Questions 21 to 25 are based on the following passage.
Our culture has caused most Americans to assume not only that our language is universal but that the gestures we use are understood by everyone. We do not realize that waving good-bye is the way to summon a person from the Philippines to ones side, or that in Italy and some Latin-American countries, curling the finger to oneself is a sign of farewell.
Those private citizens who sent packages to our troops occupying Germany after World War II and marked them GIFT to escape duty payments did not bother to find out that Gift means poison in German. Moreover, we like to think of ourselves as friendly, yet we prefer to be at least 3 feet or an arms length away from others. Latins and Middle Easterners like to come closer and touch, which makes Americans uncomfortable.
Our linguistic and cultural blindness and the casualness with which we take notice of the developed tastes, gestures, customs and language of other countries, are losing us friends, business and respect in the world.
Even here in the United States, we make few concessions to the needs of foreign visitors. There are no information signs in four language on our public buildings or monuments; we do not have multilingual(多语的)guided tours. Very few restaurant menus have translations, and multilingual waiters, bank clerks and policemen are rare. Our transportation systems have maps in English only and often we ourselves have difficulty understanding them.
When we go abroad, we tend to cluster in hotels and restaurants where English is spoken. The attitudes and information we pick up are conditioned by those nativesusually the richerwho speak English. Our business dealings, as well as the nations diplomacy, are conducted through interpreters.
For many years, America and Americans could get by with cultural blindness and linguistic ignorance. After all, America was the most powerful country of the free world, the distributor of needed funds and goods.
But all that is past. American dollars no longer buy all good things, and we are slowly beginning to realize that our proper role in the world is changing. A 1979 Harris poll reported that 55 percent of Americans want this country to play a more significant role in world affairs; we want to have a hand in the important decisions of the next century, even tough it may not always be the upper hand.
21. It can be inferred that Americans being approached too closely by Middle Easterners would most probably .
A) stand still
B) jump aside
C) step forward
D) draw back
22. The author gives many examples to criticize Americans for their .
A) cultural self-centeredness C) indifference towards foreign visitors
B) casual manners D) arrogance towards other cultures
23. In countries other than their own most Americans .
A) are isolated by the local people
B) are not well informed due to the language barrier
C) tend to get along well with the natives
D) need interpreters in hotels and restaurants
24. According to the author, Americans cultural blindness and linguistic ignorance will .
A) affect their image in the new era
B) cut themselves off from the outside world
C) limit their role in world affairs
D) weaken the position of the US dollar
25. The authors intention in writing this article is to make Americans realize that .
A) it is dangerous to ignore their foreign friends
B) it is important to maintain their leading role in world affairs
C) it is necessary to use several languages in public places
D) it is time to get acquainted with other cultures
21.D 22.A 23.B 24.C 25.D
2011年实用口语练习:你把事情搞砸了
2011年实用口语练习:高铁开通了
英语口语-商业信函用语引言
2011年实用口语练习:In the bookstore 在书店里
实用口语情景轻松学:秋天是北京最好的季节
2011年实用口语练习:遮人耳目
2011年实用口语练习:当猪飞起来的时候
2011年实用口语练习:课余阅读
实用口语情景轻松学:有假钞的时候要送到银行去
口语情景对话:走遍美国精选 偷得浮生半日闲ACT 1 - 2
实用口语情景轻松学:我怀疑我是否能及格
2011年实用口语练习:5=击掌?
2011年实用口语练习:“淘金热”
英文单词 “Do”的活用
9句狠话教你怎么用英语让人“滚开”
男生女生:我们可以只当朋友吗?
2011年实用口语练习:取钱那些事
2011年实用口语练习:昙花一现式的一夜成名
2011年实用口语练习:英语客套话
如何用英文表达“你活该”
如何用英语表达“你得减肥了”
2011年实用口语练习:出恭的各种表达
如何提高英语口语
2011年实用口语练习:“锅中的火花”
如何用英文表达“我不太想做某事”
如何用英文表达“欣赏,感激”
实用口语:关于衣服的必备短语
英语口语主题:交际英语热门话题47个(6--闲聊)
英语口语-商业谨致问候语
2011年实用口语练习:从头至尾
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |