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, 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, 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, roll up late.
But this is not always the case. If asked to a students' party at 6:30 pm, it is unaccepted for guests to appear on time. Being the first to arrive-looking eager-is social death. When my mother is asked to a party at 6:30, she
likes to be there, if not on time, then no later than seven. My age group (late thirties) falls somewhere between
the two, but because we still think we're young, we're probably closer to student-time than grown-up time.
The accepted custom at present is confusing, sometimes annoying, and it often means you may go home
hungry, but it does lend every party that precious element of surprise.
1. The underlined words "off their heads" probably mean ______.
A. tired
B. crazy
C. happy
D. encouraging
2. Jane and David's story is used to show that ______.
A. party invitations can be confusing
B. party-goers usually get hungry at parties
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
4. What is the general idea of the text?
A. It's safe to arrive late just when food is served.
B. It's wise to eat something before going to a party.
C. It's important to follow social rules of party-going.
D. There's no need to read invitations carefully.
