“How are you?” is a nice question. It’s a 36 way that people in the United States meet each other. But “How are you?” is also a very 37 question. It’s a question that often 38 have an answer. The person who asks “How are you?” hopes to hear the answer “ 39 ”, even though the person’s friend isn’t fine, 40 “How are you?” isn’t really a question, and “Fine” isn’t really an answer. They are simply other ways of saying “Hello” and “ 41 ”.
Sometimes, people also don’t say just what they 42 . For example, when someone asks, “Do you agree?” the other person might be thinking, “No, I don’t agree. I think you’re wrong.” But it isn’t very 43 to say so, so the other person might say, “I’m not so 44 .” It’s a nicer way to say that you don’t agree with someone.
People also don’t say just what they are thinking when they 45 talking with other people. For example, many talks over the phone 46 when one person says “I’ve got to go now.” Often, the person who wants to hang up gives an excuse: “Someone’s at the door.” “I’ve got to put the things 47 .” “Something is burning on the 48 .” The excuse might be real, or it might not. Perhaps the person who wants to hang up simply doesn’t want to talk 49 , but it isn’t very polite to say that. The excuse is more polite, and it doesn’t hurt the other person’s 50 .
36．A．funny B．friendly C．strange D．useful
37．A．good B．unusual C．interesting D．possible
38．A．doesn’t B．mustn’t C．shouldn’t D．can’t
39．A．Right B．Terrible C．Fine D．Yes
40．A．because B．when C．though D．unless
41．A．OK B．Bye C．Hi D．No
42．A．want B．do C．lose D．mean
43．A．polite B．necessary C．important D．easy
44．A．afraid B．well C．interested D．sure
45．A．finish B．keep C．enjoy D．miss
46．A．continue B．last C．begin D．end
47．A．on B．away C．in D．out
48．A．kitchen B．floor C． fire D．chair
49．A．too many B．at all C．at once D．any more
50．A．health B．body C．feelings D．family
36. B 37. B 38. A 39. C 40. A 41. C 42. D 43. A 44. D 45. A 46. D 47. B 48. C 49. D 50. C