Passage Four

“Fingers were made before forks” when a person gives up good manners, puts aside knife and fork, and dives into his food, someone is likely to repeat that saying.

The fork was an ancient agricultural tool, but for centuries no one thought of eating with it. Not until the eleventh century, when a young lady from Constantinople brought her fork to Italy, did the custom reach Europe.

By the fifteenth century the use of the fork was widespread in Italy. The English explanation was that Italians were averse to eating food touched with fingers, “Seeing all men’s fingers are not alike clean.” English travellers kept their friends in stitches while describing this ridiculous Italian custom.

Anyone who used a fork to eat with was laughed at in England for the next hundred years. Men who used forks were thought to be sissies, and women who used them were called show-offs and overnice. Not until the late 1600’s did using a fork become a common custom.

76. The custom of eating with a fork was _______.

A. brought to Europe from America B. begun when forks were invented

C. brought to Europe from Asia D. invented by Italians

77. By the fifteenth century forks were used _______.

A. all over Italy B. only in Constantinople

C. widely in Europe D. In England

78. To English travellers in Italy, the use of forks seemed _______.

A. clever B. necessary C. good manner D. ridiculous

79. The English thought that Italians used forks in order to ________.

A. imitate the people of the East B. keep their food clean

C. impress visitors with their good manners D. amuse the English

80. In England, people who used forks at that time were considered ______.

A. well mannered B. sissies C. show-offs and overnice D. both B and C

Ⅴ. Writing (20 points)

Directions:

For this part, you are allowed 20 minutes to write a short composition of about 80 words on the title: The Bicycle in China. Base your composition on the outline given below.

1.在中国，自行车是最为流行的交通工具。

2.骑自行车有许多好处。

3.自行车的未来……