专四阅读理解历年真题

2021年真题TEXTAWhenthesunisupinAmsterdam,thelargestcityintheNetherlandssitsquietlyontheAmstelRiverButwhenthesungoesdown,thepartyingbegins.Inthebigclubsandincoffeeshops,touristsgathertohangout,talkpoliticsandsmoke.SeveralareasofthecityclearlyshowthetwoworldsthatruleAmsterdam.Andthey'reallwithinashortcabrideofeachother.Forexample,DamSquareattractsdaytimesightseerstoitsfestivals,openmarkets,concertsandotherevents.Severalbeautifulandverypopularhotelscanbefoundthere.AndthereistheRoyalPalaceandtheMagnaButaseveningdescendsonDamSquaresodotheparty-seekers.HippoporfunkmusicbeginsblaringfromClubParadisoandClubMelkweg.ThesearetwoofthemostpopularclubsinEurope.Soifyoucome,bereadytodance.Theclubsdon'tshutdownuntil4am.Andwhileyouarethere,checkoutthevariousinexpensivewaystotourthecity.Don'tworryaboutgettinglost.AlthoughDutchistheofficiallanguage,mostpeopleinAmsterdamspeakEnglishandarehappytohelpyouwithdirections.Andyou'llnoticethathalfthepeopleinthestreetsareonbicycles.TheyrentforUS$17to$20forawholeday.Amsterdamalsohasagoodcanalsystem.FromanywherebetweenU852and$9.50,youcanusethecanalbusorawatertaxitocruisethe"VeniceoftheNorth".Youcantakeinthepicturesquecanalhousearchitecture:Therowsofneat,narrowfour-storydwellingsofbrownstonewithlargewindowsarewellworthseeing.Manyofthemareseveralcenturiesold.YoumightalsowanttojumpoutofthecanalbusattheMuseumQuarterandstartwalking.MasterpiecesbyDutchartistssuchasRembrandt,Bruegel,VanGoghandothersareondisplayattheVanGoghMuseumThecityhasanappreciationofitshistoricpast.OneplacetovisitistheAnneFrankHouseinNineStreets.ItwastherethattheyoungJewishgirlwroteherfamousdiaryduringWorldWarII.VisitorscanviewAnne'soriginaldiaryandclimbbehindthebookcasetotheroomwheresheandherfamilyhidfromtheNazisfortwoyears.81.Atthebeginningofthepassage,theauthorindicatesthatA.Amsterdamisgenerallyknownasaquietcity.B.partiesgoonalldaylonginAmsterdam,C.Amsterdampresentstwodifferentpictures.D.Amsterdamattractsmanydaytimevisitors.82.WhichtouristattractioniscitedforelaborationinParagraphsFourandFiveA.RoyalPalace.B.DamSquare.C.ClubParadiso.D.Magna83.Accordingtothepassage,thelocalpeoplehaveallthefollowingcharacteristicsEXCEPTA.theyarepartygoers.B.theyshowhospitality.C.theycanspeakEnglish.D.theyarefondofcycling.84.WhichofthefollowingadjectivescanbestdescribeAmsterdamasatouristcityA.Modern.B.Delightful.C.Quiet.D.Historic.TEXTBInanarticlesomeChinesescholarsaredescribedasbeing"tantalizedbythemysteriousdragonbonehieroglyphics."TantalizedisoneofmanyEnglishwordsthathavetheiroriginsinmythsandlegendsofthepast(inthiscase,GreekandRomanones).Themeaningoftheverbtantalizeisaveryparticularone:"topromiseorshowsomethingdesirabletoapersonandthentakeitaway;toteasebyarousinghope."Many(butnotall)Englishdictionariesgiveyouabriefindicationofaword'soriginsinbracketsbeforeoraftertheexplanationofthemeaning.Fortantalizethefollowingexplanationisgiven:[>Tantalus].ThismeansthatyoushouldlookupthenameTantalustofindouttheword'sorigins,andifyoudo,youwillfindoutthatinGreekmythology,Tantaluswasakingwhowaspunishedinthelowerworldwitheternalhungerandthirst;hewasputuptohischininwaterthatalwaysmovedawaywhenhetriedtodrinkitandwithfruitonbranchesabovehimplacedjustalittlebitoutofhisreach.Canyouseewhyhisnamewaschangedintoaverbmeaning"toteaseortormentbyarousingdesire"Anotherexampleisthewordsiren,familiartousasthemechanicaldevicethatmakessuchanalarmingsoundwhenpolicecars,ambulances,orfireenginesapproach.ThiswordalsohasitsoriginsinGreekmythology.ThetravelerOdysseus(UlyssestotheRomans)madehismenplugtheirearssothattheywouldn'thearthedangerousvoicesofthesirens,creatureswhowerehalfbirdandhalfwomanandwholuredsailorstotheirdeathsonsharprocks.Sothewordcametobeassociatedbothwithaloudsoundandwithdanger!Whensomeonespeaksofa"jovialmood"ora"herculeaneffort,"heorsheisusingwordswithoriginsinmythology.Lookthesewordsuptofindtheirmeaningandrelationshiptomyths.Manycommonwords,suchasthenamesforthedaysoftheweekandthemonthsoftheyear,alsocomefrommythology.WednesdayderivesfromtheancientNorsekingofthegods,Woden,andThursdaywasoriginallyThor'sday,inhonourofThor,thegodofthunder.Asamatteroffact,alltheplanets,excepttheoneweliveon,bearnamesthatcomefromRomanmythology,includingtheplanetthatisfarthestawayfromthesunandforthatreasonwascalledaftertheRomangodofthedead.Thisgodhasalsogivenhisnametooneofthechemicalelements.Severalotherelementshavenamesthatcomefrommythology,too.ItseemsthatmythsandlegendsliveonintheEnglishlanguage.85.ThepurposeofthefirstsentenceinParagraphOneis____.A.todescribetheworkofsomeChinesescholars.B.toarousereaders'interestinhieroglyphics.C.toleadreadersontothemaintheme.D.tolinktheprecedingparttothepresentone.86.Welearnfromthepassage,allEnglishdictionariesinclude_____.A.legends.B.mythology.C.wordorigins.D.worddefinitions.87.Theexampleoftantalizeistoshow_____.A.howthewordcameintoexistence.B.howTantaluswaspunishedinthelowerworld.C.howallEnglishdictionariesshowwordorigins.D.howthemeaningofthewordchangedovertheyears.88.Accordingtothepassage,whichofthefollowingdoesNOThaveoriginsinmythsorlegendsA.Jovial.B.Wednesday.C.Earth.D.March.89.WhichofthefollowingcanbestserveasthetitleofthepassageA.GreekandRomanMythologyinLanguage.B.MythologicalOriginsofEnglishWords.C.HistoricalChangesinWordMeanings.D.MythologyandCommonWords.TEXTCMyheartsankwhenthemanattheimmigrationcountergesturedtothebackroom.l'manAmericanbornandraised,andthiswasMiami,whereIlive,buttheyweren'tquitereadytoletmeinyet."Pleasewaitinhere,MsAbujaber,"theimmigrationofficersaid.Myhusband,withhisveryAmericanlastname,accompaniedme.Hewasgettingusedtothis.ThesamethinghadhappenedrecentlyinCanadawhenI'dflowntoMontrealtospeakatabookevent.Thattimetheyheldmefor45minutes.TodaywewerereturningfromaliteraryfestivalinJamaica,andIwasstartledthatIwasbeingsent"inback"onceagain.Theofficerbehindthecountercalledmeupandsaid,"Miss,yournamelookslikethenameofsomeonewho'sonourwantedlist.We'regoingtohavetocheckyououtwithWashington.""Howlongwillittake""Hardtosay...afewminutes,"hesaid."We'llcallyouwhenwe'rereadyforyou."Afteranhour,Washingtonstillhadn'tdecidedanythingaboutme."Isn'tthiscomputerized"Iaskedatthecounter."Can'tyoujustlookmeup"Justafewmoreminutes,theyassuredme.Afteranhourandahalf,IpulledmycellphoneouttocallthefriendsIwassupposedtomeetthatevening.Anofficerrushedover."Nophones!"hesaid."Forallweknowyoucouldbecallingaterroristcellandgivingtheminformation.""I'mjustauniversityprofessor,"Isaid.Myvoicecameoutinasqueak."Ofcourseyouare.Andwetakepeoplelikeyououtofhereinlegironseveryday."Iputmyphoneaway.Myhusbandand1weregettinghungryandtired.Wholefamilieshadbeenbroughtintothewaitingroom,andtheplacewaspackedwithexcitablechildren,exhaustedparents,evenaflightattendant.Iwantedtoscream,tojumponachairandshout:"I'manAmericancitizen;anovelist;lprobablyteachEnglishliteraturetoyourchildren."OrwouldthatallbecountedagainstmeAftertwohoursindetention,Iwasapproachedbyoneoftheofficers."You'refreetogo,"hesaid.Noexplanationorapologies.Foramoment,neitherofusmoved,wewerestillinshock.Thenweleapedtoourfeet."Oh,onemorething."Hehandedmeatatteredphotocopywithanaddressonit."Ifyouweren'thappywithyourtreatment,youcanwritetothisagency.""Willtheyrespond"Iasked."Idon'tknowIdon'tknowofanyonewho'severwrittentothembefore."Thenheadded,"Bytheway,thiswillprobablykeephappeningeachtimeyoutravelinternationally.""WhatcanIdotokeepitfromhappeningagain"Hesmiledtheemptysmilewe'dseenallday."Absolutelynothing."Aftertellingseveralfriendsaboutourordeal,probablythemostfrequentadviceI'veheardinresponseistochangemyname.Twentyyearsago,myowngraduateschoolwritingprofessoradvisedmetowriteunderapennamesothatpublisherswouldn'tstickmeinwhathecalled"theethnicghetto"aseparate,secondaryshelfinthebookstore.Butanameisanintegralpartofanyone'spersonalandprofessionalidentity-justlikethetownyou'reborninandtheplacewhereyou'reraised.Likemyfather,I'llkeepthename,butmyairportexperiencehasgivenmeawholenewperspectiveonwhatdiversityandtolerancearesupposedtomean.IhadnoideathatbeinganAmericanwouldeverbethishard.90.Theauthorwasheldattheairportbecause_____.A.sheandherhusbandreturnedfromJamaica.B.hernamewassimilartoaterrorist's.C.shehadbeenheldinMontreal.D.shehadspokenatabookevent.91.Shewasnotallowedtocallherfriendsbecause_____.A.heridentityhadn'tbeenconfirmedyet.B.shehadbeenheldforonlyonehourandahalf.C.therewereotherfamiliesinthewaitingroom.D.shecouldn'tuseherowncellphone.92.Welearnfromthepassagethattheauthorwould_____topreventsimilarexperiencefromhappeningagain.A.writetotheagencyB.changehernameC.avoidtravelingabroadD.donothing93.Herexperiencesindicatethattherestillexists_____intheUS.A.hatredB.discriminationC.toleranceD.diversity94.Theauthorsoundsinthelastparagraph.A.impatientB.bitterC.worriedD.ironicTEXTDPublicspeakingfillsmostpeoplewithdread.Humiliationisthegreatestfear;self-exposureandfailingtoappealtotheaudiencecomeaclosesecond.Womenhateitmost,sincegirlsarepressurizedfromanearlyagetobeconcernedwithappearancesofallkinds.Mostpeoplehaveplentyofinsecurities,andthisseemslikeasituationthatwillbringthemout.Ifyouwereunderpressuretobeperfect,youareterrifiedoffallinginthemostpublicofways.Whileextrovertswillfeellessfearbeforetheordeal,itdoesnotmeantheywillnecessarilydoitbetter.Someveryshypeoplemanagetoshine.WhenImettheBritishcomedianJulianClary,hewasshyandcautious,yethisTVperformancesareperfect.Infact,personalityisnotthebestpredictorofwhodoesitwell.Regardlessofwhatyouarelikeinreallife,thekeyseemstobetoactyourself.Actualacting,asinperformingthescriptedlinesofacharacterotherthanyourself,doesnotdothejob.Whilepoliticiansmaylimitdamagebyhavingcarefullyrehearsed,writtenscriptstospeakfrom,thereisalwaysahiddenawarenessamongtheaudiencethatthewordsmightnotbetrue.Likewise,theincrediblyperfectspeechesofmanyAmericanacademicsarefarfromnatural.Youmayendupbuyingtheirbookonthewayout,butsoonafterwards,itismuchlikefastfood,andyougetanamelesssensethatyou'vebeencheated.Although,asEarlSpencerprovedathissisterPrincessDiana'sfuneral,itispossiblebothtoprepareeverywordandtoactnaturally.Ascriptrarelyworksanditisusedtohelpmostspeakers.But,beingyourselfdoesn'tworkeither.Ifyouspokeasifyouwereinyourownkitchen,itwouldbetooauthentic,toounawareoftheneedtocommunicatewithanaudience.IremembergoingtoseeBritishpsychiatristR.D.Laingspeakinpublic.Hebehavedlikeaseriouslyoddperson,talkingoffthetopofhishead.Althoughhewastalkingaboutmadnessandhewroteonmentalillness,heseemedtobeexhibitingratherthanexplainingit.Thebestpsychologicalplacefromwhichtospeakisanunselfconsciousself-consciousness,providingtheillusionofbeingnatural.Studiessuggestthatthisstateof"flow",aspsychologistscallit,isverysatisfying.95.Womenhatepublicspeakingmostmainlybecauseof_____.A.theirupbringingveryearlyon.B.theirinabilitytoappealtotheaudience.C.theirsenseofgreaterpublicpressure.D.theirsenseofgreaterhumiliation.96."this"inParagraphTworeferstoA.insecurity.B.senseoffailure.C.publicspeaking.D.pressure.97.WhichofthefollowingisNOTtheauthor'sviewpointA.Actinglikeperformersspoilsthemessageinaspeech.B.Perfectionofscriptsisnecessaryinmakinggoodimpressions.C.Actingnaturallymeanslessdependenceonthepreparedscript.D.Thereshouldbeabalancebetweenactualactingandactingnaturally.98.Whatistheauthor'sviewonpersonalityA.Personalityisthekeytosuccessinpublicspeaking.B.Extrovertsarebetterpublicspeakers.C.Introvertshavetolearnhardertobegoodspeakers.D.Factorsotherthanpersonalityensurebetterperformance.99.TheauthorimpliesthatwhilespeakingR.D.Laing_____.A.wasbothtoocasualandauthentic.B.wasactinglikeaperformer.C.waskeepingagoodbalance.D.wasawareofhisaudience.100.Inthelastparagraphtheauthorrecommendsthat____.A.youforgetaboutyournervousness.B.youfeelnaturalandspeaknaturally.C.youmayfeelnervous,butappearnaturally.D.youmayimagineyourselftobenatural.2021年真题TEXTADoyourealizethateverytimeyoutakeastep,thebonesinyourhiparesubjectedtoforcesbetweenfourandfivetimesyourbodyweightWhenyouarerunning,thisforceisincreasedfurtherstill.Whathappensifthroughdiseaseahip-jointceasestobeabletoresistsuchforcesFormanyyearship-jointsandotherbodyjointshavebeenreplaceableeitherpartiallyorcompletely.Itisafterallasimpleballandsocketjoint;ithascertainloadsimposedonit;itneedsreliabilityoveradefinedlife;itmustcontainmaterialssuitablefortheworkingenvironment.Anyengineerwillrecognizetheseascharacteristicofatypicalengineeringproblem,whichdoctorsandengineershaveworkedtogethertosolve,inordertobringafreshleaseoflifetopeoplewhowouldotherwisebedisabled.Thistypifiesthewayinwhichengineersworktohelppeopleandcreateabetterqualityoflife.Thefactthatthiscountryhasthemostefficientagriculturalindustryintheworldisanothergoodexample.Mechanicalengineershaveworkedwithfarmersandbiologiststoproducefertilizers,machineryandharvestingsystems.Thisteamefforthasnowproducedcropsuniformlywaisthighorlesssothattheyarebettersuitedtomechanicalharvesting.Similaradvanceswithothercropshavereleasedpeoplefromhardandboringjobsformorecreativework,whilstmachinesharvestcropsmoreefficientlywithlesswaste.Providingmorefoodfortherapidlyincreasingpopulationisyetanotherroleforthemechanicalengineer.81.Accordingtothepassage,whenwouldmostweightbeimposedonhip-jointsA.Whenoneiswalking.B.Whenoneisrunning.C.Whenoneisstanding.D.Whenoneislyingdown.82.Engineersregardthereplacementofhip-jointsasa(n)____Problem.A.mechanicalB.medicalC.healthD.agricultural83.Accordingtothepassage,howdoengineerscontributetoincreasingefficiencyoftheagriculturalindustryA.Byworkingwithfarmers.B.Byworkinginteams.C.Bygrowingcropsofthesameheight.D.Bymakingagriculturalmachinery.84.Accordingtothecontext,"Thisteameffort'"inParagraphTworeferstoA.mechanicalengineers.B.doctorsandengineers.C.biologists,doctorsandfarmers.D.farmers,biologistsandengineers.TEXTBNowadays,acellphoneserviceisavailabletoeveryone,everywhere.Probablythousandsofpeoplehavealreadybeenusingit,butIjustdiscoveredit,soI'mgoingtoclaimitandalsonameit:FakeFoning.Thetechnologyhasbeenworkingwellformeattheoffice,butthereareinfiniteapplications.Virtuallyinanypublicspace.Sayyouworkatabiguniversitywithlotsoftalkyfacultymembersbuzzingabout.Now,sayyouneedtousetherestroom.Thetripdownthehallwilltakeapproximatelyonehour,becauseapersoncan'twalkintothosetalkypeoplewithoutgettingpulledasideforaquestion,abitofgossip,anewreadonacertainlineofParadiseLost.So,acellphone.Anycellphone.Justpickitup.Don'tdial.Justholdthatphonetoyourfaceandstarttalking.Walkconfidentlydownthehallengagedinfakeconversation,makingsuretotailorboththetopicandcontenttothepersonstandingbeforeyouwhomyouaretryingtoevade.Forstandardcolleagueavoidance,Isuggestfakechattingaboutfakebusiness:"Yes,I'mgladyoucalled,becausewereallyneedtohammeroutthedetails.What'sthatYes,IreadPage12,butifyoulookatthebottomof4,Ithinkyoucanseetheproblembeginsrightthere."Beanimated.Beengagedinyourfakefoneconversation.Makeeyecontactwiththepeoplepassing,nodtothem,gesturekeeninterestintalkingtothematalatertime,pointtoyourphone,shrugandmoveon.Shoppersshouldconsiderfakefoninganytimetheyspotatalkyneighborintheproducedepartmentpinching(用手捏)unripepeaches.Withoutyourphoneatyourface,you'dbeinfora20-minutespeechonhowterribletheworldis.Oneimportantcautionaboutfakefoning.TheotherdayIwasfakefoningmywaypastacolleague,andhewasactuallyfollowingmetogetmyattention.IknewhewantedtoaskaboutaprojectIhadnotyetfinished.Iwastryingtobuymyselfsometime,soIcontinuedfakefoningwithmydoctor."SoIdon'tneedtheoperationOh,doctor,thatisthebestnews."Andthen:Brrrrrrng!Brrrrrmg!Brrrrrmg!Myphonestartedringing,righttherewhileitwasplantedonmyface.Mycolleaguelookedatme,andIathim,andnaturallyIgasped."Whatisthematterwiththisthing"Isaid,pullingthephoneawaytolookatit,andthenputtingitbacktomyear."HelloAreyoustillthere"Oops.85.WhichofthefollowingstatementsisINCORRECTA.Cellphoneserviceispopularamongpeople.B.Cellphonehasmuchuseinoffice.C.Fakefoningisanewcellphoneservice.D.Fakefoningisanewdiscovery.86.WhatisfakefoningA.Astrategytoavoidpeople.B.Adevicenewlyproduced.C.Aserviceprovidedeverywhere.D.Askillofcommunication.87.Intheauthor'sopinion,inordertomakefakefoninglookrealonehastoA.talkaboutinterestingmatters.B.behavepolitelytopeoplepassingby.C.holdthephonewhilewalking.D.appearabsorbedinconversation.88.WhatdoesthelastexampleshowA.Oneeffectivewayistofakefoneone'sdoctor.B.Onehastobecarefulwhilefakefoning.C.Fakefoningmaynotdeceivepeople.D.Fakefoningisalwaysquitesuccessful.89.Afterhisphonesuddenlybeganringing,theauthorA.immediatelystartedtalkingtothecaller.B.immediatelystartedtalkingtohiscolleague.C.putthephoneawayandstoppedtalking.D.continuedwithhisfakeconversation.90.WhatisthetoneofthepassageA.Critical.B.Humorous.C.Serious.D.Unclear.TEXTCItwaslateintheafternoon,andIwasputtingthefinaltouchonapieceofwritingthatIwasfeelingprettygoodabout.Iwantedtosaveit,butmycursorhadfrozen.Itriedtoshutthecomputerdown,anditseizedupaltogether.Unsureofwhatelsetodo,Iyanked(用力猛拉)thebatteryout.Unfortunately,Windowshadbeeninthemidstofadelicateandcrucialundertaking.Thenextmorning,whenIturnedmycomputerbackon,itinformedmethatabeencorruptedandWindowswouldnotload.Then,itofferedtorepairitselfbyusingtheWindowsSetupCD.IopenedthespecialdrawerwhereIkeepCDs.ButnoWindowsCDinthere.Iwasforcedtocallthecomputercompany'sGlobalSupportCentre.Mycallwasansweredbyawomaninsomeunnamed,far-offland.IfinditannoyingtomakesmalltalkwithsomeonewhenIdon'tknowwhatcontinentthey'restandingon.SupposeIweretocommentonthebeautifulweatherwe'vebeenhavingwhentherewasamonsoonattheotherendofthephoneSoIgotrighttothepoint."Mycomputeristellingmeacorruptedanditwantstofixitself,butIdon'thavetheWindowsSetupCD.""Soyou'rehavingaproblemwithyourWindowsSetupCD."Shehasapparentlybeendozingand,havingcometojustasthesentenceended,wasattemptingtocoverforherinattention.Itquicklybecameclearthatthewomanwasnotacomputertechnician.Herjobwastoserveasagatekeeper,ahumanshieldforthetechnicians.Hersoleduty,asfarasIcouldtell,wastoraiseglobalstresslevels.Tomakemedisappear,thewomangavemethephonenumberforWindows'creator,Microsoft.Thisislikegivingsomeonethephonenumberfor,Idon'tknow,NorthAmerica.Besides,theCDworked;Ijustdidn'thaveit.NomatterhowmanytimesIrepeatedmystory,wecamebacktothesameplace.Shewascalmandresolutelypolite.Whenmyvoicehitacertaindecibel(分贝),Iwaspassedalong,likeahot,irritablepotato,toatechnician."Youdon'thavetheWindowsSetupCD,ma'am,becauseyoudon'tneedit,"heexplainedcheerfully."Windowscamepreinstalledonyourcomputer!""ButIdoneedit.""Yes,butyoudon'thaveit."Wewentonlikethisforawhile.Finally,heofferedtowalkmethroughtheuseofadifferentCD,onethatwoulderasemyentiresystem."Ofcourse,you'dloseallyoure-mail,yourdocuments,yourphotos."Itwaslikeofferingtodropasafeonmyheadtocuremyheadache."Youmightbeabletorecoverthem,butitwouldbeexpensive."Hesoundeddelighted."Andit'snotcoveredbythewarranty(产品保证书)!"Thesafebegantoseemlikeagoodidea,provideditwasfull.Ihungupthephoneanddrovemycomputertoasmall,friendlyrepairplaceI'dheardabout.Asmart,helpfulmandugoutaWindowsCDandtoldmeitwouldn'tbeaproblem.Anhourlater,hecalledtoletmeknowitwasready.Ithankedhim,andwechattedabouttheweather,whichwasthesameoutsidemywindowasitwasoutsidehis.91.WhydidtheauthorshutdownhercomputerabruptlyA.Shehadsavedwhatshehadwritten.B.Shecouldn'tmovethecursor.C.Thecomputerrefusedtowork.D.Thecomputerofferedtorepairitself.92.Whichofthefollowingistheauthor'sopinionaboutthewomanattheGlobalSupportCentreA.Shesoundedhelpfulandknowledgeable.B.Shewastheretomakecallersfrustrated.C.Shewasabletosolvehercomputerproblem.D.Shewasquicktopassheralongtoatechnician.93.Accordingtothepassage,thesolutionofferedbythetechnicianwasA.effective.B.economical.C.unpractical.D.unacceptable.94."Itwaslikeofferingtodropasafeonmyheadtocuremyheadache"inthelastbutoneparagraphmeansthatA.thetechnician'sproposalwouldmakethingsevenworse.B.thetechnician'sproposalcouldeventuallysolvetheproblem.C.filesstoredonhercomputerwerelikeasafe.D.erasingtheentiresystemwaslikecuringaheadache.95.ItcanbeinferredfromthepassagethatthedifferencesbetweentheGlobalSupportCentreandthelocalrepairshoplieinallthefollowingEXCEPTA.efficiency.B.location.C.setupCDs.D.attitude.TEXTDNotlongago,amysteriousChristmascarddroppedthroughourmailslot.TheenvelopewasaddressedtoamannamedRaoul,who,Iwasrelativelycertain,didnotlivewithus.Theenvelopewasn'tsealed,soIopenedit.Theinsideofthecardwasblank.Ed,myhusband,explainedthatthecardwasbothfromandtothenewspaperdeliveryman.HisnamewasapparentlyRaoul,andRaoulwantedaholidaytip.Weweremeanttoputacheckinsidethecardandthendroptheenvelopeinthemail.Whenyourservicesarerenderedat4a.m.,youcan'tsimplyhangaround,likeahotelbellboyexpectingatip.Youhavetobedirect.SoIwroteaniceholidaygreetingtothismanwho,inmyimagination,firesTheNewYorkTimesfromhisbikeaimedatourfrontdoor,causingmorenoisewithmerenewsprintthanmostpeoplemanagewithsophisticatedblackmarketfireworks.Withastart,Irealizedthatperhapsthereasonforthe4a.m.wake-upnoisewasnotordinaryrudenessbutcarefullyexecutedspite:IhadnottippedRaoulinChristmasespast.Ihonestlyhadn'trealizedIwassupposedto.Thiswasthefirsttimehe'dusedthecardtactic.SoIgotoutmycheckbook.Somewherealongtheline,holidaytippingwentfromanoptionalthank-youforayearofservicestoaMafia-styleprotectionracket(收取保护费的黑社会组织).Severaldayslater,IwasbringingourgarbagebinsbackfromthecurbwhenInoticedanenvelopetapedtooneofthelids.TheoutsideoftheenvelopesaidMICKEY.Ithadtobeanothertiprequest,thistimefromourgarbagecollector.UnlikeRaoul,Mickeyhadn'tenclosedhisownChristmascardfromme.Inaway,Iappreciatedthedirectness."Iknowyoudon'tcarehowmerrymyChristmasis,andthat'sfine,"thegesturesaid."Iwant$30,orI'll'forget'toemptyyourgarbagebinsomehotsummerday."Iputacheckintheenvelopeandtapeditbacktothebin.Thenextmorning,Ednoticedthattheenvelopewasgone,thoughthetrashhadn'tyetbeenpickedup:"SomeonestoleMickey'stip!"Edwasquitecertain.Hemademecallthebankandcancelthecheck.ButEdhadbeenwrong.Twoweekslater,Mickeyleftaletterfromthebankonoursteps.TheletterinformedMickeythatthecheck,whichhehadtriedtocash,hadbeencancelled.ThefollowingTuesdaymorning,whenEdsawatruckoutside,heranoutwithhiswallet."AreyouMickey"Themanlookedathimwithscorn."Mickeyisthegarbageman.Iamtherecycling."NotonlyhadEdinsultedthismanbyhintingthathewasagarbageman,buthehadobviouslyneglectedtotiphim.Edranbackinsideformorefunds.Thenhenoticedthatthedriverofthetruckhadbeenwatchingthewholetransaction.Hepeeledoffanothertwentyandlookedaround,wavingbillsintheair."Anyoneelse"HadweconsultedthewebsiteoftheEmilyPostInstitute,thisembarrassingbreachofetiquette(礼节)couldhavebeenavoided.Under"trash/recyclingcollectors"inthei