1 . Understanding cultural body language in other countries is very helpful in communication, especially when we can't speak a foreign language.Here are some gestures and their meanings in different cultures.I hope these will help you when you try to interact with foreigners.
Head movements
In some parts of India, people shake their heads to show they are actively listening or agree with you.In western countries,people nod to confirm. However,in Bulgaria and Greece, nodding actually means the contrary.
Eye contacts
Some countries,such as Japan and Finland, consider constant eye contact awkward.In Caribbean cultures,children and teenagers are taught not to look at adults in the eyes when they are being corrected. Strong eye contact is common among people of the same sex in Spain and
Arabic countries.Hands
The "thumbs up" sign is used in many cultures to mean “OK”。 In France,it can mean No.1, but it has a very rude sexual meaning in Islamic countries,Cerdena and Greece. Interestingly,the＂OK"sign means “zero”or "nothing" in France,while some other European countries such as Greece,Italy,Brazil,and Russia consider it as impolite.
Greetings and goodbyes
Shaking hands is a normal and formal way to greet or say goodbye in western countries. But in Romania, only men usually shake hands.And they do it every time they meet, not just the first! In England, however,it's unusual to shake hands with someone you are introduced to in an informal setting.
Legs
Sitting with crossed legs is common in North America and European countries, but it is considered disrespectful in Asia and the Middle East where a straight and balanced posture is the norm(规范）。Body language varies from country to country. When you communicate with foreigners, one safe way is to understand, respect and follow the culture.
1. Why does the author write the first paragraph?| A．To tell us the writing purpose. |
| B．To show ways of communicating. |
| C．To stress the importance of language. |
| D．To compare the cultural differences. |
| A．Constant eye contact is advisable in Japanese. |
| B．Sitting with crossed legs is popular in the Middle East. |
| C．Shaking hands only happens between men in Romania. |
| D．The "thumbs up" sign can be considered polite in Cerdena. |
| A．Practice makes perfect. |
| B．Actions speak louder than words. |
| C．Seeing is believing. |
| D．When in Rome, do as the Romans do. |
| A．To London. | B．To Toronto. | C．To his hometown. |
Foreign tourists are often confused(困惑的)in Japan because most streets there don’t have names. In Japan, people use landmarks(地标)in their directions instead of street names. For example, the Japanese will say to travelers, “ Go straight down to the corner. Turn left at the big hotel and go past a fruit market. The post office is across from the bus stop.”
In the countryside of the American Midwest, there are not usually many landmarks. There are no mountains, so the land is very flat. In many places there are no towns or buildings within miles. Instead of landmarks, people will tell you directions and distances. In Kansas or Iowa, for example, people will say, “ Go north two miles. Turn east, and then go another mile.
People in Los Angeles, California, have no idea of distance on the map. They measure distance in time, not miles. “ How far away is the post office?” you ask. “ Oh,” they answer, “ it’s about five minutes from here.” You say, “ Yes, but how many miles is it?” They don’t know.
It’s true that a person doesn't know the answer to your question sometimes. What happens in such a situation? A New Yorker might say, “ Sorry, I have no idea.” But in Yucatan, Mexico, no one answers “ I don't know”. People in Yucatan believe that “I don't know” is impolite. They usually give an answer, often a wrong one. A tourist can get very, very lost in Yucatan!
1. When a tourist asks the Japanese the way to a certain place, they usually _______ .
| A．describe the place carefully |
| B．show him a map of the place |
| C．tell him the names of the streets |
| D．refer to recognizable buildings and places |
| A．New York. | B．Los Angles. |
| C．Kansas C. Iowa | |
| A．in order to save time | B．as a test |
| C．so as to be polite | D．for fun |
| A．It’s important for travelers to understand cultural differences. |
| B．It’s useful for travelers to know how to ask the way properly. |
| C．People have similar understanding of politeness. |
| D．New Yorkers are generally friendly to visitors. |
