Samuel Johnson observed that «when two Englishmen meet their first talk 1) ___________________», and this is still true. The weather is a safe, polite and impersonal topic of conversation. 2) ___________________ agree that bright sunny weather, not too hot and with enough rain to water their gardens, is good. Bad weather usually means dull days with a lot of cloud and rain or, in winter, 3) ____________________. The British tend to expect the worst as far as the weather is concerned, and it is part of national folklore that summer bank holidays will be wet. It may be pouring with rain, bucketing, or even just drizzling or spitting, but 4) _____________________.
