C
Brown shows how not to kiss
When greeting your friends, how many kisses do you plant on their cheeks? It's a puzzle shared by the socially shy and the outgoing. Whether to do the one-cheek brush, or to go for several kisses and appear over-enthusiastic?
Obviously, this is a problem the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown shares. Photographers caught an awkward moment when he greeted German Chancellor Angela Merkel at a meeting of European leaders in Berlin last week.
Brown was no doubt aiming for a casual kiss on Merkel's cheek, but the kiss instead appeared to fall on the German leader's nose.
So, what is the proper way to kiss others in greeting? In Britain people usually kiss each other once on the cheek. There are no rules about which cheek to kiss. In the past English gentlemen used to kiss a woman's hand in greeting, but between males a masculine handshake was considered good manners. The handshake has survived time, but kissing the hand has not.
Some formal British greetings, however, have survived. When a person is given the honor of meeting the Queen, a man is supposed to bow to her while women are supposed to curtsy.
In France, the rules are different. People kiss both friends of the same age as well as their family members. Most French people give two kisses—one on each cheek.
The Netherlands has the most complicated rules. The Dutch kiss begins and ends on the same cheek. Three kisses are expected, but when greeting an elderly or close family member, there'll usually be a few more. Just remember, the right cheek always comes first.
Kissing in Italy is only used to greet very close friends or family. The number of kisses is optional, and as there are no rules on which cheek to kiss first, there are often clashes.
()26. What did photographers take during the meeting between Gordon Brown and Angela Merkel?
A. Gordon Brown kissing Angela Merkel on the cheek.
B. An awkward moment between Gordon Brown and Angela Merkel.
C. Angela Merkel avoiding a kiss from Gordon Brown.
D. European leaders discussing social greetings.
()27. What is common for greetings in Britain?
A. Kissing both cheeks.
B. Shaking hands with a firm grip.
C. Bowing for men and curtsying for women.
D. Kissing once on the cheek.
()28. How do people in France typically greet each other?
A. With a firm handshake.
B. By kissing friends and family on both cheeks.
C. With a bow for men and curtsy for women.
D. By kissing on the nose.
()29. What is mentioned about greetings in the Netherlands?
A. The Dutch always give three kisses on both cheeks.
B. Greetings involve a kiss on one cheek only.
C. The number of kisses is uncertain in the Netherlands.
D. Elderly family members are exempt from kisses in the Netherlands.
()30. What is the main idea of the passage?
A. The cultural differences in greetings, particularly involving kisses, in different countries.
B. The awkward meeting between Gordon Brown and Angela Merkel.
C. The historical evolution of greetings in different cultures, with a focus on formal British greetings.
D. A comparison of greeting customs, including handshakes and kisses.

26. B
27. D
28. B
29. C
30. A

26. 根据文章第二段“Photographers caught an awkward moment when he greeted German Chancellor Angela Merkel at a meeting of European leaders in Berlin last week.”可知，摄影师捕捉到了戈登·布朗和安格拉·默克尔之间的尴尬瞬间，故选B。
27. 根据文章第四段“In Britain people usually kiss each other once on the cheek.”可知，英国常见的问候方式是在脸颊上吻一次，故选D。
28. 根据文章第六段“In France, the rules are different. People kiss both friends of the same age as well as their family members. Most French people give two kisses—one on each cheek.”可知，法国人通常会亲吻朋友和家人的双颊，故选B。
29. 根据文章第七段“The Netherlands has the most complicated rules. The Dutch kiss begins and ends on the same cheek. Three kisses are expected, but when greeting an elderly or close family member, there'll usually be a few more.”可知，荷兰问候时吻的数量不确定，通常是3次，但对老人或近亲会更多，故选C。
30. 文章以戈登·布朗的尴尬问候为例引入，随后分别介绍了英国、法国、荷兰、意大利等国家不同的问候习俗，尤其是吻礼的文化差异，所以主旨是不同国家问候方式（尤其是吻礼）的文化差异，故选A。