19．Except for a few times，Americans are not big present-givers．There's no exchange of presents among business people，and if one American tries to give another a present，it may look like that he wants to bribe （贿赂） him．Americans have learned that in some other countries people like to give presents to others，but among ourselves we don't see the need for presents．
Even friends may never exchange presents．When I go to foreign countries，I try to bring back little things for close friends， but nobody would feel unhappy if I didn't．I don't often remember a friend's birthday，and few people outside of my family remember mine．If someone gave me presents too often，I'd get unpleasant．But a present from a foreigner-that kind from his or her homeland-won't go wrong，except to government employees （政府职员） who can't be given presents．
You usually open a present at once and in front of the person who gives it except Christmas and birthday presents．You should only say，"It's so nice．Thanks…"when you get Christmas or birthday presents．
You may want to bring a bottle of wine （葡萄酒） or flowers to a dinner party，but you're
never asked to．Nobody will mind if you bring wine，but your friend may not use it that evening．
At Christmas we often give presents to our family and sometimes our friends．We also give presents to people who have been helpful during the year-doormen，babysitters，housecleaners，newspaper senders-anyone who has often helped us．
56．What does"close friends"mean in the passage？D
A．The friends who are very kind．
B．The friends who live close to each other．
C．The friends who were once classmates．
D．The friends who you like most．
57．What kind of presents don't Americans usually open in front of the givers？B
A．The small presents．
B．Christmas or birthday presents．
C．The expensive presents．
D．The presents for dinner party．
58．Why do Americans also give presents to housecleaners at Christmas？C
A．To pay them．
B．To help them．
C．To thank them．
D．To make them work harder．
59．Which of the following do you think is right？B
A．American business people don't want presents because they are rich enough．
B．The writer of this passage must be an American．
C．Everyone must give presents to one's family and friends at Christmas．
D．Government employees can get little presents from a foreigner．
60．What is the main idea of the passage？A
A．Present-giving in the United States．
B．Customs （习俗） in the United States．
C．American people and present-giving．
D．When and how to give presents．
分析 本文介绍了美国人送礼物的文化风俗．美国人不会经常互送礼物的，因为他们认为是在贿赂，尤其是政府官员．但他们在圣诞节会给某些人送礼物，以便来感谢他们．
解答 56．D 细节理解题．根据第二段的第一句话"Even friends may never exchange presents．"即使朋友也永远不会交换礼物．可判断选D．
57．B 细节推理题．根据第三段的第一句话"You usually open a present at once and in front of the person who gives it except Christmas and birthday presents．除了圣诞礼物和生日礼物外，你通常会在送你礼物的人面前立刻打开它"．可知选B项．
58．C 细节推理题．根据短文最后一段内容的最后一句话"We also give presents to people who have been helpful during the year-doormen，babysitters，housecleaners，newspaper senders-anyone who has often helped us．"我们也给那些帮助过人们的人送礼物---门卫、保姆、清洁工、报纸发送人，他们经常帮助我们．"可知是为了感谢他们，故选C．
59．B 主旨大意题．根据第一段的第一句话可判断A是错误的；根据第一段第一句话Americans are not big present-givers美国人是不会经常互送礼物的人，及第二段可推断B项是正确的；根据最后一段可知在圣诞节不是给每个人礼物的，可知C项是不正确的；根据第一段和第二段最后一句话可推断D项是错误的．故选B．
60．A 主旨大意题．根据第一段第一句话Americans are not big present-givers美国人是不会经常互送礼物的人．下文具体讲述了他们的互送礼物，故选A．
点评 对阅读理解能力的测试是英语考试中必不可少的测试项目，主要考查学生对于不同体裁或不同题材语言材料的理解能力，以及通过材料的阅读，对材料中信息的捕获能力．需要同学们在日常英语学习中多多训练，多多积累．
