书城外语《21世纪大学英语》配套教材.阅读.2
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第39章 Unit Ten(4)

4.What is the probable meaning of“spoof”in paragraph five?A.Disclose. B.Beautify.C.Hide. D.Belittle.

Time spent in a bookshop can be most enjoyable, whether you are a book-lover or merely go there to buy a book as a present.You may even have entered the shop just to find shelter from a sudden shower.Whatever the reason,you can soon become totally unaware of your surroundings.The desire to pick up a book with an attractive cover is irresistible, although this method of selection ought not to be followed, as you might end up with a rather dull book.You soon become engrossed in some book or other,and usually it is only much later that you realize you have spent far too much time there and must dash off to keep some forgotten appointment without buying a book,of course.

This opportunity to escape the realities of everyday life is, I think, the main attraction of a bookshop.There are not many places where it is possible to do this.A music shop is very much like a bookshop.You can wander round such places to your heart s content.If it is a good shop,no assistant will approach you with the inevitable greeting:“Can I help you, sir ? ”You needn t buy anything you don t want.In a bookshop an assistant should remain in the background until you have finished browsing.Then, and only then, are his services necessary.Of course, you may want to find out where a particular section is, but when he has led you there, the assistant should retire discreetly and look as if he is not interested in selling a single book.

You have to be careful not to be attracted by the variety of books in a bookshop.It is very easy to enter the shop looking for a book on, say ancient coins and to come out carrying a copy of the latest best-selling novel and perhaps a book about brass-rubbing - something which had unexpectedly interested you.This volume on the subject,however, happened to be so well illustrated and the part of the text you read proved so interesting that you just had to buy it.This sort of thing can be very dangerous.Apart from running up a huge account,you can waste a great deal of time wandering from section to section.Bookseller must be both long-suffering and indulgent.

1.You may spend too much time in a bookshop because.

A.the book cover is very attractive.

B.you start reading one of the books.

C.it is raining outside.

D.you have to make sure you can t buy a dull book as a present.

2.An assistant should help you.

A.as soon as you have entered a shop.

B.just before you finish browsing.

C.only when you have finished browsing.

D.when he leads you to a particular section.

3.It s very easy to enter a bookshop and buy.

A.a book in ancient coins.

B.a best-selling novel on brass-rubbing.

C.a book that only vaguely interests you.

D.a book that unexpectedly interests you.

4.This passage is mainly concerned with.

A.some advice on entering a bookshop.

B.how to select books in bookshop.

C.assistant s service in a bookshop.

D.attractions of books in a bookshop.

It is natural for young people to be critical of their parents at times and to blame them for most of the misunderstandings between them.They have always complained, more or less justly, that their parents are out of touch with modern ways; that they are possessive and dominant; that they do not trust their children to deal with crisis that they talk too much about certain problems- and that have no sense of humor, at least in parent-child relationships.

I think it is true that parents often underestimate their teenage children and also forget how they themselves felt when young.

Young people often irritate their parents with their choices in clothes and hairstyles, in entertainers and music.This is not their motive, they feel cut off from the adult world into which they have not yet been accepted.So they create a culture and society of their own.Then, if it turns out that their music or entertainers or vocabulary or clothes or hairstyle irritate their parents, this gives them additional enjoyment.They feel they are superior, at least in a small way and that they are leaders in style and taste.Sometimes you are resistant,and proud because you do not want your parents to approve of what you do.If they did approve, it looks as if you are betraying your own age group.But in that case, you are assuming that you are the underdog: you can t win but at least you can keep your honour.This is a passive way of looking at things.It is natural enough after long years of childhood, when you were completely under your parents control.But it ignores the fact that you are now beginning to be responsible for yourself.

If you plan to control your life, co-operation can be part of that plan,you can charm others, especially your parents, into doing things the way you want.

You can impress others with your sense of responsibility and initiative, so that they will give you the authority to do what you want to do.

1.The author is primarily addressing.

A.parents of teenagers.

B.newspaper readers.

C.teenagers.

D.those who give advice to teenagers.

2.Teenagers tend to have strange clothes and hairstyles because they.

A.want to irritate their parents.

B.have a strong desire to be leaders in style and taste.

C.have no other way to enjoy themselves better.

D.want to show their existence by creating a culture of their own.

3.Teenagers do not want their parents to approve of whatever they do because they.

A.have a desire to be independent.

B.feel that they are superior in a small way to the adults.

C.are not likely to win over the adults.

D.have already been accepted into the adult world.

4.To improve parent-child relationships, teenagers are advised to be.

A.obedient.B.responsible.

C.independent. D.co-operative.