Amazingly for the British, who love queues, there is no formal line-up. The bar staff are skilled at knowing whose turn it is. You are permitted to try to attract attention, but there are rules about how to do this. Do not call out, tap coins on the counter, or wave like a drowning swimmer. Do not sigh or roll your eyes. And whatever you do, do not ring the bell hanging behind the counter. This is used by the landlord to signal closing time. The key thing is to catch the bar workers’ eyes. You could also hold an empty glass or some money, but do not wave them about. Do adopt an expectant, hopeful, even slightly anxious facial expression. If you look too complacent, the bar staff may assume you are already being served.
Always say “please” and try to avoid some of the British bar staff’s annoyance. They do not like people to keep others waiting while they make up their minds. They don’t like people standing against the bar when there are a lot of customers wanting for service. And they do not like people who wait until the end of the order and ask for such drinks as Guinness Stout which take considerably longer to pour than other drinks.
One Dutch tourist who spent six months visiting 800 of Britain’s 61,000 bars and interviewing 50 bar workers and more than 1,000 customers said, “I can not understand how the British ever manage to buy themselves a drink.” But they do, and if you follow these tips you should be able to do so, too.
Speaking of tips, you should never offer the bar staff cash. The correct behavior is to offer them a drink. Bars pride themselves on their equal atmosphere. A tip in cash would be a reminder of their service role. However, the offer of a drink is a friendly gesture.
1. What does the underlined word “complacent” in paragraph 1 mean?| A．Contented. | B．Worried. | C．Polite. | D．Annoyed. |
| A．To tap coins on the counter. | B．To hold an empty glass or some money. |
| C．To wave like drowning swimmers. | D．To ring the bell hanging behind the counter. |
| A．Correct bar staff’s misbehaviors. | B．Tip bar staff in cash. |
| C．Offer people present a drink. | D．Help to maintain the equal atmosphere. |
| A．Health. | B．Culture. | C．Economy. | D．Politics. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】On Monday, people across Kenya took part in the country’s first national tree-planting holiday. The holiday was created by Kenya’s president, William Ruto, to encourage people to plant trees as part of a plan to fight the climate crisis (危机).
Kenya is famous for its beautiful forests and wildlife. But large areas of Kenya’s forests have been cut down, either for the wood, to clear the land for farming, or both. And those trees would normally help take in carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that’s a major cause of the climate crisis.
In early November, to help get Kenya’s great tree-planting effort started, the government declared November 13 a holiday — National Tree Growing Day. To prepare for the day, the government got 150 million seedlings ready for planting.
The government created a special app to help organize the tree planting. The app is called JazaMiti, which means “fill with trees” in Swahili. The app helps people collect trees, find places to plant, and record their efforts. The app will also help the government track how many trees have been planted in different areas around the country.
People all over Kenya turned out in large numbers to take part in the holiday. Elizabeth Wathuti, who works to protect the environment, was very happy about the support that Kenyans showed for tree planting. But she pointed out that it would be very important to continue to take care of the trees as they grow. “Tree planting is just the beginning,” she said.
Many people were very excited about the tree-planting holiday. Some hope that it will happen every year.
1. Why do people cut down trees in Kenya?| A．To reduce the greenhouse gas. | B．To get more land for water. |
| C．To help with the climate crisis. | D．To get more farm land or wood. |
| A．Young trees. | B．Bottles of water. |
| C．Different rules. | D．Planting apps. |
| A．By showing the places to plant. | B．By watering the trees around. |
| C．By raising money for trees. | D．By recording the number of people. |
| A．The government should take care of the trees. |
| B．There’s still a long way to go for tree planting. |
| C．Protecting the environment is of less importance. |
| D．The tree-planting holiday should be held every year. |
【推荐2】Ivrea is a town in the Piedmont province of northern Italy. It is known for its local carnival（狂欢节）organized in February.
The main part of the carnival is the famous Battle of the Oranges (La battaglia delle arance). The Battle includes nine teams who throw oranges at each other during three carnival days – Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
Oranges were not always used in the battle. In the middle ages people used beans. Twice a year the local feudal lord gave a pot of beans to the poor families who, as sign of rebellion, threw them out of their homes. Later beans became part of carnival as sort of “ammunition” for throwing at people passing by.
It is still not known why exactly people started using oranges. It is believed that the origin for this tradition is in the mid 19th century. The legend says that local girls, standing on balconies, started to throw some oranges, together with confetti, lupins(白羽扇豆)and flowers, onto the parade carriages. The girls actually wanted to draw attention of boys in the carriages. Boys “answered” by throwing some objects back at girls. Little battle started that way.
Battle of the Oranges got strict rules after the World War II. The battles are organized on town's squares. The battles are fought between teams in carriages (symbolizing local the guards of local tyrant(恶霸)) and the teams walking beside those carriages (symbolizing rebellious people of Ivrea).
Oranges for the event are brought from the island of Sicily. The oranges used are of low quality, not suitable for humans. About 270,000 kilograms of oranges are used each year.
The carnival ends with a silent march on the night of “Fat Tuesday”. The Carnival "general" says goodbye to everyone with the phrase "See you next Fat Thursday at 1 p.m."
Special prizes are awarded to three best foot teams, three carriages drawn by two horses and three carriages drawn by four horses. Different elements are judged like for example throwing ability, fair play or decoration of carriages.
1. The word "ammunition" (paragraph 3) is closest in meaning to________.| A．decoration | B．bullets | C．advertisement | D．presents |
| A．the Carnival general | B．the local feudal lord |
| C．the rebellious people of Ivrea | D．the guards of local tyrant(暴君) |
| A．In the middle ages, people threw beans out of homes as a sign of rebellion. |
| B．Girls throw oranges towards carriages in the parade to attract the attention of boys inside. |
| C．Tons of oranges are used every year to hold the festival. |
| D．People started to throw oranges because they are of low quality and not suitable to eat. |
| A．A traditional activity in an Italian carnival |
| B．The origin of Battle of the Orange |
| C．How people enjoy themselves in the Orange Carnival |
| D．The rules of activities in carnivals in Italy |
【推荐3】Editor’s note: An increasing number of Chinese people, especially the young, are more willing to celebrate Western festivals. Should we celebrate foreign festivals? Forum readers share their opinions. You’re welcome to add yours.
Dinah (China)
I enjoy the happy atmosphere of both Chinese and Western festivals. As long as it is meaningful for me, I will celebrate it with my boyfriend, and my parents! I like Western festivals and often celebrate them without even knowing the origins of them. Why? Because what I really appreciate is just the happy atmosphere.
SharkMinnow (Canada)
Western Festivals are more like parties or games for some Chinese. Also, spending money = good for economy. Most Chinese don’t take Western festivals as seriously as their own. It’s like a game or party in my eyes. A way to blow off steam and have fun (and spend money).
Travis (UK)
As an Englishman teaching here in China for two years, my friends have got used to and enjoy celebrating my festivals. My school also likes it as well, although this year they asked me not to scare the teachers so much on Halloween. My Chinese friends enjoy taking part in my festivals, as they also learn more about my culture, and the history that goes with it…
Leesinchina (US)
Cherish your own festivals. It would be a pity if the Chinese accepted these Western days — first, because they have absolutely nothing to do with traditional Chinese culture. Second, they are a big trick by the big stores to get more money out of you. Stick to your own festivals — they actually mean something to you — rather than following western customs for no good reason.
1. What matters most according to Dinah?| A．The atmosphere when celebrating festivals. |
| B．The people with whom to celebrate festivals. |
| C．Celebrating Chinese festivals with her family. |
| D．Celebrating Western festivals in a good atmosphere. |
| A．Optimistic. | B．Indifferent. | C．Neutral. | D．Negative. |
| A．Entertainment. | B．Science. | C．Culture. | D．Education. |
【推荐1】The first chocolate was eaten by people in South America hundreds of years ago. In those days, the people did not really eat chocolate. They used the cocoa bean (可可豆) to make a chocolate drink and they enjoyed it very much. Many years later, the cocoa bean was brought to other countries and people came to love the taste of chocolate.
In 1824, John Cadbury opened a small shop in Britain. One of the things he sold was chocolate drink. In 1831, he opened a factory to make chocolate drink. He wanted to encourage people to drink chocolate instead of other drinks. A few years later, a man called Joseph Fry found a way to make chocolate instead of only drinking it. But at that time chocolate was very expensive and only the rich people could buy it. Later, ad more and more chocolate bars were produced and sold, it became cheaper.
However, a T first only plain chocolate (a kind of chocolate without milk and with very little sugar) was produced. Milk chocolate came later and this was made by adding milk to the chocolate. The first milk chocolate bar was made in Cadbury’s factory in 1897. Their most famous chocolate, Cadbury’s Milk Bar, was made in 1905, It has been the most popular chocolate in Britain and around the world for over 100 years. The Cadbury factory is still in Britain and the chocolate produced there is eaten all over the world. Every year, thousands of visitors visit the factory in order to see how chocolate is made.
1. Hundreds of years ago, people first began to drink chocolate in _______.| A．South America | B．South Africa |
| C．Britain | D．Australia |
| A．1824 | B．1831 |
| C．1897 | D．1905 |
| A．when chocolate was cheaper |
| B．when more and more chocolate was produced |
| C．when John Cadbury started to make chocolate drink |
| D．when Joseph Fry found a way to make chocolate bars. |
| A．because it was very expensive |
| B．because people didn’t like the taste |
| C．because they wanted to have other drinks |
| D．because there was no chocolate sold in the shops |
| A．was first made in 1897 |
| B．is a kind of plain chocolate |
| C．is famous neither in Britain nor in America |
| D．is popular not only in Britain but also around the world |
【推荐2】Why do Americans struggle with watching their weight, while the French, who consume rich food, continue to stay thin? Now a study by Cornell University suggests how lifestyles and decisions about eating may affect weight. Researchers conclude that the French tend to stop eating when they feel full. However, Americans tend to stop when their plate is empty or their favorite TV show is over.
According to Dr. Joseph Mercola, a health expert, the French see eating as an important part of their lifestyle. They enjoy food and therefore spend a fairly long time at the table, while Americans see eating as something to be squeezed (挤压) between the other daily activities. Mercola believes Americans lose the ability to sense when they are actually full. So they keep eating long after the French would have stopped. In addition, he points out that Americans drive to huge supermarkets to buy canned (灌装) and frozen foods for the week. The French, instead, tend to shop daily, walking to small shops and farmers’ markets where they have a choice of fresh fruits, vegetables, and eggs as well as high-quality meats for each meal.
After a visit to the United States, Mireille Guiliano, author of French Women Don’t Get Fat, decided to write about the importance of knowing when to stop rather than suggesting how to avoid food. Today she continues to stay slim and rarely (很少地) goes to the gym.
In spite of all these differences, evidence shows that recent lifestyle changes may be affecting French eating habits. Today the rate of obesity (肥胖)—or extreme overweight—among adults is only 6%. However, as American fast food gains acceptance (认可) and the young decline older traditions, the obesity rate among French children has reached 17%—and is growing.
1. According to Dr. Joseph Mercola, in what way are the French different from Americans?| A．They can’t sense when actually full. |
| B．They regard eating as a key part of their lifestyle. |
| C．They usually eat too much canned and frozen food. |
| D．They go shopping at huge supermarkets more frequently. |
| A．one has to go to the gym every day |
| B．one has to know how to eat much food |
| C．when eating, one should know when to stop |
| D．when eating, one has to empty his plate every time |
| A．defend | B．trace | C．cite | D．refuse |
| A．lifestyle and obesity | B．children and adults |
| C．fast food and overweight | D．Americans and the French |
【推荐3】“An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Similarly, if we drink a little more water every day, we may find that we need to go to the doctor a lot less often. A healthy diet is made up of water and a great many different kinds of foods. We know that healthy foods like fruits, vegetables and fish, are important as they provide us with energy and fibre, without giving us too much fat and sugar. But why is water important?
The human body needs water to survive. Water is important as it carries poisons and waste out of our bodies. However, doctors advise us to drink plenty of water, much more than the small amount we need to stay alive.
Some doctors believe that water is important for our health in all kinds of ways. They believe that a great many illnesses and health problems start as a result of dehydration—a lack(缺少) of water in the body. Most people are dehydrated at least some of time, although they probably don’t know it. It is surprising to learn that if we feel thirsty, we are already in the first stages of dehydration. In fact, we are advised to drink water before we feel thirsty.
These doctors think that health problems such as headaches, high blood pressure and asthma could be helped if people drink more water. They also believe that drinking more water can help people who are overweight. Water contains no calories so it will not make us put on weight. If we drink water, we will probably drink less sugary soft drinks such as Coca-cola. Doctors also believe that drinking more water may stop people from overeating. They say that many people think that they are hungry when they are, in fact, thirsty. Doctors suggest, therefore, that we eat less food and drink more water.
There are still many health problems that cannot be solved by drinking water, so we should not stop going to seeing the doctor completely. However, if we make a decision to drink water every day, we may find that we need to go to the doctor a lot less often.
1. We need _____for a healthy diet.| A．fibre | B．food |
| C．water | D．Water and different foods |
| A．energy and fibre in our bodies | B．fruit, vegetables and fish in our bodies |
| C．sugar and fat out of our bodies | D．poisons and waste out of our bodies |
| A．they think they are hungry and eat too much |
| B．they think they are thirsty and eat less |
| C．water has no calories |
| D．it makes them hungry |
| A．Fruit provides us with energy and fibre. |
| B．Some healthy problems start because of a lack of water. |
| C．The amount of water a person should drink in a day. |
| D．Drinking more water may stop people from overeating. |
【推荐1】The expression, “everybody’s doing it,” is very much at the center of the concept of peer pressure. It is a social influence applied on an individual in order to get that person to act or behave in a similar way as a larger group.
People are social creatures by nature, and so it is hardly surprising that some part of their self-respect comes from the approval of others. This instinct explains why the approval of peers, or the fear of disapproval, is such a powerful force in many people’s lives. This instinct drives people to dress one way at home and another way at work, or to answer a simple “fine” when a stranger asks “how are you?” even if it is not necessarily true.
For certain individuals, seeking social acceptance is so important that it becomes an addiction. Teens and young adults may feel forced to smoke, or drink alcohol, which might encourage criminal behavior. Mature adults may sometimes feel pressured to cover up illegal activity at the company where they work, or end up in debt because they are unable to hold back the desire to buy a house or car that they can’t afford in an effort to keep up with the peers.
However, peer pressure is not always negative. A student whose friends are good at academics may be urged to work harder and get good grades. Players on a sports team may feel driven to play harder in order to help the team win. This type of influence can also get a friend off smoking, or to help an adult take up a good habit or drop a bad one.
Although peer pressure is sometimes quite obvious, it can also be so subtle that a person may not even notice that it is affecting his or her behavior. For this reason, when making important decisions, simply going with an instinct is risky. Instead, people should seriously consider why they feel drawn to taking a particular action, or it is simply because everyone else is doing the same thing.
1. What does the underlined word “instinct” in paragraph 2 probably mean?| A．A natural tendency. | B．An acquired ability. |
| C．A popular idea. | D．An obvious mistake. |
| A．Potential causes of peer pressure. |
| B．Possible positive effects of peer pressure. |
| C．Negative consequences of peer pressure. |
| D．Tips for coping with peer pressure. |
| A．Simply go with an instinct. |
| B．Ask for advice from adults. |
| C．Listen to the inner motivation. |
| D．Follow in the footsteps of others. |
| A．Objective. | B．Ambiguous. |
| C．Critical. | D．Indifferent. |
【推荐2】Researchers from Pennsylvania University suggest that loud snoring can be caused by having a fat tongue. Scientists have long known that losing weight can help the condition, but now they know why. It explains why losing weight reduces the risk of obstructive sleep apnoea (阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停).
Improved symptoms are linked to slimming down the unexpected part of the body - opening the door to better treatments. Professor Richard Schwab, chief of sleep medicine at Pennsylvania University, said: "Most clinicians, and even experts in the sleep apnoea world, have not typically focused on fat in the tongue for treating sleep apnoea."Having a large neck was previously believed to be the culprit(引起问题的事物). Prof Schwab said: "Now we know tongue fat is a risk factor and sleep apnoea improves when tongue fat is reduced, we have established a unique therapeutic target that we've never had before.
In sleep apnoea the airways become blocked - leading to snoring . It blights the lives of four and two percent of middle aged men and women, respectively, in the UK. Long term, sleep apnoea is linked with a number of chronic diseases, including high blood pressure , heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke and depression.
Analyzing MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans of the throat and nose of obese patients, the researchers found reducing tongue fat is the key. They found that a reduction in tongue fat volume was the key factor. Weight loss also resulted in a smaller pterygoid - the jaw muscle that controls chewing. This is irrespective of whether they appear to fall into the typical "high-risk" obese categories, said Prof Schwab.
He added: "Primary care doctors, and perhaps even dentists, should be asking about snoring and sleepiness in all patients, even those who have a normal body mass index, as, based on our data, they may also be at risk for sleep apnoea."
Twenty-two million Americans suffer from sleep apnoea, in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts, causing patients to wake up randomly throughout their sleep cycles. One of the recommended treatments is CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure), which has been free on the NHS since March 2008.
1. What can we learn from Prof Schwab?| A．People with high tongue fat must be at high risk of obesity. |
| B．Sleep apnea improves when tongue fat is reduced. |
| C．Patients with a normal body mass index won’t develop sleep apnea. |
| D．Most clinicians focus on the fat on the tongue to treat sleep apnea. |
| A．The shape of tongue fat. |
| B．The harm of tongue fat. |
| C．The feature of tongue fat. |
| D．The cause of tongue fat. |
| A．harm | B．affect |
| C．benefit | D．cost |
【推荐3】People use color to express their feelings and describe their world. Many color-related phrases are a common part of our speech. Let’s see if we can figure out where they originated.
Black sheep of the family
The phrase refers to a member of a family or a group who is in disgrace (丢脸). It probably comes from the days when, in a group of sheep, the black ones were worth less than the white ones at market because their wool could not be dyed (染色) into different colors.
Green with envy
When your friend shows up with the hottest new video game in town, you might feel this way. Writers such as Shakespeare used the color green to represent envy. Greeks thought when a person was ill or envy, his or her body produced too much bile(胆汁) , giving his or her skin a greenish color.
Royal purple
Purple is a fairly popular color. It was once the most expensive dye in the world. The process of collecting the dye and processing it was long and complex. The resulting purple-colored cloth was costly, and only the richest people could afford to buy it.
True blue
Is your best friend “true blue”? No, this doesn’t mean that his hair is blue, but that he is honest, faithful, and reliable. Back when all color dyes came from natural sources, such as berries and leaves, blue was the most difficult color to produce and often faded quickly. Finally, during the Middle Ages, an English town became famous for a nice blue dye that didn’t fade after just a few washings.
1. What color was the symbol of wealth?| A．Black. | B．Green. | C．Blue. | D．Purple. |
| A．Black sheep of the family. | B．Green with envy. |
| C．Royal purple. | D．True blue. |
| A．To show what people use colors for. |
| B．To share the author’s speech about colors. |
| C．To encourage readers to use color-related phrases. |
| D．To discover the origins of some color-related phrases. |
