2009年高考英语阅读理解和任务型阅读课堂综合练习十三一阅读理解阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中，选出最佳选项。AInformal conversation is an important part of any business relationship. Before you start a discussion, however, make sure you understand which topics are suitable and which are considered taboos(禁忌) in a particular culture. Latin Americans enjoy sharing information about their local history, art, and customs. They expect questions about their family and are sure to show pictures of their children. Yon may feel free to ask similar questions of your Latin American friends. The French think of conversation as an art form, and they enjoy the value of lively discussions as well as disagreements. For them, arguments can be interesting and they can cover pretty much or any topic as long as they occur in a respectful and intelligent(智慧的) manner.In the United States, business people like to discuss a wide range of topics, including opinions about work, family, hobbies, and politics. In Japan, China, and Korea, however, people are much more private. They do not share much about their thoughts, feelings, or emotions because they feel that doing so might take away from the harmonious(和谐的) business relationship theyre trying to build. Middle Easterners are also private about their personal lives and family matters. It is considered rude, for example, to ask a businessman from Saudi Arabia about his wife or children.As general rule, its best not to talk about politics or religion(宗教) with your business friends. This can get you into trouble, even in the United States, where people hold different views. In addition, discussing ones salary is usually considered unsuitable. Sports is typically a friendly subject in most parts of the world, although be careful not to criticize a national sport. Instead, be friendly and praise your hosts team.1. The author considers politics and religion _.A. cheerful topicsB. taboosC. rude topics D. topics that can never be talked about2. Which is typically a friendly topic in most places according to the author?A. Sports.B. Children.C. Personal feelings. D. Families.3. Why are people from Asia more private in their conversation with others?A. They dont want to talk with others much.B. They dont want to have their good relationship with others harmed by informal conversation.C. They are afraid to argue with their colleagues.D. They want to keep their feelings to themselves.4. What shouldnt you do when talking about sports with colleagues from another country?A. Praising your own countrys sports.B. Criticizing your own countrys sports.C. Praising the sports of your colleagues country.D. Criticizing the sports of your colleagues country.BTo face the musicLike every language, American English is full of special expressions, phrases that come from the day-to-day life of the people and develop in their own way. Our expression today is “to face the music”. When someone says, “well, I guess Ill have to face the music,” it does not mean hes planning to go to the concert. It is something far less pleasant, like being called in by your boss to explain why you did this and did that, and why you didnt do this or that. Sour music indeed, but it has to be faced. At sometime or another, every one of us has had to face the music, especially as children. We can all remember fathers angry voice, “I want to talk to you.” and only because we did not obey him. What an unpleasant business it was!The phrase “to face the music” is familiar to every American, young and old. It is at least 100 years old. And where did this expression come from? The first explanation comes from the American novelist, James Fenimore Looper. He said, in 1851, that the expression was first used by actors while waiting in the wings to go on the stage. When they got their cue to go on, they often said, “Well, its time to face the music.” And that was exactly what they did facing the orchestra which was just below them. And an actor might be frightened or nervous as he moved on to the stage in front of an audience that might be friendly or perhaps hostile, especially if he forgot his lines. But he had to go out. If he did not, there would be no play. So the expression “to face the music” come to mean “having to go through something, no matter how unpleasant the experience might be, because you knew you had no choice.” Other explanations about the expression go back to the army. When the men faced an inspection by their leader, the soldiers would be worried about how well they looked. Was their equipment clean, shinny enough to pass the inspection? Still the men had to go out and face the music of the band as well as the inspection. What else could they do? Another army explanation is more closely related to the idea of facing the results and accepting the responsibility for something that should not have been done. As, for example when a man is forced out of the army