Question

In the United States, it is not usual to telephone someone early in the morning. If you telephone early in the day, while he is shaving or having breakfast, the time of the call shows that the matter is very important and requires immediate(立即的) attention. So it is with the telephone calls made after 11:00 pm. If someone receives a call during sleeping hours, he may think that it’s a matter of life and death. The time chosen for the call communicates its importance.
In social life, time plays a very important part. In the USA guests are likely to feel they are not highly regarded if the invitation to a dinner party reaches them only three or four days before the party date. But it is not true in all countries. In other areas of the world, it may be thought silly to make an appointment(約會) too far ahead because plans which are made for a date more than a week away may be forgotten. The meaning of time is not the same in different cultures that treat time differently; being on time is valued highly in American life, for example. If people are not on time, they may be regarded as impolite or not fully responsible(責任). In the USA no one would think of keeping a business friend for an hour; it would be too impolite. A person who is 5 minutes late is asked to make a shout apology (道歉). If he is less than 5 minutes late, he will say a few words of explanation(解釋), though perhaps he will not complete the sentence.
小題1:A call at midnight would mean_________.

A．the matter is less important

B．the matter is too difficult to handle

C．the matter requires immediate attention

D．it is a matter of life and death

小題2:According to the passage, time plays a very important part in__________.

A．everyday life	B．personal life
C．getting along with others	D．business

小題3:In the passage, the writer suggests that invitation cards should be sent___________.

A．three or four days before the party date in all cultures

B．three or four days before the party date in some cultures

C．three or four days before the party date in the USA

D．at your chosen time

Answer 1

小題1:D
小題2:C
小題3:B

試題分析：這篇短文主要描述了時間在社會交往中的重要作用，不同的時間在社會交往中往往代表了不同的含義。
小題1:根據If someone receives a call during sleeping hours, he may think that it’s a matter of life and death.描述，可知午夜的電話往往是有關生死的電話，故選D。
小題2:根據In social life, time plays a very important part.及下文描述可知，時間在與他人交往中扮演者重要的作用，故選C。
小題3:根據In the USA guests are likely to feel they are not highly regarded if the invitation to a dinner party reaches them only three or four days before the party date.描述，可知選B。
點評：本文中長句較多，一時很難讀懂句子含義，注意多讀幾遍，不要強求非得理解一詞一句的含義，能把握文章大意就行。然后帶著問題閱讀短文，一般就能順利找出答題依據。對于不能直接找到根據的問題注意聯系上下文，根據短文中心總結出正確答案。