When you are in another country, it is important to know the language, but it is equally important to know how to communicate nonverbally, before saying anything by making gestures．According to a pioneer in nonverbal(无需语言的)communication, only 30 to 35 percent of our communication is verbal．When people don’t know the language, the most common way to communicate is through gestures．However, many gestures have different meanings, or no meaning at all, in different parts of the world．
In the United States, for example, nodding your head up and down means“yes”．In some parts of Greece and Turkey, however, this motion can mean“no”．In Southeast Asia, nodding your head is a polite way of saying“I’ve heard you”．
In ancient Rome, when the emperor wanted to spare someone’s life, he would put his thumb up．Today in the United States, when someone puts his/her thumb up, it means“Everything is all right”．However, in Sardinia and Greece, the gesture is insulting and should not be used there．
In the United States, raising your clasped hands above your head means“I’m the champion”or“I’m the winner”．It is the sign prizefighters make when they win a fight．When a leading Russian statesman made this gesture after a White House meeting, Americans misunderstood and thought he meant he was a winner．In Russia, however, it is a sign of friendship．
In the United States, holding your hand up with the thumb and index finger in a circle and the other three fingers spread out means“Everything is OK．”And is frequently used by astronauts and politicians．In France and Belgium, it can mean“You’re worth nothing．”
There are other nonverbal signals that that people should be aware of when they go to another country, such as the distance to maintain between speakers．Americans usually feel comfortable when speaking with someone if the distance between them is about eighteen inches to arm’s length．Anything closer makes them feel uncomfortable．
When talking to Americans, it is also important to make eye contact．If you look down when talking to an American, he/she may feel that you are embarrassed, afraid, or trying to hide something．
In addition to knowing how to communicate nonverbally in a country, it is important to know what you and he cannot discuss．In the United States, there are certain topics to avoid when you first meet someone．For example, don’t ask people their age, weight, religion, marital status, how much money they earn, or how much something costs．You can talk about work, the weather, traffic problems, sports, food, new, of the day, where one lives, consumer subjects(computers, car repairs, and so forth), and travel or vacation plans．
These few examples illustrate that your actions can speak louder than your words．In a particular cultural contest, what you say and what you don’t say are equally important．
(1)
Which of the following is true?
[ ]
A．
People all over the world only communicate verbally．
B．
Most of our gestures have no meaning at all．
C．
Some people think that 65 to 70 percent of our communication is nonverbal．
D．
Gestures are the most common way to communicate．
(2)
Please paraphrase the clause“…your actions can speak louder than your words”．
[ ]
A．
Your deeds are better than your words．
B．
What you do is better than what you say．
C．
You try to show your best manners．
D．
You are better understood by your gestures than through your words．
(3)
The main idea of the passage is that when you are in another country, ________．
[ ]
A．
it is unimportant to know the language
B．
it is important to know what you can talk about to a foreigner
C．
to know how to communicate nonverbally is as important as to know the language
D．
to communicate the rough gestures is more important than to know the language
She took up skating at age 85, made her first movie appearance at age 114, and held a concert in the neighborhood on her 121st birthday．
Whe n it comes to long life, Jeanne Calment is the world’s recordholder．She lived to the ripe old age of 122．So is 122 the upper limit to the human life span(寿命)?If scientists come up with some sort of pill or diet that would slow aging, could we possibly make it to 150－or beyond?
Researchers don’t entirely agree on the answers．“Calment lived to 122, so it wouldn’t surprise me if someone alive today reaches 130 or 135,”says Jerry Shay at the University of Texas．
Steve Austad at the University of Texas agrees．“People can live much longer than we think,”he says．“Experts used to say that humans couldn’t live past 110．When Calment blew past that age, they raised the number to 120．So why can’t we go higher?”
The trouble with guessing how old people can live to be is that it’s all just guessing．“Anyone can make up a number,”says Rich Miller at the University of Michigan．“Usually the scientist who picks the highest number gets his name in Time magazine．”
Won’t new anti-aging techniques keep us alive for centuries?Any cure, says Miller, for aging would probably keep most of us kicking until about 120．Researchers are working on treatments that lengthen the life span of mice by 50 percent at most．So, if the average human life span is about 80 years, says Miller,“adding another 50 percent would get you to 120．”
So what can we conclude from this little disagreement among the researchers?That life span is flexible(有弹性的)，but there is a limit, says George Martin of the University of Washington．“We can get flies to live 50 percent longer,”he says．“But a fly’s never going to live 150 years．”
“Of course, if you became a new species(物种)，one that ages at a slower speed, that would be a different story,”he adds．
Does Martin really believe that humans could evolve(进化)their way to longer life?“It’s pretty cool to think about it,”he says with a smile．
(1)
What does the story of Jeanne Calment prove to us?
[ ]
A．
People can live to 122．
B．
Old people are creative．
C．
Women are sporty at 85．
D．
Women live longer than men．
(2)
According to Steve Austad at the University of Texas, ________．
[ ]
A．
the average human life span could be 110
B．
scientists cannot find ways to slow aging
C．
few people can expect to live to over 150
D．
researchers are not sure how long people can live
(3)
Who would agree that a scientist will become famous if he makes the wildest guess at longevity?
[ ]
A．
Jerry Shay．
B．
Steve Austad
C．
Rich Miller
D．
George Martin
(4)
What can we infer from the last three paragraphs?
[ ]
A．
Most of us could be good at sports even at 120．
B．
The average human life span cannot be doubled．
C．
Scientists believe mice are aging at a slower speed than before．
D．
New techniques could be used to change flies into a new species．
