The Swedes are among the most charming peoples in Europe.And their charm comes from an apparent contradiction in the national character.They are extremely conservative in social relationships; within the family and when meeting friends and business acquaintances,their conduct is governed by strict social patterns.At the same time,they are one of the most intellectually progressive people in the world.They are always open to new ideas.
All social occasions in Sweden are regulated by rules and traditions.And these traditions are expressed in a specific ritual (仪式) made up of formal bows,handshakes,and greetings.When a visitor enters a Swedish home,he is invariably received with a “Welcome”; when he leaves,his host will tell him “You will be welcome again”.These charming phrases are an indestructible part of Swedish social life and they give it an old-world flavor of good manners.
Equally attractive is the Swedish acceptance of modern technological equipment.A traveler never needs to search for a telephone in Sweden:telephone booths are placed at regular intervals along the main streets and highways.And in church,for example,long benches are fitted with hearing aids for worshippers who may be hard of hearing.Swedish homes are among the best equipped in the world and travelers in Sweden find their journeys made easy by the use of the most efficient modern devices.
The contradiction of the Swedes can be found in ____.
A)
their strictness in social activities and friendliness in entertaining guests
B)
their conserved attitude towards social relationships and openness to initiative ideas
C)
their clearly set social patterns and enthusiasm about big parties
D)
their specific ritual and concern about good manners
”Invariably” in the second paragraph can be best replaced with ___.
A)
”often”
B)
”usually”
C)
”sometimes”
D)
”always”
3 .
It cannot be inferred from the passage that the Swedes are ____.
A)
hard-working
B)
polite
C)
considerate
D)
efficient
4 .According to the passage,the Swedish social ritual doesn’t include ____.
A)
greetings
B)
bows
C)
handshaking
D)
embraces
A B C D
5 .Which of the following statements is NOT true?
A)
People can hear the priest more clearly with the hearing aids in the church.
B)
The Swedes’ homes are among the best equipped ones in the world.
C)
Travelers will be most satisfied when travelling in Sweden.
D)
It’s very convenient to make a call in booths in Sweden.