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 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．get to know each other                   B．share the same culture

C．develop closer relations                  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．people from Thailand are quiet and shy by nature

C．too many words are of no use

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 recognizing different values.

C．By accepting different habits.

D．By speaking each other' s languages.

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

A．Cross-Cultural Differences

B．Multicultural Environment.

C．How to Build Up a Relationship

D．How to Understand Each Other.

 

Answer 1

【答案】

1.C

2.D

3.B

4.A

【解析】

试题分析：本文主要讲述的就是不同国家和文化之间的差异问题，并举例做了说明。

1.C 推理题。根据第一段最后4行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.说明在英国等国家在一起吃饭喝咖啡等形式能够形成坚定的友谊关系，故C正确。

2.D 段落大意题。根据本段的主题句第一句Talk and silence may also be different in some cultures.说明本段就是关于谈话和安静在一些文化中的意思也是不一样的。故D正确。

3.B 推理题，根据文章最后3行However, if we can understand them better, a multicultural environment  will offer a wonderful chance for us to learn from each other说明如果我们能够更好的理解他们的文化，以及和我们之间的文化的差异，我们就能有更好的理解，故B正确。

4.A 主旨大意题。本文主要讲述的就是不同国家和文化之间的差异问题，故A项正确。

考点：考查文化类短文阅读

点评：本文考查的推理题较多，要求考生在理解原文表面文字信息的基础上，做出一定判断和推论，从而得到文章的隐含意义和深层意义。推理题所涉及的内容可能是文中某一句话，也可是某几句话，但做题的指导思想都是以文字信息为依据，既不能做出在原文中找不到文字根据的推理，也不能根据表面文字信息做多步推理。推理题要根据原文表面文字信息一步推出的答案：即对原文某一句话或某几句话所作的同义改写(paraphrase)或综合。