I hated dinner parties. But I decided to give them another shot because I'm in London. And my friend Mallery invited me. And because dinner parties in London are very different from those back in New York. There, “I’m having a dinner party” means: "I'm booking a table for 12 at a restaurant you can't afford and we'll be sharing the checque evenly, no matter what you eat." Worse, in Manhattan there is always someone who leaves before the bill arrives. They'll throw down cash, half of what they owe, and then people like me, who don’t drink, end up paying even more. But if I try to use the same trick, the hostess will shout: "Where are you going?" And it's not like I can say I have somewhere to go: everyone know I have nowhere to go.
But in London, dinner parties are in people's homes. Not only that, the guests are an interesting mix. The last time I went to one, the guests were from France, India. Denmark and Nigeria; it was like a gathering at the United Nations in New York. The mix is less striking. It's like a gathering at Bloomingdale's, a well-known department store.
For New Yorkers, talking about other parts of the world means Brooklyn and Queens in New York. But at Mallery's, when I said that I had been to Myanmar recently, people knew where it was. In New York people would think it was a usual new club.
1.What does the word "shot" in Paragraph 1 probably mean?
A. Choice. B. Try C. Style. D. Goal
2.What does the writer dislike most about dinner parties in New York?
A There is a strange mix of people. B. The restaurants are expensive.
C. The bill is not fairly shared. D. People have to pay cash
3.What does the author think of the parties in London?
A. A bit unusual B. Full of tricks.
C. Less costly. D. More interesting.
4. What is the author's opinion of some New Yorkers from her experience？
A. Easy-going. B. Self-centred. C. Generous. D. Conservative.
Weeks passed and the ___30_____over the coming Christmas grew into restlessness until the last day of ___31___before the holiday break. I smiled in ___32____as the last of them hurried out the door. Turning around I saw David ____33___standing by my desk.
“I have something for you,” he said and ___34___ from behind his back a small box. ____35___it to me, he said anxiously. “Open it.” I took the box from him, thanked him and slowly unwrapped it. I lift the lid and to my ___36___saw nothing. I looked at David’s smiling face and back into the box and said, “The box is nice, David, but it’s ___37____”.
“Oh no, it isn’t,” said David. “It’s full of love, my mum told me before she died that love was something you couldn’t see or touch unless you know it’s there.”
Tears filled my eyes ___38___I looked at the proud dirty face that I had rarely given ____39___to. After that Christmas, David and I became good friends and I never forgot the meaning ____40___the little empty box set on my desk..
1. A. anxious B. courageous C. serious D. cautious
2. A. warning B. ringing C. calling D. yelling
3. A. scolded B. wondered C. realized D. learned
4. A. modestly B. naturally C. inaccurately D. inappropriately
5. A. popular B. upset C. special D. funny
6. A. expressing B. delivering C. wearing D. sharing
7.A. practiced B. wandered C. studied D. stayed
8.A. would B. should C. might D. could
9.A. aim at B. turn to C. put off D. head for
10.A. argument B. excitement C. movement D. program
11.A. school B. year C. education D. program
12.A. relief B. return C. vain D. control
13. A. weakly B. sadly C. quietly D. helplessly
14. A. searched B. found C. raised D. pulled
15.A. Holding B. Handing C. Sending D. Leaving
16. A. delight B. expectation C. appreciation D. surprise
17.A. cheap B. empty C. useless D. improper
18.A. as B. until C. because D. though
19. A. advice B. support C. attention D. command
20.A. from B. behind C. over D. towards
------Thank you for your trouble.
------Not at all. I’m ____________ pleased to help you.
A. too much B. too only C. so much D. only too
