Question

In the eyes of many foreigners, Chinese are the best hosts (主人) and the worst guests in the world. They’re not really bad guests, but because the guest-host relationship in China is much different than in some western counties, it appears they are not nice guests. And western guests sometimes look rude (粗鲁的) in the eyes of Chinese guests.

In China, guests are almost like gods. Whenever I enter a Chinese person’s home, there is always fruit on the table for me, and someone is quick to bring me a cup of tea or water. In the west, generally the guest is not a god. Acting according to the host’s way of doing things is usual behavior for a guest.

My wife’s mother, a very kind elderly Chinese lady, doesn’t smoke. When I see some of her guests smoking in her house, as a non-smoker, I feel unhappy. Usually I want to stop them directly, but I must realize that in China, to be a good host, she must not do that. In most North America homes, if you are a guest, and the hosts are not smokers, you should not smoke in their house. At the very least, you could ask, “Is it OK if I smoke?” “But, don’t be surprised if they say, “No, you can’t smoke.” In our culture, if you smoke in their home, you are a bad guest, but if they don’t allow you to smoke in their house, they are not a rude guest.

Guests in China also have special habits. Some western people may not adapt to these habits very soon. Thankfully my wife is Chinese, so whenever we visit a Chinese family she tells me to buy them a gift. However, giving a gift to a host is not always necessary in my country. So, if you invite international guests to your home, don’t be too surprised if they don’t bring you a gift.

In China, you probably won't need to change the guest-host relationship very much because you will probably only be the host, and Chinese are naturally very good hosts. If western hosts invite you to their house, try not to be too surprised if their style of treating you is not what you have expected.

1.If the writer’s guests want to smoke in his house, what will he probably say?

A. It’s OK if you smoke here. B. Let’s smoke together.

C. Sorry, you can’t smoke here. D. Smoking is a bad habit.

2.What is the meaning of the underlined phrase “adapt to” in the passage?

A. think back to B. get used to C. look forward to D. keep close to

3.What is the main idea of this passage?

A. Foreigners should learn from Chinese.

B. Hosts must do things in the guest’s way.

C. Western hosts are always nice to guests.

D. People should understand cultural differences.

1.C 2.B 3.D 【解析】试题本文对中西方的宾主关系和待客习惯进行了对比，认为人们应该理解这种文化上的不同。 1.题意：如果作者的客人想在他家里抽烟，他会说什么？考查细节理解题。根据When I see some of her guests smoking in her house，as a non-smoker，I feel unhappy．Usually I wa...

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