Meeting people from another culture can be difficult. From the beginning, people may send the wrong signal（信号）. Or they may pay no attention to signals from another person who is trying to develop a relationship.
Different cultures emphasize（强调）the importance of relationship building to a greater or lesser degree. For example, business in some countries is not possible until there is a relationship of trust. Even with people at work, it is necessary to spend a lot of time in "small talk", usually over a glass of tea, before they do any job．In many European countries -- like the UK or France -- people find it easier to build up a lasting working relationship at restaurants or cafes rather than at the office.
Talk and silence may also be different in some cultures. I once made a speech in Thailand．I had expected my speech to be a success and start a lively discussion; instead there was an uncomfortable silence. The people present just stared at me and smiled．After getting to know their ways better, I realized that they thought I was talking too much. In my own culture, we express meaning mainly through words, but people there sometimes feel too many words are unnecessary.
Even within Northern Europe, cultural differences can cause serious problems. Certainly, English and German cultures share similar values; however, Germans prefer to get down to business more quickly. We think that they are rude. In fact, this is just because one culture starts discussions and makes decisions more quickly.
People from different parts of the world have different values, and sometimes these values are quite against each other. However, if we can understand them better, a multicultural environment will offer a wonderful chance for us to learn from each other.
1.In some countries, eating together at restaurants may make it easier for people to _______.
A．develop closer relations B．share the same culture
C．get to know each other D．keep each other company
2.The author mentions his experience in Thailand to show that _______.
A．the English prefer to make long speeches
B．too many words are of no use
C．people from Thailand are quiet and shy by nature
D．even talk and silence can be culturally different
3.According to the text, how can people from different cultures understand each other better?
A．By sharing different ways of life.
B. By accepting different habits.
C．By recognizing different values.
D. By speaking each other' s languages.
4.What would be the best title for the text?
A．Multicultural Environment.
B．Cross-Cultural Differences.
C．How to Understand Each Other.
D．How to Build Up a Relationship.
Mary was seven years old. Her parents recently moved to a new town, and so Mary was going to a school, which was a few kilometers from the house they lived in now. A school bus going around picked up every morning and brought them back to their every afternoon, and as both of Mary’s parents to go to work, she always went on this bus.
Mary’s parents always their alarm clock for seven o’clock so that none of them would be . But one morning the alarm to go off, and it was not until a quarter past eight that Mary’s mother suddenly , looked at the clock and said, “What’s ever happened to that clock?” and then into Mary’s room to wake her up.
“I’m sorry, dear,” she said, “ you’ll have to wash and dress very quickly, have an even break-fast and then I’ll you to school on my way to the office.”
“But how can you find the , Mum?” Mary said, “You’ve been to school only once.”
“Yes,” her mother answered, “but you’ve done the several times now on the bus, so you can be my guide to get there, can’t you?”
“Oh, yes,” said Mary, “I suppose so.” She washed, and and had a quick breakfast, and then they set off. Mary told her mother to turn each time they came to a place she . In this way she made her mother drive round most of the town they got to her school. When they arrived, her mother saw that it was not really very far from her house.
“Why ever did you make me go such a long way round, Mary, instead of the most way?” her mother asked her.
“Well, Mum,” answered Mary, “it was because I didn’t know else to get here. That’s the way our bus always goes to the other children to school.
1.A. big B. nice C. different D. distant
2.A. pupils B. teachers C. parents D. passengers
3.A. offices B. towns C. classroomsD. homes
4.A. seemed B. had C. refused D. used
5.A. found B. set C. cleaned D. fixed
6.A. late B. ready C. lazy D. asleep
7.A. started B. stopped C. failed D. continued
8.A. stood up B. stayed up C. put up D. woke up
9.A. rushed B. stepped C. escaped D. jumped
10.A. but B. and C. so D. then
11.A. later B. quicker C. easier D. heavier
12.A. bring B. fetch C. leave D. drive
13.A. truth B. bus C. way D. guide
14.A. homework B. shopping C. trip D. reading
15.A. rose B. dressed C. moved D. showed
16.A. wondered B. realized C. recognized D. designed
17.A. unless B. after C. if D. before
18.A. comfortable B. helpful C. important D. direct
19.A. how B. when C. what D. which
20.A. look for B. pick up C. drop by D. deal with
The little girl ______go to the cinema rather than ______ at home alone that night.
A.preferred ; stay B.prefers to ; staying
C.preferred to ; stay D.prefers to ; stay
The alarm ________ when the thieves got in.
A.went off B.went over
C.turned over D.took over
The two boys ______when climbing the mountains.
A.got lost B.lost
C.were losing D.losing
It ______me one hour to finish the homework.
A.spent B.took
C.cost D.paid
