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, (2)_____ embarrassed. 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 corner; hardly anybody talks, since to do so would be considered quite offensive. (4)_____, there is an unwritten but clearly understood code of behavior. which, (5)_____ 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 and 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 make to each other in the course of a single day. Very often conversational greetings are (16)_____ by comments on the weather. 'Nice day, isn't it?' 'Beautiful!' may well be heard instead of 'Good morning, how are you?' (17)_____ the foreigner may consider this exaggerated and comic, it is worthwhile pointing out that it could be used to his advantage. (18)_____ he wants to start a conversation with a British but is (19)_____ to know where 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.