Time talks. It speaks more plainly (明白地) than words. Time communicates in many w

Timetalks. It speaks more plainly (明白地) than words. Timecommunicates in many ways. Consider the different parts of the day, forexample. The time of the day when something is done can give a special meaningto the event. Factory managers in the United States fully realize theimportance of an announcement made during the middle of the morning orafternoon that takes everyone away from his work.

Inthe United States, it is not customary to telephone someone very early in themorning. If you telephone him early in the day, while he is shaving or havingbreakfast, the time of the call shows that the matter is very urgent andrequires immediate attention. It is the same with telephone calls made after11: 00 p. m. If someone receives a call during sleeping hour, he probablythinks it is a matter of life or death. The time chosen for the callcommunicates its importance.

Themeanings of time differ in different parts of the world. Thus, misunderstandingarises (出现)between people from culturesthat treat time differently. In the United States, people tend to think of timeas something fixed in nature, something from which one can not escape. As arule, Americans think of time as a road into the future, along which oneprogresses. The road has many sections, which are to be kept separate...“onething at a time”. Thus, an American may feel angry when he has made anappointment with someone and then finds a lot of other things happening at thesame time.

Americanslook ahead and are concerned (与……有关) almost entirely with the future. TheAmerican idea of the future is limited, however. It is the foreseeable futureand not the future of involving(牵连) many centuries.

Sincetime has much different meanings in different cultures, communication is oftendifficult. We will understand each other a little if we can keep this fact inmind.

1.According to the passage an announcement made during the day in a factory mustbe very important because________.

A. it interrupts the work of allemployees

B. it is made by the manager

C. it makes everyone lose his job

D. it communicates in many ways

2.In the United States, a phone call made after 11: 00 p. m. isconsidered________, in the view of the writer.

    A. as important as one madein the morning.

    B. Impolite since itdisturbs the receiver’s sleep

    C. To be a threat (恐吓) to the receiver’s life

    D. Even more urgent thanone made early in the morning

3.The expression “the foreseeable future” could be most suitably replacedby________.

    A. the future that will notbe far away

    B. the future that onemakes progress

    C. the future toward whichone makes progress

    D. the future whichinvolves centuries

4.The writer concludes that people of different countries will understand eachother better if________.

    A. they know how tocommunicate with each other

    B. they are concerned withthe future

    C. they learn the way timecommunicates

    D. they keep in mind thatdifferent cultures treat time differently

试题答案

答案：ADAD