It is sometimes said that the English are polite people. This can make life difficult for foreigners. Suppose a foreign boy asks an English girl to go out with him and she says, “If I finish my work, I’ll meet you in the cafe at 7 o’clock.” Is she saying “yes” or “no” to his invitation?
In grammatical terms, she is using the conditional structure (表示條件的句式). By using the conditional, speakers of English can avoid giving a “yes” or “no” answer to a question. It enables people to be diplomatic (婉轉(zhuǎn)的). If the girl doesn’t want to go out with the boy, she won’t turn up at the cafe. She will let him understand she is still working. If she wants to go out with him, but doesn’t want to appear too easy to catch, she has achieved that with her reply. But in this case, as she uses the first conditional which shows probability, she is quite likely to turn up at the cafe. Being polite can make life very difficult!
The conditional is often used by people in the news -- politicians, for example -- who wish to avoid speaking out their ideas. This is very important if they are on their way to discuss an agreement. No one wants to give away his or her points before he or she starts. A government spokesman might say to a group of workers, “If we could pay you more, we would.” The use of the conditional here makes room for argument although the speaker is using the second conditional form, which shows improbability. So it is unlikely the workers will get their rise.
“If ” is a small word, which appears often in the English language. It can show politeness, reported speech and conditionals such as the First -- probability -- if I can come to your party, I will; the Second -- improbability -- if I saw you tomorrow, I’d give you the book; and the Third -- impossibility (meaning it is too late to change something that has happened ) -- if you have told me, I would have helped you.
60. The using of the conditional can make a speech _________.
A. clearer        B. quicker             C. more polite        D.more exciting
61. Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A. Language used in the news should make room to argue.
B. Usually English girls are not easy to catch.
C. English people never speak out their ideas in public.
D. The word “ if ” can show different meanings.
62. In the passage, “If we could pay you more, we would.” probably means __________.
A. the workers will make more money
B. the spokesman doesn’t give any promise
C. the spokesman keeps his word
D. the workers’ problems aren’t difficult
63. This passage is mainly talking about _________.
A. the conditional in communication
B. how to invite a girl in Britain
C. British people and their life           
D. some language points in daily English

It is sometimes said that the English are polite people. This can make life difficult for foreigners. Suppose a foreign boy asks an English girl to go out with him and she says, “If I finish my work, I’ll meet you in the cafe at 7 o’clock.” Is she saying “yes” or “no” to his invitation?

    In grammatical terms, she is using the conditional structure (表示條件的句式). By using the conditional, speakers of English can avoid giving a “yes” or “no” answer to a question. It enables people to be diplomatic (婉轉(zhuǎn)的). If the girl doesn’t want to go out with the boy, she won’t turn up at the cafe. She will let him understand she is still working. If she wants to go out with him, but doesn’t want to appear too easy to catch, she has achieved that with her reply. But in this case, as she uses the first conditional which shows probability, she is quite likely to turn up at the cafe. Being polite can make life very difficult!

    The conditional is often used by people in the news -- politicians, for example -- who wish to avoid speaking out their ideas. This is very important if they are on their way to discuss an agreement. No one wants to give away his or her points before he or she starts. A government spokesman might say to a group of workers, “If we could pay you more, we would.” The use of the conditional here makes room for argument although the speaker is using the second conditional form, which shows improbability. So it is unlikely the workers will get their rise.

    “If ” is a small word, which appears often in the English language. It can show politeness, reported speech and conditionals such as the First -- probability -- if I can come to your party, I will; the Second -- improbability -- if I saw you tomorrow, I’d give you the book; and the Third -- impossibility (meaning it is too late to change something that has happened ) -- if you have told me, I would have helped you.

60. The using of the conditional can make a speech _________.

   A. clearer            B. quicker                   C. more polite           D.more exciting

61. Which of the following is true according to the passage?

   A. Language used in the news should make room to argue.

   B. Usually English girls are not easy to catch.

   C. English people never speak out their ideas in public.

   D. The word “ if ” can show different meanings.

62. In the passage, “If we could pay you more, we would.” probably means __________.

   A. the workers will make more money

   B. the spokesman doesn’t give any promise

   C. the spokesman keeps his word

   D. the workers’ problems aren’t difficult

63. This passage is mainly talking about _________.

   A. the conditional in communication

B. how to invite a girl in Britain

   C. British people and their life           

D. some language points in daily English

假設(shè)你叫王華，你的一位英國(guó)朋友Jack從英國(guó)給你寄來(lái)一件印有哈利·波特（Harry Potter）形象的T恤衫，并附有一封信。在信中他向你問(wèn)好，他想知道你的近況。請(qǐng)你給他寫(xiě)一封回信表示感謝�；匦乓�包括以下內(nèi)容：

1. 感謝他送你的禮物。你非常喜歡，因?yàn)楣�利·波特是你最喜歡的電影主角。

2. 告訴他你在新的學(xué)校一切都好，只是這里的英語(yǔ)老師課堂上英語(yǔ)說(shuō)的很多，你很難聽(tīng)懂老師說(shuō)的每一個(gè)單詞。

3. 因?yàn)樗�是姚明的球迷，你將為他寄去一件印有姚明形象的T恤衫。

4. 詢(xún)問(wèn)他的近況，并希望他能來(lái)中國(guó)。

注意：1. 書(shū)信的開(kāi)頭和結(jié)尾已給出，不計(jì)入總詞數(shù)。

2. 詞數(shù)100個(gè)詞左右。

Dear Jack,

I’m very happy to hear from you again.                                 

I’m looking forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely

Wang Hua

假設(shè)你叫王華，你的一位英國(guó)朋友Jack從英國(guó)給你寄來(lái)一件印有哈利·波特（Harry Potter）形象的T恤衫，并附有一封信。在信中他向你問(wèn)好，他想知道你的近況。請(qǐng)你給他寫(xiě)一封回信表示感謝。回信要包括以下內(nèi)容：
1. 感謝他送你的禮物。你非常喜歡，因?yàn)楣�利·波特是你最喜歡的電影主角。
2. 告訴他你在新的學(xué)校一切都好，只是這里的英語(yǔ)老師課堂上英語(yǔ)說(shuō)的很多，你很難聽(tīng)懂老師說(shuō)的每一個(gè)單詞。
3. 因?yàn)樗�是姚明的球迷，你將為他寄去一件印有姚明形象的T恤衫。
4. 詢(xún)問(wèn)他的近況，并希望他能來(lái)中國(guó)。
注意：1. 書(shū)信的開(kāi)頭和結(jié)尾已給出，不計(jì)入總詞數(shù)。
2. 詞數(shù)100個(gè)詞左右。
Dear Jack,
I’m very happy to hear from you again.                                 
                                                                            
I’m looking forward to your reply.
Yours sincerely
Wang Hua

假設(shè)你叫王華，你的一位英國(guó)朋友Jack從英國(guó)給你寄來(lái)一件印有哈利·波特（Harry Potter）形象的T恤衫，并附有一封信。在信中他向你問(wèn)好，他想知道你的近況。請(qǐng)你給他寫(xiě)一封回信表示感謝�；匦乓�包括以下內(nèi)容：
1. 感謝他送你的禮物。你非常喜歡，因?yàn)楣�利·波特是你最喜歡的電影主角。
2. 告訴他你在新的學(xué)校一切都好，只是這里的英語(yǔ)老師課堂上英語(yǔ)說(shuō)的很多，你很難聽(tīng)懂老師說(shuō)的每一個(gè)單詞。
3. 因?yàn)樗�是姚明的球迷，你將為他寄去一件印有姚明形象的T恤衫。
4. 詢(xún)問(wèn)他的近況，并希望他能來(lái)中國(guó)。
注意：1. 書(shū)信的開(kāi)頭和結(jié)尾已給出，不計(jì)入總詞數(shù)。
2. 詞數(shù)100個(gè)詞左右。
Dear Jack,
I’m very happy to hear from you again.                                 
                                                                            
                                                                            
                                                                            
                                                                            
I’m looking forward to your reply.
Yours sincerely
Wang Hua