Question

Time talks. It speaks more plainly than words. Time in many ways.

Consider the different parts of the day, for example. The time of the day when something is done can give a meaning to the event. It is not a to telephone someone very early in the morning. If you telephone him early in the day, he is shaving or having breakfast, the time of the call shows that something is urgent and immediate attention.

The same meaning is telephone calls made after 11:00 pm. If someone receives a call during sleeping hours, he may think it is a of life or death. The time chosen for the call its importance.

In social life, time plays a very part. In the United States, guests tend to feel they are not highly regarded if the to a dinner party is extended only three or four days before the party date. But this is not in all countries. In other areas of the world, it may be considered foolish to make an appointment too far because plans which are made for a date more than a week away tend to be .

The meaning of time from place to place in the world. , misunderstandings often arise between people from different cultures that time differently. For example, promptness (准时) is greatly in American life. If people are not prompt, they may be regarded as or not fully responsible. In the US, no one would think of keeping a business partner for an hour; it would be too rude. A person who is five minutes late is to make a short apology.

1.A. wastes B. communicates C. travels D. runs

2.A. special B. ridiculous C. precious D. rare

3.A. custom B. deal C. problem D. duty

4.A. whenever B. though C. while D. once

5.A. gives B. escapes C. pays D. requires

6.A. compared with B. covered with C. attached to D. devoted to

7.A. story B. matter C. game D. view

8.A. reduces B. ignores C. doubts D. stresses

9.A. different B. small C. significant D. equal

10.A. plan B. invitation C. gift D. wish

11.A. true B. useful C. clear D. grateful

12.A. on time B. at length C. in advance D. by chance

13.A. remembered B. forgotten C. canceled D. opposed

14.A. varies B. separates C. rushes D. keeps

15.A. Meanwhile B. Otherwise C. Thus D. Besides

16.A. make B. kill C. save D. treat

17.A. complained B. valued C. seized D. influenced

18.A. impolite B. desperate C. helpless D. unlucky

19.A. working B. approaching C. waiting D. thinking

20.A. forced B. expected C. refused D. blessed

Answer 1

1.B

2.A

3.A

4.C

5.D

6.C

7.B

8.D

9.C

10.B

11.A

12.C

13.B

14.A

15.C

16.D

17.B

18.A

19.C

20.B

【解析】

试题分析：这篇文章主要讲述的是时间的声音。时间的诉说比起语言来更加平淡，但是它以自己的方式与人们交流。不同的时间代表不同的意义，守时与否也有着不同的含义。

1.B 考查动词。A. wastes 浪费；B. communicates 交流；C. travels 旅行；D. runs 奔跑。通过上文的It speaks more plainly than words.可知，此处说的是时间会说话，而和说话有关的，选择B最为恰当，指时间以很多种方式与人交流。

2.A 考查形容词。A. special 特别的；B. ridiculous 荒唐的；C. precious 珍贵的；D. rare 罕见的、少有的。根据下文所举例子可知，这里指的是不同时间的电话给人们不一样的感觉，故此空选择A，意为：某事在什么时间做对于这件事有着特别的意义。

3.A 考查名词。A. custom 风俗、习性、惯常行为；B. deal 交易；C. problem 问题；D. duty 责任、职责。而根据下文的 to telephone someone very early in the morning.可知这是一种行为，故选择A，意为：在很早打电话不是惯常行为。

4.C 考查连词。A. whenever 无论何时；B. though 虽然；C. while 当……时、然而；D. once 一旦。根据对前后句的理解可知选择C。句意为：如果你很早打电话给一个人，此时这个人正在刮脸或吃早饭，这个时间的电话说明有紧急事情发生。

5.D 考查动词。A. gives 给予；B. escapes 逃脱；C. pays 付钱、给予；D. requires 要求、需要。根据上文的the time of the call shows that something is urgent可知事情紧迫那么也就需要立即关注，故选择D。

6.C 考查动词短语。A. compared with 和……相比较；B. covered with 被……覆盖；C. attached to 附属于，爱慕；D. devoted to 投入，致力于。根据句意：同样的意思被_____晚上11点之后的电话。选择C最为恰当，解释为：晚上11点以后的电话也是同样的意思。

7.B 考查名词。A. story 故事；B. matter 事件；C. game 游戏；D. view 观点。根据搭配选择B，构成短语 a matter of life or death，意为生死攸关的事情。

8.D 考查动词。A. reduces 降低；B. ignores 忽视；C. doubts 怀疑；D. stresses 强调。根据句意：选择打电话的时间_____它的重要性。选择D最为恰当，意为：打电话的时间也强调了它的重要性。

9.C 考查形容词。A. different 不同的；B. small 小的；C. significant 重要的；D. equal 平等的。根据上文可知，不同时间的电话也有着不同的意义，以及下文内容可知美国人的时间观念很强。故选择C，意为时间在美国人的生活中起着重要的作用。

10.B 考查名词。A. plan 计划；B. invitation 邀请；C. gift 礼物；D. wish 愿望。根据下文的介词to可知，选择B，构成固定搭配the invitation to，意为：……的邀请。句意为：如果在聚会前两三天被邀请参加聚会的话，客人会觉得没有被重视。

11.A 考查形容词。A. true 真实的、准确的；B. useful 有用的；C. clear 清楚地；D. grateful 感激的。根据下文可知，在其他国家，聚会的邀请如果提前一个多星期会被认为是愚蠢的。那么也就是说美国人的那种想法在其他国家并非如此。故选择A。

12.C 考查短语。A. on time 准时；B. at length 终于；C. in advance 提前；D. by chance 偶尔。既然是聚会的约定自然是在聚会之前，故选择C，表示提前约定。

13.B 考查动词。A. remembered 记得；B. forgotten 忘记；C. canceled 取消；D. opposed 反对。根据常识可知，如果约定时间过早的话会被遗忘，故选择B。

14.A 考查动词。A. varies 改变、变化；B. separates 分隔、隔离；C. rushes 奔跑；D. keeps 维持。根据上一段内容可知，不同的国家时间的意义也不同，故选择A，意为：时间的意义会随着地方的不同而不同。

15.C 考查副词。A. Meanwhile 同时；B. Otherwise 否则；C. Thus 因此；D. Besides 除此之外。上一句意为时间的意义会随着地方的不同而不同，下一句意为来自不同国家的人们之间的误会也出现。两句话之间存在因果关系，故选择C。

16.D 考查动词。A. make 制作；B. kill 杀死；C. save 节约、挽救；D. treat 对待。根据下文内容可知，不同的人对待时间的看法也不同。故选择D。

17.B 考查动词。A. complained 抱怨；B. valued 重视；C. seized 抓住；D. influenced 影响。根据下文的If people are not prompt, they may be regarded as or not fully responsible.可知，美国人认为不准时是不负责任的表现，故准时是受重视的。所以选择B。

18.A 考查形容词。A. impolite 不礼貌的；B. desperate 绝望的；C. helpless 无助的；D. unlucky 不幸的。通过下文的or not fully responsible可知此处所填的词应该和not responsible相似，故选择A，表示不准时被视作是不礼貌，不负责任的行为。

19.C 考查动词。A. working 工作；B. approaching 接近、到来；C. waiting 等待；D. thinking 认为、想。通过上文可知，美国人很看重准时，以及下文的it would be rude，可推断出此处指的是不准时，也就是说让生意伙伴等待。故选择C。

20.考查动词。A. forced 强迫；B. expected 期待；C. refused 拒绝；D. blessed 祝福。根据上文可知在美国，人们很看重准时，也就是说，如果一个人迟到的话，别人会期待他道歉。故选择B。