同等學(xué)力英語輔導(dǎo) 每日一練（3月11日）

    Our culture has caused most Americans to assume not only that our language is universal but that the gestures we use are understood by everyone. We do not realize that waving good-bye is the way to summon a person from the Philippines to one's side , or that in Italy and some Latin-American countries，curling the finger to oneself is a sign of farewell．

    Those private citizens who sent packages to our troops occupying Germany 'after World War U and marked them GIFT to escape duty payments did not bather to find out that “Gift” means poison in German. Moreover，we like to think of ourselves as friendly，yet we prefer to be at least 3 feet or an arm’s length away from others. Latins and Middle Easterners like to come closer and touch，which makes Americans’ uncomfortable.

    Our linguistic（語言上的）and cultural blindness and the casualness with which we take notice of the developed tastes，gestures，customs and languages of other countries，are losing us friends，business and respect in the world.

    Even here in the United States，we make few concessions to the needs of foreign visitors．There are no information signs in four languages on our public buildings or monuments; we do not have multilingual（多語的）guided tours. Very few restaurant menus have translations，and multilingual waiters，bank clerks and policemen are rare.

    Our transportation systems have maps in English only and often we ourselves have difficulty understanding them.

    When we go abroad，we tend to cluster in hotels and restaurants where English is spoken. The attitudes and information we pick up are conditioned by those natives一usually the richer一who speak English. Our business dealings，as well as the nation’s diplomacy，are conducted through interpreters．

    For many years，America and Americans could get by with cultural blindness and linguistic ignorance. After all，America was the most powerful country of the free world，the distributor of needed funds and goods.

    But all that is past. American dollars no longer buy all good things，and we are slowly beginning to realize that our proper role in the world is changing. A 1979 Harris poll reported that 55 percent of Americans want this country to play a more significant role in world affairs；we want to have a hand in the important decisions of the next century，even though it may not always be the upper hand．

    1. It can be inferred that Americans being approached too closely by Middle Easterners would most probably＿．

A. stand still B. jump aside C. step forward D. draw back

     2. The author gives many examples to criticize Americans for their＿．

A. cultural self-centerednessB. casual manners

C. indifference towards foreign visitorD. arrogance towards other cultures

     3. In countries other than their own most Americans___.

A. are isolated by the local peopleB. are not well informed due to the language barrier

C. tend to get along well with the nativesD. need interpreters in hotels and restaurants

     4. According to the author，Americans’ cultural blindness and linguistic ignorance will____.

A. affect their image in the new era B. cut themselves off from the outside world

C. limit their role in world affairsD. weaken the position of the US dollar

     5. The author’s intention in writing this article is to make Americans realize that---

A. it is dangerous to ignore their foreign friends

B. it is important to maintain their leading role in world affairs

C. it is necessary to use several languages in public places

D. it is time to get acquainted with other cultures

Key:

D A B C D

核心詞匯：

1、assume：以為，假定為；承擔(dān)；就任；取得；裝出，假裝

I assumed that he had gone for a stroll. 我想他去散步了。

The prince assumed power when he was only fifteen. 王子在十五歲時(shí)就掌權(quán)了。

He assumed a look of surprise. 他裝出吃驚的神色。

2、diplomacy：外交；外交手段；圓滑

The new ambassador is highly experienced in international diplomacy. 新外交官在國際 外交方面經(jīng)驗(yàn)豐富。

Tom showed diplomacy in being very helpful at home the day he wanted to use the car. 湯姆在想用汽車的那一天幫助家里做了不少事,顯得很圓滑。

3、significant有意義的;意義(或意味)深長(zhǎng)的，表示...的[+of] 重要的,重大的;值得注意的

Smiles are significant of pleasure. 微笑表示愉快。

This is one of the most significant studies of the subject. 此對(duì)該課題最重要的研究之一。