单选题 I must warn you that you may find parts of this article rather difficult to understand. Wait! The sentence you have just read is quite untrue. But that isn't why you were irritated by it. It was, of course, also insulting and few people enjoy being insulted. By reading this article you are making the claim that you are the sort of person who will understand it; my opening sentence questioned your claim, and that is what made it insulting. In other words, an insult occurs whenever one person denies some aspect of identity which another is claiming, explicitly or otherwise.
When describing the course of a disease, pathologists often talk of the body organizing its defences in response to a biological insult. But in everyday life we use the term only when the rules which govern social encounters are breached in the manner described. For social interaction to work it is essential that the participants respect the "face" of all involved. "Face" refers to the public image which a person chooses to present in a particular situation. Its importance is obvious when two people are talking to each other, but it cannot be ignored by the writer who wishes to keep his readers.
If I wish to insult you, I must not merely threaten your face, but do so deliberately. Without malicious intent, I am guilty of a social blunder but nothing worse. Some people are famous for dropping bricks, but they are considered socially unskilled or naive rather than insulting; this can be seen from the fact that their remarks elicit laughter, admittedly strained, rather than anger.
What happens when face is lost? It is usually possible to avoid or overlook the insult ("I didn't hear that"/"she's only a child"). If it is not overlooked, the next move is conventionally a challenge in which the victim draws attention to the violation ("what do you mean, I've got the manners of a pig?"). This is an invitation to the offender to restore order by making a response which indicates that the conventions have not after all been violated. He may apologize ( "I don't know what came over me" ) or make compensation ( "I'm always throwing my food all over the place"). Alternatively, he can attempt to change the meaning of his remark ( "I was only joking" / "I can't stand people who eat delicately" ). Any of these ploys can repair the damage, so long as the wounded party accepts the explanation and the offender confirms his penitence by a display of suitable gratitude.

单选题 What is the author's intention in the opening sentence of this passage?
A. To prepare the reader for difficulties
B. To make the article appear very impressive
C. To discourage uneducated readers
D. To demonstrate the nature of an insult

单选题 The author suggests that an insult is an attack on another person's ______.
A. image of himself
B. good character
C. standard of intelligence
D. ability to understand himself

单选题 According to the passage, why is it important for "face" to be respected?
A. So that people can talk freely to each other
B. To allow the adoption of new roles
C. To maintain an acceptable pattern of behaviour
D. So that people can understand one another better

单选题 People who are "famous for dropping bricks" ______.
A. are unintentionally rude
B. cannot control their behaviour
C. are trying to be funny
D. do not care what others think of them

单选题 An insult will normally be challenged ______.
A. when it is very obvious
B. to allow it to be withdrawn
C. to allow the victim to retaliate
D. if the offender was only joking