阅读理解。
The other day, my friend Jane was invited to a 40th birthday party. The time printed on the invitation was
7:30 pm. Jane went off with her husband, expecting a merry evening of wine, food, and song.
By 9:45 pm, 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 pm, 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 6:30-8:30 pm means drinks only, go
out to dinner afterwards: 8:00 pm or 8:30 pm means possible dinner, but 9:30 pm and any time thereafter means
no food, eat beforehand, to up late.
But this is not always that case. If asked to a students' party at 6:30 pm, 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 pm, she likes to be there, if not on time, then no later than seven. My age
group (late thirties) fall somewhere between the two, but because we still think we're young, we're probably
closer to student-time than grownup time.
The accepted custom at present is confusing (混乱的), sometimes annoying, and it often means you may
go home, but it does lend every part 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. party-goers 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
