Generally speaking, a British is widely regarded as a quiet, shy and conservative person who is (1)_____ only among those with whom he is acquainted. When a stranger is at present, he often seems nervous, even (2)_____. You have to take a commuter train any morning or evening to (3)_____ 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 (4)_____. (5)_____, there is an unwritten but clearly understood code of behavior. which, once broken, makes the offender immediately the object of (6)_____. It has been known as a fact that a British has a (7)_____ for the discussion of their weather and that, if given a chance, he will talk about it (8)_____. Some people argue that it is because the British weather seldom (9)_____ forecast add hence becomes a source of interest and (10)_____ to everyone. This may be so. (11)_____ a British cannot have much (12)_____ in the weathermen, who, after promising fine, sunny weather for the following day, are often proved wrong (13)_____ 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 (14)_____. Foreigners may be surprised at the number of references (15)_____ weather that the British (16)_____ to each other in the course of a single day. Very often conversational greetings are (17)_____ by comments on the weather. 'Nice day, isn't it?' 'Beautiful!' may well be heard, instead of 'Good morning, how are you?' Although the foreigner may consider this exaggerated and comic, it is (18)_____ pointing out that it could be used to his advantage. If he wants to start a conversation with a British but is at a loss to know (19)_____ to begin, he could do well to mention the state of the weather. It is a safe subject which will (20)_____ an answer from even the most reserved of the British.