ___12___ in the weathermen, who, after promising fine, sunny weather for the following day, are often proved wrong ___13___ a cloud over the Atlantic brings rainy weather to all districts! The man in the street seems to be as accurate――or as inaccurate――as the weathermen in his ___14___. BNI)y@E^X
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Foreigners may be surprised at the number of references ___15___ weather that the British make to each other in the course of a single day. Very often conversational greetings are ___16___ by comments on the weather. "Nice day, isn't it?" "Beautiful!" may well be heard instead of "Good morning, how are you?" ___17___ the foreigner may consider this exaggerated and comic, it is worthwhile pointing out that it could be used to his advantage. ___18___ he wants to start a conversation with a British but is ___19___ to knowswheresto begin, he could do well to mention the state of the weather. It is a safe subject which will ___20___ an answer from even the most reserved of the British. eR6vO5to
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1. A. relaxed B. frustrated C. amused D. exhausted c/v|e&q
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2. A. yet B. otherwise C. even D. so s;*
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3. A. experience B. witness C. watch D. undergo +{I" e,Nk
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4. A. Deliberately B. Consequently C. Frequently D. Apparently #(i
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5. A. unless B. once C. while D. as N@}h
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6. A. suspicion B. opposition C. criticism D. praise iR88L&U>
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7. A. emotion B. fancy C. likeliness D. judgement Q9xb7)G
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8. A. at length B. to a great extent C. from his heart D. by all means Gsb^gd
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9. A. follows B. predicts C. defies D. supports ctLNzJes%
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