Most peope agree that the direct.peronality,butt sometimes surprises foreigners.In many cultures,respect for old er people or those in positions of authority keeps others from expressing their true feelings.But in the U.S. A.,children often argue with their parents,students may disagree with their teachers. and citizens may express opposition to the actions of the government.If the soup has a fly in it or the meat is too tough to chew.the diner can complain to the waiter,if the akes an employee will politely point it Some straight talk about the American character must include the admission tha Americans have their faults.The extremely competitive nature of Americans is probably their worst fault.Of course.competition isnt always bad.In fact,it promotes excellence by encouraging individuals (and businesses)to try to do their best but the desire to get ahead of others sometimes causes people to do things that are unkind and even dishone .Americans adm ire what is practical,fast,efficient,and new Sometimes they fail to understand and appreciate practices that have greater respect for more traditional,leisurely ways of doing things.Conversely,people from other cultures may dislike the practical,hectic(紧张兴奋的)American lifestyle. Despite culture differences most foreigners give americans credit for their virtues A m ed as fri endly.adaptable. getic,and kindhear ed Most neweomertothe U.S A.like Americans and the teeln susunlly mutu Perhaps the greatest American virtue is a deep interest in new ideas and new people. In a nation of immigrants,the foreigner does not remain an outsider for long. 1.This passage is mainly about A)American virtues B)American characters C)American lifestyles D)American faults 2.Inorder to show the respect for older people, A)people from some other cultures may sometimes hide their true feelings B)people from some other cultures will always express their true feelings C)Americans always show their true feelings D)Americans usually disagree with them 3.The extremely competitive nature is considered as one of American faults because
11 Most people agree that the direct, assertive American personality is a virtue, but it sometimes surprises foreigners. In many cultures, respect for older people or those in positions of authority keeps others from expressing their true feelings. But in the U. S. A., children often argue with their parents, students may disagree with their teachers, and citizens may express opposition to the actions of the government. If the soup has a fly in it or the meat is too tough to chew, the diner can complain to the waiter, if the boss makes a mistake, an employee will politely point it out. Some straight talk about the American character must include the admission that Americans have their faults. The extremely competitive nature of Americans is probably their worst fault. Of course, competition isnt always bad. In fact, it promotes excellence by encouraging individuals (and businesses) to try to do their best. But the desire to get ahead of others sometimes causes people to do things that are unkind and even dishonest. Also, Americans admire what is practical, fast, efficient, and new. Sometimes they fail to understand and appreciate practices that have greater respect for more traditional, leisurely ways of doing things. Conversely, people from other cultures may dislike the practical, hectic (紧张兴奋的) American lifestyle. Despite culture differences, most foreigners give Americans credit for their virtues. Americans are generally viewed as friendly, adaptable, energetic, and kindhearted. Most newcomers to the U. S.A. like Americans, and the feeling is usually mutual. Perhaps the greatest American virtue is a deep interest in new ideas and new people. In a nation of immigrants, the foreigner does not remain an outsider for long. 1. This passage is mainly about_. A) American virtues B) American characters C) American lifestyles D) American faults 2. In order to show the respect for older people, _. A) people from some other cultures may sometimes hide their true feelings B) people from some other cultures will always express their true feelings C) Americans always show their true feelings D) Americans usually disagree with them 3. The extremely competitive nature is considered as one of American faults because _
A)people from other cultures are afraid of competition B)only American people possess it C)it will make people forget leisure D)it may sometimes encourage people to do something bad 4.What does the author feel about American characters? A)He does not like American because they sometimes fail to understand different cultures. B)He believes that American character has more faults than virtues C)He apprec merican characters as they are generally viewed as friendly adaptable,and kind-hearted D)He admires American virtues as they are viewed as competitive,critical,and anti-trad itional. 5.It can be inferred from the passage that A)American people are more likely to be critical ofeverything than people from other cultures B)people from other cultures dislike the extremely competitive nature of American. because American people always desire to get ahead of other people C)people from other cultures dislike American lifestyle,because American culture has no respect for any traditions D)because of the American virtues,most foreigners would very much like to mmigrate into the United States Passage 10 Concern with money.and then more money.in order to buy the conveniences and luxuries of modem life,has brought great changes to the lives of most Frenchmen. More peoplear e working than ever be ore in Fr leisurely midday meal is disappearing.Shops and factories are discovering the greater efficiency ofa short lunch hour in company lunchrooms.In almost all lines of work emphasis now falls on ever-increasing output.Thus the typical Frenchman produces
12 A) people from other cultures are afraid of competition B) only American people possess it C) it will make people forget leisure D) it may sometimes encourage people to do something bad 4. What does the author feel about American characters? A) He does not like American because they sometimes fail to understand different cultures. B) He believes that American character has more faults than virtues. C) He appreciates American characters as they are generally viewed as friendly, adaptable, and kind-hearted. D) He admires American virtues as they are viewed as competitive, critical, and anti-traditional. 5. It can be inferred from the passage that _ A) American people are more likely to be critical of everything than people from other cultures B) people from other cultures dislike the extremely competitive nature of American, because American people always desire to get ahead of other people C) people from other cultures dislike American lifestyle, because American culture has no respect for any traditions D) because of the American virtues, most foreigners would very much like to immigrate into the United States Passage 10 Concern with money, and then more money, in order to buy the conveniences and luxuries of modem life, has brought great changes to the lives of most Frenchmen. More people are working than ever before in France. In the cities the traditional leisurely midday meal is disappearing. Shops and factories are discovering the greater efficiency of a short lunch hour in company lunchrooms. In almost all lines of work emphasis now falls on ever-increasing output. Thus the typical Frenchman produces