阅读理解
Arabic is the official language of Kuwait, but English is widely spoken.It is used in business and is a compulsory second language in schools.Among the non-Kuwaiti population, many people speak Farsi(波斯语), the official language of Iran, or Urdu(乌尔都语), the official language of Pakistan.
Arabic is spoken by almost 200 million people in more than 22 countries.It is the language of the Qur'an, the Holy Book of Islam, and of Arab poetry and literature.While spoken Arabic varies from country to country, classical Arabic has remained unchanged for centuries.In Kuwait, there are differences between the dialects spoken in urban areas and those spoken in rural areas.Islam is practiced by the majority of Kuwaitis and governs their personal, political, economic and legal lives.Muslims pray five times a day-at dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset, and evening.The exact time is listed in the local newspaper each day.Friday is the Muslim holy day.Everything is closed.Many companies also close on Thursday, making Thursday and Friday the weekend.
The extended family is the basis of the social structure and individual identity.The family is private.Female relatives are protected from outside influences.It is considered inappropriate to ask questions about a Kuwaiti's wife or other female relatives.
Kuwaitis are hospitable.However, it is important to behave according to their cultural customs.Although women play a greater role in Kuwaiti society than women do in many other Gulf countries, they seldom socialize(交往)together in public.Greetings are therefore between members of the same sex.In all cases they are given with a sense of enthusiasm and general pleasure at meeting or seeing the person again.Kuwaitis take time during the greeting process to talk about their health, family, friends and other general matters of interest.
The first name is the personal name.The second name is the father's personal name.The third and fourth names are the grandfather's personal name and a name that shows the family lineage(血统).Women do not take the husband's name upon marriage.
In Kuwait, extended family or very close friends may exchange gifts for birthdays and other celebratory occasions.If you are invited to a Kuwaiti home, it is necessary to bring a houseplant, box of imported chocolates, or a small gift from your home country.If a man must give a gift to a woman, he should say that it is from his wife, mother, sister, or some other female relative.