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

单选题 [A] relaxed [B] frustrated [C] amused [D] exhausted
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】形容词辨析题。4个选项中，relaxed意为“放松的”，frustrated意为“失败的，落空的”，amused意为“愉快的”，exhausted意为“疲惫的”，而在文中的意思是“英国人只有处在熟悉的人之中才放松”，所以正确答案为A。
单选题 [A] yet [B] otherwise [C] even [D] so
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】语篇理解题。本题考查对语篇的理解。上文中说他总是很紧张，后文表达一种递进的关系，甚至还局促不安，所以正确答案为even。
单选题 [A] experience [B] witness [C] watch [D] undergo
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】名词辨析题。4个选项中，experience意为“经历”，witness意为“目击”，watch意为“看，注视”， D) undergo意为“遭受，忍受”，而文中的意思是“目击这个真相”，所以正确答案为B。
单选题 [A] Deliberately [B] Consequently [C] Frequently [D] Apparently
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】副词辨析题。选项中Deliberately意为“故意地”，Consequently意为“因此”，Frequently意为“常常地”，Apparently意为“显然地”，而文中表达的意思是“显然，有一条不成文的规定”，所以正确答案为 D。
单选题 [A] unless [B] once [C] while [D] as
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】上下文理解题。文中的意思是“一旦规矩被打破，冒犯者就立刻成为了批评的目标”。选项中只有once意为“一旦”，所以正确答案为B。
单选题 [A] suspicion [B] opposition [C] criticism [D] praise
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】名词辨析题。suspicion意为“怀疑”，opposition意为“反对派”，criticism意为“批评，批判”，praise意为“表扬”，所以正确答案为C。
单选题 [A] emotion [B] fancy [C] likeness [D] judgment
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】上下文理解题。选项emotion意为“情绪”，fancy意为“爱好”，likeness意为“相似物”，judgment意为“判断”，文中的意思是“英国人有谈论天气的爱好”，所以正确答案为B。
单选题 [A] at length [B] to a great extent [C] from his heart [D] by all means
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】固定搭配题。4个选项皆为固定搭配词组，at length意为“详细地”，to a great extent意为“很大程度上”，from his heart意为“真诚地，发自心底地”，by all means意为“尽一切办法”，文中意思显然是“只要有机会，他就会详细地谈论天气”，所以正确答案为A。
单选题 [A] follows [B] predicts [C] defies [D] supports
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】动词辨析题。选项中，follows意为“遵循”，predicts意为“预测”，defies意为“不服从”，supports意为“支持”，之所以英国人喜欢谈论天气，是因为英国的天气很少遵循天气预报，所以正确答案为A。
单选题 [A] dedication [B] compassion [C] contemplation [D] speculation
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】名词辨析题。选项dedication意为“贡献”，compassion意为“同情”，contemplation意为“注视”， speculation意为“推测”，文中意思是“这就成为了人们的兴趣和推测的一个来源”，所以正确答案为D。
单选题 [A] Still [B] Also [C] Certainly [D] Fundamentally
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】上下文理解题。本题考查对于语篇的理解。后文是对前文的肯定，所以正确答案为Certainly“的确”。
单选题 [A] faith [B] reliance [C] honor [D] credit
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】固定搭配题及上下文理解题。4个选项都有信任或尊敬的意思，但只有A构成固定搭配并符合文意，“have faith in”意为“相信”，所以正确答案为A。
单选题 [A] if [B] once [C] when [D] whereas
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】语法知识题。文中意思是“当有乌云笼罩大西洋上空给所有地方带来降雨的时候，预报员却说未来几天天气晴好”，这里是一个应该由when来引导的状语从句，所以正确答案为C。
单选题 [A] propositions [B] predictions [C] approval [D] defiance
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】名词辨析题。选项propositions意为“主张，建议”，predictions意为“预测”，approval意为“赞成”， defiance意为“挑战，蔑视”，文中意思是指“天气预报员的预测”，所以正确答案为B。
单选题 [A] about [B] on [C] in [D] to
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】固定搭配题。本题不难，句中“reference to sth．”构成固定搭配，意为“涉及到……”，所以正确答案为D。
单选题 [A] started [B] conducted [C] replaced [D] proposed
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】动词辨析及上下文理解题。选项started意为“开始”，conducted意为“引导”，replaced意为“代替”，proposed意为“建议”，文中的意思为“会话中的问候非常经常地被对于气候的评论所替代”，所以正确答案为C。
单选题 [A] Since [B] Although [C] However [D] Only if
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】语法知识题。该句的上下文表示一个转折的意思，是一个让步状语从句，这句话的意思是“即使外国人可能认为这有夸张的成分在，但值得指出的是这种问候方式也有它的优势在”，所以正确答案为 Although。
单选题 [A] Even if [B] Because [C] If [D] For
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】语法知识题。文中这句话应是一个条件状语从句，意思是“如果他想和一个英国人开始谈话，但又不知道从哪里开始，他就可以先说说天气情况”，所以正确答案为If。
单选题 [A] at a loss [B] at last [C] in group [D] on the occasion
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】固定搭配题。4个选项皆为固定搭配词组，at a loss意为“困惑，不知道”，at last意为“最后”，in group意为“在一组”，on the occasion意为“有时”，所以正确答案为A。
单选题 [A] stimulate [B] constitute [C] furnish [D] provoke
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】动词辨析及上下文理解题。语义干扰题。选项stimulate意为“刺激，激励”，constitute意为“制定”，urnish意为“供应，提供”，provoke意为“惹起”，文中的意思为“这是一个非常安全的话题，它会使一个最最沉默的英国人开口回答”，所以正确答案为D。