Misunderstanding means East-West cultural clash. A failure to understand different customs lead to misunderstanding.

A common example of this clash occurs in China when Westerners complain that the Chinese are noisy and impolite, and feel uneasy with the questions: "Where are you from?" "Where do you work?" "How much do you earn?" "Are you married?" One Westerner has described this question and answer process as a "Laowai (foreigner) Litany." It's not surprising that foreigners in China who are not familiar with Chinese culture would be shocked by the questions and might feel that Chinese were meddling in their affairs.

Why do Chinese and Westerners have opposite behaviour in public and in society? Cultural differences partly explain this. Chinese culture is founded on collectivism. Instead of considering themselves individuals, Chinese are, above all, members of a community. They identify more with employees of the company, citizens of the country, husbands or wives, or fathers. They are used to thinking of groups. With this community spirit, it's not uncommon to approach others with questions. So, "Where are you from?" could mean "I'm interested in you and ready to be your friend;" "How much money do you earn?" could mean "If you don't earn enough to feed yourself, I'm happy to invite you to share my rice porridge;" and "Are you married?" could mean "If you're still single, I'll help you find a girlfriend."

For Chinese, asking a stranger questions is a normal way to show sympathy and to invite someone to have a friendly conversation. Chinese on a 10-hour train ride would be considered impolite or even arrogant if they refused to ask or answer questions. That is why a Chinese train ride is always happy and animated for Chinese, but can be noisy for a European.

Western culture is based on individualism. A Westerner sees himself or herself both as an individual and member of a community. Thus any insistence on communicating through questions might be considered annoying. In Europe, a person on a 10-hour train ride, will be considered polite if he or she wants to keep silent for the whole journey. This is also why train rides in Europe are agreeably quiet for Europeans, but possible painful for Chinese.

There seems to be fundamentally nothing wrong with being interested in strangers, depending on the circumstances, but either asking questions or not asking questions could prove indelicate. Whoever you are, be relaxed and polite no matter whether you get intrusive questions or a perfunctory hello.

1.Which is wrong about the above four questions in paragraph 2 ?

A. The Chinese use them to show their sympathy.

B. The Westerners will be shocked at these questions

C. They are often asked to open a conversation by Chinese people.

D. They imply the spirit of individualism.

2.According to the passage, all the following shows the culture differences between we Chinese and the Westerns except_________________.

A. the Chinese consider themselves to be members of a community while the Westerns don’t

B. western culture is founded on individualism

C. your questions will annoy a Westerner if he/she doesn’t want to communicate

D. train journey in Western countries are often quiet but noisy in China

3.On a ten-hour train ride___________________________.

A. the Chinese will probably talk with strangers happily

B. the Westerners are certain to talk with strangers

C. it is impolite for both the Chinese and the Westerners to keep silent

D. it is often painful for the Westerners to be in silence

4.The underlined word “animated”(in paragraph 4) possibly means_______________.

   A. causing shameful feelings               B. filled with noise

   C. full of life and spirit                    D. important and agreeable

5.The main idea of the passage is probably_____________________.

A. we shouldn’t ask the Westerners the four questions

B. culture differences may lead to misunderstanding

C. it’s wrong to be interested in strangers

D. asking a stranger questions is a normal way to show sympathy

Misunderstanding means East-West cultural clash. A failure to understand different customs lead to misunderstanding.

A common example of this clash occurs in China when Westerners complain that the Chinese are noisy and impolite, and feel uneasy with the questions: "Where are you from?" "Where do you work?" "How much do you earn?" "Are you married?" One Westerner has described this question and answer process as a "Laowai (foreigner) Litany." It's not surprising that foreigners in China who are not familiar with Chinese culture would be shocked by the questions and might feel that Chinese were meddling in their affairs.

Why do Chinese and Westerners have opposite behaviour in public and in society? Cultural differences partly explain this. Chinese culture is founded on collectivism. Instead of considering themselves individuals, Chinese are, above all, members of a community. They identify more with employees of the company, citizens of the country, husbands or wives, or fathers. They are used to thinking of groups. With this community spirit, it's not uncommon to approach others with questions. So, "Where are you from?" could mean "I'm interested in you and ready to be your friend;" "How much money do you earn?" could mean "If you don't earn enough to feed yourself, I'm happy to invite you to share my rice porridge;" and "Are you married?" could mean "If you're still single, I'll help you find a girlfriend."

For Chinese, asking a stranger questions is a normal way to show sympathy and to invite someone to have a friendly conversation. Chinese on a 10-hour train ride would be considered impolite or even arrogant if they refused to ask or answer questions. That is why a Chinese train ride is always happy and animated for Chinese, but can be noisy for a European.

Western culture is based on individualism. A Westerner sees himself or herself both as an individual and member of a community. Thus any insistence on communicating through questions might be considered annoying. In Europe, a person on a 10-hour train ride, will be considered polite if he or she wants to keep silent for the whole journey. This is also why train rides in Europe are agreeably quiet for Europeans, but possible painful for Chinese.

There seems to be fundamentally nothing wrong with being interested in strangers, depending on the circumstances, but either asking questions or not asking questions could prove indelicate. Whoever you are, be relaxed and polite no matter whether you get intrusive questions or a perfunctory hello.

66. Which is wrong about the above four questions in paragraph 2 ?

The Chinese use them to show their sympathy.

The Westerners will be shocked at these questions

They are often asked to open a conversation by Chinese people.

They imply the spirit of individualism.

67. According to the passage, all the following shows the culture differences between we Chinese and the Westerns except_________________.

the Chinese consider themselves to be members of a community while the Westerns don’t

western culture is founded on individualism

your questions will annoy a Westerner if he/she doesn’t want to communicate

train journey in Western countries are often quiet but noisy in China

68. On a ten-hour train ride___________________________.

the Chinese will probably talk with strangers happily

the Westerners are certain to talk with strangers

it is impolite for both the Chinese and the Westerners to keep silent

it is often painful for the Westerners to be in silence

69. The underlined word “animated”(in paragraph 4) possibly means_______________.

   A. causing shameful feelings       B. filled with noise

   C. full of life and spirit            D. important and agreeable

70. The main idea of the passage is probably_____________________.

A.we shouldn’t ask the Westerners the four questions

B.culture differences may lead to misunderstanding

C.it’s wrong to be interested in strangers

D.asking a stranger questions is a normal way to show sympathy

Misunderstanding means East-West cultural clash. A failure to understand different customs lead to misunderstanding.

A common example of this clash occurs in China when Westerners complain that the Chinese are noisy and impolite, and feel uneasy with the questions: "Where are you from?" "Where do you work?" "How much do you earn?" "Are you married?" One Westerner has described this question and answer process as a "Laowai (foreigner) Litany." It's not surprising that foreigners in China who are not familiar with Chinese culture would be shocked by the questions and might feel that Chinese were meddling in their affairs.

Why do Chinese and Westerners have opposite behaviour in public and in society? Cultural differences partly explain this. Chinese culture is founded on collectivism. Instead of considering themselves individuals, Chinese are, above all, members of a community. They identify more with employees of the company, citizens of the country, husbands or wives, or fathers. They are used to thinking of groups. With this community spirit, it's not uncommon to approach others with questions. So, "Where are you from?" could mean "I'm interested in you and ready to be your friend;" "How much money do you earn?" could mean "If you don't earn enough to feed yourself, I'm happy to invite you to share my rice porridge;" and "Are you married?" could mean "If you're still single, I'll help you find a girlfriend."

For Chinese, asking a stranger questions is a normal way to show sympathy and to invite someone to have a friendly conversation. Chinese on a 10-hour train ride would be considered impolite or even arrogant if they refused to ask or answer questions. That is why a Chinese train ride is always happy and animated for Chinese, but can be noisy for a European.

Western culture is based on individualism. A Westerner sees himself or herself both as an individual and member of a community. Thus any insistence on communicating through questions might be considered annoying. In Europe, a person on a 10-hour train ride, will be considered polite if he or she wants to keep silent for the whole journey. This is also why train rides in Europe are agreeably quiet for Europeans, but possible painful for Chinese.  

There seems to be fundamentally nothing wrong with being interested in strangers, depending on the circumstances, but either asking questions or not asking questions could prove indelicate. Whoever you are, be relaxed and polite no matter whether you get intrusive questions or a perfunctory hello.

66. Which is wrong about the above four questions in paragraph 2 ?

The Chinese use them to show their sympathy.

The Westerners will be shocked at these questions

They are often asked to open a conversation by Chinese people.

They imply the spirit of individualism.

67. According to the passage, all the following shows the culture differences between we Chinese and the Westerns except_________________.

the Chinese consider themselves to be members of a community while the Westerns don’t

western culture is founded on individualism

your questions will annoy a Westerner if he/she doesn’t want to communicate

train journey in Western countries are often quiet but noisy in China

68. On a ten-hour train ride___________________________.

the Chinese will probably talk with strangers happily

the Westerners are certain to talk with strangers

it is impolite for both the Chinese and the Westerners to keep silent

it is often painful for the Westerners to be in silence

69. The underlined word “animated”(in paragraph 4) possibly means_______________.

   A. causing shameful feelings               B. filled with noise

   C. full of life and spirit                    D. important and agreeable

70. The main idea of the passage is probably_____________________.

we shouldn’t ask the Westerners the four questions

culture differences may lead to misunderstanding

it’s wrong to be interested in strangers

asking a stranger questions is a normal way to show sympathy

C
What is it that makes people happy? Youth, health, a good job, good looks, a flash car? None of these things, Spanish experts say.
The concept（概念） of happiness is thought to be determined by genetics, while the rest depends on childhood environment and the process（过程） of growing up. Perhaps the most surprising thing about happiness is coming under increasingly close examination in Spain.
As the nation rises to the club of the world's wealthiest countries, people are discovering that material（物质的） things do not bring happiness.
"Most people use money as a measure of human value," says Jesus Ynfante, author of a book on Spain's 300 biggest fortunes.  "Expensive products are regarded as the best. The rich are admired simply for being rich," Ynfante said.
Yet psychologists（心理学家） warn that happiness as a moment of ecstatic pleasure(狂喜)--something that, by definition（定义） ,cannot last--while others speak of it as peace and acceptance of oneself. Polls(问卷调查) in different countries indicate that between 65 and 85 percent of the world's population regard themselves as reasonably happy.
Around 40 percent of a person's happiness is that it has little to do with age, health, wealth, or other values thought to be important in Western society. For most Spaniards, happiness is linked with feeling close to other people. Happy people accept their limitations and set themselves reachable goals, experts say.
There are life-style choices that favour happiness, such as exercise, eating carbohydrates and exposing oneself to sunlight. But the main secret of happiness is to take pleasure in small things.
“If you are given a choice between eternal（永久的)happiness and a cheese sandwich, take the sandwich,” advises musician Julian Hernandez.
58. Spain, as this passage tells us, __________.
A. has built more clubs than the other countries
B. has owned the largest group of experts
C. has become one of the richest countries in the world
D. has produced the most wealth in the world
59. It can be concluded that Jesus Ynfante is__________.
A. a famous expert            B. a famous psychologist
C. one of the richest Spaniards   D. familiar with the richest Spaniards
60. As psychologists warn in this passage, people can't feel happy even if they_________.
A. have too much money       B. only care about themselves
C. don't do any homework      D. have a few relations
61 Happy people, as we can find in this passage, __________.
A. are always full of feelings                  B. are always born in rich families
C. always enjoy every achievement they get       D. always look down upon themselves

What is it that makes people happy? Youth, health, a good job, good looks, a flash car? None of these things, Spanish experts say.

     The concept（概念） of happiness is thought to be determined by genetics, while the rest depends on childhood environment and the process（过程） of growing up. Perhaps the most surprising thing about happiness is coming under increasingly close examination in Spain.

As the nation rises to the club of the world's wealthiest countries, people are discovering that material（物质的） things do not bring happiness.

     "Most people use money as a measure of human value," says Jesus Ynfante, author of a book on Spain's 300 biggest fortunes.  "Expensive products are regarded as the best. The rich are admired simply for being rich," Ynfante said.

     Yet psychologists（心理学家） warn that happiness as a moment of ecstatic pleasure(狂喜)--something that, by definition（定义） ,cannot last--while others speak of it as peace and acceptance of oneself. Polls(问卷调查) in different countries indicate that between 65 and 85 percent of the world's population regard themselves as reasonably happy.

     Around 40 percent of a person's happiness is that it has little to do with age, health, wealth, or other values thought to be important in Western society. For most Spaniards, happiness is linked with feeling close to other people. Happy people accept their limitations and set themselves reachable goals, experts say.

     There are life-style choices that favor happiness, such as exercise, eating carbohydrates and exposing oneself to sunlight. But the main secret of happiness is to take pleasure in small things.

     “If you are given a choice between eternal（永久的)happiness and a cheese sandwich, take the sandwich,” advises musician Julian Hernandez.

1. Spain, as this passage tells us, __________.

A. has built more clubs than the other countries

B. has owned the largest group of experts

C. has become one of the richest countries in the world

D. has produced the most wealth in the world

2. It can be concluded that Jesus Ynfante is__________.

     A. a famous expert            B. a famous psychologist

     C. one of the richest Spaniards    D. familiar with the richest Spaniards

3. As psychologists warn in this passage, people can't feel happy even if they_________.

     A. have too much money       B. only care about themselves

     C. don't do any homework      D. have a few relations

4. Happy people, as we can find in this passage, __________.

     A. are always full of feelings                    B. are always born in rich families

      C. always enjoy every achievement they get       D. always look down upon themselves