Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: *Ms Tan, you've referred to your new novel as your eighth book. That's because it took me six or seven attempts at a second novel before I started and completed this one. *Why do you think you had so many false starts? I would say that my reasons were wrong. I was trying to prove that I wasn't just a mother-daughter storyteller, or I was trying to prove that I didn't just have to write about things that were strictly Chinese or Chinese-American. Those were never the right reasons for writing those early stories. And I could never come up with other better reasons for continuing them. *What kept you going on this book? This book was different because it was based on my mother's real life. The reason for writing it became more personal and emotional. AfterThe Joy Luck Clubcame out, my mother was always explaining to people that she wasn't any of the mothers in that book. And at one point she said to me, "Next book tells my true story." And then she started telling me things I never knew before. She also told me many, many stories, because my mother doesn't generalize . The book really grew out of that. *Have you ever visited China? Yes. I've been there twice: about three years ago and then again last November, both times with my mother and my husband. *Was it difficult to understand the Chinese-American dialect without sounding like a parody ? No, because it's the language I've heard all my life from my mother. She speaks English as it's direct translation from Chinese. But it's more than that. Her language also has more imagery than English. *Can you think of an example? Somebody might say to me, "Don't work so hard. You'll kill yourself." My mother will say to me,"Why do you press all your brains out on this page for someone else?" So it's very vivid. That's the way she talks. *Have many readers told you that the Chinese mother in your book reminded them of the typical Jewish mother? Many people have told me that. I think the mother-daughter relationship is very intense in both cases. Culturally there is... Question: Which question is NOT answered in the interview? - How does she think of her mother' s language? - How many books does she plan to write? - When did she visit China? - How is generation gap created?
How many books does she plan to write?
------
Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: Dear Betty, My roommate's family wants me to celebrate Thanksgiving Day with them in their home. I accepted the invitation, and I'm excited about going, but I'm a little nervous about it, too. The social customs in my country are different from those here, so I'm a little worried about making mistakes. Should I bring a gift, such as candy or flowers? Should I arrive on time or a little late? At the dinner table, how can I know which fork or knife to use? How can I let the family know that I'm thankful for their kindness? Yours, Knowing Nothing Dear Knowing Nothing, It's a good idea to bring a gift when you go to a dinner party. Flowers are always welcome, or you can bring a bottle of wine if you know the family drink it. You should arrive on time or five to ten minutes late. Don't get there early. If you are going to be more than fifteen minutes late, you should call and tell them. Try to relax at the dinner table. If you don't know how to use the right fork, knife or spoon, just watch the other guests, and follow them. If you still have no idea of what to do, don't be shy about asking the person next to you; it's better to ask them than to be silently uncomfortable and nervous. If you like the food, say so. Of course, you'll thank the host and hostess for the meal and for their kindness. It's also a good idea to send a card to thank them the day after. Yours, Betty Question: According to Betty, Knowing Nothing _ when going to a dinner party. - can only bring some flowers - can't bring wine - should arrive on time or five to ten minutes late - should arrive twenty minutes late
should arrive on time or five to ten minutes late
------
Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: On a Friday night, a poor young artist stood at the gate of a New York subway station, playing his violin. Many of passers-by slowed down their paces and put some money into the hat of the young man. The next day, at the same place, he put his hat on the ground gracefully. Different than the day before, he took out a large piece of paper and laid it on the ground and put some stones on it. Then he adjusted the violin and began playing. It seemed more pleasant to listen to. The words read, "Last night, a gentleman named George Sang put an important thing into my hat mistakenly. Please come to claim it soon." Seeing this, people wondered what it could be. After about half an hour, a middle-aged man ran there hurriedly and rushed through the crowd to the violinist and grabbed his shoulders and said, "Yes, it's you. You did come here. I knew that you're an honest man and would certainly come here." "Are you Mr. George Sang"? asked the young violinist. The man nodded. "Did you lose something?" "Lottery. It's lottery." "Is it?" The violinist took out a lottery ticket and asked. George nodded promptly and seized the lottery ticket and kissed it, then he danced with the violinist. The story turned out to be this: George Sang bought a lottery ticket, winning a prize of $500,000. After work, he passed the station and felt the music was so wonderful that he took out 50 dollars and put it in the hat. However, the lottery ticket was also thrown in. The violinist was a student at an Arts College and had planned to attend further study in Vienna. He had booked the ticket and would fly that morning. However when he was cleaning up he found the lottery ticket. Thinking that the owner would return to look for it, he cancelled the flight and came back to where he was given the lottery ticket. When asked why he didn't take the lottery ticket for himself, the violinist said, "Although I don't have much money, I live happily; but if I lose honesty I won't be happy forever." Question: We can infer from the passage that _ . - The Arts College the young violinist was going to attend is not in New York. - Many people usually put their money in their hat in the distant past. - George Sang may give some money to the young violinist as a reward. - all the people who win lotteries are generous and easy-going.
The Arts College the young violinist was going to attend is not in New York.
------