40．A．because　　　　　 B．when　　　　　 C．though　　　　　 D．unless

39．A．Right　　　　　　 B．Terrible　　　　 C．Fine　　　　　　 D．Yes

38．A．doesn’t　　　　　 B．mustn’t　　　　 C．shouldn’t　　　　 D．can’t

37．A．good　　　　　　 B．unusual　　　　 C．interesting　　　 D．possible

36．A．funny　　　　　　 B．friendly　　　　 C．strange　　　　　 D．useful

55. A. After　　　　 　 B. Last　　　　 　 C. Soon　　　　 　　　　　 D. Later

25

“How are you?” is a nice question. It’s a 　36　 　way that people in the United States meet each other. But “How are you?” is also a very 　37　 　question. It’s a question that often 　　38　 　have an answer. The person who asks “How are you?” hopes to hear the answer “　 39　 ”, even though the person’s friend isn’t fine, 　40　 　“How are you?” isn’t really a question, and “Fine” isn’t really an answer. They are simply other ways of saying “Hello” and “　 41　 ”.

Sometimes, people also don’t say just what they 　42　 . For example, when someone asks, “Do you agree?” the other person might be thinking, “No, I don’t agree. I think you’re wrong.” But it isn’t very 　43　 　to say so, so the other person might say, “I’m not so 　44　 .” It’s a nicer way to say that you don’t agree with someone.

People also don’t say just what they are thinking when they 　45　 　talking with other people. For example, many talks over the phone 　46　 　when one person says “I’ve got to go now.”　 Often, the person who wants to hang up gives an excuse: “Someone’s at the door.” “I’ve got to put the things 　47　 .” “Something is burning on the 　48　 .” The excuse might be real, or it might not. Perhaps the person who wants to hang up simply doesn’t want to talk 　49　 , but it isn’t very polite to say that. The excuse is more polite, and it doesn’t hurt the other person’s 　50　 .

54. A. still　　　　 　　 B. yet　　　　 　　 C. always　　　 　　　　　 D. never

53. A. busy　　　　 　　 B. tired　　　　 　 C. cold　　　　 　　　　 D. worried

52. A. seemed　　　 　 B. happened　　　 　　　 C. disappeared　　 　　　 D. appeared

51. A. out of　　　 　　 B. away　　　　 C. out　　　　 　　　　　 D. safe