52. How far people keep to each other while talking is closely associated with their______.
A. cultural origin B. habits C. custom D. nationality
53. When an Italian talks to an Arabian on informal occasions______.
A. he stands about four feet away
B. “comfort zone” does not exist
C. keeping close enough is preferred
D. communication barriers may emerge
54. A “poker face” (Line 3, Para. 2) refers to a face which is______.
A. attentive B. emotional C. suspicious D. expressionless
55. In a conversation between friends, Americans regard it as sincere and truthful to______.
A. maintain direct eye contact
B. hide emotions with a deadpan expression
C. display excitement or disgust, shock or sadness
D. raise their eyebrows, nod and smile politely
Passage Four
After the violent earthquake that shook Los Angeles in 1994, earthquake scientists had
good news to report; the damage and death toll (死亡人数) could have been much worse.
More than 60 people died in this earthquake. By comparison, an earthquake of similar
intensity that shook America in 1988 claimed 25, 000 victims. Injuries and deaths were
relatively less in Los Angeles because the quake occurred at 4:31 a.m. on a holiday, when
traffic was light on the city’s highways. In addition, changes made to the construction codes
in Los Angeles during the last 20 years have strengthened the city’s buildings and highways,
making them more resistant to quakes.
Despite the good news, civil engineers aren’t resting on their successes. Pinned to their
drawing boards are blueprints (蓝图的) for improved quake-resistant buildings. The new
designs should offer even greater security to cities where earthquakes often take place. In the
past, making structures quake-resistant meant firm yet flexible materials, such as steel and
wood, which bend without breaking. Later, people tried to lift a building off its foundation,
and insert rubber and steel between the building and its foundation to reduce the impact of
ground vibrations. The most recent designs give buildings brains as well as concrete and
steel supports, called smart buildings, the structures respond like living organisms to an
earthquake’s vibrations. When the ground shakes and the building tips forward, the computer
would force the building to shift in the opposite direction. The new smart structures could be
very expensive to build. However, they would save many lives and would be less likely to be
damaged during earthquakes.
56. One reason why the loss of lives in the Los Angeles earthquake was comparatively low
is that______.
A. new computers had been installed in the buildings
B. it occurred in the residential areas rather than on the highways
C. large numbers of Los Angeles residents had gone for a holiday
D. improvements had been made in the construction of buildings and highways
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