If you are ever lucky to be invited to a formal dinner party in Paris, remember that the French have their own way of doing things, and that even your finest manners may not be “correct” by French custom. For example, if you think showing up promptly at the time given on the invitation, armed with gifts of wine and roses, complimenting your hostess on her cooking, laughing heartily at the host's jokes and then leaping up to help the hostess will make you the perfect guest, think again.

　　Here Madame Nora Chabal, the marketing director of the Ritz Hotel in paris, explained how it works.

　　The first duty of the guest is to respond to the invitation within 48 hours. And, the guest may not ask to bring a guest because the hostess has chosen her own.

　　Flowers sent in advance are the preferred gift. They may also be sent afterwards with a thank-you note. It is considered a very bad form to arrive with s gift of flowers in hand there by forcing the hostess to deal with finding a vase when she is too busy to do that. See, that's the logic! The type of flowers sent has a code of its own, too. One must never send chrysanthemums because they are considered too humble a flower for occasion. Carnations are considered bad luck, and calla lilies are too reminiscent（令人联想）of funerals（葬礼）. A bouquet of red roses is a declaration of romantic intent. Don't send those unless you mean it, and never to a married hostess. And though the French love wine, you must never bring a bottle to a dinner party. Why, it's as if you feared your hosts would not have enough wine on land, and that's an insult. You may, however, offer a box of chocolates which the hostess will pass after dinner with coffee.

　　If an invitation is for eight o'clock, the considerate guest arrives at 8:15. Guests who arrive exactly on time or early are mere thoughtless ones who are not giving the hostess those last few minutes she needs to deal with details and

crises, The “correct” guest arrives between 15 to 20 minutes after the hour because dinner will be served exactly 30 minutes past the time on the invitation.

(1) Which of the following statements is right according to the French custom?

[　　]

A．When you receive an invitation, reply to it within two days. You'd better send flowers in advance.

B．Arrive exactly on time at the dinner party.

C．Bring a bottle of good wine to the dinner party.

D．Telephone to ask if you could bring a good friend to the party.

(2) Which of the following is right about sending flowers?

[　　]

A．If someone is dead, send chrysanthemums or calla lilies.

B．If someone is ill in hospital, send carnations.

C．If you are invited to a dinner party, send red roses to the hostess.

D．If you are in love with someone, send red roses.

(3) If you are in love with someone, send red roses, what should you do?

[　　]

A．Bring a bouquet of flowers when you go to the party.

B．Send a bouquet of flowers afterwards with a thank-you note.

C．Bring a bottle of wine instead of a bouquet of flowers.

D．The hostess will never mind of you send flower or not.

(4) What is the passage mainly about?

[　　]

A．How to hold a dinner party.

B．How to send flowers.

C．Good manners at a French dinner party.

D．Different countries have different manners.

Today, roller skating is easy and fun．But a long time ago, it wasn’t easy at all. Before 1750, the idea of skating didn’t exist. That changed because of a man named Joseph Merlin. Merlin’s work was making musical instruments. In his spare time he liked to play the violin. Joseph Merlin was a man of ideas and dreams. People called him a dreamer.

One day Merlin received an invitation to attend a fancy dress ball. He was very pleased and a little excited. As the day of the party came near, Merlin began to think how to make a grand entrance at the party. He had an idea. He thought he would get a lot of attention if he could skate into the room.

　　Merlin tried different ways to make himself roll. Finally, he decided to put two wheels under each shoe. These were the first roller skates. Merlin was very proud of his invention and dreamed of arriving at the party on wheels while playing the violin.

　　On the night of the party Merlin rolled into the room playing his violin. Everyone was astonished to see him. There was just one problem. Merlin had no way to stop his roller skates. He rolled on and on. Suddenly, he ran into a huge mirror that was hanging on the wall. Down fell the mirror, breaking to pieces. Nobody forgot Merlin’s grand entrance for a long time!

1.The text is mainly about ________.

A．a strange man

B．an unusual party

C．how the roller skating began

D．how people enjoyed themselves in the 18th century

2.People thought Merlin was a dreamer because he _________.

A．often gave others surprises	B．was a gifted musician
C．invented the roller skates	D．was full of imagination

3.Merlin put wheels under his shoes in order to ________ .

A．impress the party guests	B．arrive at the party sooner
C．test his invention	D．show his skill in walking on wheels

4.What is the main point the writer is trying to make in the last paragraph?

A．The roller skates needed further improvement.

B．The party guests took Merlin for a fool.

C．Merlin succeeded beyond expectation.

D．Merlin got himself into trouble.

 

There was a temple, in front of  which stood an ancient banyan ( 菩提树 ). One ____

morning, a monk got up to____the courtyard and noticed the fallen leaves were everywhere. He couldn’t help worrying and stared at the tree to____. Suddenly he dropped the broom and rushed to his master’s room. He knocked at the door to request for____.

When the master caught sight of his worried____，he thought something must have taken place. He asked with ____,“Why are you in a panic？”

The young monk was full of____and questioned，“Master, you persuade us to struggle to____our moral character and grasp the truth. However, even though I learn them well, it is hard to avoid____. Till then, aren't we just like the leaves in autumn or the deadwood in winter? And we will be buried by a handful of soil？”

Having heard it, the master pointed at the ancient banyan and____to him,“There is no____to worry about it. With winds blowing hard and the snow falling down heavily，the leaves in autumn and the deadwood in winter will climb back to the trees____and become the flowers in spring and grow up into the leaves in summer.”

“Why don't I see it？”

“The____is that there isn't any view in your heart, so you can't see the bloom.”

Facing the dancing leaves and____they will be in bloom, you need to be optimistic.  There are always some miseries which may____you when you are unprepared, but we don't need to worry for the____of this day.

Treat life with the attitude of optimism, because it can not only____the pain and misfortune, but also bring a kind of____mood to you. As long as the____is in the heart, the paths full of the sweet smell of flowers are____.

1.A．spring　　　　        B．summer　　　   C．autumn 　　      D．winter

2.A．take up    B．make up      C．bring up      D．clean up

3.A．sign B．sigh     C．admire         D．cheer

4.A．interview B．invitation     C．arrangementD．description

5.A．expression       B．impression  C．attitude       D．behavior

6.A．excitement       B．anger  C．concern      D．courage

7.A．doubt       B．pride  C．respect        D．enthusiasm

8.A．change     B．develop       C．show   D．discover

9.A．danger     B．death  C．growth         D．accident

10.A．announced    B．suggested   C．explained    D．declared

11.A．wonder B．choice         C．use      D．need

12.A．quickly   B．silently         C．badly  D．worriedly

13.A．result     B．answer        C．reason         D．course

14.A．imagining        B．realizing      C．demanding D．designing

15.A．relieve   B．occupy        C．strike  D．abandon

16.A．beginning       B．arrival C．harm   D．dream

17.A．agree     B．dissolve       C．compare     D．choose

18.A．disappointed B．puzzled        C．satisfied       D．left

19.A．environment B．view    C．point   D．sight

20.A．somewhere   B．everywhere         C．somehow    D．anyhow

 

In that country, guests usually feel that they are not highly ________ if the invitation to a dinner party is given only three or four days before the party date．

   A. regarded　　      B. thought      C. admired     D. concerned