Gestures are the silent language of 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 US, people greet each other with a handshake in a formal discussion.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 each other with a hug(拥抱).
Space is important to Americans.When two people talk to each other, they usually stand about 2.5 feet away and at an angle, so they are not facing each other directl.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 in the eyes when they are talking.If you don’t do so, it means you are bored, hiding something, or are not interested.When you stare at someone, however, it is not polite.
For Americans, thumbs up means “yes”, “very good” or “well done”.Thumbs down means the opposite.To call a waiter, one might put up one hand to head level or above.To show you want the check, make a movement with your hands as you are signing a piece of paper.It is all right to point at things but not at people with the hand and index finger(食指).Americans shake their index fingers at children when they scold them and pat them on the head when they admire them.
Learning a culture’s body language is sometimes confusing(困惑的).If you don’t know what to do, the safest thing to do is to smile.
(1).When you shake hands with an American, you should ________．
A．shake his/her hand firmly
B．put your hands on his/her shoulder
C．shake his/her hand gently
D．give him/her a hug afterward
(2).In the US, people usually ________ if you stand too close to them．
A．feel friendly
B．get uncomfortable
C．keep still
D．hit you angrily
(3).If you talk with an American friend, it’s polite to ________．
A．stare at him/her
B．look at the ground
C．look at him/her in the eyes
D．look here and there
(4).What’s the main idea of this passage?
A．People greet each other by shaking hands in America．
B．Every country has their own gestures．
C．Learning a culture’s body language is very important and necessary．
D．It is all right to point at things but not at people with the hand and index finger．
手势是每一种文化的“无声的语言”。我们指手指或移动身体的另一部分来展示我们要说的事情。了解每一个国家的肢体语言很重要，否则我们可能被误解。
在美国，在正式的谈话中人们通过握手来互相打招呼。握手要坚定有力，如果握手无力，是弱者或不友好的标志。朋友可以把手放在对方的手臂或肩膀上，有些人，通常是妇女，以拥抱来打招呼。对美国人来说空间是最重要的，当两人互相交谈时，他们通常站在约2.5英尺的距离，他们不直接面对对方，当人们站得太近的时候，他们感觉不舒服，他们会退后，留出自己的空间。如果美国人不小心触摸到另一个人，他们说，“对不起”或“不好意思”。美国人在交谈时喜欢直视对方。如果你不这样做，那就意味着你是无聊的，隐藏了东西，或不感兴趣。然而，你一直紧盯着别人时，也是不礼貌的。
美国人竖起大拇指表示“是的”或者“很好”“干得不错”，大拇指朝下则是相反的意思。叫服务生的时候，举起一只手保持水平或者略高于头部。为了表示你想要支票结账，用手作出一个在文件上签写的样子。用手和食指指着东西是可以的，但不能用食指指着人(食指)。当美国人责骂他们孩子时，他们会摇动食指，当他们赞美他们孩子时，他们会拍拍他们的头。
有时学习一种肢体语言的文化是令人困惑的，如果你不知道该做什么，要做的最安全事情就是微笑。
答案：1．A;2．B;3．C;4．C;
解析：
(1)细节理解题。文章第一段介绍美国人见面时习惯于紧紧地握手。
(2)第二段介绍，当一个人站得离一位美国人太近时，这位美国人会觉得不舒服。
(3)根据“Americans like to look at the other in the eyes when they are talking．”可知。
(4)主旨归纳题。文章的第一段最后一句话点明了主题。
閱讀更多 英語教育頻道 的文章
