Question

Meeting people from another culture can be difficult. From the beginning, people may send the wrong signal. 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 less 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. get to know each otherB. share the same culture

C. keep each other companyD. develop closer relations

2.The author mentions his experience in Thailand to show that ________.

A. the English prefer to make long speeches

B. even talk and silence can be culturally different

C. too many words are of no use

D. people from Thailand are quiet and shy by nature

3.What would be the best title for the text?

A. How to Understand Each Other.

B. Multicultural Environment.

C. How to Build Up a Relationship.

D. Cross-Cultural Differences.

Answer

1.D

2.B

3.D

【解析】

试题分析：作者通过一些具体事例讲述了世界上一些国家之间的文化差异。

1. 细节理解题。根据第二段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.可知，在一些国家一起吃饭会增进彼此关系，故选D。

2. 细节理解题。根据第三段Talk and silence may also be different in some cultures. I once made a speech in Thailand.可知，即使谈话和沉默也有文化意义上的不同，故选B。

3. 主旨大意题。主要讲述了世界上一些国家之间的文化差异。

考点：考查文化类短文阅读。

【名师点睛】

主旨大意题的解题思路与应试技巧

做这类题时常用略读法。快速阅读文章找出各个段落的主题句。把各个段落的主题句联系起来着眼于全文结构安排，了解文章的重心，就能概括出文章的中心。文章的标题是中心思想最精炼的表达形式，选择的标题意义范围要能涵盖全文，不能太大也不能太小。命题者在出这类题时，常常利用生活常识编造干扰项，把文中的细节当主旨，利用局部信息编造干扰项，编制超出文章范围的标题或不能涵盖文章中心意义的标题来考查考生的理解程度，考生要特别留意。

概括主旨的方法是：先看首尾或各段开头再看全文找主题句，若无明显主题句，就通过关键词句来概括(如议论文中寻找表达作者观点态度的词句，记叙文寻找概括情节和中心的动词或反映人物特点的形容词。) 。文中出现两种或两种以上的不同观点时，务必牢记作者的观点才是体现全文中心的。此时，要注意一些转折词，如but, yet, however, although, in spite of, by contrast, on the contrary等。当文章中表示相反的观点时，往往用到这些词。答题时要弄清哪个是作者的观点，排除迷惑性信息，准确归纳主旨大意。