Questions 11 to 18 are based on the conversation you have just heard.

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.

the religious fatalism.

God’s mighty will.

Moslem tenets.

all kinds of argument.

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.

feasible methods on the problem of privacy.

financial supports from the other state governments.

pending questions to the problems that need solution.

a long period to collect physical features.

In the people’s Republic of China the odd prequake behavior of horses and other animals (1) successfully to warn people that earthquakes (2) . Recently, a group of American geologists and geographers visited China and listened with great interest (3) the scientists there (4) explained how they have been able to predict many earthquakes in the past three years. The American scientists compared the (5) of the unique Chinese program (6) the impact of Chinese acupuncture (7) Western medicine.

The Chinese scientists use (8) but they also monitor strange (9) such as various ground noises, the fluctuation of well-water levels, and the strange behavior of animals. The results are quite interesting, Chinese seismologists, for example, (10) predicted two magnitude 6.9 quakes near the China-Burma (11) on May 9,1976. The seismologists say that their predictions have been (12) precise that they were able to evacuate many of their people (13) an earthquake occurred, (14) saving thousands of lives. (15) , the Chinese experts also admit that there have been some false alarms.

American scientists have (16) stories of unusual prequake animal behavior before, but they (17) them too seriously until their recent visit to China. "Maybe there’s (18) in it", said Jack Everndon, a California scientist. We need some kind of short-term warning. We need something.

He didn’t mention the kind of research he may be considering, "Some of us are thinking it’s (19) enough to give it a serious look," he commented. "Two years ago we (20) that.

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.

[听力原文]

M: I’d love to dance, but I don’t know the steps.

W: It doesn’t matter. No one will be looking at us in this crowd.