Question

Japanese couples，too busy for a normal social life，are increasingly turning to actors to play their friends on the most important days of their lives．

Several agencies have sprung up (涌现) offering actors to attend weddings or even funerals．The first guest-for-hire company was established about nine years ago and around 10 now send out dozens of pretend friends to family events．

Agencies such as Hagemashi Tai —— which means “I want to cheer you up” —— charge around ￡100 for each “guest”．Other services such as giving a speech in praise of a bride or the groom cost extra．

The appearance of the small fake friends industry has been linked to social and economic changes in Japan．With lifetime employment (终身雇佣制) a thing of the past，couples feel uncomfortable about inviting work colleagues to their wedding．Increasingly busy and stressed out，many Japanese surround themselves with only a very small circle of friends．

    When they marry，however，they are under pressure to match the number of their new partner’s wedding guests．Office Agents，the largest provider of pretend friends，makes sure that its employees have done their homework and know all about the bride or groom before the wedding．

    Hiroshi Mizutani，the company’s founder，said the fake friends he provides must look happy，be well dressed and look like people with good jobs．

1.Why did fake friends industry come into being in Japan?

A．Because of social and economic changes．

B．Because of lifetime employment．

C．Because of normal social life．

D．Because of work pressure．．

2.Pretend friends will be present on the following occasions except __________ ．

A．weddings                                                                                                  B．funerals

C．work                                                                                                                D．family gathering

3.The agents make sure that fake friends __________ ．

A．have done their housework

B．have good jobs

C．must look happy and be well dressed

D．feel uncomfortable

4.What is the main idea of this passage?

A．Japanese couples are under pressure to get married．

B．The first guest-for-hire company in Japan started．

C．Japanese couples’ social life is boring．

D. Japanese couples rely on fake friends．

Answer

1.A

2.C

3.C

4.D

【解析】

试题分析：本文讲述的是现在的日本人要依赖这些虚假的朋友在他们的生活中起一定的作用。文章中详细描述了提供这样服务的公司的一些具体的信息。

1.A 细节题。根据文章第四段1,2行The appearance of the small fake friends industry has been linked to social and economic changes in Japan. 可知因为社会和经济的改变，虚假朋友的行业在日本形成。可知A项正确。

2.C 细节题。根据文章第二段第一行和最后一行Several agencies have sprung up(涌现)offering actors to attend weddings or even funerals和send out dozens of pretend friends to family events.可知假朋友可能出现的婚礼，葬礼和家庭聚会上，只有C项没有提及。

3.C 细节题。根据文章最后一段Hiroshi Mizutani, the company’s founder, said the fake friends he provides must look happy, be well dressed and look like people with good jobs可知代理人必须保证假朋友看起来高兴而且穿着讲究。可知C项描述的正确的。

4.D 主旨大意题。根据文章主题段第一段Japanese couples, too busy for a normal social life, are increasingly turning to actors to play their friends on the most important days of their lives.现在的日本夫妻要依赖这些虚假的朋友在他们的生活中起一定的作用。故D项正确。

考点：考查社会现象类短文阅读