Fluency in another language is a dream of a newcomer to another country. Besides, understanding the culture and learning to communicate comfortably with people of that culture are as important as learning the rules of the language. Language learning and culture learning go together and may take a long time.

Sometimes people feel that they understand a culture after a few weeks or months. People do learn a lot when they first begin living in another culture, but this is only the first step of learning. It usually involves things like learning everyday activities and some basic customs.

To really understand another culture, people have to go beyond the first step. This is a challenge because it is often difficult to know what to learn. Much of what we call"culture" is hard to see.

Culture is like an iceberg. Imagine in your mind a huge iceberg in the ocean. The only part of the iceberg that you see is the top. You don't see the rest of the iceberg because it is hidden from sight in the water. It is easy to forget that it is there. Most of the iceberg is deep in the ocean, just as much of a culture is deep in the ocean, just as much of a culture is deep within its people.

When you meet someone from another culture, certain culture differences are obvious: You hear another language or you hear your own language spoken with an accent. You see different foods, clothes and sometimes physical characteristics of people. You watch new customs or habits, such as the use of chopsticks, and, bowing or kissing on both cheeks as a greeting. These differences are interesting and important, but they are usually not too difficult to understand. They can be seen easily and quickly.

The part of culture that is like the underwater part of the iceberg consists of assumptions (设想), communication styles, values, and beliefs about what is right and wrong. The hidden part of culture influences much of a person’s way of thinking and communicating. It is the meaning behind his or her verbal and nonverbal language. Learning to communicate well with people from another culture involves understanding the hidden part of culture.

1.To really understand another culture, people should .

A.learn the rules of language B.learn the hidden culture

C.visit some local people D.live with some local people

2.Which of the following does the writer agree?

A.Communication styles can be easily seen and learned

B.Language learning is more important than culture learning

C.Learning about culture is not easy and may take a long time

D.People usually learn a culture after a few weeks or months.

3.The passage is mainly about .

A.learning about culture. B.learning about people

C.the hidden part of the iceberg D.fluency in another language

Every country has its own way of cooking. American people have their way of cooking, don't they?

Most people in the United States like fast food, but if you think that American people don't like cooking, you are wrong. It's true that most Americans eat fast food for their breakfast and lunch, but they also think cooking is interesting. Parents see the importance of teaching their children how to cook, and most Americans say that home cooked meals are the best.

Americans have their own way of cooking. For example, baking is the most popular way of cooking in America. Most American families have ovens. American cooks pay attention to(注意) the balance of food. In planning a big meal, they try to cook meat, a few vegetables, some bread and often some sweet food. They also like to make the meal look beautiful. There are many kinds of food of different colors, so the meal is healthy and looks beautiful, too.

1.Most Americans

A. don't like cooking B. cook food in the morning

C. eat fast food D. like having a picnic

2.Most Americans

A. don't eat fast food for their breakfast or lunch

B. have fast food for their breakfast or lunch

C. like to eat fast food for supper

D. don't have breakfast or lunch

3. is the most popular way of cooking in the USA.

A. Baking B. Cutting C. Frying D. Boiling

4.How does an American cook balance different kinds of food?

A. He cooks a lot of meat.

B. He cooks meat, vegetables, bread and sweet food for a big meal.

C. He makes the food delicious.

D. He cooks a lot of vegetable.

5.Which is right according to the passage?

A. The meal looks beautiful because the food is in different colors.

B. American people do not like to cook food at home.

C. American parents do not like to teach their children to cook.

D. Most people in the United States don't like fast food at all.

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