Different countries have different customs in giving presents. In China you must never give a clock to a Chinese person, because the pronunciation of the word for “clock” in Chinese is similar to the pronunciation of “death”. Also, don’ t wrap (用……包裹) a present in white, black, or blue paper, because they are the colors for funerals (葬礼). Don’t give a knife, because something sharp can cut a friendship.
In Russia if you give flowers as presents, you have to give an odd number of them (One, Three, five, etc.) because even numbers of flowers are for funerals.
In Germany, if you are invited to dinner, flowers are good presents to take to your dinner hostess (女主人), but don’t take her red roses because it means you are in love with her. Don’t take thirteen of anything because it’s an unlucky number. Don’t take an even number of anything, either. Don’t wrap your presents in white, brown, or black paper.
【小题1】________ must never be given to Chinese people as presents.
| A．Flowers | B．Clocks | C．Clothes | D．Food |
【小题2】People don’t wrap presents in black or white paper in ________.
| A．Germany | B．China |
| C．both Germany and China | D．both China and Russia |
【小题3】In Russian, if you give flowers as presents, you can give ________ flowers.
【小题4】What presents can you take to your dinner hostess in Germany?
| A．Thirteen of something. | B．Flowers except red roses. |
| C．An even number of something. | D．Something wrapped in brown paper. |
【小题5】This passage mainly talks about ________.
| A．foreigners’ presents | B．flowers |
| C．even numbers | D．different customs in giving presents |
