Informal conversation is an important part of any business relationship. Before you start a discussion, however, make sure you understand which topics are suitable and which are considered taboos(禁忌) in a particular culture. Latin Americans enjoy sharing information about their local history, art, and customs. They expect questions about their family and are sure to show pictures of their children. You may feel free to ask similar questions of your Latin American friends. The French think of conversation as an art form, and they enjoy the value of lively discussions as well as disagreements. For them, arguments can be interesting — and they can cover pretty much or any topic — as long as they occur in a respectful and intelligent manner.
In the United States, business people like to discuss a wide range of topics, including opinions about work, family, hobbies, and politics. In Japan, China, and Korea, however, people are much more private. They do not share much about their thoughts, feelings, or emotions because they feel that doing so might take away from the harmonious business relationship they’re trying to build. Middle Easterners are also private about their personal lives and family matters. It is considered rude, for example, to ask a businessman from Saudi Arabia about his wife or children.
As a general rule, it’s best not to talk about politics or religion with your business friends. This can get you into trouble, even in the United States, where people hold different views. In addition, discussing one’s salary is usually considered unsuitable. Sports is typically a friendly subject in most parts of the world, although be careful not to criticize a national sport. Instead, be friendly and praise your host’s team.
1.The author considers politics and religion ________.
A. cheerful topics B. taboos
C. rude topics D. topics that can never be talked about
2.Which is typically a friendly topic in most places according to the author?
A. Sports. B. Children.
C. Personal feelings. D. Families.
3.Why are people from Asia more private in their conversation with others?
A. They don’t want to talk with others much.
B. They don’t want to have their good relationship with others harmed by informal conversation.
C. They are afraid to argue with their colleagues.
D. They want to keep their feelings to themselves.
4. What shouldn’t you do when talking about sports with colleagues from another country?
A. Praising your own country’s sports.
B. Criticizing your own country’s sports.
C. Praising the sports of your colleagues’ country.
D. Criticizing the sports of your colleagues’ country.
Some myths are stories told since ancient times to explain the causes for natural happenings. The Greek myth that explains why there are changes of 21 is about Demeter, the goddess of the harvest. She had a daughter, Persephone, whom she loved very much. Hades, god of the underworld, fell in love with Persephone, and he asked Zeus, the 22 of the gods, to give Persephone to him as his 23 . Zeus did not want either to disappoint Hades or to upset Demeter, so he said he would not agree to the marriage, but neither would he 24 it. Hades, therefore, decided to take the girl without 25 . When Persephone was picking flowers in the garden, he seized her and took her to the underworld. When Demeter 26 what happened to Persephone, she became so 27 that she caused all plants to 28 . People were in 29 of starving. But Demeter was determined not to let crops grow 30 her daughter, Persephone, was returned to her. 31 , still not wanting to disappoint Hades, decided upon a condition for Persephone's 32 . She could go back to her mother if she had not 33 anything while she was in the underworld. Demeter 34 it because she did not know that Persephone had eaten several pomegranate (ʯ��) seeds in the underworld. When Zeus 35 this, he agreed that Persephone could spend part of the year with her 36 , but he added that since she had eaten the seeds, she must spend part of the year in the underworld. And so it 37 that when Persephone is in the underworld, Demeter is sad and therefore 38 not let the crops grow. That is 39 we have winter when plants do not grow. When Persephone returns, Demeter is 40 , it is spring, and plants begin to grow again.
1.A. periods B. time C. seasons D. age
2.A. winner B. ruler C. advisor D. fighter
3.A. wife B. lover C. partner D. daughter
4.A. accept B. forgive C. admit D. forbid
5.A. arrangement B. warning C. permission D. reason
6.A. let out B. worked out C. thought out D. found out
7.A. excited B. angry C. tired D. serious
8.A. grow fast B. start growing C. stop growing D grow slowly
9.A. danger B. hope C. turn D. case
10.A. since B. until C. after D. when
11.A. Persephone B. Zeus C. Demeter D. Hades
12.A. return B. change C. marriage D. journey
13.A. stolen B. found C. eaten D. heard
14.A. understood B. refused C. doubted D. accepted
15.A. discovered B. studied C. forgot D. prepared
16.A. daughter B. mother C. god D. ruler
17.A. works B. remains C. happens D. starts
18.A. should B. can C. dare D. will
19.A. where B. because C. why D. how
20.A. happy B. friendly C. fresh D. nice
－Do you have the time?
－Sorry, I have no watch.
－_____________.
A．What a shame. B．Thanks anyway.
C．It doesn’t matter. D．Why not buy one?
“___________ the election is over,” said Powell, “the time has come for me to step down as secretary of state and return to private life.”
A．Now that B．In case C．So long as D．As far as
—Hi, Tina ,we’re going to Sam’s house to celebrate his graduation. Would you like to ?
—Great! Let’s go.
A．come up B．come on C．come out D．come along
－It’s many years since I saw you last, I __________ you at all.
－I wouldn’t have, either, if someone __________ you by the name.
A．didn’t recognize; hadn’t called B．didn’t recognize; didn’t call
C．haven’t recognized; didn’t call D．can’t recognize; had called
