Except for a few times, Americans are not big present-givers. There’s no exchange of presents among business people, and if one American tries to give another a present, it may look like that he wants to bribe (贿赂) him. Americans have learned that in some other countries people like to give presents to others, but among ourselves we don’t see the need for presents.
Even friends may never exchange presents. When I go to foreign countries, I try to bring back little things for close friends, but nobody would feel unhappy if I didn’t. I don’t often remember a friend’s birthday, and few people outside of my family remember mine. If someone gave me presents too often, I’d get unpleasant. But a present from a foreigner - that kind from his or her homeland — won’t go wrong, except to government employees (政府职员) who can’t be given presents.
You usually open a present at once and in front of the person who gives it except Christmas and birthday presents. You should only say, "It’s so nice. Thanks…" when you get Christmas or birthday presents.
You may want to bring a bottle of wine (葡萄酒) or flowers to a dinner party, but you’re
never asked to. Nobody will mind if you bring wine, but your friend may not use it that evening.
At Christmas we often give presents to our family and sometimes our friends. We also give presents to people who have been helpful during the year- doormen, babysitters, housecleaners, newspaper senders— anyone who has often helped us.
小题1: What does "close friends" mean in the passage?
A． The friends who are very kind.
B． The friends who live close to each other.
C． The friends who were once classmates.
D． The friends who you like most.小题2: What kind of presents don’t Americans usually open in front of the givers?
A．The small presents.
B． Christmas or birthday presents.
C． The expensive presents.
D． The presents for dinner party.小题3: Why do Americans also give presents to housecleaners at Christmas?
A． To pay them.
B． To help them.
C． To thank them.
D． To make them work harder.小题4: Which of the following do you think is right?
A． American business people don’t want presents because they are rich enough.
B． The writer of this passage must be an American.
C． Everyone must give presents to one’s family and friends at Christmas.
D． Government employees can get little presents from a foreigner.小题5: What is the main idea of the passage?
A． Present-giving in the United States.
B． Customs (习俗) in the United States.
C． American people and present-giving.
D． When and how to give presents.
小题1:D
小题1:B
小题1:C
小题1:B
小题1:A
【主旨大意】本文介绍了美国人送礼物的文化风俗。美国人不会经常互送礼物的，因为他们认为是在贿赂，尤其是政府官员。但他们在圣诞节会给某些人送礼物的，以便来感谢他们。
小题1:D细节理解题。根据第二段的第一句话“Even friends may never exchange presents.”可判断选D。
小题1: B细节推理题。根据第三段的第一句话“You usually open a present at once and in front of the person who gives it except Christmas and birthday presents.”可知选B项。
小题1: C细节推理题。根据短文最后一段内容的最后一句话“We also give presents to people who have been helpful during the year- doormen, babysitters, housecleaners, newspaper senders— anyone who has often helped us.”可知是为了感谢他们，故选C。
小题1: B主旨大意题。根据第一段的第一句话可判断A是错误的。根据第一段第一句话和第二段可推断B项是正确的。根据最后一段可知在圣诞节不是给每个人礼物的，可知C项是不正确的。根据第一段和第二段最后一句话可推断D项是错误的。故选B。
小题1: A主旨大意题。根据整篇文章大意的理解可得出答案A。