单选题Read the following text. Choose the best word(s) for each numbered blank and
mark A, B, C or D. Generally speaking, a British is
widely regarded as a quiet, shy and conservative person who is {{U}}
{{U}} 1 {{/U}} {{/U}}only among those with whom he is acquainted.
When a stranger is at present, he often seems nervous, {{U}} {{U}}
2 {{/U}} {{/U}}embarrassed. You have to take a commuter train any
morning or evening to {{U}} {{U}} 3 {{/U}} {{/U}}the truth of
this. Serious-looking businessmen and women sit reading their newspapers or
dozing in a comer; hardly anybody talks, since to do so would be considered
quite offensive. {{U}} {{U}} 4 {{/U}} {{/U}},
there is an unwritten but clearly understood code of behavior which, {{U}}
{{U}} 5 {{/U}} {{/U}}broken, makes the offender immediately the
object of {{U}} {{U}} 6 {{/U}} {{/U}}. It has
been known as a fact that a British has a {{U}} {{U}} 7 {{/U}}
{{/U}}for the discussion of their weather and that, if given a chance, he will
talk about it {{U}} {{U}} 8 {{/U}} {{/U}}. Some people argue
that it is because the British weather seldom {{U}} {{U}} 9
{{/U}} {{/U}}forecast and hence becomes a source of interest and {{U}}
{{U}} 10 {{/U}} {{/U}}to everyone. This may be so. {{U}}
{{U}} 11 {{/U}} {{/U}}a British cannot have much {{U}} {{U}}
12 {{/U}} {{/U}}in the weathermen, who, after promising fine, sunny
weather for the following day, are often proved wrong {{U}} {{U}}
13 {{/U}} {{/U}}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 {{U}} {{U}} 14 {{/U}} {{/U}}.
Foreigners may be surprised at the number of references {{U}} {{U}}
15 {{/U}} {{/U}}weather that the British make to each other in the
course of a single day. Very often conversational greetings are {{U}}
{{U}} 16 {{/U}} {{/U}}by comments on the weather. "Nice day, isn't
it?" "Beautiful day!" may well be heard instead of "Good morning, how are you?"
{{U}} {{U}} 17 {{/U}} {{/U}}the foreigner may consider this
exaggerated and comic, it is worthwhile pointing out that it could be used to
his advantage. {{U}} {{U}} 18 {{/U}} {{/U}}he wants to start a
conversation with a British but is {{U}} {{U}} 19 {{/U}}
{{/U}}to know where to begin, he could do well to mention the state of the
weather. It is a safe subject which will {{U}} {{U}} 20 {{/U}}
{{/U}}an answer from even the most reserved of the British.