Several years ago, Jeremy Clarkson, presenter of the famous BBC television programme Top Gear’, discovered that one of his guests was half German and half Irish. Immediately, he said: “That’s quite a strange combination. It’s like, this must be done absolutely perfectly... tomorrow”.
This is a joke about the stereotype (刻板印象) that Germans are efficient and Irish are lazy. Many people could understandably be offended by these kinds of assertions (断言). We do not know every Irish person, so how can we then conclude that every Irish person is lazy?
I recently read on a website that Irish business people were described as being ‘generally rather casual’ and ‘more outwardly friendly than many European countries’. German business people, on the other hand, are considered to be very direct and according to the website, they do not need a personal relationship in order to do business. Once you hear advice like this, it becomes easier to understand where jokes like the one in the first paragraph come from.
So why do some people disagree with the kind of stereotypes as seen in Clarkson’s joke, but agree when it comes to generalizations (概括)? What is the difference between the two?
By definition, a stereotype is a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing. A cultural characteristic, on the other hand, is a pattern of behaviour that is typical of a certain group.
So what does this really mean? Stereotypes are simply overstated assumptions about groups of people. Imagine if a tourist visited a small town in Switzerland and saw a number of locals playing the alphorn instrument, and then claimed that Swiss people can play the alphorn. This would be a stereotype! This is an overstated image of the Swiss which is based on one tourist’s experience.
If, however, this tourist were to say that the Swiss are very punctual, this could be seen as a cultural characteristic. This is because it is a pattern of behaviour which is very typical in Switzerland: from their transport system to their business meetings.
In this way, some people argue that generalizing another culture is not just useful, but important. Politicians always have to be mindful of the cultural characteristics of different countries. By becoming aware of different cultural characteristics, they can avoid causing offence in those cultures.
However, others argue that generalizing cultures will always lead to offensive stereotypes. They argue that the best thing we can do is to stop generalizing cultures and start treating people as individuals.
All this raises important questions: Can making generalizations about groups of people be a positive thing? Or should we always avoid making broad assumptions about different groups?
1. When he said “It’s like, this must be done absolutely perfectly... tomorrow”, Jeremy Clarkson really meant ________.| A．the stereotypes of the Germans and the Irish are not so good |
| B．the combination of half German and half Irish is interesting |
| C．the characteristics of the Germans and the Irish are opposite |
| D．the Germans will do it perfectly tomorrow while the Irish won’t. |
| A．It’s typical of the Swiss to be punctual. |
| B．The Irish people are considered as lazy, direct and casual. |
| C．The Germans are thought to be efficient, friendly and direct. |
| D．The Swiss people can play the alphorn. |
| A．they don’t want to offend other people |
| B．generalizing will lead to offensive stereotypes |
| C．cultural characteristics are better than stereotypes |
| D．they should treat people as individuals |
| A．show the importance of making generalizations |
| B．show it is wrong to play jokes on stereotypes of different people |
| C．tell us the differences between stereotypes and cultural characteristics |
| D．discuss whether it is good to make generalizations about groups of people |
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【推荐1】Recently some articles claim the word “selfie” as one of the most annoying words. But I’d like to offer that maybe it isn’t not so bad.
The “selfie” is used to describe the self taken photo, often from a smart phone. Women and men alike adorn their Instagram, Facebook and Twitter accounts with these pictures, sometimes with puckered lips or large smiles. In fact, the selfie has become so widely known that over 31 million photos on Instagram are captioned with the selfie.
Let’s think about it. Someone takes about 10 seizes each time they do, and they only end up posting one or two of those. They pick the one that they feel makes them look the best. Isn’t that beautiful? In that one picture, someone has even him or herself confidence.
Self-image is important. In society today, we are so often consumed with what society tells us is perfect. But maybe, with that one selfie, we feel like we fit that bill. We feel handsome, beautiful, confident, smart, happy and content. For that moment, everything bad or terrible that has ever happened to us is erased, because that smile or that pucker is what gives us the determination to love ourselves.
I saw a spoken word poem recently and the young man said: If I ask you what you love the answers will most likely roll off your tongue. You love to read. You love to write. You love birds, music, tattoos… Your mom, your brother, your sister, your daughter, your best friend, your dog. How long do you think you could go on and on before you said “I love myself”？
That statement hit me like a ton of bricks. I’ve struggled with confidence all of my life. I still do. And in no way am I saying that taking a selfie is a gateway to that confidence. However, the selfie does deserve some credit for allowing individuals to express themselves. Pamela Rutledge agrees, stating, “There are many more photographs available now of real people than models.”
1. In the opinion of the writer, selfie ________.| A．is an annoying phenomenon online |
| B．makes a person become self-centered |
| C．is just a fashion among teenagers |
| D．gives a person a sense of confidence |
| A．being perfect is highly valued |
| B．people judge others by their appearance |
| C．confidence is based on one’s self-images |
| D．beauty almost decides everything really |
| A．the power of real love |
| B．the need to love ourselves |
| C．the kinds of love we have |
| D．the endless love we get |
| A．selfie gets models to take more photos |
| B．selfie helps more people look like models |
| C．selfie provides more photos of real people |
| D．selfie causes models to be out of work |
【推荐2】It often happens that a number of applicants (申请人) with almost the same qualifications and experience all apply for the same position. In their educational background, special skills and work experience, there is little, if anything, to choose between half a dozen candidates. How then does the employer make a choice? Usually on the basis of an interview.
There are many arguments for and against the interview as a way of selection. The main argument against it is that it results in a wholly subjective decision. As often as not, employers do not choose the best candidate. They choose the candidate who makes a good first impression on them. Some employers, of course, reply to this argument by saying that they have become so experienced in interviewing staff that they are able to make a good assessment of each candidate’s likely performance. The main argument in favor of the interview is that an employer is concerned not only with a candidate’s ability, but with his or her suitable personality for the particular work situation. Many employers, for example, will overlook occasional mistakes from their secretary if she has a pleasant personality.
It is perhaps true to say therefore, that the real purpose of an interview is not to assess the assessable aspects of each candidate but to make a guess at the things that are hard to measure, such as personality, character and social ability. Unfortunately, both for the employers and applicants for jobs, there are many people of great ability who simply do not interview well. There are also, of course, people who interview extremely well, but are later found to be very unsatisfactory employees. Candidates who interview well tend to be quietly confident, but never boastful (自夸的) direct and straightforward in their questions and answers; cheerful and friendly, but never over-familiar; and sincerely enthusiastic and optimistic. Candidates who interview badly tend to be either very shy or over-confident. They either talk too little or never stop talking. They are either over-polite or a bit rude.
1. People argue over the interview mainly because they have ________.| A．different purposes in the interview | B．different experiences in interviews |
| C．different standards of selection | D．different ways of selection |
| A．personality | B．character | C．opinion | D．ability |
| A．a link between success in interview and personality |
| B．connections between work abilities and personality |
| C．differences in interview experience |
| D．differences in personal behavior |
| A．He thinks it is a good way of selection. | B．He doesn’t quite agree with it. |
| C．He is neither for nor against it. | D．It is not clear. |
【推荐3】Sometimes very odd things show up in ordinary places. In the 1800s,a strange sight began to be reported by farmers. Then in the 1970s, this strange event began to happen more and more often. People travelled for miles to stand in the fields and take photos of something they couldn’t easily explain. What were they looking at? It was the crop circles—large and complex designs set into the middle of ordinary farm fields. No one could understand how these huge designs were made.
Crop circles are found most often in fields of wheat, corn, or rice. They are usually created overnight, although some are reported to have appeared during the day. They have been seen in more than 70 different countries. Scientists have found that the plants inside a crop circle are drier than the ones outside it. The plant stems (茎) are bent but not broken in most crop circles, and sometimes the soil in the design has more iron than the soil outside of the design. Unfortunately, these facts alone do not help scientists answer their questions about crop circles. These facts only make them more mysterious.
Some people believe crop circles are made by UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects) landing in farm fields. Others think aliens are leaving us messages in the beautiful designs. Still others believe Earth energy under the ground makes plants bend over in designs. Some people say they actually made the crop circles with special equipment. Scientists have found some crop circles that are certainly made by people, but they are usually a little different from other crop circles. So who makes crop circles and why they make them can’t be explained to this very day.
1. What does the underlined word “odd” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?| A．Big | B．Bad. |
| C．Unreal. | D．Unusual. |
| A．are made during the night |
| B．happen in the same places |
| C．are found in terrible places |
| D．have very frightening designs |
| A．Some crop circles are man-made. |
| B．UFOs help create some crop circles. |
| C．There actually are crop circles made by aliens. |
| D．Earth energy is one reason for crop circles’ appearance. |
| A．The History of Crop Circles |
| B．Different Designs of Crop Circles |
| C．Crop Circles: The Unsolved Mystery |
| D．Crop Circles: The Great Influence on Farms |
【推荐1】We know that China is the largest and fastest-growing consumer market in the world. What is less well understood are the forces that shape consumerism in the world’s most populous country. In my view, there are some social and cultural aspects at play that drive consumer spending.
Consumerism is related to freedom. To have a choice means to have consumer choice. You are what you consume. Consumption is an expression of self. It allows you to explore the world through its products, to experiment with lifestyle choices, and to do so safely and anonymously（匿名）. You might never get to France, but you can try French wine. California might be far, but you can go to Shanghai Disneyland. Indeed, the enthusiasm for choice is reflected in the enthusiasm Chinese consumers have for online shopping.
Consumerism is a statement of success. American economist Thorstein Veblen popularized the concept of “conspicuous consumption”. When consumption is no longer driven only by need, it becomes a way of making a statement that you have disposable（可自由支配的）income and you can ---at least in certain respects---enjoy life on your terms. Simple pleasures---a pair of shoes, a smartphone, designer clothing --- become statements of personal identity.
The collective experience is focused. We like participating in group events. FOMO, the Fear of Missing Out, goes beyond cultures. But I suspect this trend is stronger in China than in the West because Confucian culture does not celebrate outsiders as the West’s culture does. Social media reinforce（强化）this collective pattern so that shopping and dining are shared experiences. Opinions are crowd-sourced. And the merchants reinforce this pattern by supporting holiday sales, group buying, and other promotions.
Successful brands in China are able to handle most or all of the above considerations. The consumer must not only be delighted with your product. The journey of the consumer must also respect these socio-cultural aspects.
1. What’s mainly talked about in the passage?| A．Chinese are growing wealthier. |
| B．China’s fast-growing market economy. |
| C．Chinese socio-cultural influences on consumerism. |
| D．Chinese consumers’ preference for quality rather than quantity. |
| A．Shopping online is a new experience. |
| B．Consumption can be a reflection of freedom. |
| C．Foreign products can be purchased in China. |
| D．Shopping around the world is a favorable choice. |
| A．The ability to cover one’s real need in daily life. |
| B．Spending money in order to keep up with others. |
| C．The purchase of expensive items to display status. |
| D．Buying plenty of goods and delivering them to others. |
| A．Social media play a bigger role in their lives. |
| B．Following the trend is what people like better. |
| C．Chinese people have less contact with the strangers. |
| D．Confucian culture is less likely to appreciate outsiders. |
【推荐2】Their wealth, fame and power put their heads and shoulders above us ordinary. But according to these celebrities, true happiness lies in some of life's simpler pleasures.
David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nigel Farage all claim that their families are the key to their well-being. But others gave unexpected brief ideas about their celebrity lives. The Dutchess of York Sarah Fertguson, 55, revealed that what most keeps her spirits high was a belief in magic and fairies. She said, ''I do believe in fairies. I do believe magic and when you blow a dandelion (蒲公英) , you will see the light of the enchanted (施过魔法的) spreading their wings and disappearing on their own journeys, just like you have today when you opened your eyes. Don't let the day go by without looking for fairies and magic. That makes me happy, as every day is. ''
Meanwhile, former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney revealed that he got his pleasure through his stomach as well as his family. He said, ''I love to hear the noises in the kitchen as the meal is prepared and then my little grandson climbs on my knee and requests a bite for every bite I take. ''
Food was also key to Strictly Come Dancing《舞动奇迹》judge Len Goodman, who said eating a bacon sandwich was enough to put a smile on his face, while rocker Rod Stewart, claimed that a simple cup of tea made him uncontrollably happy.
For our most gifted sports stars, however, it seems that the key to the good life is a faithful dog. Tennis champion Andy Murray said he badly missed Rusty and Maggie May when he was playing in tournaments around the world. Former England striker Gary Lineker agreed, saying, ''Walking my dog makes me happy. '' The joy at the word ''walkies'' never decreases. Such enthusiasm for something so simple is satisfying.
1. What is the function of the first paragraph?| A．To inform us what true happiness means. |
| B．To bring in the topic to be discussed. |
| C．To explain to us where we can get true happiness. |
| D．To tell us that celebrities are different from the ordinary. |
| A．Len Goodman and Andy Murray | B．Rod Stewart and Paul McCartney |
| C．Paul McCartney and Len Goodman | D．Sarah Fertguson and Nigel Farage |
| A．judges | B．dogs |
| C．fairies | D．dandelions |
| A．The Actual Meaning of True Happiness |
| B．Simpler Ways to Obtain True Happiness |
| C．Celebrities Are Happier than the Ordinary |
| D．True Happiness Comes from Life's Simpler Pleasures |
【推荐3】It’s often said of British people that they are very aware of each other’s social rank. Britons can usually work out a fellow countryman’s background from the way they speak or dress, and may even treat them differently based on this. But although this may have been truer in the past than it is today, visitors to Britain say that they still notice it. The comic play Pygmalion (1913), by the Irishman George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950), is a famous exploration of the importance of social rank in British society.
The main story of the play concerns a working class girl, Eliza Doolittle, a flower seller from London. Two upper class gentlemen try to see if they can get Doolittle to appear like an upper class lady after sending her for elocution lessons. Professor Henry Higgins, a language expert, says it can be done; his friend Colonel Pickering says that it’s impossible. Even so, Higgins sets out to teach Eliza how to “speak properly”.
Of course, Eliza isn’t a lump of clay; she has her own will. She can see that it’s in her best interest to go along with Higgins’ plan to “improve herself”. She wants to be able to sell flowers in a shop rather than on the street. After the training, Eliza proves that a flower girl can pass herself off as a lady at a ball. She is a triumph (赢家), and Higgins has won his bet.
But what happens next? Eliza has her future to worry about. She may be able to fool the upper class into thinking she’s one of them, but she isn’t really one of them.
Shaw seems to be telling us that social rank is about more than the way someone talks-it’s about wealth and privilege. The whole experiment proves the idea that accents and classes are very superficial (肤浅的). The way one speaks and dresses are only markers of class. The class system itself, however, is something completely different.
1. What can we learn about speaking and dressing from Paragraph 1?| A．They determine Britons’ social rank. |
| B．Britons are stricter in them nowadays. |
| C．Britons no longer care about them. |
| D．They could affect others’ opinion of a person. |
| A．dress | B．manners |
| C．speech | D．dance |
| A．She is forced to give up selling flowers on the street. |
| B．She is unwilling to participate in the experiment. |
| C．She is thought of as an upper-class lady at the ball. |
| D．She is hopeful about her future. |
| A．One can enter the upper class after receiving training. |
| B．People should try their best to improve their accents. |
| C．The way people speak greatly affects their social status. |
| D．Social rank can t he judged by dressing or speaking. |
Fear is another emotion that is shown in much the same way all over the world. In Chinese and in English literature, a phrase like "he went pale and begin to tremble" suggests that the man is either very afraid or he has just got a very big shock. However, "he opened his eyes wide" is used to suggest anger in Chinese whereas in English it means surprise. In Chinese "surprise" can be described in a phrase like 'they stretched out their tongues!' Sticking out your tongue in English is an insulting gesture or expresses strong dislike.
Even in the same culture, people differ in ability to understand and express feelings. Experiments in America have shown that women are usually better than men at recognizing fear, anger, love and happiness on people's faces. Other studies show that older people usually find it easier to recognize or understand body language than younger people do.
1. According to the passage, __________.
| A．we can hardly understand what people's gestures mean |
| B．we can not often be sure what people mean when they describe their feelings in words or gestures |
| C．words can be better understood by older people |
| D．gestures can be understood by most of the people while words can not |
| A．people of different ages may have different understanding |
| B．people of different countries speak different languages |
| C．people of different sex may understand a gesture in a different way |
| D．people have different cultures |
| A．people have different ability to understand and express feelings |
| B．people have the same understanding of something |
| C．people never fail to understand each other |
| D．people are equally intelligent |
| A．words are used as frequently as gestures |
| B．words are often found difficult to understand |
| C．words and gestures are both used in expressing feelings |
| D．gestures are more efficiently used than words |
| A．Words and Feelings | B．Words, Gestures and Feelings |
| C．Gestures and Feelings | D．Culture and Understanding |
【推荐2】Just as slang words, table manners, and other common customs vary greatly from nation to nation, so do rude gestures. The last thing you want to do when traveling to a new country is to offend (冒犯) the locals. Here are some hand motions you’ll want to be careful about making in certain countries.
Iran
What might seem to Americans like a universally positive gesture is not, in fact, universal. “Unfortunately, in Iran and neighboring countries, the thumbs-up is the same as the middle finger!” explains Dana Hooshmand, an author for Discover Discomfort. In America, the middle finger is the one showing disrespect; in Iran, it’s the thumb. So, bear it in mind to avoid making this sign to Iranians.
Malaysia
As a little kid, you may have been blamed that “it’s not respectful to point with your index finger!” especially if you dared pair the gesture with laughter. This is especially true in Malaysia. As a result, employees at Disney parks are trained to avoid doing this. Instead, if they must, they use two fingers or, the common alternative is to point with your thumb (particularly the right thumb).
Thailand
In USA, patting someone’s head can be a sweet gesture, and messing someone’s hair is a playful one. But in Thailand, it can be a serious offense. The head “is considered the most sacred (神圣的) part of the body, ” she explains. So keep your hands away from others’ heads to avoid disrespecting.
Taiwan, China
According to the locals, pointing to the moon will offend the moon goddess. Her punishment for this is very specific: She’ll cut your ear of, or at the very least cut it in Van Gogh-style. So if you’re admiring a beautiful full moon in Taiwan, try your best to keep your hands by your sides.
1. What is the common reason for minding gestures in different countries?| A．Out of admiration. | B．Out of curiosity. |
| C．Out of concern. | D．Out of respect. |
| A．Touching others’ head in Thailand. |
| B．Pointing with index finger in Malaysia. |
| C．Making a thumb-up to others in USA. |
| D．Aiming one’s finger directly at the moon in Taiwan. |
| A．A travel magazine. |
| B．A novel. |
| C．A biography. |
| D．A science report. |
A
In the United States, it is not customary to telephone someone very early in the morning. If you telephone him early in the day, while he is shaving or having breakfast, the time of the call shows that the matter is very important and requires immediate attention. The same meaning is attached to telephone calls made after 11:00 p.m. If someone receives a call during sleeping hours, he assumes it’s a matter of life of death. The time chosen for the call communicates its importance.
In social life, time plays a very important part. In the U.S.A. guests tend to feel they are not highly regarded if the invitation to a dinner party is extended only three or four days before the party date. But it is not true in all countries. In other areas of the world, it may be considered foolish to make an appointment too far in advance because plans which are made for a date more than a week away tend to be forgotten. The meaning of time differs in different parts of the world. Thus, misunderstandings arise between people from cultures that treat time differently. Promptness is valued highly in American life. For example, if people are not prompt, they may be regarded as impolite or not fully responsible. In the A.S. no one would think of keeping a business associate waiting for an hour, it would be too impolite. A person who is 5 minutes late will say a few words of explanation, though perhaps he will not complete the sentence.
1. If one makes a telephone call at dawn, this would mean ____.
| A．the matter is of value | B．the matter is somewhat important |
| C．the matter requires attention | D．it is a matter of life or death |
| A．everyday life | B．school life | C．communications | D．private life |
| A．it is not appropriate to send your invitation cards only three or four days before a dinner party date in U. S. A. |
| B．it is impolite to be prompt |
| C．it is best for one to make telephone calls at night because it costs much less |
| D．if one is less than 5 minutes late, he has to make a short apology |
| A．Time and tide wait for no man | B．The importance of time |
| C．The importance of an announcement | D．The voices of time |
