Nearly all British people in full-time jobs have at least four weeks’ holiday a year , often in two or three separate periods . The normal working week is 35-40 hours, Monday to Friday. More overtime is worked at extra pay than in most other Western European countries, but there is relatively little “moonlighting” ― that is , independent work for pay in leisure hours. Another way of saying that is the “black economy”, involving work paid privately in cash and not officially recorded or taxed, is relatively small .

   There are only eight official public holidays, Christmas included , a year, only one of them in the six months before Christmas. None of them celebrates anything to do with state or nation .

   The most obvious and traditional British holiday destination is the coast. No place in the country is more than three hours’ journey from some part of it. The coast is full of variety , with good cliffs (悬崖) and rocks between the beaches , but the uncertain weather and cold sea are serious disadvantages. Also , two weeks in a hotel room with balcony (阳台) and private bath can now cost less in Spain or Greece , with flights included, than the same in a British hotel . Most of the hotels in the numerous seaside resort towns were built between 50 and 100 years ago , and seem not to be used much by people going to conferences as by those on holiday. Going to a conference can be a sort of holiday , even in working time and with expenses paid .

53. How many hours do British people work every day ? ____ .

  A. 6―7 hours   B. 7―8 hours  C. 5―6 hours   D. 8―9 hours

54. The underlined word “moonlighting” in paragraph 1 means ____ .

  A. people work overtime         B. people work at night

  C. people take walks at night   D. people have an additional job

55. What can we learn from the passage ? ___ .

A.      Most of official public holidays are in the six months from January to June .

B.      Many of official public holidays are celebrated for the reason of state or nation .

C.      There are many official public holidays a year .

D.     All official public holidays are before Christmas .

56. The following are disadvantages for holiday makers at a British seaside resort EXCEPT _____.

  A. too many conferences being held there             B. the cold sea

  C. expensive hotel costs                                      D. the uncertain weather