Part III Reading Comprehension(30 points)Directions: This part is to test your reading ability. There are 3 tasks for you to fulfill. You should read the reading material carefully and do the tasks as you are instructed.Task 1Directions: After reading the following passage, you will find 5 questions or unfinished statements, numbered 31 to 35. For each question or statement there are 4 choices marked A, B, C and D. You should make the correct choice and mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet. Two points are given to each correct choice.It is a well-known fact that the English have an impression with their weather and that, given half a chance, they will talk about it at length. Some people argue that it is because English weather defies forecast and hence is a source of interest and speculation to everyone. This may be so certainly Englishmen cannot have much faith in the meteorological experts—the weathermen—who, after promising fine, sunny weather for the following day, are often proved wrong when an anti-cyclone over the Atlantic brings rainy weather to all districts! The man in the street seems to be as accurate—or as inaccurate—as the weathermen in his predictions. This helps to explain the seemingly odd sight of an Englishmen leaving home on a bright, sunny, summer morning with a raincoat slung over his arm and an umbrella in his hand. So variable is the weather that by lunch time it could be pouring.The overseas visitors may be excused for showing surprise at the number of references to weather that the English make to each other in the course of a single day. Very often traditional greetings are replaced by comments on the weather. “Nice day, isn’t it?” “Beautiful!” may be heard instead of “Good morning, how are you?” Although the foreigner may consider this exaggerated and comic, it is worth pointing out that it could be used to his advantage. If he wants to start a conversation with an Englishman (or woman) but is at a loss where to begin, he could do well to mention the state of the weather. It is a safe subject which will provoke an answer from even most reserved of Englishmen.31. The phrase "at length" in the first sentence means ___.A. at last B. in the endC. for a short time D. in detail

Part III Reading Comprehension(30 points) Directions: This part is to test your reading ability. There are 3 tasks for you to fulfill. You should read the reading material carefully and do the tasks as you are instructed. Task 1 Directions: After reading the following passage, you will find 5 questions or unfinished statements, numbered 31 to 35. For each question or statement there are 4 choices marked A, B, C and D. You should make the correct choice and mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet. Two points are given to each correct choice. It is a well-known fact that the English have an impression with their weather and that, given half a chance, they will talk about it at length. Some people argue that it is because English weather defies forecast and hence is a source of interest and speculation to everyone. This may be so certainly Englishmen cannot have much faith in the meteorological experts—the weathermen—who, after promising fine, sunny weather for the following day, are often proved wrong when an anti-cyclone over the Atlantic brings rainy weather to all districts! The man in the street seems to be as accurate—or as inaccurate—as the weathermen in his predictions. This helps to explain the seemingly odd sight of an Englishmen leaving home on a bright, sunny, summer morning with a raincoat slung over his arm and an umbrella in his hand. So variable is the weather that by lunch time it could be pouring. The overseas visitors may be excused for showing surprise at the number of references to weather that the English make to each other in the course of a single day. Very often traditional greetings are replaced by comments on the weather. “Nice day, isn’t it?” “Beautiful!” may be heard instead of “Good morning, how are you?” Although the foreigner may consider this exaggerated and comic, it is worth pointing out that it could be used to his advantage. If he wants to start a conversation with an Englishman (or woman) but is at a loss where to begin, he could do well to mention the state of the weather. It is a safe subject which will provoke an answer from even most reserved of Englishmen. 31. The phrase "at length" in the first sentence means ___. A. at last B. in the end C. for a short time D. in detail