Question

The other day, my friend Jane was invited to a 40th birthday party. The time printed on the invitation was 7.30pm. Jane went off with her husband, expecting a merry evening of wine, food, and song.

By 9.45, everybody was having great fun, but no food had appeared. Jane and David were restless. Other guests began whispering that they, too, were starving. But no one wanted to leave, just in case some food was about to appear. By 11.00, there was still no food, and everyone was completely off their heads. Jane and David left hungry and angry.

Their experience suggests that the words on the printed invitations need to be made clearer. Everyone reads and understands the invitations differently. Most of us would agree that 6.30-8.30pm means drinks only, go out to dinner afterwards; 8.00pm or 8.30pm means possible dinner, but 9.30pm and any time thereafter means no food, eat beforehand, roll up late.

But this is not always the case. If asked to a students' party at 6.30pm, it is normal for guests not to appear before midnight, if at all, and no one cares. Being the first to arrive-looking eager-is social death. When my mother is asked to a party for 6.30, she likes to be there, if not on time, then no later than seven. My age group（late thirties） falls somewhere between the two, but because we still think we're young, we're probably closer to student-time than grown-up time.

The accepted custom at present is confusing(混亂的), sometimes annoying, and it often means you may go home hungry, but it does lend every party that precious element(成分) of surprise.

1.The underlined words "off their heads" probably mean______.

A. tired B. crazy

C. curious D. hopeless

2.Jane and David' s story is used to show that______ .

A. petty-goer8 usually get hungry at parties

B. party invitations can be confusing

C. people should ask for food at parties

D. birthday parties for middle-aged people are dull

3.For some young people, arriving on time for a students' party will probably be considered_______.

A. very difficult

B. particularly thoughtful

C. friendly and polite

D. socially unacceptable

4.According to the writer, people in their late thirties_______.

A. are likely to arrive late for a party

B. care little about the party time

C. haven' t really grown up yet

D. like surprises at parties

5.What is the general idea of the text?

A. It' s safe to arrive late just when food is served.

B. It' s wise to eat something before going to a party.

C. It' s important to follow social rules of party-going.

D. It' s necessary to read invitations carefully.

 

Answer 1

1.B

2.B

3.D

4.A

5.C

【解析】

試題分析：不同年齡段的人到達晚會的時間不同，對晚會時間的理解也不同。不遵從社會習慣，便會出現餓肚子等現象。所以，按社會習俗參加晚會是極為重要。

1.By 9.45,...they, too, were starving...By 11.00, there was still no food”可知，參加晚會的人們在饑餓中等到11點都餓瘋了。off one’s head歡喜若狂，失去自制力；發(fā)狂，精神錯亂，故選B。

2.Their experience suggests that the words on the printed invitations need to be made clearer.”可知，他們的經歷說明邀請函上面的文字說明通常是含糊不清的，故選B。

3.Being the first to arrive-looking eager-is social death.”可知，準時到達同學的聚會被認為是一種社會弊病，故選D。

4.y age group (late thirties)...we're probably closer to student-time”可知，三十幾歲的人到達聚會的時間與年輕的學生到達聚會的時間接近，根據“If asked to a students' party at 6.30pm, it is normal for guests not to appear before midnight”可知，年輕人參加聚會通常會遲到，故選A。

5.but it does lend every party that precious element(成分) of surprise”可知，盡管那些約定俗成的風俗讓人感到困惑，但是這些風俗確實給聚會增添了驚喜的成分，說明人們還是應該遵守參加聚會的風俗習慣的，故選C。

考點：社會類短文閱讀