Traveling to all countries of the world gets easier and easier, but how well do we know and u__1__ each other? Here is a simple test. Imagine you will hold a m__2__ at four o’clock, what time should you expect your f__3__ business friends to come? If they are Germans, they will arrive on time. If they are American, they’ll probably be fifteen minutes e__4__. If they are British, they’ll be fifteen minutes late.
The British seemed to think since the English l__5__ was widely used in the world, what they did was certain to be widely understood. Very soon they found they were completely w__6__. For example, the British are happy to have a business lunch and discuss business matters with a drink d__7__ the meal; the Japanese prefer not to work while eating. Lunch is a t__8__ for them to relax and get to know each other, and they don’t drink at lunch. The Germans like to talk about business b__9__ dinner; the French like to eat f__10__ and talk afterwards. They have to be well fed and watered before they discuss anything.
这是一道首字母填空的阅读题。学习者要根据语境猜词义,再根据自己的词汇知识选择正确的单词。做这种题目,要充分把握语境,合理推测;选词准确,注意词形变化。
参考答案:
(1) understand (2) meeting (3) five (4) earlier (5) language
(6 ) wrong ( 7 )during (8)time (9) before (10)forwards参考译文:
Traveling to all countries of the worldgets easier and easier, but how well do we know and __understand__ each other? Here is asimple test. Imagine you will hold a __meeting__ at four o’clock, what timeshould you expect your __five__ business friends to come? If they areGermans, they will arrive on time. If they are American, they’ll probably befifteen minutes __earlier__. If they are British, they’ll be fifteen minuteslate.
The British seemed to think since theEnglish __ language__ was widely used in the world, what they did wascertain to be widely understood. Very soon they found they were completely __wrong__. For example, theBritish are happy to have a business lunch and discuss business matters with adrink __during__ the meal; the Japanese prefer not to work whileeating. Lunch is a __ time__ for them to relax and get to know eachother, and they don’t drink at lunch. The Germans like to talk about business __before__ dinner; theFrench like to eat __forwards__ and talk afterwards. They have to bewell fed and watered before they discuss anything.
翻译:周游世界各国如今越来越容易了,但我们如何相互了解呢?这里有个简单的测试。假设你在四点要召开会议,你期待你的四个生意伙伴什么时间到呢?如果他们时德国人,他们会准时到。如果他们是美国人,他们很可能提前十五分钟。如果他们是英国人,他们会迟到十五分钟。
英语欧似乎认为英语既然在世界上广泛使用,他们的行为就应该被广泛理解。可是很快,他们就会发现自己是完全搞错了。比如,英国很喜欢安排商务餐,喜欢在饭桌上谈生意,而日本人则情愿吃饭时不谈公事。用餐对他们而言就是放松和相互了解,况且他们在午餐时是不饮酒的。德国人爱在餐前谈乱生意,而法国人则是先吃饭,吃完再谈事。他们总是要先吃好喝好,才开始谈生意。