It can’t be true that when in Rome do as the Romans do. So it’s necessary for you to know what you can talk about with the local people in other countries.

In France

You’ll find that conversations often turn into heated discussions. You’d better give opinions only on subjects that you are knowledgeable about. There is seldom a moment of silence, except when the topic under discussion has been finished, and nothing new has been introduced.

Food, art, music and current events or history are welcome topics. The French believe in freedom, and you can criticize（批评）anyone, but not Napoleon, who stands for the French spirit. Moreover, never use the conversation opener “What do you do?”

In Australia

Generally speaking, the Australians are excited about discussions. Many topics may be open to discussion, including religion and politics. The best way, however, is to wait for Australians to bring up these two subjects; be prepared to listen to what they are talking about.

The Australians like to criticize themselves, but they can’t stand being criticized by others. Don’t talk big. Instead, the Australians prefer to judge（判断）your abilities through your actions. People who show off their education in conversation may be laughed at.

In Switzerland

The Swiss may seem cold. Once you get close to them, however, you’ll find that they are honest, responsible people, who will respect your interests much.

They are good listeners and will remember almost everything you say to them. Sometimes they will even take notes while you speak. The Swiss are a very private people, so you should avoid asking personal questions. They can be rather serious, so it is advisable to avoid playing jokes on them.

53. According to the passage, it’s better not to criticize ______.

　 A. the Romans　　　　 B. the French　　　　 C. the Australians　 D. the Swiss

54. What can we infer from the passage?

　 A. The Swiss are not as cold as they seem to be.

　 B. The French can’t stand the heated discussions.

　 C. The Australians like to talk about their success.

　 D. The French usually have a conversation about jobs.

55. The writer wants to tell us 　　　.

　 A. what to introduce to foreigners

　 B. how to live in foreign countries

　 C. how to get along with foreigners

　 D. what to talk about in foreign countries

完形填空（二）（本题共15小题，满分30分）

阅读下面短文，根据文意，将方框内所给的词或短语的适当形式填入相应的空白处，使短文的意思完整。（每个词只能使用一次）（本题共十小题，每小题2分，满分20分）

We all need a healthy environment, but we produce waste every day and it___1__ our environment. Though we are young, we can still do something to help. In fact, even the simplest __2__activities can make a real difference to the environment. Here are some ideas for you.

Reduce means “use less”. Don’t waste things. This ___3__money and reduces pollution and waste going into the environment. Before we buy something new, think __4___it is really necessary—or maybe the old one will be just as good! When we do buy things, choose local products if __5____ and try not to buy too many things from abroad.

Reuse means “use again”. Use things for as long as possible. When we buy things, make sure that they __6__ a long time. We should look after them__7__ they will last and we should repair them if we can instead of  throwing them away and buying new ones. Don’t use a paper cup or a paper bag. It’s better to use a china cup and a lunch box because you can use them __8_.

Recycle means “change things into something else”. Although it takes __9__ to change something into something else, it’s better than throwing things away or burning them. Find out what can be recycled in your_10___ and take part in recycling programmes. We should also buy products made from recycled materials, such as recycled paper, to help save trees.