Everybody hates it, but everybody does it.A recent report said that 40%of Americans hate tipping.In America alone, tipping is a $16 billion-a-year industry.Consumers acting politely ought not to pay more than they have to for a given service.Tips should not exist.So why do they? The common opinion in the past was that tips both rewarded the efforts of good service and reduced uncomfortable feelings of inequality.And also, tipping makes for closer relations.It went without saying that the better the service, the bigger the tip.
But according to a new research from Cornell University, tips no longer serve any useful function.The paper analyzes numbers they got from 2,547 groups dining at 20 different restaurants.The connection between larger tips and better service was very weak.Only a tiny part of the size of the tip had anything to do with the quality of service.
Tipping is better explained, by culture than by the money people spend.In America, the custom came into being a long time ago.It is regarded as part of the accepted cost of a service.In New York restaurants, failing to tip at least l5% could well mean dissatisfaction from the customers.Hairdressers can expect to get l5%-20%, and the man who delivers your fast food $2.In Europe, tipping is less common.In many restaurants the amount of tip is decided by a standard service charge.In many Asian countries, tipping has never really caught on at all.Only a few have really taken to tipping.
According to Michael Lynn, the Cornell papers’ author, countries in which people are more social or outgoing tend to tip more.Tipping may reduce anxiety about being served by strangers.And Mr.Lynn says, “In America, where people are expressive and eager to mix up with others, tipping is about social approval.If you tip badly, people think less of you.Tipping well is a chance to show off.”
(1)
This passage is mainly about __________.
[ ]
A.
different kinds of tipping in different countries
B.
the relationship between tipping and custom
C.
the origin and present meaning of tipping
D.
most American people hate tipping
(2)
Which of the following best explains the underlined phrase “caught on”?
[ ]
A.
become popular.
B.
been hated.
C.
been stopped.
D.
been permitted
(3)
Among the following situations, in your opinion, who is likely to tip most?
[ ]
A.
A Frenchman just quarreled with the barber who did his hair badly in New York.
B.
An American just had a wonderful dinner in a well known restaurant in New York.
C.
A Japanese businessman asked for a pizza delivery from a Pizza Hut in New York.
D.
A Chinese student enjoyed his meal in a famous fast food restaurant in New York.
(4)
We can infer from this passage that __________.
[ ]
A.
tipping is no longer a good way to satisfy some customers themselves
B.
tipping is especially popular in New York
C.
tipping in America can make service better now
D.
tipping has something to do with people’s character
The China National Opera(CNO)will give a concert to celebrate its 50th birthday.
Different generations of CNO vocalists, like Li Guangxi, Yao Hong and Ma Mei, will present the concert which will feature both songs from famous Chinese operas like “The White-haired Girl” and “The Hundredth Bride”, as well as, arias of such Western opera classics as “Madame Butterfly”, “La Traviata” and “Rigoletto”.
Time/date:7∶30 pm, September 7, 8
Location:Tianqiao Theatre
Tel:6551-4787, 8315-6170
Tickets:60-500 yuan(US $7.2-60.2)
Folk music
A concert will be held to feature some recently composed traditional Chinese music works.
The concert, given by the Folk Orchestra of the China Opera and Ballet Theatre, will include such pieces as “Memory of Childhood ”, “Memorial Ceremony for God ”and “Wine Song”.
Time/date:7∶30pm, September 13
Location:Concert hall at the National Library of China
Tel:6848 –5462, 6841-9220
Tickets:30-200 yuan(US$3.6-24.1)
Moon music
A concert of traditional Chinese music will be given on the eve of the Moon Festival which falls on September 21st this year.
The concert will feature a number of famous pieces centred on the theme of the moon, such as “Moonlight”, “Spring night on a Moonlit River” and “Lofty Mountain and Flowing River.”
A number of established traditional Chinese music performers like Zhou Yaokun and Fan Weiqing, will play solos as well as collaborate with the folk music orchestra.
Time/date:7∶30 pm, September 21st
Location:Grand Theatre of the Cultural Palace of Nationalities
Tel:6606-8888, 6606-9999
(1)
If you want to buy tickets for listening to the music “Memory of Childhood”, you will dial _________.
[ ]
A.
6551-4787
B.
6848-5462
C.
8315-6170
D.
6606-9999
(2)
Which statement is right according to the passage?
[ ]
A.
Li Guangxi, Yao Hong and Ma Mei stand for the same generation of CNO vocalists.
B.
“Rigoletto” is a famous piece on the theme of the moon.
C.
“Lofty Mountain and Flowing River” is a traditional Chinese music.
D.
Zhou Yaokun will play solos and Fan Weiqing will collaborate with the folk music orchestra.
(3)
“Madame Butterfly” is ________.
[ ]
A.
a Chinese opera
B.
a Western opera
C.
a piece of music
D.
a song
(4)
In which column of a newspaper will the article be published?