Unit 2 English around the world reading课时作业

第一节（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）

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，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

Greece keeps tradition of kindness to strangers alive

　　There is an ancient Greek word, "philoxenia", which means "friend to a stranger". It stands for a practice that was widespread (广为流传的) in Greece thousands of years ago. People of the Greek world regarded it as a duty to hold out a hand of friendship to strangers when they came to visit their land. Many works of Greek literature, such as Homer's poetry, have examples of people giving this kind of friendship and receiving it in return.

Even though modern Greece is going through hard economic (经济的) times, the whole country - especially Athens - is still a friendly place. Today, Athens, the capital of modern Greece, still has a reputation for philoxenia. Visitors from abroad can find many cheap places to stay, such as the many "Filoxenia" hotels, and the many private homes that form a network of places where strangers can spend a night or two.

One of the most moving examples of this idea is the friendship that this poor country has shown to refugees (难民) from war-torn (饱受战争侵袭的) Syria and other places. People who run away from war zones are not always treated kindly by their host countries, but Greece has made refugees more welcome than most. This fits a popular Greek saying: "Friends show their love in times of trouble, not in happiness."

It is true that there is an implication（含意） of reciprocity in philoxenia. Guests are expected to behave well, and a person who has received friendship must offer friendship in return.

Philoxenia also worked as a political concept (政治概念) in ancient times. City-states would make friendship pacts (契约) with each other. These were thought of as examples of philoxenia. Perhaps, given the importance of Greek political thinking in world history, the modern practice of alliances (结盟) between nations shows the long-lasting influence (影响) of philoxenia.