三、阅读理解

Sometimes body language adds to what people say even when they don’t talk. Gestures are the “silent language” for every culture. We point a finger or move another part of the body to show what we want to say. It is important to know the body language of every country or we may be misunderstood.

In the United States, people greet each other with a handshake in a formal introduction. The handshake must be firm. If the handshake is weak, it is a sign of weakness or unfriendliness. Friends may place a hand on the other’s arm or shoulder. Some people, usually women, greet a friend with a hug.

Space is important to Americans. When two people talk to each other, they usually stand about two and a half feet away and at an angle(一定角度), so they are not facing each other directly. Americans get uncomfortable when a person stands too close. They will move back to have their space. If Americans touch another person by accident, they say “pardon me” or “Excuse me”.

Americans like to look at the other person in the eyes when they are talking. If you don’t do so, it means you are bored, hiding something, or are not interested. But when you stare at someone, it’s not polite.

For Americans, thumbs-up means yes, very good or well done. Thumbs-down means opposite. To call a waiter, raise one hand to head level or above. To show you want the check, make a movement with your hand as if you are signing a piece of paper. It is all right to point at things but not at people with the index(食指). Americans shake their index finger at children when they scold(责备) them and pat them on the head when they admire them.

Learning a culture’s body language is sometimes confusing(令人困惑的). If you don’t know what to do, the safest thing to do is to smile.

1. From the first paragraph we can learn that____.

A. gestures don’t mean anything while talking.

B. gestures can help us express ourselves

C. we can learn a language well without body language

D. Only American people can use gestures

2. If you are introduced to a stranger from the USA, you should____.

A. greet him with a hug B. place a hand on his shoulder

C. shake his hand firmly D. shake his hand weakly

3. In the United States, people often____.

A. show their friendship by glancing at each other

B. show their friendship by touching each other

C. say “Pardon me” to each other when they are talking

D. get uncomfortable when you sit close to them

4. When your friend gives you thumbs-up, he, in fact, ____

A. shows his rudeness to you B. shows his anger to you

C. expresses his satisfaction with you D. expresses his worries about you

5. If you talk with an American friend, it’s polite to____.

A. look up and down at your friend B. look at the other person in the eyes

C. hide your opinion D. look at your watch now and then

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