Section III

Maintaining a Sharp Eye

Passage II :   Read and Judge

Are the following statements true or false according to the passage? Write T/F accordingly.
1. The most important thing to remember about Britain is the weather. 
2. People in Britain can enjoy lovely weather most of the time of a year. 
3. British people tend to talk about weather quite a lot. 
4. It is quite common in Britain for people to comment on a rainy day or a lovely day at a bus stop.
5. The eating habit of people in Britain has a lot to do with the weather condition there. 
6. The best word we may use to describe the weather in Britain is “predictable?”.
7. The variable weather explains why British people talk a lot about it.
8. Talking about weather is an inoffensive way to begin a conversation with a stranger in Britain.  

Key:  1. F  2. F  3. T  4. T  5. T  6. F  7. T  8. T
Read and Rewrite
Rewrite the passage by focusing on the following points:
1) The weather in Britain is unpredictable;
2) People’s daily activities and even habits are greatly influenced by the weather;
3) Talking about the weather is a common way to start a conversation
Key:
The most important thing to remember about the weather in Britain is that it often changes, so the kind of weather you get will depend not only on the time of year, but also on luck. Similarly, people’s daily activities are greatly influenced by the weather as it may change from a sunny day to rain within an hour. Because they seldom spend much time outdoors owing to the changeable weather, the British people often leave others an impression that they are not friendly. Weather explains their eating habits, too --- a big hot breakfast is able to warm one up. The variable climate offers people a common topic to talk about. Since the weather changes frequently, there’s always something to say about it. As a result, talking about the weather may be the commonest way to start a conversation or to greet someone you pass on the street. It is also an inoffensive way to begin a conversation with someone you don’t know very well at a social event, since the British are reluctant to comment on personal matters.
Read and Translate
Translate the following sentences into Chinese.
1. The most important thing to remember about China is that it is a huge country with a large population.
2. Similarly, one can download the kind of software you like.
3. China's National Football Team's success in the World Cup Qualifiers depended more on their excellent performance than on luck.
4. However often they meet, there is always a lot for them to say to each other.
5. It is impolite to ask personal questions of those you don't know well.
6. She is reluctant to accept his invitation to see a movie.
Key:
1. 关于中国需要记住的最重要的一点是：它是个幅员辽阔，人口众多的国家。
2. 同样，你可以下载你所喜欢的软件。
3. 中国国家足球队在世界杯外围赛的胜利更多是依靠它出色的表现，而不只是凭运气。
4. 无论他们见面多么频繁，他们总是有很多话可说。
5. 向你不太熟的人问私人生活问题是不礼貌的。
6. 她不大愿意接受他的邀请去看电影。