In the United States, it is not usual to telephone someone early in the morning.

题型：不详难度：来源：

In the United States, it is not usual to telephone someone early in the morning. If you telephone early in the day, while he is shaving or having breakfast, the time of the call shows that the matter is very important and requires immediate(立即的) attention. So it is with the telephone calls made after 11:00 pm. If someone receives a call during sleeping hours, he may think that it’s a matter of life and death. The time chosen for the call communicates its importance.
In social life, time plays a very important part. In the USA guests are likely to feel they are not highly regarded if the invitation to a dinner party reaches them only three or four days before the party date. But it is not true in all countries. In other areas of the world, it may be thought silly to make an appointment(约会) too far ahead because plans which are made for a date more than a week away may be forgotten. The meaning of time is not the same in different cultures that treat time differently; being on time is valued highly in American life, for example. If people are not on time, they may be regarded as impolite or not fully responsible(责任). In the USA no one would think of keeping a business friend for an hour; it would be too impolite. A person who is 5 minutes late is asked to make a shout apology (道歉). If he is less than 5 minutes late, he will say a few words of explanation(解释), though perhaps he will not complete the sentence.
小题1:A call at midnight would mean_________.

A．the matter is less important

B．the matter is too difficult to handle

C．the matter requires immediate attention

D．it is a matter of life and death

小题2:According to the passage, time plays a very important part in__________.

A．everyday life	B．personal life
C．getting along with others	D．business

小题3:In the passage, the writer suggests that invitation cards should be sent___________.

A．three or four days before the party date in all cultures

B．three or four days before the party date in some cultures

C．three or four days before the party date in the USA

D．at your chosen time

答案

小题1:D
小题2:C
小题3:B

解析

试题分析：这篇短文主要描述了时间在社会交往中的重要作用，不同的时间在社会交往中往往代表了不同的含义。
小题1:根据If someone receives a call during sleeping hours, he may think that it’s a matter of life and death.描述，可知午夜的电话往往是有关生死的电话，故选D。
小题2:根据In social life, time plays a very important part.及下文描述可知，时间在与他人交往中扮演者重要的作用，故选C。
小题3:根据In the USA guests are likely to feel they are not highly regarded if the invitation to a dinner party reaches them only three or four days before the party date.描述，可知选B。
点评：本文中长句较多，一时很难读懂句子含义，注意多读几遍，不要强求非得理解一词一句的含义，能把握文章大意就行。然后带着问题阅读短文，一般就能顺利找出答题依据。对于不能直接找到根据的问题注意联系上下文，根据短文中心总结出正确答案。