Question

Fluency(流利) in another language is one of the most important aims of a newcomer to another country. In addition, understanding the culture and learning to communicate comfortably with people of that culture are as important as learning the rules of the language. Language learning and culture learning go together and may take a long time.

Sometimes people feel that they understand a culture after a few weeks or months. People do learn a lot when they first begin living in another culture, but this is only the first stage of learning. It usually involves(含包) things like learning everyday activities and some basic customs.

To really understand another culture, people have to go beyond the first stage, this is challenge(挑战) because it is often difficult to know what to learn. Much of what we call “culture” is hard to see.

Culture is like an iceberg(冰川). Picture in your mind a huge iceberg in the ocean. The only part of the iceberg that you see is the tip. You don’t see the rest of the iceberg because it is hidden from sight in the water. It is easy to forget that it is there. Most of the iceberg is deep within the ocean, just as much of a culture is deep within its people.

When you meet someone from another culture, certain culture differences are obvious: You hear another language or you hear your own language spoken with an accent. You see different foods, clothes and sometimes physical characteristics of people. You observe new customs or habits, such as the use of chopsticks, and, bowing or kissing on both cheeks as a greeting. These differences are interesting and important, but they are usually not too difficult to understand. They are visible so they are seen easily and quickly.

The part of culture that is like the underwater part of the iceberg consists of assumptions(设想), communication styles, values, and beliefs about what is right and wrong. The hidden part of culture affects much of a person’s way of thinking and communicating. It is the meaning behind his or her verbal (言语的) and nonverbal language. Learning to communicate well with people from another culture involves becoming aware of the hidden part of culture.

1.What’s the subject of this passage?

A．Learning about culture.	B．Language learning.
C．The hidden part of the iceberg.	D．Fluency in another language.

2.What is learning about culture?

A．Learning the hidden part of the iceberg, which is underwater.

B．Learning everyday activities and some basic customs.

C．Learning the culture of an iceberg.

D．Learning the visible as well as the hidden differences of culture.

3.The underlined phrase “consists of” can be replaced by “______”.

A．lies in

B．is made up of

C．agrees with

D．is different from

4.What conclusion can we draw after reading this passage?

A．Values and beliefs are like the tip of the iceberg.

B．People often become aware of the hidden part of culture.

C．The tip of the iceberg is larger than the hidden part.

D．The hidden part of culture has a great effect on people’s communication styles.

Answer

1.A

2.D

3.B

4.D

【解析】文章是关于学习外国文化的问题，

1.主旨大意题。通读全文可知A正确。文章是关于学习文化的问题。

2.推理题。根据文章3,4段可知既要学会可见的部分也要学会文化中隐藏的部分。

3.猜测词义题。根据上下文可知那句话的意思：设想，交流方式，价值观和信仰组成了文化中隐藏的那一部分。

4.推理题。根据文章最后一段的3,4行内容尤其是The hidden part of culture affects much of a person’s way of thinking and communicating.可知D正确。