One year ago, I traveled 15,000 kilometers from
Australia to the US. I am from a beachside town in the 16 of
Sydney, and thought there would be almost no 17 differences
between my home country and my 18 . I was surprised at how
wrong I was, and at 19 different the two countries
could be.
The United States is 20 in
almost every aspect. The buildings are gigantic (巨大的) and so are the people who 21 and
work in them. At mealtimes, the portions (份额) often 22 to
me to be big enough for three or four people. I once 23 a
baked potato which turned out to be bigger than my head! This was a big
24 for me.
The longer I spent in the US, the more I started to 25 smaller
differences like the culture of 26 in restaurants. In
Australia we don’t tend to give a tip 27 the service
has been really excellent. In the US you tip for 28 everything,
even at the hairdresser. Waiters and shop assistants 29 to
be given 15 percent of the bill, although in places 30 New
York or Washington DC, a tip can be as much as 20 percent.
31 , I also became more wary (谨慎的) of believing the stereotypes (成见) I had heard at home as I traveled. Not all Americans
are ignorant of geography, for example.
Despite this, certain stereotypes about places did
seem to 32 true for me. There is an immense (强烈的) sense of speed in New York. Everyone 33 to
and fro, and very seldom takes time to 34 the
moment. This is very different from the Australian lifestyle. Australians are
laid back. Even in a major city like Sydney, we “Aussies” take time to “stop
and smell the roses”---very different from our American counterparts.
Navigating (驾驭) the
culture divide between Australia and the US was challenging at times. But I
took up that 35 and learned a lot from it. It was
an adventure.
1. A．heart B．city C．center D．suburbs
2. A．cultural B．commercial C．economic D．scientific
3. A．home town B．departure C．location D．destination
4. A．how B．why C．however D．where
5. A．big B．modern C．small D．fashionable
6. A．travel B．survive C．live D．serve
7. A．happened B．seemed C．proved D．managed
8. A．brought B．ordered C．designed D．fetched
9. A．laughter B．pleasure C．shock D．embarrassment
10. A．prefer B．notice C．tell D．appreciate
11. A．serving B．tipping C．donating D．toasting
12. A．unless B．if C．when D．since
13. A．rarely B．mostly C．almost D．hardly
14. A．try B．wait C．think D．expect
15. A．like B．along C．for D．in
16. A．So B．Therefore C．However D．But
17. A．come B．become C．turn D．get
18. A．walks B．drives C．wanders D．rushes
19. A．depend on B．reflect on C．spy on D．watch on
20. A．experience B．job C．challenge D．business
year