2010年中石化职称英语考试阅读理解部分

经典word整理文档，仅参考，双击此处可删除页眉页脚。本资料属于网络整理，如有侵权，请联系删除，谢谢！2010年中石化职称英语考试阅读理解部分Passage1Justasmanhasfoundgreatusesforthematerials,whichhecandigupfromtheground,so,too,hehasfoundimportantuseforthegases,whichhecanobtainfromtheair.Oxygenandnitrogencanbemadefromothermaterials,buttheyareusuallyobtainedfromtheairbecauseairissoplentiful.Someoftheothergases,suchasargon,canonlybeobtainedfromtheair.Thereissolittlecarbondioxideintheairthatitisbettertoobtainitinotherways.Theproblem,ofcourse,istofindqquickandusefulwayofseparatingthegasesintheair.Letusreadhowthisisdone.Werememberhowaircanbemadeintoaliquid.Iftheliquidiswarmedagain,It"boils"andturnsbackintoagas.Nowoxygendoesnotboilawayfromliquidairsoeasilyasnitrogen.Bycarefularrangementoftheboiling,itispossibletomakethenitrogenturnbackintoagasandleavetheliquidoxygenbehind.Theoxygencanbeturnedintoagaslater.InThiswaytheoxygenandnitrogenareseparated.Theothergases,suchasargon,canalsobeobtainedseparatelybyverycarefularrangementoftheboiling.Questions.Whypeopleusuallyobtainoxygenandnitrogenfromtheair?Whathappensiftheliquidiswarmedagain?Doesnitrogenboileasilythanoxygendoes?Canthenitrogenturnbackintoagas?Howareoxygenandnitrogenseparated?Passage1l)Becauseairisplentiful.2)Itboilsandturnshackintoagas.3)Yes,itdoes.4)Yes,itcan.5)Makethenitrogenturnbackintoagasandleavetheliquidoxygenbehind.Passage2Scientistscalltheprocessofwaterspreadingoverasurfacewetting.Butwaterdoesn'talwaysdoagoodjobofwettingasurface.You'veprobablynoticedthiswhenlookingatthesurfaceofawaxedcarafterarain.Thewatersitsonthecarintinybeads.That'sbecausethewatermoleculesarestronglyattractedtooneanother.Theytendtobunchtogetherwhichmakesthemformbeads.However,chemicalscalledsurfactantscanweakentheattractionofwatermoleculesforoneanother.(Theyweakenthesurfacetension.)Sosurfactantsareputindetergentstoallowthewatertospreadoutonasurface.(Loweringsurfacetensionalsocausesdetergentstoformsuds.Butsudsaren'tanecessarypartofthecleaningprocess.)Adetergentmoleculehastwoends.Oneendishydrophilic("waterloving").Thatis,itisattractedtowater.Theotherendishydrophobic.Thatis,itisrepulsedbywater,However,thishydrophobicendofadetergentmoleculeisattractedtosubstancessuchasfats.Theresuit?Withthehelpofsomemechanicalaction,likescrubbingortumbling,thehydrophobicendofthedetergentmoleculedragsthefatoffthesurfacetohecleanedwhilethehydrophilicendpullsthefatintothewater.Sowhenthewaterheadsforthedrain,downgoesthefatwithanicesoundinggurgle,leavingacleandishorevenacleanseabirdbehind.Questions:Howmanyendsdoesadetergentmoleculehave?Whathappensonawaxedcarafterarain?Whatfunctiondosurfactantshave?Whichendofthedetergentmoleculepullsthefatintothewater?Whatdoestheword"hydrophilic"mean?Passage2Adetergentmoleculehastwoends.Thewatersitsonthecarintinyheads.Itcanallowthewatertospreadoutonasurface.Thehydrophilicendpullsthefatintothewater.Hydrophilicisoneendofadetergentmoleculewhichisattractedtowater.Passage3SincenooneknowswhatscientificdiscoverieswillbemadebetweennowandtheyearA.D.2000,eachofuscanmakehisownpredictions.Withthescientificinformationthatwehaveavailablenow,let’smakeandestimateofprogressinairtravel.Itislikelythatwithin50yearsweshalltravelthroughtheairataspeedof10,000milesperhour.Toofast?Notatall.Jet-propelledplanescannowtravelatleast1,000milesanhour,andjetplaneswillbeoutmodedshortlybytolandasatelliteontheplanetEarth,andithasbeensendingbacksignalsaswellasphotographseversince.ThesatellitewasdirectedintoanareaknownasManhattan.Becauseofexcellentweatherconditionsandextremelystrongsignals,VenusianscientistswereabletogetvaluableinformationastothefeasibilityofamannedflyingsaucerlandingonEarth.ApressconferencewasheldattheVenusInstituteofTechnology."Wehavecometotheconclusion,basedonlastweek'ssatellitelanding',Prof.Zogsaid,"thatthereisnolifeonEarth.""Howdoyouknowthis?"ThesciencereporteroftheVenusEveningStarasked."Foronething,Earth’ssurfaceintheareaofManhattaniscomposedofsolidconcreteandnothingcangrowthere.Foranother,theatmosphereisfilledwithcarbonmonoxideandotherdeadlygasesandnobodycouldpossiblybreathethisairandsurvive.""Whatdoesthismeanasfarasourflyingsaucerprogramisconcerned?""Weshallhavetotakeourownoxygenwithus,whichmeansamuchheavierflyingsaucerthanweoriginallyplanned.""Arethereanyotherhazardsthatyoudiscoveredinyourstudies?""Takealookatthisphoto.YouseethisdarkblackcloudhoveringoverthesurfaceofEarth?WecallthistheConsolidatedEdisonBellWedon'tknowwhatitismadeof,butitcouldgiveusalotoftroubleandweshallhavetomakefurthertestsbeforewesendaVenusBeingthere."'Overhereyouwillnoticewhatseemstobeariver,butthesatellitefindingsindicateitispollutedandthewaterisunfittodrink,Thismeansweshallhavetocarryourownwater,whichwilladdevengreaterweighttothesaucer.""Sir,whatareallthosetinyblackspotsonthephotographs?""Wearenotcertain.Theyseemtobemetalparticlesthatmovealongcertainpaths.Theyemitgases,makenoiseandkeepcrashingintoeachother.Therearesomanyofthesepathsandsomanymetalparticlesthatitisimpossibletolandaflyingsaucerwithoutitsbeingsmashedbyone."Whatarethosestalagmiteprojectionsstickingup?""Theyaresometypeofgraniteformationsthatgiveofflightatnight.Prof.Glomhasnamedthemskyscraperssincetheyseemtobescrapingtheskies.""Ifallyousayistrue,won'tthissetbacktheflyingsaucerprogramseveralyears?""Yes,butweshallproceedassoonastheGrubstartgivesustheaddedfunds."‘Prof.Zog,whyarewespendingbillionsandbillionsofzilchestolanda{lyingsauceronEarthwhenthereisnolifethere?""BecauseifweVenusianscanlearntobreatheinanEarthatmosphere,thenwecanliveanywhere.Qutestions:1)WhatcausedtheexcitementontheplanetVenus?2)WhatledtheVenusianscientiststobelievethatthereisnolifeonEarth?3)What,accordingtoProf.Zog,willaddweighttothesaucer?4)WhydoesProf.ZogthinkitimpossibletolandaflyingsauceronEarthwithoutitsbeingsmashed?5)Whatdothe"tinyblackspots"referto,infact?6)Thetoneoftheessayis7)Thepurposeoftheauthorinwritingthisbookis8)Whatdoesthe"darkcloud”onthephotographalludeto(暗指)?Passage9..1)ForthefirsttimeVenusianscientistsmanagedtolandaatelliteontheplanetEarthandithasbeensendinghacksignalsaswellasphotographseversince.Foronething,Earth'ssurfaceintheareaofManhattaniscomposedofsolidconcreteandnothingcangrowthere.Foranother,theatmosphereisfilledwithcarbonmonoxideandotherdeadlygasesandnobodycouldpossiblyletterboxandunderthedoor,andsmeltsomethingburning.Becauseshewasgettingdressed.Shewashavingabath.Shewentuptohelptheoldladyclearupthemess.Becausethecupscrashedtothefloor.Passage8Iwouldliketoproposethatforsixtytoninetyminuteseachevening,rightaftertheearlyeveningnews,alltelevisionbroadcastingintheUnitedStatesbeprohibitedbylaw.Letustakeaserious,reasonablelookatwhattheresultsmightbeifsuchaproposalwereaccepted.Familiesmightusethetimeforarealfamilyhour.WithoutthedistractionofTV,theymightsitaroundtogetherafterdinnerandactuallytalktooneanother.Itiswellknownthatmanyofourproblems--everything,infact,fromthegenerationgaptothehighdivorceratetosomeformsofmentalillnessarecausedatleastinpartbyfailuretocommunicate.Wedonottelleachotherwhatisdisturbingus.Theresultisemotionaldifficultyofonekindoranother.Byusingthequietfamilyhourtodiscussourproblems,wemightgettoknoweachotherbetter,andtolikeeachotherbetter.Oneveningswhensuchtalkisunnecessary,familiescouldrediscovermoreactivepastimes.FreedfromTV,forcedtofindtheirownactivities,theymighttakearidetogethertowachthesunset.Ortheymighttakeawalktogether(rememberfeet?)andseetheneighborhoodwithfresh,neweyes.WithfreetimeandnoTV,childrenandadultsmightrediscoverreading.ThereismoreentertainmentinagoodbookthaninamonthoftypicalTVprogramming.EducatorsreportthatthegenerationgrowingupwithtelevisioncanbarelywriteandEnglishsentence,evenatthecollegelevel.Writingisoftenlearnedfromreading.Amoreliteratenewgenerationcouldbeaproductofthequiethour.Adifferentformofreadingmightalsohedone,asitwasinthepast:readingaloud.Fewpastimesbringafamilyclosertogetherthangatheringaroundandlisteningtomotherorfatherreadagoodstory.Thequiethourcouldbecomethestoryhour.Whenthequiethourends,theTVnetworksmightevenbeforcedtocomeupwithbettershowsinordertogetushackfromournewlydiscoveredactivities.Atfirstglance,theideaofanhourwithoutTVseemsradical.Whatwillparentsdowithouttheelectronicbaby-sitter?Howwillwespendthetime?Butitisnotradicalatall.Ithasbeenonlytwenty-fiveyearssincetelevisioncametocontrolAmericanfreetime.Thoseofusthirty--fiveandoldercanrememberchildhoodswithouttelevision,spentpartlywithradio-whichatleastinvolvedthelistener’simagination--butalsowithreading,learning,talking,playinggames,inventingnewactivities.Itwasn'tthatdifficult.Honest.Thetruthiswehadaball,Questions:Whatisthewriter’sproposal?Inpartatleast,whatcausedthegenerationgap,highratedivorcerateandsomeformsofmentalillnessproblems?Accordingtotheauthor,whatcouldhelptoturnoutamoreliteratenewgeneration?WhateffectmighttheideaofanhourwithoutTVhaveontheTVnetworks?Whatisthemainideaofthispassage?Passage81)Theproposalisthatforsixtytoninetyminuteseachevening,rightaftertheearlyeveningnews,alltelevisionbroadcastingintheUnitedStatesheprohibitedbylaw.2)Theyarecausedinpartatleastbyourfailuretocommunicate.3)TurningoffTVforanhoureveryevening.4)Theymightevenbeforcedtocomeupwithbettershows.5)Weshouldshownotelevisionprogramsforaboutonehoureveryevening.passage9TherewasgreatexcitementontheplanetofVenusthisweek,forthefirsttimeVenusianscientistsmanagedPresentlytherecamebehindusthesoundofaheavytread,andbeforeyoucouldsay"JackRobinson",apolicemanwasstandinginfrontofme,hisnotebookopen,andadeterminedlookonhisface."Excuseme,sir."hesaid,"youhavearemarkablevoice,iflmaysayso,Whotaughtyousinging?I'dverymuchliketofindsomeonewhocangivemydaughtersinginglessons.Wouldyoubekindenoughtotellmeyournameandaddress?Thenmywifeorlwoulddropyoualineandwecoulddiscussthematter."Questions:1)Whendid"thewriterandhisfriendwalkhomeoneevening?2)Wherehadtheybeen?3)Whydidhisfriendaskhimtobequiet?4)Whatdidtheyhearsoon?5)Whydidthepolicemanwanttoknowhisnameandaddress?Passage61)Longaftermostpeoplehadgonetobed./Lateoneevening.2)Theyhadbeentoamusical.3)Becausehisfriendthoughtthathewouldgiveeverybodyafrightandwakepeopleupformilesaround.Besides,theywouldthinkthemdrunkards.4)Thesoundofaheavytread.5)Hewantedtoaskhimtogivehisdaughtersinginglessons.Passage7Oneeveninglastweek,mywifeandIweresittingquietlyathome.ShewaswatchingTVwhile1wasreadingahook.Suddenlyweheardaloudband.fsupposedthattheoldladyintheflataboveourswasmovingthefurnitureabout.Mywifewasafraidthatthenoisewouldmakethebaby.Sheturneddownthetelevisionandamomentlaterweheardsomeonecallingforhelp.Iranupstairs.Theoldlady'sdoorwasshut,butIcouldseesmokecomingthroughtheletterboxandunderthedoor,andcouldsmellsomethingburning."theflatisonfire,"Ishouteddowntomywife,"ringthefirebrigade."Ihangedonthedoor,buttheoldladytookalongtimetoanswer.Iwasturningoverinmymindtheideaofbreakingthedoordownwhenshefinallyappeared."Iwashavingabath,"shesaid,"whenthewaterheaterinthekitchenblewup.""Whydidn'tyouopenthedoor?'Iaskedher."1wasgettingdressedwhenyouknoeked,"shesaid,lookingembarrassed.Itookherdownstairstoourflat.ThenIranback,wentinsidetheoldlady’sflatandturnedthegasofftopreventanotherexplosion.Smokewaspouringoutofthekitchenandtheheaterwasinflames.JustthenIhearda~ireenginearrivingoutsideandtheheavyfootstepsofthefiremenonthestairs.1lookedroundandnoticedtwoofthemstandinginthedoorway.“It’sinhere.”Isaid."Youturneduppromptly,Imustsay."WhenIgotbacktoourflat,mywifewasmakingtheoldladyacupoftea.Soonafterwards,thefirechiefcameintoasksomequestions.Itturnedoutthatthefirewasnotveryseriousandthefiremenwerealreadyputtingitoutwhentheyleft,mywifewentupwiththeoldladytohelpherclearupthemess.Whenshereturned,mywiferemarkedz"it'sallrightnow.Nothingwasdamagedexcepttheheater.Butwasn'titluckythatBabysleptthroughallthatnoise?"ShetooktheteacupsintothekitchenandIheardherscreamandthecupscrashtothefloor.WhenIgotthere,waterwasdrippingslowlyfromtheceilingandformingapoolonthefloor.Thebabywokeupatlastandstartedtocry.Questions1)Whydidtheauthorknowtheflatwasonfire?2)Whydidn'ttheoldladyopenthedoor?3)Whatwastheladydoingwhenthewaterheaterinthekitchenexploded?4)Whydidhiswifegoupstairswiththeoldladywhenthefiremenleft?5)Whydidhiswifescream?Passage7Hesawsmokecomingthroughthetodoistolivewithyourteacherduringyourcourse.Theobviousadvantageofhomestayisthat,throughthecourse,youonlyspeakEnglishandyoudonotmeetotherstudentswhospeakyournativelanguage.Also,totalimmersioninanEnglish-speakingenvironmenthelpsyouavoidpickingupcommonmistakesand'had'languagehabitsfromfellowlearners.Formoststudents,however,itisthetailor--madeteachingthathomestayprovideswhichmakesthemdecidetochoosethesecourses."Peoplelikehomestaybecauseitallowsthemtoconcentrateontheirownweakness.Ifyouhaveapronunciationproblem,forexample,youdon'twanttositinaclasswith20otherstudentsdiscussinghowtopronounceaparticularword."Atamorepersonallevel,livingwiththeteachersandtheirfamiliescanhelpyoulearnaboutBritishlifeandculture.Tomakesuretheenvironmentisrightfortheindividual,itisveryimportantthateachstudentbematchedwiththerighthostfamily.Thisisthejobofhomestayorganizations,whichactasintermediariesbetweenteachersandstudentsthroughinterviewsandsurveys.Thedisadvantagetohomestayis,obviously,thecost.Atwo--weekcourse,includingfullboardand15hoursofclassesperweek,willcostabout$1000.AndpricesarehigherwhenEnglishforSpecialPurposesisneeded.Thismeansthathomestayprogramsaregenerallymorepopularwitholderstudents,particularlyprofessionals.Theaverageageisbetween17and35,andmostorganizationsspeciallymakematurestudentsthetargets.Atpresent,homestayprogramsdonotcomeunderanyqualityguaranteeschemes.TheBritishCouncilandotherinspectiongroupsexpectthat,bytheendof1995,homestayprogramswillhavetheirownqualityscheme.But,asyet,nomethodsofmonitoringandinspectionhavebeenagreedupon.Thisislikelytobeamajorlogisticalproblemasmanyoperatorshavehundredsofteachersrunningcoursealloverthecountry.Questions:Whatishomestayprogram?Ifapersontakesthehomestayprogram,hewillWhatdoestheauthorsuggest?Inordertomakesureofthequalityoftheprograms,theymustWhatisthemainideaofthepassage?Passage5Livingwiththeteacher(togetimmersedintheEnglishenvironmentandculture)tolearnEnglishbetterlearnEnglishbetter/beimmersedintheEnglishculture.IfstudentswanttolearnEnglishbettertheyshouldtakehomestayprogramsbeinspected.HowtolearnEnglishbetter./Homestayprogram.passage6Oneevening,longaftermostpeoplehadgonetobed,afriendandIweremakingourwaymerrilyhomethroughthesilentandalmostdesertedstreets.Wehadbeentoamusical,andweretalkingaboutthepeoplewehadseenandheardinit."Thatshowmadehimastarovernight,'saidmyfriendaboutoneofthem."Hewascompletelyunknownbefore.Andnowthousandsofteenagerssendhimchocolatesandlovelettersbyeverypost.""Ithoughthimquitegood,'Isaid,"butnotworththousandsoflovelettersdaily.Asamatteroffact,oneofhissongsgavemeapain.""Whatwasthat?"myfriendasked."Singittome."Iburstintoaparodyofthesong."Bequiet,forheaven'ssake."Myfriendhadgivenmeanastonishedlook."You'llgiveeverybodyafrightandwakepeopleupformilesaround.Besides,they'llthinkyouadrunkard,andmetoo,probably.Andthenwe'llhaveapolicemanafterus.""Nevermind,"Isold,intoxicatedmorewiththesoundofmyownvoicethanwiththefewdrinkswehad."Idon'tcare.Whatdoesitmatter?"AndIwentonsinginghimthelatesttunesatthetopofmyvoice.breathethisairandsurvive.Theywillhavetotakeoxygenandwaterwiththem.Becausetherearesomanypathsandsomanymetalparticles.Vehicles.Humorousandsatirical.Theauthorwishestocallourattentiontothefactthatmodernmanhaspollutedhisenvironmenttosuchanextentthathemightdestroyhimselfifhewentonlikethis.ThepollutedairhoveringoverthesurfaceofEarth.Passage10Whatisintelligence,anyway?WhenIwasinthearmyIreceivedakindofaptitudetestthatallsoldierstookand,againstanormalof100,scored160.Nooneatthebasehadeverseenafigurelikethatandfortwohourstheymadeabigfussoverme.(Itdidn'tmeananything,thenextdayIwasstillabuckprivatewithKPasmyhighestduty)AllmylifeI'vebeenregisteringscoreslikethat,sothat1havethecomplacentfeelingthatI'mhighlyintelligent,andIexpectotherpeopletothinkso,too.Actually,though,don'tsuchscoressimplymeanthatIamverygoodatansweringthetypeofacademicquestionsthatareconsideredworthyofanswersbythepeoplewhomakeuptheintelligencetests—peoplewithintellectualbentssimilartomine?Forinstance,Ihadanauto--repairmanonce,who,ontheseintelligencetests,couldnotpossiblyhavescoredmorethan80,bymyestimate.IalwaystookitforgrantedthatIwasfarintelligentthanhewas.Yet,whenanythingwentwrongwithmycar1hastenedtohimwithit,watchedhimanxiouslyasheexploreditsvitals,andlistenedtohispronouncementsasthoughtheyweredivineoracles--andhealwaysfixedmyear.Wellthen,supposemyauto--repairmandevisedquestionsforanintelligencetest,orsupposeacarpenterdid,orafarmer,or,indeed,almostanyonebutanacademician,Byeveryoneofthosetests,I'dprovemyselfamoron.AndI'dbeamoron,too.InaworldwhereIcouldnotusemyacademictrainingandmyverbaltalentsbuthadtodosomethingintricateorhard.workingwithmyhands,Iwoulddopoorly.Myintelligence,then,isnotabsolute,itsworthisdeterminedbythesocietyIlivein.Itsnumericalevaluationisdeterminedbyasmallsubsectionofthatsocietywhichhasmanagedtofoistitselfontherestofusasanarbiterofsuchmatters.Considermyauto--repairman,again.Hehadahabitoftellingmejokeswheneverhesawme.Onetimeheraisedhisheadfromtheautomobilehoodtosay:"Doc,adeaf-anddumbguywentintoahardwarestoretoaskforsomenails.Heputtwofingerstogetheronthecounterandmadehammeringmotionswiththeotherhand.Theclerkbroughthimahammer.Heshookhisheadandpointedtothetwofingershewashammering.Theclerkbroughthimnails.Hepickedoutthesizeshewanted,andleft.Well,doc,thenextguywhocameinwasablindman.Hewantedscissors.Howdoyousupposeheaskedforthem?"Iliftedmyrighthandandmadescissoringmotionswithmyfirsttwofingers.Whereuponmyauto--repairmanlaughedheartilyandsaid,"Why,youdumbfool,heusedhisvoiceandaskedforthem."Thenhesaidsmugly,"I'vebeentryingthatonallmycustomerstoday."Didyoucatchmany?'Iasked."Quiteafew,"hesaid,"butIknewforsureI’dcatchyou.""Whyisthat?"Becauseyou'resogoddamnededucated,doe,1knewyoucouldn'tbeverysmart."AndIhaveanuneasyfeelinghehadsomethingthere.Questions:Whatisthenormalscoreoftheaptitudetestaccordingtothepassage?Wastheauthorpromotedafterhegottheexceptionallyhighscoreontheaptitudetest?Howdidtheauthoranswertheauto--repairman'squestionsaboutablindmanaskingforscissors?Washecertainthattheauthorwouldbecaughtwhentheauto--repairmantriedthetrickyquestion?Whatistheauthor'sattitudetoward"intelligence"?Passage101)Itis100.2)No.3)Heliftedhisrighthandandmadescissoringmotionswithhisfirsttwofingers.4)Yes,hewas.5)Theauthorknowsfromexperiencethatintelligenceisarelativematter,itisnotabsolute.Passage11Whyisitthatwhenyoustudyaforeignlanguage,youneverlearnthelittlephrasesthatletyouslipintoaculturewithoutallyourforeignedges?EveryChineselanguagetextbookstartswiththestandardphraseforgreetingpeople,butasanAmerican,Ioftenfoundmyselftongue-tiedwhenitcametoseeingguestsoffatthedoor.Anabruptgoodbyewouldnotdo,yetthatwasall1hadeverlearnedfromtheawfulbooks.SoIwouldsmileandnod,seekingwordstomakethemfeeltheywouldhewelcometocomeagain.Inconfusion,Ioftenhidbe-hindtheskirtsofmyChinesehusband'sgraciousness.Finally,listeningtoothers,Ibegantopickupphrasesthateasedrelationsandsentpeopleoffwithafeelingofmissionnotonlyaccomplishedbutalsosurpassed.PartingsfortheChineseinvolveacertainamountofritualandagreatdealofoneupmanship.AlthoughI'mnotexpectedtoobserveorevenknowalltherules,asaforeigner,I'vehadtolearntheexpressionsofpolitenessandprotestthataccompanyaleave--taking.TheChinesefeeltheymustseeaguestofftothefarthestpointinsight--downflightofstairstothestreetbeloworperhapsallthewaytothenearestbusstop.I'vesometimeswaitedhalfanhourormoreformyhusbandtoreturn.Foralessimportantorayoungerguest,hemaysimplysay,"Iwouldn'tseeyouoff,allright?Andofcoursetheguestassureshimthathewouldneverthinkofputtinghimtotakethetroubletoseehimoff."Don'tseemeoff!Don'tseemeoff!"WhenIamtheguestbeingseenoff,myprotestsaretonoavail.Myhostessor/andhostinsistsonseeingmedownthestairsandwellonmyway,withourgoingthroughthe"Don'tbothertoseemeoff"ritualateverylanding.IfItrytogofasttopreventthemfromfollowing,theyaresimplyputtothediscomfortofhavingtorunafterme.Bettertoaccepttheinevitable.Whatdoyousaywhenyoupartfromsomeone?"Goslowly,"TotheChineseitmeans"Takecar"or"Watchyoursteps",buttranslatedliterallyitmeans"Goslowly".Thesame"slowly"isusedinanotherpoliteexpressionbythehostandhostessattheendofadeliciousmealtoassuretheirguestswhatpoorandinadequatehostandhostesstheyhavebeen.TheChinesetakepridein"modesty'andtheAmericansin"straightforwardness".Whenhercookingskillsarepraised,anAmericanhostesswouldsay,"Oh,I'msogladyoulikeit.Icookeditespeciallyforyou."ButtheChinesehostorhostesswillinsteadapologizeforgivingyou"nothing"evenslightlyedibleandfornotshowingenoughhonorsbyprovidingproperdishes,TheseexamplesshowthatAmericanandChineseculturesareatoppositepoles.Butonceyou'velearnedthesignalsandhowtorespond,lifebecomesmucheasier.Whenguestscome,IknowIshouldimmediatelyaskifthey'dlikeacupoftea.Theywillrespond,"Pleasedon'tbother."whichismysignaltofetchtea.Questions:Howdidtheauthorfeelwhenshesawaguestoffatthedoor?Accordingtotheauthor,whataretheexpressionsofpolitenesstoseeaguestoffsometimes?Whatusuallyhappenstotheauthorwhensheistheguestbeingseenoff?WhatdotheAmericanhostandhostesssaywhentheirmealispraised?Whatisthesignalfortheauthortofetchacupoftea?TheauthorwantstoillustratethatPassage11.1)Sheoftenfoundherselftongue--tiedwhenitcametoseeingguestsoff.2)Thehostandhostessmustseeaguestofftothefarthestpointinsight--downflightofstairstothestreetbeloworperhapsallthewaytothenearestbusstop.3)WhenIamtheguestbeingseenoff,myprotestsaretonoavail.Myhostessor/andhostinsistsonseeingmedownthestairsandwellonmyway,withourgoingthroughthe"Don'tbothertoseemeoffritualateverylanding.IfItrytogofasttopreventthemfromfollowing,theyaresimplyputtothediscomfortofhavingtorunafterme."4)Theywouldsaythattheyaresogladyoulikeit.Theycookeditspeciallyforyou.5)"Pleasedon'tbother".6)peopleshouldtrytoincreasetheirawarenessofculturaldifferencesandstudythem.Passage12Ifyouareanaveragereader,youcanreadanaveragebookattherateof300wordsaminute.Youcannotmaintainthataverage,however,unlessyoureadregularlyeveryday.Norcanyouattainthatspeedwithhardbooksinscience,mathematics,agriculture,business,oranysubjectthatisneworunfamiliartoyou.Thechancesareyouwillneverattemptthatspeedwithpoetryorwanttoracethroughsomepassagesinfictionoverwhichyouwishtolinger.Butformostnovel,biographles,andbooksabouttravel,hobbiesorpersonalinterests,ifyouareanaveragereader,youshouldhavenotroubleatallabsorbingmeaningandpleasureoutof300printedwordsevery60seconds.Iftheaveragereadercanread300wordsaminuteofaveragereadlng,thenin15minutesbecanread4,500words.Multipliedby7,thedaysoftheweek,theproductis31,S00words.Anothermultiplicationby4,theweeksofthemonth,makes126,000.Andfinalmultiplicationby12,themonthsoftheyear,