It is sometimes said that the English are polite people. This can make life difficult for foreigners. Suppose a foreign boy asks an English girl to go out with him and she says, “If I finish my work, I'll meet you in the cafe at 7 o'clock.” Is she saying “yes” or “no” to his invitation?

　　In grammatical terms, she is using the conditional structure. By using the conditional, speakers of English can avoid giving a “yes” or “no” answer to a question. It enables people to be diplomatic. If the girl doesn't want to go out with the boy, she won't turn up at the cafe. She will let him understand she is still working. If she wants to go out with him, but doesn't want to appear too easy to catch, she has achieved that with her reply. But in this case, as she uses the first conditional which shows probability, she is quite likely to turn up at the cafe. Being polite can make life very difficult!

　　The conditional is often used by people in the news－politicians, for example－who wish to avoid speaking out their ideas. This is very important if they are on their way to discuss an agreement. No one wants to give away his or her points before he or she starts. A government spokesman might say to a group of workers, “If we could pay you more, we would.” The use of the conditional here makes room for argument although the speaker is using the second conditional form, which shows improbability. So it is unlikely the workers will get their rise.

　　“If” is a small word, which appears often in the English language. It can show politeness, reported speech and conditionals such as the First－probability－if I can come to your party, I will; the Second－improbability－if I saw you tomorrow, I'd give you the book; and the Third－impossibility (meaning it is too late to change something that has happened)－if you have told me, I would have helped you.

　　注：conditional structure表示条件的句式，avoid避免，diplomatic婉转的，achieve达到，politician政客

1．The using of the conditional can make a speech ________.

[　　]

2．Which of the following is TURE according to the passage?

[　　]

A．Language used in the news should make room to argue.

B．Usually English girls are not easy to catch.

C．English people never speak out their ideas in public.

D．The word “if” can show different meanings.

3．In the passage, “If we could pay you more, we would.” probably means ________.

[　　]

A．the workers will make more money

B．the spokesman doesn't give any promise

C．the spokesman keeps his word

D．the workers' problems aren't difficult

4．This passage is mainly talking about ________.

[　　]

A．the conditional in communication

B．how to invite a girl in Britain

C．British people and their life

D．some language points in daily English

阅读理解

　　It is sometimes said that the English are polite people. This can make life difficult for foreigners. Suppose a foreign boy asks an English girl to go out with him and she says, “I finish my work, I'll meet you in the cafe at 7 o'clock.” Is she saying “yes” or “no” to his invitation?

　　In grammatical terms, she is using the conditional structure(表示条件的句子). By using the conditional, speakers of English can avoid giving a “yes” or “no” answer to a question. It enables people to be diplomatic(婉转的). If the girl doesn't want to go out with the boy, she won't turn up at the cafe. She will let him understand she is still working, if she wants to go out with him, but doesn't want to appear too easy to catch, she has achieved that with her reply. But in this case, as she uses the first conditional which shows probability, she is quite likely to turn up at the cafe. Being polite can make life very difficult!

　　The conditional is often used by people in the news－politicians, for example－who wish to avoid speaking out their ideas. This is very important if they are on their way to discuss an agreement. No one wants to give away his or her points before he or she starts. A government spokesman might say to a group of workers, “If we could pay you more, we would.” The use of the conditional here makes room for argument although the speaker is using the second conditional form, which shows improbability. So it is unlikely the workers will get their rise.

　　“If” is a small word, which appears often in the English language. It can show politeness, reported speech and conditionals such as the First－probability－if I can come to your party, I will; the Second－improbability－if I saw you tomorrow, I'd give you the book; and the Third－impossibility (meaning it is too late to change something that has happened)－if you have told me, I would have helped you.

1．The using of the conditional can make a speech ________.

[　　]

2．Which of the following is true according to the passage?

[　　]

A．Language used in the news should make room to argue.

B．Usually English girls are not easy to catch.

C．English people never speak out their ideas in public.

D．The word “if” can show different meanings.

3．In the passage, “If we could pay you more, we would.” probably means “________.”

[　　]

A．the workers will make more money

B．the spokesman doesn't give any promise

C．the spokesman keeps his word

D．the workers' problems aren't difficult

4．This passage is mainly talking about ________.

[　　]

A．the conditional in communication

B．how to invite a girl in Britain

C．British people and their life

D．some language points in daily English

In Canada and the United States, people enjoy entertaining(请客) at home. They often invite friends over for a meal, a party, or just for conversation.

Here are the kinds of things people say when they invite someone to their home.

"Would you like to come over for dinner this Saturday night?"

"Hey, we're having a dinner on Friday. Can you come?"

To reply to an invitation, either say thank you and accept(接受), or say you' re sorry and give an excuse: "Thanks, I'd love to. What time would you like us to come?" or "Oh, sorry, I've tickets for a film."

Sometimes, however, people use expressions that sound like invitations but they are not real invitations, such as, "Please come over for a drink sometime." or "Why don't you come over and see us sometime?"

They are really polite ways of ending a conversation. They are not real invitations because they don't mention a nice time or date. They just show that the person is trying to be friendly. To reply to expressions like this, people just say: "Sure, that would be great!", "OK." or "Yes, thanks."

41. _____ enjoy entertaining at home.

A. Canadian and American people       B. Some friendly people

C. People in English--speaking countries  D. People abroad

42. Which of the following is NOT a real invitation?

A. Please go to the concert with me some day.

B. Would you like to have a cup of tea with us this evening?

C. I've two tickets here. Can you go to the cinema with me?

D. If you are free now, let's go to Wang's for a drink.

43. If people say, "Why not get together for a party sometime?",  you just say "__________ "

A. I'm glad to hear that.     B. How about this evening?

C. Oh, sorry. I'm very busy.  D. That's great. Thanks.

44. People use "an unreal invitation" in order to show________.

A. they're trying to be friendly  B. they have already got ready for a party or a meal

C. they're trying to make friends with others   D. their spirit of generosity   

45. Which of the following is right?

 A. This passage is mainly about table manners in Canada and USA.

 B. People in Canada are friendlier than those in USA.

 C. "Please come over for a drink sometime."is used to show he or she is friendly.

 D. Poeple in Canada and USA are dishonest.