Meeting people from another culture can be
difficult. From the beginning, people may send the wrong signal(信號). Or they may pay no attention to
signals from another person who is trying to develop a relationship.
Different cultures
emphasize(強(qiáng)調(diào))the importance
of relationship building to a greater or lesser degree. For example, business
in some countries is not possible until there is a relationship of trust. Even
with people at work, it is necessary to spend a lot of time in "small
talk", usually over a glass of tea, before they do any job. In many
European countries -- like the UK or France -- people find it easier to build
up a lasting working relationship at restaurants or cafes rather than at the
office.
Talk and silence may also
be different in some cultures. I once made a speech in Thailand. I had expected
my speech to be a success and start a lively discussion; instead there was an
uncomfortable silence. The people present just stared at me and smiled. After
getting to know their ways better, I realized that they thought I was talking
too much. In my own culture, we express meaning mainly through words, but
people there sometimes feel too many words are unnecessary.
Even within Northern
Europe, cultural differences can cause serious problems. Certainly, English and
German cultures share similar values; however, Germans prefer to get down to
business more quickly. We think that they are rude. In fact, this is just
because one culture starts discussions and makes decisions more quickly.
People from different
parts of the world have different values, and sometimes these values are quite
against each other. However, if we can understand them better, a multicultural
environment will offer a wonderful chance for us to learn from each other.
1.In some countries, eating together at
restaurants may make it easier for people to__________.
A.develop closer
relations B.share the same culture
C.get to know each
other D.keep each other company
2. The author mentions his experience in Thailand
to show that__________.
A.the English prefer to make long
speeches
B.too many words are of no use
C.people from Thailand are quiet and shy
by nature
D.even talk and silence can be
culturally different
3.According to the text, how can people from
different cultures understand each other better?
A.By sharing different ways of
life. B.By accepting different habits.
C.By recognizing different
values. D.By
speaking each other' s languages.
I didn't cry when I leamed I was the parent of a mentally disabled child. When Kristi was old enough to 1 school,we sent her to a kindergarten (幼兒園). During Kristi's second year in school,she faced a very 2 experience. A meeting based on music and PE activities 3 be held in her school. On the day of the program,Kristi 4 to be sick,but I insisted that she should take part in the activities. Just 5 I had forced her to go to school,now I forced myself to go to the 6 . When the performance began,I knew 7 Kristi had been worried. Her class was divided into relay teams. 8 her limp and slow,clumsy reactions (反應(yīng)) ,she would surely 9 her team. The performance went surprisingly well, 10 , until it was time for the sack race (套袋賽跑). Now each child had io climb into a sack from a standing position,jump into a goal line,return and climb out of the sack. I watched Kristi 11 near the end of her line of players,looking sad. But as Kristi's turn came,a(n) 12 took place in her team. The tallest boy in the line stepped behind Kristi and placed his hands on her waist. Two other boys stood a little ahead of her. 13 the player in front of Kristi stepped from the sack, those two boys grabbed the sack and held it 14 while the tall boy lifted Kristi and 15 her nearly into it. A girl in front of Kristi took her hand and supported her until Kristi 16 her balance.Then 17 she jumped,smiling and proud. Among the 18 of teachers,schoolmates and parents,I crept off by myself to thank God for the 19 , understanding people in life who make it 20 for my disabled daughter to be like her fellow human beings. Then I finally cried.
( )1. A. take part in ( )2. A.painful ( )3. A.should ( )4. A.determined ( )5. A. as ( )6. A.scene ( )7. A.how ( )8. A.Except ( )9. A.hold up ( )10. A.yet ( )11. A.standing ( )12. A.accident ( )13. A. At once ( )14. A.closed ( )15. A.threw ( )16. A.gairied ( )17. A.off ( )18. A.experiences ( )19. A.warm ( )20. A.difficult
B. join B. wonderful B. would B. seemed B. while B. program B. where B. Beyond B. put off B. anyway B. lying B. change B. As long as B. tight B. dropped B. accepted B. over B. activities B. independent B. unusual
C. attend C. interesting C. could C. proved C. when C. sight C. why C. Through C. turn out C. though C. laughing C. fight C. The moment C. high C. drove C. lost C. around C. cheers C. fortunate C. different
D. visit D. colourful D. might D. pretended D. then D. party D. what D. With D. keep off D. indeed D. preparing D. discussion D. Now that D. open D. rescued D. affected D. down D. prizes D. lucky D. possible