C

This story took place a long time ago. But it has been repeated time and time again. Everyone is moved by the true story.

An old man was knocked down by a car and was taken to hospital. He was badly hurt, and during his few returns to consciousness(知觉), he repeatedly called for his son. None knew where his son was. A dirty letter was found in his pockets. The nurse learned that his son was a soldier in North Carolina.

The hospital called the Red Cross office to find the young man. The young soldier was rushed to the airport in time to catch the plane.

It was evening when the young soldier walked into the hospital. A nurse took him to the bedsides of the old man. “Your son is here,” she said to the old man. She had to repeat the words several times before the old man’s eyes opened. He dimly(模糊地) saw the young man and got great comfort. He reached out his hand. The soldier held the old man’s hand and offered words of hope. All through the night the young soldier sat beside the bed. The nurse offered to watch instead of him for a while, he refused.

At dawn, the old man died. The nurse started to comfort him but the soldier asked her, “Who was that old man?” “He was your father,” she answered. “No, he wasn’t. I never saw him before. I knew right away there was a mistake, but I also knew he needed his son, and his son just wasn’t here. I realized I was needed. So I stayed.”

59.What is true about the old man?

A. He knew quite well what had happened to him

B. He was seriously injured and would die soon

C. He once and again wanted to call his son.

D. He was knocked dead near a hospital.

60.When the old man and the young man met, .

A. The old man wished the young man good luck in the future.

B. The doctors and nurses felt it hopeful to save the old man.

C. The young man said something to comfort the old man.

D. They both recognized each other at once.

61.We know from this passage .

A. the Red Cross is something for people to find persons.

B. the young man knew he was wrongly called when he got on the plane.

C. the hospital had meant to save the old man with the young man’s coming but failed.

D. The young man might have the same name as the old man’s son.

D

In the United States, it is not customary 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 assumes it's a matter of life and death. The time chosen for the call communications is important.

In social life, time plays a very important part. In the U.S.A. guests tend to feel they are not highly regarded if the attention 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 advance 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 arise between people from cultures that treat time differently. Promptness (准时) is valued highly 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 friend waiting for an hour. It would be too impolite. A person who is 5 minutes late is expected 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.