四六级阅读的每日一练：第20篇

　　Passage 2

　　In the United States, it is not 11 to telephone someone very early in the morning. If you telephone him early in the day, while he is shaving or having breakfast, the time of the call shows that the matter is very important and requires immediate attention. The same meaning is attached to telephone calls made after 11: 00 p. m. . If someone receives a call during sleeping hours, he 12 its a matter of life and death. The time chosen for the call 13 its importance.

　　In 14 life, time plays a very important part. In the U. S. A. , guests tend to feel they are not highly regarded if the 15 to a dinner party is extended only three or four days before the party date. But it is not true in all countries. In other areas of the world, it may be considered foolish to make an appointment too far in 16 because plans which are made for a date more than a week away tend to be forgotten. The meaning of time differs in different parts of the world. Thus, misunderstandings 17 between people from cultures that treat time differently.

　　Promptness is valued 18 in American life, for example. If people are not prompt, they may be regarded as impolite or not fully responsible. In the U. S. no one would think of keeping a business 19 waiting for an hour, it would be too impolite. A person who is 5 minutes late is 20 to make a short

　　apology. If he is less than 5 minutes late, he will say a few words of explanation, though perhaps he will not complete the sentence.

　　A. highly B. engagement C. customary D. social

　　E. inform F. invitation G. advance H. absence

　　I. heavily J. associate K. expected L. assumes

　　M. habitual N. arise O. communicates