A famous writer was visiting Japan. One day he was i______ to give a talk at a university to a large group of students. As n______ of them could understand French, he had to have a man to put what he said into Japanese.

　　During his talk, he told a funny story. It lasted（持续） for quite a long time. At last he stopped to let the man put it into Japanese. To his s______, all the students laughed after the man had spoken for a few seconds.

　　After the talk, the writer t______ the man for his good work and then said to him, "Now please tell me how you put that long story into such a short Japanese one." The man answered with a s______,  "I just said, "The famous writer has just told us a funny story. You will all laugh, please."

Making sense of how the US shows humor
Living in a new country gives me many surprises. The first surprise was the way that the US people speak
One day I saw someone was having a public speech in a square. I thought it would be a serious speech. But I soon found it became a kind of entertainment show.
The speaker told the audience to protect the environment with humorous words. Later he said some people’s behavior didn’t go with their words. He took the example of Taylor Swift’s song We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.[
He said that since Swift doesn’t want to be with the boy any more, she doesn’t need to speak it aloud, she doesn’t need to sing unless she still keeps in touch with that guy. It sounds like she is a hypocrite.
Then he sang the song in a funny way. The audience laughed out loudly. I felt a little angry because Swift is my favourite star. I couldn’t understand why they laughed at Swift.
As time goes on, I find many US people make fun of others. But they don’t mean to hurt them. They do that to show closeness and humour. And people who are laughed at seldom get angry. Now I understand the speaker at the square. Now I’ve got used to the way the US people speak.
It’s easy to find culture shock when you’re in a new place. But everyone should learn to understand different cultures and customs. 
【小题1】The man in the square was _______________.

完型填空：阅读下面短文，从短文后所给各题的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。
Monday morning is an important time at our school. All of the students go to the playground. We listen to music, and we  1 the national flag go up.
　 Usually, one student gives a talk on Monday mornings. One Monday last year, a boy gave the talk. He was   2 and excited! When I saw him, I wanted to have a try, too.
　 Can I really do it?
　 Last week, our teacher said our class should give the talk. My teacher   3 me, “I know you want to have a try. Next Monday morning, I want you to give the talk. Go and write something down.  4 for it, I’m sure you’ll do well.”
“Thank you.” I answered. It was such a great  5 for me! When I got home, I was excited. I wrote two pages for the talk. I read them again and again. When I read, I asked my parents  6 . I wanted to make my teacher happy.
Finally Monday morning came. I began to feel  7 .
When did I last give a talk to   8 many people? Never! This was my first time. Could I really  9 it? Maybe I couldn’t finish the talk.
When I got to school, we all went out to the playground. I  10 in front of everyone. I opened my mouth, but I couldn’t say anything.
“Take it easy,” I said to  11 . “Don’t be nervous. You can do it.”
Just then, I looked down at everyone. I saw about 1,000 eyes. They were all looking at me ! I couldn’t  12  stand up.
I took a look at their eyes more carefully. Their eyes seemed to say, “You can do it! Come on!   13 afraid, just talk!”
I took a big breath. Then I began to talk. It wasn’t hard. It was easy.
I don’t know  14 I finished my talk, but I tried my best to do it. I felt so good that day. I showed myself  15 everyone what I can do.

完形填空

Monday morning is an important time at our school. All of the students go to the playground.

We listen to music, and we  1 the national flag(国旗) go up.

Usually, one student gives a talk on Monday mornings. One Monday last year, a boy gave the talk. He was  2 and excited ! When I saw him, I wanted to have a try, too. Can I really do it?

Last week, our teacher said our class should give the talk. My teacher 3 me, "I know you want to have a try. Next Monday, you can give the talk. Go and write something down. Get ready for it, I'm sure you'll do well." "Thank you ," I answered, It was such a great  4 for me ! When I got home , I was excited. I wrote two pages for the talk. I read them again and again. When I read, I asked my parents  5  . I wanted to make my teacher happy.

Monday morning came. I began to feel  6  When did I last give a talk to so many people ? Never! This was my first time. Could I really do it?  Maybe I couldn't finish the talk.

When I got to school, we all went out to playground. I  7  in front of everyone. I opened my mouth, but I couldn't say anything. "Take it easy," I said to 8 . " Don't be nervous. You can do it."

Just then, I looked down at everyone. I saw about 1,000 eyes. They were all looking at me ! I couldn't even stand up. I looked at their eyes more carefully. Their eyes were saying , "You can do it! Don't be afraid, just talk !" I  9 a big breath(呼吸). Then I began to talk. It wasn't hard. It was easy. I don't know  10 I finished my talk. But I did it. I felt so good that day. I showed myself

to everyone what I can do.

Miss Evans was going to give a lecture (讲座) on Friday afternoon. But on Thursday night she was told that she had to go to an important meeting the next day at the same time. “No one can be in two places at the same time. What shall I do?” she thought. But soon, she had an idea. At five to three on Friday afternoon, Miss Evans went to the lecture room. There were twenty students waiting there for her. “I'm sorry,” she told them, “I won't be able to give my lecture today.” The students looked surprised. Miss Evans explained（解释） that she had an important meeting. “However,” she went on, “though I can't be with you myself, my voice can.” Then she put a small tape recorder (录音机) on the desk, “You see, I've recorded my lecture and you can listen to it without me.” Miss Evans turned on the recorder and left.

The meeting ended a little early. Miss Evans decided to go back to her students. She stood for a moment outside the lecture room, listening to her own voice. Then quickly, she opened the door. To her surprise, the room was empty. As she looked around, she saw a number of small recorders “listening” to her lecture!

“Well,” she thought, “If I can be in two places at the same time, why can't they?”

1.Miss Evans had to __________ on Friday afternoon.

A. give a lectureB. go to a meeting

C. record her lecture D. both A and B

2.Miss Evans recorded her lecture so that while she was away.

A. the students could listen to it

B. she could listen to her own voice

C. her voice could be with her

D. the students could do the same

3.When she returned from the meeting, Miss Evans found her lecture.

A. all her students listening to

B. every student recording

C. her students had left some recorders recording

D. some of her students listening to

4.Miss Evans thought it was ________.

A. all right for her students to do the same as she did

B. wrong for her students to be absent（缺席的) from the lecture

C. kind of her students to leave so many recorders

D. good for her students to do the same as she did