Question

We Chinese are not big huggers. A handshake or a pat on the shoulder is enough to convey our friendship or affection to one another. So when our newly-acquainted Western friends reach out in preparation for a hug, some of us feel awkward.

Many questions go through our head. Where should I put my arms? Under their armpits or around their neck? What distance should I maintain? Should our chests touch?

It’s even more difficult with friends from some European countries. Should I kiss them on the cheek while hugging? Which side? Or is it both cheeks? Which side should I start on?

But it isn’t just people from cultures that emphasize a reservedness in expressing physical intimacy(亲密) who find hugging confusing. Hugs can cause discomfort or even distress in people who value their personal space.

In a recent article for The Wall Street Journal, US psychologist Peggy Drexler said that although the US remains a “medium touch” culture — “more physically demonstrative than Japan, where a bow is the all-purpose hello and goodbye, but less demonstrative than Latin or Eastern European cultures, where hugs are strong and can include a kiss on both cheeks”, Americans do seem to be hugging more.

From politicians to celebrities, hugs are given willy-nilly to friends, strangers and enemies alike; and the public has been quick to pick up the practice. Public figures know that nothing projects like the ability as a good hug. US First Lady Michelle Obama has put her arms around icy foreign leaders like Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and the Queen of England, on the latter occasion actually breaking the rule of royal manners.

But not all are grateful to be embraced, even by the most influential and famous. To them, any hug is offensive if it’s not sincere.

Amanda Hess, writing for US magazine Slate, says public figures should stop imposing hugs on everyone they meet. For them, a hug is rarely a gesture of sincere fellowship, compassion or affection. It’s all part of a show. Hugs are falsely intimate power plays used by public figures to establish their social dominance over those in their grasp.

Cecilia Walden, a British journalist writing for The Telegraph who lives in New York, holds the same opinion. “Power-hugging”, as she calls it, is “an offender dressed up as kindness”. It has become a fashion in the US where “bosses are already embracing their staff (either shortly before or after firing them), men and women ,their friends or enemies, in a thousand cheating displays of unity”.

1.From the first four paragraphs, we can see that ___________.

A. we Chinese people don’t know how to hug

B. people from European countries often get puzzled about hugging

C. people in Western countries seldom use hugs to express their physical closeness

D. hugs can bring pressure to people when used improperly

2.The example of US first lady Michelle Obama is given to show that __________.

A. Americans hold a “medium touch ”culture

B. public figures know hugging functions well in public

C. she is much liked by American people

D. hugs are forbidden in England

3.“Power-hugging” in the last paragraph actually means that _________.

A. hugs are only used sincerely by some people with power

B. hugging is powerful to bosses in US

C. public figures sometimes use hugging just for a show of power

D. public figures can hug anyone in their grasp freely

4.What can be the best title of this passage?

A. Hugs, vital or not? B. Hugs, tricky affair?

C. Hugs and public figures D. Hugs and power

Answer 1

1.D

2.B

3.C

4.B

【解析】

试题分析：拥抱对于一些人来说是温馨的感情表达，但并非所有人都能接受这种亲密的肢体接触。对于一些政要名流而言，拥抱更是已经沦为一种作秀，变了味道

1. when our newly-acquainted Western friends reach out in preparation for a hug, some of us feel awkward. 当新结识的老外朋友伸出双臂想要给我们一个拥抱时，很多人都面露难色。以及第四段But it isn’t just people from cultures that emphasize a reservedness in expressing physical intimacy who find hugging confusing. Hugs can cause discomfort or even distress in people who value their personal space. 然而拥抱这种肢体接触方式并不只是令那些文化背景相对保守的人们感到为难，同时也会为那些注重私人空间的人们带来不适，甚至是苦恼。得知不恰当的拥抱使人倍感压力。故选D

2. B细节理解题。由第六段第二句Public figures know that nothing projects like the ability as a good hug句意：公众人物深知没什么能比一个诚意十足的拥抱更能展现亲和力了。指出了US first lady Michelle Obama拥抱的用意。故选B

3. C词义猜测题。由倒数第二段第二句It’s all part of a show这完全是作秀，和最后一段“Power-hugging”, as she calls it, is “an offender dressed up as kindness”.她将其称为“强权拥抱”，并指出这是一种披着善良外衣的侵犯，已经成为美国的一种时尚。得知拥抱变了味故选C

4. affair。故选B

考点：考查社科类说明文阅读。