Part IV Cloze (15 minutes)
Directions: There are 20 blanks in the following passage. For each blank there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D) on the right side of the paper. You should choose the ONE that best fits into the passage. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the centre.
Generally speaking, a British is widely regarded as a quiet, shy and conservative person who is __71 only among those with whom he is acquainted. When a stranger is present, he often seems nervous, __72__ embarrassed. You have to take a commuter train any morning or evening to 73 the truth of this.
Serous-looking businessmen and women sit reading their newspapers or sleeping in a corner; hardly anybody talks, since to do so would be considered quite offensive. 74 , there is an unwritten but clearly understood code of behavior which, 75 broken, makes the offender immediately the object of 76 .
It has been known as a fact that the British has a _77 for the discussion of their weather and that, if given a chance, he will talk about it 78 . Some people argue that it is because the British weather seldom 79 forecast and hence becomes a source of interest and 80 to everyone. This may be so. __81 a British cannot have much 82 in the weathermen, who, after promising fine, sunny weather for the following day, are often proved wrong 83 a cloud over the Atlantic brings rainy weather to all districts! The man in the street seems to be as accurate---or as inaccurate---as the weathermen in his 84 .
Foreigners may be surprised at the number of references 85 weather that the British makes to each other in the course of a single day. Very often conversational greetings are 86 by comments on the weather. “Nice day, isn’t it ?” “Beautiful!” may well be heard instead of “Good morning, how are you ?” 87 the foreigner may consider this exaggerated and comic, it is worthwhile pointing out that it could be used to his advantage. 88 he wants to start a conversation with a British but is 89 to know where to begin, he could do well to mention the state of the weather. It is a safe subject which will 90 _ an answer from even the most reserved of the British.
71. A) relaxed B) frustrated C) amused D) exhausted
72. A) yet B) otherwise C) even D) so
73. A) experience B) witness C) watch D) undergo
74. A) Deliberately B) Consequently C) Frequently D) Apparently
75. A) unless B) once C) while D) as
76. A) suspicion B) opposition C) criticism D) praise
77. A) feeling B) fancy C) likeliness D) judgment
78. A) at length B) to a great extent C) from his heart D) by all means
79. A) follows B) predicts C) denies D) supports
80. A) devotion B) affection C) consideration D) speculation
81. A) Still B) Also C) Certainly D) Fundamentally
82. A) faith B) reliance C) honor D) credit
83. A) if B) once C) when D) whereas
84. A) positions B) predictions C) approval D) denial
85. A) about B) on C) in D) to
86. A) started B) conducted C) replaced D) proposed
87. A) Since B) Although C) However D) Only if
88. A) Even if B) Because C) If D) For
89. A) at a loss B) at last C) in the end D) on the occasion
90. A) stimulate B) constitute C) furnish D) provoke
