Today it seems perfectly natural for us to shake hands when we greet someone or say goodbye. But like so many things that we do without thinking such actions at one time probably represented something.

For example, in primitive(原始的) life the hand was used to fight enemies, kill animals, and make spears and tools. So when the hand was extended to someone, it showed that the person was not armed or ready for fight.

We know that the hand was an important symbol in early religion, probably as a mark of power. The Greeks prayed to their gods with raised hands. Presenting the hands palm to palm was at one time the way an inferior(身份低的) person paid respect to a superior(身份高的) one.

Among the Arabs, it was customary at one time to kiss the hand of a superior. Later on, polite Arabs began to resist the efforts of people to kiss their hands, and sometimes they would end up shaking hands as each tried to prevent the other from showing this mark of “inferiority(下級(jí)).”

The early Greeks held out the right hand when they wished to show friendship to a stranger. So we can see that the hand, and what was done with it, was full of meaning to people down through the ages. And while we shake hands without thinking, we are really carrying on a custom that has been handed down to us from ancient times.

56. The second paragraph tells us __________.

   A. the handshake didn’t mean greeting         B. what hands were used to do in primitive life

   C. the handshake showed men’s kindness    D. the handshake showed nothing

57. Among the Arabs, at one time,_________.

   A. people kissed each other whenever they met 

B. men kissed the women whenever they met

   C. less important person kissed more important person’s hand

D. more important person kissed less important person’s hand

58. The phrase “ hand down” in the last sentence means ________.

   A. put down         B. leave down          C. give down           D. pass down

Today it seems perfectly natural for us to shake hands when we greet someone or say goodbye. But like so many things that we do without thinking such actions at one time probably represented something.

For example, in primitive(原始的) life the hand was used to fight against enemies, kill animals, and make spears and tools. So when the hand was extended to someone, it showed that the person was not armed or ready for fight.

We know that the hand was an important symbol in early religion, probably as a mark of power. The Greeks prayed to their gods with raised hands. Presenting the hands palm to palm was at one time the way an inferior(身份低的) person paid respect to a superior(身份高的) one.

Among the Arabs, it was customary at one time to kiss the hand of a superior. Later on, polite Arabs began to resist the efforts of people to kiss their hands, and sometimes they would end up shaking hands as each tried to prevent the other from showing this mark of “inferiority(下級(jí)).”

The early Greeks held out the right hand when they wished to show friendship to a stranger. So we can see that the hand, and what was done with it, was full of meaning to people down through the ages. And while we shake hands without thinking, we are really carrying on a custom that has been handed down to us from ancient times.

1．The second paragraph tells us __________.

       A．the handshake didn’t means greeting

       B．what hands were used to do in primitive life

       C．the handshake showed men’s kindness

       D．the handshake showed nothing

2．Human beings first made their living by ___________.

       A．hunting               B．fishing                 C．hand                   D．farming

3．Among the Arabs, at one time, ________.

       A．people kissed each other whenever they met

       B．men kissed the women whenever they met

       C．less important person kissed more important person’s hand

       D．more important person kissed less important person’s hand

4．Generally speaking, in different countries __________.

       A．people shake hands in the same way

       B．handshake has different meanings

       C．strangers never have handshake

       D．people only use handshake to show friendship

5．The phrase “hand down” in the last sentence means __________.

       A．put down  B．leave down       C．give down D．pass down

閱讀理解

　　Today it seems perfectly natural for us to shake hands when we greet someone or say good－bye. But like so many things that we do without thinking, such actions at one time probably represented(代表) something.

　　For example, in primitive(原始的) life the hand was probably a symbol of power and strength. And the hand was used to fight enemies, kill animals and make spears and other tools. So, when the hand was extended to someone, it could have represented good will, since it showed that the person was not armed or ready for fight.

　　We know that the hand was an important symbol in early religion, probably as a mark of power. The Greeks prayed to their gods with raised hands. Presenting the hands palm to palm was at one time the way an inferior(身份低的) person paid respect to a superior(身份高的) one.

　　Among the Arabs, it was customary at one time to kiss the hand of a superior. Later on, polite Arabs began to resist the efforts of people to kiss their hands, and sometimes they would end up in shaking hands as each tried to prevent the other from showing this mark of “inferiority”(下級(jí)).

　　The early Greeks held out the right hand when they wished to show friendship to a stranger. So we can see that the hand, and what was done with it, was full of meaning to people down through the ages. And while we shake hands without thinking, we are really carrying on a custom that has been handed down to us from ancient times.

1．The second paragraph tells us that ________.

[　　]

A．the handshake didn't mean greeting

B．the handshake showed men's strength

C．the handshake showed men's kindness

D．the handshake showed nothing

2．Human beings first made their lives ________.

[　　]

3．Among the Arabs, at one time, ________.

[　　]

A．people kissed each other whenever they met

B．men kissed women whenever they met

C．less important person kissed more important person' s hand

D．more important person kissed less important person' s hand

4．Generally speaking, in different countries ________.

[　　]

A．people shake hands in the same way

B．handshake has different meanings

C．strangers never have handshake

D．people only use handshake to show friendship

5．The phrase “hand down” in the last sentence means ________.

[　　]