A report consistently brought back by visitors to the US is how friendly，courteous and helpful most Americans were to them．To be fair，this observation is also frequently made of Canada and Canadians，and should best be considered North American．There are，of course，exceptions．Small-minded officials，rude waiters，and ill-mannered taxi drivers are hardly unknown in the US．Yet it is an observation made so frequently that it deserves comment．For a long period of time and in many parts of the country, a traveler was a welcome break in an otherwise dull existence．
Dullness and loneliness were common problems of the families who generally lived distant from one another．Strangers and travelers were welcome sources of diversion，and brought news of the outside world．The harsh realities of the frontier also shaped this tradition of hospitality．
Someone traveling alone，if hungry，injured，or ill，often had nowhere to turn except to the nearest cabin or settlement．It was not a matter of choice for the traveler or merely a charitable impulse on the part of the settlers．It reflected the harshness of daily life： if you didn‘t take in the stranger and take care of him，there was no one else who would．And someday，remember，you might be in the same situation．Today there are many charitable organizations which specialize in helping the weary traveler．Yet，the old tradition of hospitality to strangers is still very strong in the US，especially in the smaller cities and towns away from the busy tourist trails．“I was just traveling through，got talking with this American，and pretty soon he invited me home for dinner—amazing．” Such observations reported by visitors to the US are not uncommon，but are not always understood properly．
小题1:In the eyes of visitors from the outside world，___________．
| A．rude taxi drivers are rarely seen in the US |
| B．small-minded officials deserve a serious comment |
| C．Canadians are not so friendly as their neighbors |
| D．most Americans are ready to offer help |
小题2:It could be inferred from the last paragraph that ___________．
| A．culture exercises an influence over social interrelationship |
| B．courteous convention and individual interest are interrelated |
| C．various virtues manifest themselves exclusively among friends |
| D．social interrelationships equal the complex set of cultural conventions |
小题3:Families in frontier settlements used to entertain strangers ___________．
| A．to improve their hard life |
| B．in view of their long-distance travel |
| C．to add some flavor to their own daily life |
| D．out of a charitable impulse |
小题4:The tradition of hospitality to strangers ___________．
| A．tends to be superficial and artificial |
| B．is generally well kept up in the united States |
| C．is always understood properly |
| D．has something to do with the busy tourist trails |
小题5:What’s the author’s attitudes toward the American‘s friendliness？
| A．Favorable． | B．Unfavorable． |
| C．Indifferent． | D．Neutral． |