Generally speaking, a British is widely regarded as a quiet, shy and conservative person w

ho is 【21】______ only among those with whom he is acquainted. When a stranger is at present, he often seems nervous, 【22】______ embarrassed. You have to take a commuter train any morning or evening to 【23】______ the truth of this. Serious-looking businessmen and women sit reading their newspapers or dozing in a comer; hardly anybody talks, since to do so would be considered quite offensive.

【24】______ , there is an unwritten but clearly understood code of behavior. which, 【25】______ broken, makes the offender immediately the object of 【26】______ .

It has been known as a fact that a British has a 【27】______ for the discussion of their weather and that, if given a chance, he will talk about it 【28】______ . Some people argue that it is because the British weather seldom 【29】______ forecast and hence becomes a source of interest and 【30】______ to everyone. This may be so. 【31】______ a British cannot have much 【32】______ in the weathermen, who, alter promising fine, sunny weather for the following day, are often proved wrong 【33】______ a cloud 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 【34】______ .

Foreigners may be surprised at the number of references 【35】______ weather that the British make to each other in the course of a single day. Very often conversational greetings are 【36】______ by comments on the weather. "Nice day, isn't it？" "Beautiful day!" may well be heard instead of "Good morning, how are you？" 【37】______ the foreigner may consider this exaggerated and comic, it is worthwhile pointing out that it could be used to his advantage. 【38】______ he wants to start a conversation with a British but is 【39】______ to know where to begin, he could do well to mention the state of the weather. It is a sale subject which will 【40】______ an answer from even the most reserved of the British.

【21】

A．relaxed

B．frustrated

C．amused

D．exhausted