My family and I are going to take a holiday in the USA, Colombia, England, France and Switzerland in three hours. Now we are getting ready for it. Mum and Dad have already __【小题1】__(浇水) the plants. My brother has packed the__【小题2】__(毛巾). They’re in the suitcase, __【小题3】__(在……旁边) the guidebook. But he hasn’t locked the windows yet. I’ve already surfed the Internet and found out a lot of information about the cultures and customs in these countries. Here is what I’ve learned online. In the USA, just like in China, people are supposed to __【小题4】__(摇动)hands when they meet for the first time. In England, people should kiss each other when they meet for the first time. In Japan, it’s polite for you to bow when you meet someone for the first time. You’re supposed to use your chopsticks in a __【小题5】__(合适的)way. It’s rude to __【小题6】__(指) at someone with your chopsticks while eating. And you are also supposed to make a noise while eating noodles. It shows you like the food. In France, it’s bad manners to say “I’m __【小题7】__(饱的).”. You should say “It was delicious.” if you don’t want any more food. In Colombia and Switzerland, people have quite different attitudes __【小题8】__(对于) time. Colombian people are very __【小题9】__(宽松的) about time. It’s OK if you arrive a little late. But Swiss people think being on time is very important. It’s the __【小题10】__(国土) of watches, after all.

In the United States, it is not usual to telephone someone early in the morning. If you telephone early in the day, while he is shaving or having breakfast, the time of the call shows that the matter is very important and requires immediate(立即的) attention. So it is with the telephone calls made after 11:00 pm. If someone receives a call during sleeping hours, he may think that it’s a matter of life and death. The time chosen for the call communicates its importance.

In social life, time plays a very important part. In the USA guests are likely to feel they are not highly regarded if the invitation to a dinner party reaches them only three or four days before the party date. But it is not true in all countries. In other areas of the world, it may be thought silly to make an appointment(约会) too far ahead because plans which are made for a date more than a week away may be forgotten. The meaning of time is not the same in different cultures that treat time differently; being on time is valued highly in American life, for example. If people are not on time, they may be regarded as impolite or not fully responsible(责任). In the USA no one would think of keeping a business friend for an hour; it would be too impolite. A person who is 5 minutes late is asked to make a shout apology (道歉). If he is less than 5 minutes late, he will say a few words of explanation(解释), though perhaps he will not complete the sentence.

1.A call at midnight would mean_________.

A.the matter is less important

B.the matter is too difficult to handle

C.the matter requires immediate attention

D.it is a matter of life and death

2.According to the passage, time plays a very important part in__________.

A.everyday life                           B.personal life

C.getting along with others                  D.business

3.In the passage, the writer suggests that invitation cards should be sent___________.

A.three or four days before the party date in all cultures

B.three or four days before the party date in some cultures

C.three or four days before the party date in the USA

D.at your chosen time

 

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