1 . 
We always enjoy pointing out some unusual holidays to add to your calendar. Now jot these down, learn something new and have fun!
Random Acts of Kindness Day （February 17）
If you have encountered a homeless person and given money, that's a random act of kindness. The idea of this day is to get lots of people doing something kind for someone they don't know with no expectation of getting anything in return. This concept is trickier with social distancing but even a big smile and a “hi!’’ from across the street qualifies.
I Forgot Day （July 2）
Did you forget to call Grandma on her birthday or return that soccer ball you borrowed from a friend three months ago? Today is a good day to clean the slate. Make a list of things you meant to do but forgot. Work through the list, and don't get discouraged if you don't accomplish everything in one day. Just remember to keep the list in a place where you'll see it. Otherwise, you know what will happen.
DOGust First （August 1）
If your family is one of the many that adopted dogs from animal shelters last year, you may not know, for example, Luna or Cooper's actual birthday. The North Shore Animal League thought of that problem in 2008 and picked today as the birthday of all shelter dogs. Give your pup extra love today, and consider what you can do to help other sheller dogs.
World Vegetarian Day （October 1）
It’s not hard to go without meat for one day, but how about one month? The North American Vegetarian Society asks people to help reduce greenhouse gases by pledging to cat no meat, fish or fowl （basically chicken or turkey） in October. The pledge is tricky for kids to make on their own because Mom and Dad are usually in charge of preparing meals. Ask them if you can participate or if the whole family could try it. You will probably be surprised about how many tasty meals are meatless.
1. Which can be described as a random act of kindness?| A．John accepted a new job for a better salary. |
| B．Mr. Robert told a story in the lecture today. |
| C．The Smiths drove their children to school. |
| D．Sally said “hello” to a stranger in the lift. |
| A．You may forget your to-do list. | B．You may finish all the tasks earlier. |
| C．You may miss the chance to celebrate. | D．You may make up with your friends. |
| A．February 17. | B．July 2. | C．August 1. | D．October l. |
2 . Psychologists tell us that there are four basic stages that human beings pass through when they enter and live in a new culture. This process, which helps us to deal with culture shock, is the way our brain and our personality react to the strange new things we meet when we move from one culture to another. If our culture involves bowing when we greet someone, we may feel very uncomfortable in a culture that does not involve bowing.
Culture shock begins with the “honeymoon stage”. This is the period of time when we first arrive in a new culture where everything is strange and exciting. We may be suffering from “jet lag” but we are thrilled to be in the new environment, seeing new sights, hearing new sounds and eating new kinds of food.
Unfortunately, the second stage of culture shock can be more difficult. After we have settled down into our new life, working or studying, buying groceries, doing laundry, or living with a home-stay family, we can become very tired and begin to miss our homeland. All the little problems in life seem to be much bigger when you face them in a foreign culture. This period of cultural adjustment can be very difficult and lead to the new arrival rejecting or pulling away from the new culture.
The third stage of culture shock happens when you begin to realize that things are not so bad in the host culture. Your sense of humor usually becomes stronger and you realize that you are becoming stronger by learning to take care of yourself in the new place. Things are still difficult, but you are now a survivor!
The fourth stage can be called “at ease at last”. Now you feel quite comfortable in your new surroundings. You can deal with most problems that occur. You may still have problems with the language, but you know you are strong enough to deal with them. If you meet someone from your country who has just arrived, you can be the expert on life in the new culture and help them to deal with their culture shock.
1. The example in Paragraph 1 is intended to________.| A．help explain culture shock |
| B．compare different cultures |
| C．show how to live in a new culture |
| D．draw attention to cultural differences |
| A．Overcoming unusual problems. |
| B．Getting used to the new daily life. |
| C．Learning more about the new culture. |
| D．Finding the right place to settle down. |
| A．You have survived without any difficulty. |
| B．You have fit in with your new life completely. |
| C．You hold a positive attitude and begin to adjust. |
| D．You come to realize how difficult culture shock is. |
| A．Tense but positive. | B．Afraid but comfortable. |
| C．Negative and stressed. | D．Relaxed and confident. |
3 . The Polish take great pride in their culture.Our culture has many different customs and traditions.I will discuss three of these traditions and customs.
The Polish will say “Dziekuje” (“thank you”) only after receiving their change.What I mean by this is that when you are in Poland，you should wait to say “thank you” until after you have been given your change back.If you do not，you are telling cashiers (收银员) that they can “keep the change”.Often，people visiting Poland will feel that things are very expensive，until they learn that they are giving the store clerk permission to keep the money that would have been given back.
Polish people break “bread” with their families during their Christmas Eve meal.The Christmas Eve celebration starts with the breaking of the Oplatek，which is a thin piece of “bread”．In my family，the eldest in the family (my grandfather) takes the big Oplatek and breaks it into large pieces that he then hands down to each of his four children (my aunt，uncles，and father)．Then，these family members break their pieces into smaller sizes and pass them out to their own children.Once the last piece is passed down to the youngest，we say a prayer (祷告) and eat the piece of thin bread.
Polish people celebrate “Imieniny”,or Name’s Day.This day is more important than one’s birthday.They often name their children after a saint (圣徒) whose day is closest to the date that they were born on.Then their saint’s day that they were named after becomes their “new” birthday.On Name’s Day，families and friends gather together and enjoy a variety of food，drinking，and dancing.
As you can see，Poland has a few very unique (独特的) traditions and customs.I honor my Polish culture and will pass it on to my own children because it is important to know one’s own culture.
1. In Poland，if you say “Dziekuje” before getting your change，___________ .| A．the store clerk will keep it |
| B．the product will be changed |
| C．the store clerk will check the money |
| D．the product will be returned to the store |
| A．his grandfather | B．his uncle |
| C．his aunt | D．his father |
| A．a day to visit families and friends |
| B．more important than Name’s Day |
| C．near to his or her birthday |
| D．a day to honor a saint |
| A．He feels proud of them. |
| B．He shows no interest in them. |
| C．He is worried about them. |
| D．He considers them very funny. |
4 . It goes without saying that many Western wedding customs are completely different from those of Asian cultures. Some are so rooted in history that many Westerners have no idea whether they even exist.
Traditionally,June has been the most popular month for people to get married. One reason is that June 1 was the date of an ancient Roman festival celebrating the marriage of the god Jupiter and his wife Juno.Another reason will likely. astonish you. Centuries ago, taking a bath was not as common as it is today. Some people took a bath only once a year, typically in May. Since June was a time most wedding guests would not be too smelly, that month was preferred.
Another wedding custom is for the bride to "wear something old, something new,something borrowed,and something blue."Having something old is said to protect the newlyweds' future baby, while the new item shows optimism for the future. Meanwhile, something borrowed is meant to bring good luck, and something blue is a promise of being faithful. Lesser known is the fact that the bride is also supposed to have a sixpence in her shoe for prosperity(兴旺)。 Interestingly,in Sweden, brides are given two coins before getting married-one gold from her mother and the other silver from her father-also to put in her shoes. These fascinating customs show just how important certain wedding traditions are in Western cultures.
The concept of the “white wedding”， in which the bride wears a white wedding dress, is a familiar one. It is thought, mistakenly though, that this is a tradition that developed in ancient times and originates from the belief of white being a symbol of purity. Actually, the custom of brides wearing this color dates back less than 200 years and is attributed to the wedding of Queen Victoria. The queen's choice of white for her wedding was unusual for the time as other colors, especially red, were much more common.
After news of Victoria's highly publicized wedding to Prince Albert spread, not just around the United Kingdom,but to other nations including the United States,women began following in her footsteps and wearing white dresses at their wedding ceremonies. With white being the choice of a powerful royal figure like Queen Victoria, the color became associated with wealth. nobility. and the fashion-conscious.
1. Based on the text, June has been a popular month to get married probably because| A．Queen Victoria married Prince Albert in June of 1840 |
| B．June is the month in which Romans recall the soul of gods |
| C．some people didn't take a bath before May in ancient times |
| D．it is considered to be the luckiest time of year to get married |
| A．Wearing something old. |
| B．Wearing something blue. |
| C．Wearing a shoe with a coin in it. |
| D．Wearing something borrowed. |
| A．The white wedding dress is a symbol of purity and nobility. |
| B．Red rather than white was once popular in English weddings. |
| C．Queen Victoria wore white in the hope of breaking old customs. |
| D．The custom of the white wedding started thousands of years ago. |
| A．Routines of marriage ceremonies. |
| B．Highlights of traditional weddings. |
| C．Reflecting on old traditions. |
| D．Exploring western wedding customs. |
5 . The meaning of silence varies among cultural groups. Silences may be thoughtful, or they may be empty when a person has nothing to say. A silence in conversation may also show stubbornness, uneasiness, or worry. Silence may be viewed by some cultural groups as extremely uncomfortable; therefore attempts may be made to fill every gap（间隙）with conversation. Persons in other cultural groups value silence and view it as necessary for understanding a person's needs.
Many Native Americans value silence and feel it is a basic part of communicating among people, just as some traditional Chinese and Thai persons do. Therefore, when a person one of these cultures is speaking and suddenly stops, what may be implied（暗示）is that the person wants the listener to consider what has been said before continuing. In these cultures, silence is a call for reflection.
Other cultures may use silence in other ways, particularly when dealing with different conflicts among people or in relationships of people with different amounts of power. For example, Russian, French, and Spanish persons may use silence to show agreement between parties about the topic under discussion. However, Mexicans may use silence when instructions are given by a person in authority rather than be rude to that person by arguing with him or her. In still another use, persons in Asian cultures may view silence as a sign of respect, particularly to an elder or a person in authority.
Nurses and other care-givers need to be aware of the possible meanings of silence when they come across the personal anxiety their patients may be experiencing. Nurses should recognize their own personal and cultural construction of silence so that a patient's silence is not interrupted too early or allowed to go on unnecessarily. A nurse who understands the healing（治愈）value of silence can use this understanding to assist in the care of patients from their own and from other cultures.
1. What does the author say about silence in conversations?| A．It is content-based. | B．It develops friendship. |
| C．It implies anger. | D．It is culture-specific. |
| A．The French. | B．The Mexicans. |
| C．The Russians. | D．The Chinese. |
| A．Make use of its healing effects. |
| B．Let it continue as the patient pleases. |
| C．Break it while treating patients. |
| D．Evaluate（评估）its harm to patients. |
| A．Sound and Silence. |
| B．What It Means to Be Silent. |
| C．Silence to Native Americans. |
| D．Speech Is Silver, Silence Is Gold. |
6 . Chinese culture values family bonds （纽带）very much. Family members don't just gather during the holidays. In fact, they often live under one roof all year round.
In most East Asian cultures, extended families（大家庭）are common.
In many Western countries, most families are nuclear families （小家庭）.These are made up of children and their parents.
Besides, the duties parents have toward their children can also be different.
In most Western countries, however, kids usually move out of the house after they turn eighteen.
While the East cares more about close family bonds, the West values privacy （隐私）and independence.
| A．But in the end, east or west——home is best. |
| B．But different cultures have different family values. |
| C．Nuclear families are the most common type in China. |
| D．Both Easterners and Westerners value quality family time. |
| E．These families have three or even four generations living together. |
| F．In China, many parents look after their children all the way into adulthood. |
| G．Many young people need to take out loans and work part - time jobs to pay for college. |
7 . I travel a lot, and I find out different “styles” of directions every time I ask “How can I get to the post office？”
Foreign tourists are often confused 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 away 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 Angeles. | C．Kansas. | D．Iowa. |
| A．To show cultural differences in showing directions. |
| B．To show how to ask the way properly in different countries. |
| C．To explain why people have similar understanding of direction. |
| D．To share the experience of traveling around the world. |
8 . International tourism is becoming interestingly popular, and large numbers of people from all over the world come to visit famous places such as the Great Wall of China and the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican.
As for the damage, there are many different causes. For example, the paintings in the Sistine Chapel are being damaged by people breathing onto them when they visit.
In short, it is necessary to control tourism at famous places.
| A．For example, special paths can be built. |
| B．What can we do to deal with these problems? |
| C．The Great Wall was built over 2,000 years ago. |
| D．However, these visitors have caused many problems. |
| E．Traveling is the best way for us to get to know the world. |
| F．If we do not do this, these places will disappear from our planet. |
| G．Their breath contains very small drops of water that are present in the air. |
9 . The other day, my friend Jane was invited to a 40th birthday party. The time printed on the invitation was 7:30pm. Jane went off with her husband, expecting a merry evening of wine, food, and song.
By 9:45, everybody was having great fun, but no food had appeared. Jane and David were restless. Other guests began whispering that they, too, were starving. But no one wanted to leave, just in case some food was about to appear. By 11:00, there was still no food, and everyone was completely off their heads. Jane and David left hungry and angry.
Their experience suggests that the words in the printed invitations need to be made clearer. Everyone reads and understands the invitations differently. Most of us would agree that 6:30 -8:30pm means drinks only, go out to dinner afterwards; 8:00pm or 8:30pm means possible dinner, but 9:30pm and any time thereafter means no food, eat beforehand, roll up late.
But this is not always the case. If asked to a students' party at 6:30pm, it is normal for guests not to appear before midnight, if at all, and no one cares. Being the first to arrive - looking eager - is social death. When my mother is asked to a party for 6:30, she likes to be there, if not on time, then no later than seven. My age group (late thirties) falls somewhere between the two, but because we still think we’re young, we're probably closer to student-time than grown-up time.
The accepted custom at present is confusing, sometimes annoying, and it often means you may go home hungry, but it does lend every party that precious element (成分) of surprise.
1. The underlined words “off their heads” probably mean_________________.| A．tired | B．crazy | C．curious | D．hopeless |
| A．party-goers usually get hungry at parties |
| B．party invitations can be confusing |
| C．people should ask for food at parties |
| D．birthday parties for middle-aged people are dull |
| A．are likely to arrive late for a party | B．care little about the party time |
| C．haven't really grown up yet | D．like surprises at parties |
10 . Cultural misunderstanding happens when you do something that is totally fine to do in your culture but it is offensive to the other.
Embracing
Embracing is one of the ways to greet in most parts of the world but not in all parts of the world.
You must know in many cultures especially in Muslims, sole of feet are directed very carefully. If you are pointing your feet soles to someone, it is like disrespecting them, or even an offense to an Arab.
No shoes
There are many places in the world where you must take your shoes off before entering. Masjids and temples are the common example for this. However, in some cultures you are not even allowed to enter a private house with your shoes on. In the south pacific or some parts of east Asia, you must remember to remove your shoes before entering a house as a sign of respect and cleanliness.
| A．Mind your feet. |
| B．Watch your step. |
| C．It can happen both ways. |
| D．In Japanese culture this thing is most common. |
| E．It is always better to research possible misunderstandings to avoid troubles. |
| F．There are some countries where trying to embrace might get you embarrassed. |
| G．It is always advised to mind your body language, especially when you are in a foreign country. |
