GRANT TOUR OF AN AMERICAN HOME
Off all the aspirations which make up the American dream, perhaps the most prominent is to own one's own home. Americans are very proud of their homes and spend a great deal of lime maintaining their houses and keeping the property in good condition. A man’s home is often called his castle, and the hours spent keeping his fortress safe and secure become one of his greatest pleasures.
If a-home is in an especially fashionable neighborhood, the owners may consult an interior director to give the home a certain coordinated appearance. If there is a large back yard, great care may be spent in having it properly landscaped with exotic trees, shrubs and plants.
It is almost a certainty that should you be the first visitor to an American home, you will be taken on a grand tour of the premises. The owner will take great pride in showing to you the place he calls home. Every closet, every cabinet and closed door will be opened so that you can actually see the extent and value of his home.
You will even be taken into the father’s den and the mother’s sewing room. There are special rooms for the respective man and woman of the house to insure their privacy. They may be off-limits to the rest of the family, but, for the visitor, they are open to scrutiny and inspection.
It is, of course, considered polite on the tour to comment favorably on each room picking out its most salient, important feature, such as the special view from the window, the vaulted ceiling in the foyer or the exotic choice of wallpaper in the bathroom.
The finished basement is a special cause for pride for the family with its exercise room, video games, carpenter shop and launderette. In most homes, it is here that the family entertains itself in the evening while the rest of the house becomes more of a showcase. On your tour you may be reminded of the hours the owners had spent "fixing up the house” so it would be "nice for the kids to bring over their friends”. You may even sense a feeling of competition in knowing that they have not only “kept up with the Joneses” but have far surpassed them.
The tour will terminate after an hour or so somewhere on the back lawn next to the two-car air-conditioned garage where you may be treated to a snack and light refreshment.
Showing off one's home is more than an exercise in vanity. It is a tribute to one’s accomplishments. It is a way of saying that a man has been a good provider for his family and that he has realized one of his dreams.
Notes:
- prominent (adj.) = dc thấy, nổi bật.
- coordinated (adị.) - phối hợp.
- premises (plural n.) = ngôi nhà, cơ ngơi.
- den (ti.) = phòng nhỏ riêng đe làm việc.
- off-limits (adj./adv.) = bị cấm không được lui tới.
- scrutiny (n) = sự xem xét kĩ lưỡng.
- salient (adị.) = nồi bật, đáng chú ý, quan trọng nhất.
- vaulted (adj.) - xây thành hình vòm; foyer (n.) = sảnh trước nhà.
- showcase (n.) — sự thể hiện/ giới thiệu tài năng.
- vanity (n) = lòng tự cao, tự đại.
51. What is the father's room of a house called?
A. The master's bedroom. B. Daddy's room,
C. His den. D. The tiger’s den.
52. What is considered the biggest reachable dream for most Americans?
A. To be president of the United States of America.
B. To be a movie or rock star.
C. To own one's own house.
D. To be rich and famous for fifteen minutes.
53. What is considered polite behavior if you are taken on a grand tour of someone’s home?
A. To be careful not to break anything.
B. To listen carefully to everything that is said.
C. To praise everything you see.
D.To comment favorably on each room.
54. What is the ultimate purpose in showing off one’s home to friends?
A. To show off one's wealth.
B. It’s a tribute to one's accomplishments.
C. To impress one's neighbors.
D. To show that you are richer than your friends.
55. What is often called a "castle’' for many Americans?
A. Mac Donald's B. Disneyland
C. The White House D. One's own house
56. If it is your first visit to an American home, what will the owner probably do?
A.Give you a grand tour of his home.
B.Ask you if you like the house.
C.Treat you to coffee and refreshments.
D. Ask you for a gift.
57. What is the purpose of a finished basement?
A. It is used as a family recreation.
B. It is a place to watch TV.
C. It is a sound-proofed room for the kids.
D. It is used as a storage room.
58. W hat is meant by "kept up with the Joneses"?
A. It means to cam as much as you can.
B. It means to be a good neighbor.
C. It means to retain competitive with one’s neighbor.
D. It means to make one's home look better than one’s neighbor’s.
59. Where may you be treated a snack and a light refreshment after the tour?
A. In the two-car air-conditioned garage. B. In the living room.
C. Somewhere on the back lawn. D. In the recreation room.
60. If a man lives in a good neighborhood, who may be consulted to fix up the appearance of the home?
A. An architect. B. A house designer.
C. One's mother-in-law. D. An interior decorator
C - C - D - B - D - A - A - C - C - D