1 . Imagine two applicants are in a job interview: one expresses a great passion for the work, while the other points to family encouragement to pursue that field. Which applicant has a better chance of succeeding? Conventional wisdom suggests it would be the one who has a strong personal passion.
Passion is not a universally powerful basis of achievement, but the culture a person grew up in matters a lot. That means universities and companies that frequently rely on passion in candidates are pretermitting talented students and employees.
It seems that passion is a much stronger predictor of achievement in certain societies than others. “This leads to a blind spot among interviewers and is unfair to people from diverse backgrounds,” said Xingyu Li, the lead author of a new study. As a person coming from a collectivist (集体主义的) society, he knows exactly how people feel when they are rejected just because they are seemingly not as passionate as others. This research is novel for its using big data to compare a wider range of culturally diverse societies.
The researchers collected the data including scores from 1.2 million high school students across 59 countries. They found those who felt passionate about science, reading, or other subjects were more likely to be given better scores. This is quite true in individualist societies such as the United States and Australia, compared with collectivist countries such as China, Thailand, and Colombia, where the students felt that having family support for their interest was important.
Individualist countries regard the self as the source of motivation. For example, in the United States, doing well because of what others expect might seem to be evidence of a lack of potential. In collectivist societies, the self is inter-dependent, part of a web of relations, roles, and responsibilities. For instance, in the movie The Grandmaster, the legendary martial arts teacher Ip Man never said that he had a personal passion for kung fu. Rather, his drive to attain mastery came from the desire to live up to what his belt symbolized to his teacher and society.
The findings open up the possibility of designing educational interventions that don’t rely only on the western idea of cultivating (培育) passion. That helps better unlock the potential of our students and workforce.
1. Who is more likely to succeed in a job interview according to most employers?A.Those who have a web of relations. | B.Those who are familiar with the company. |
C.Those who gain much family encouragement. | D.Those who have great enthusiasm for the position. |
A.Neglecting. | B.Harvesting. | C.Exploring. | D.Defending. |
A.To clarify the link between students’ passion and academic performance. |
B.To encourage people to learn the cultures of different countries. |
C.To win people from different cultural contexts more chances of admission |
D.To show the importance of big data in culture-related studies at particular. |
A.An American. | B.A Colombian. | C.An Australian. | D.A Canadian. |
A.The model of motivation varies from culture to culture. |
B.The negative effects of societal expectations on individuals. |
C.The role of self-realization matters in a person’s success and well-being. |
D.The typical personality types in individualist countries and collectivist ones. |
2 . If a business wants to sell its products internationally, it had better do some market research first. This is a lesson that some large American corporations have learned the hard way.
What’s in the name?
Sometimes the problem is the name. When General Motors introduced its Chevy Nova into Latin America, it overlooked the fact that Nova in Spanish means “It doesn’t go”. Sure enough the Chevy Nova never went anywhere in Latin America.
Translation problems
Sometimes it is the slogan that doesn’t work. No company knows this better than Pepsi-Cola with its “Come alive with Pepsi!” campaign. The campaign was so successful in the United States that Pepsi translated its slogan literally for its international campaign. As it turned out, the translations weren’t quite right. Pepsi was begging Germans to “Come out of the grave (坟墓)” and telling the Chinese that “Pepsi brings your ancestors back from the grave.”
A picture’s worth a thousand words
Other times, the problem involves packaging. A picture of a smiling baby has helped sell countless jars of Gerber baby food. When Gerber started selling baby food in Africa, they used the same packaging as in the US, with the smiling baby on the label. Later they learned that in African countries, the picture on the jar shows what the jar has in it for many people there can’t read.
Twist of fate
Even the culture and religious factors and pure coincidence can be involved. Thorn McAn shoes have a Thorn McAn “signature” inside. To people in Bangladesh, which is a Muslim country, this signature looked like Arabic script for the word Allah. In that country feet are considered unclean and Muslims felt the company was offending God’s name by having people walk on it.
1. From the text we learned that _________.A.Chevy Nova was a hit in Latin America |
B.General Motors did the best market research of all companies |
C.Pepsi still sold well in China owing to the translation problems |
D.the “Come alive with Pepsi” campaign worked well in the US |
A.The picture on the jar | B.A translation problem |
C.Cultural factor | D.Religious factor |
A.They are not designed attractively |
B.Their advertisements are not persuasive |
C.A signature looking like the word Allah was in the shoes |
D.Problem for Thorn McAn was the company’s name |
A.Lessons from some large corporations. | B.How to make use of advertisements |
C.The importance of market research | D.The importance of packaging |
A.product advertisers | B.market researchers |
C.managers of Sales Department | D.businesses to promote products abroad |
3 . This year some twenty-three hundred teenagers (young people aged from 13 to 19) from all over the world will spend about ten months in US homes. They will attend US schools, meet US teenagers, and form impressions of the real America. At the same time, about thirteen hundred American teenagers will go to other countries to learn new language and gain a new understanding of the rest of the world.
Here is a two-way student exchange in action. Fred, nineteen, spent last year in Germany with George’s family. In turn, George’s son Mike spent a year in Fred’s home in America.
Fred, a lively young man, knew little German when he arrived, but after two months’ study, the language began to come to him. Schools were completely different from what he had expected—much harder. Students rose respectfully when the teacher entered the room. They took fourteen subjects instead of the six that are usual in the United States. There were almost no outside activities.
Family life, too, was different. The father’s word was law, and all activities were around the family rather than the individual. Fred found the food too simple at first. Also, he missed having a car.
“Back home, you pick up some friends in a car and go out and have a good time. In Germany, you walk, but you soon learn to like it.”
At the same time, In America, Mike, a friendly German boy, was also forming his idea. “I suppose I should criticize American schools,” he says, “It is far too easy by our level. But I have to say that I like it very much. In Germany we do nothing but study. Here we take part in many outside activities. I think that maybe your schools are better in training for citizens. There ought to be some middle ground between the two countries”.
1. The world exchange programme is mainly to ______.A.help teenagers in other countries know the real America |
B.send students in America to travel in Germany |
C.let students learn something about other countries |
D.have teenagers learn new languages |
A.American food tastes better than German food |
B.German schools were harder than American schools |
C.Americans and Germans were both friendly |
D.There were more cars on the streets in America |
A.there is some middle ground between the two teaching buildings |
B.there are a lot of after-school activities |
C.students usually take fourteen subjects in all |
D.students walk outside to enjoy themselves |
A.The life in Germany schools was easier for students |
B.German schools had a lot of outside activities |
C.American schools were not as good as German schools |
D.The life in American schools was easier for students |
A.a better education should include something good from both America and Germany |
B.German schools trained students to be better citizens |
C.American schools were as good as German schools |
D.the easy life in the American schools was more helpful to students |
4 . Lawrence Ganti from the US has lived in Switzerland, Japan, and India. When his work with Merck, a company that develops treatments for many of the world’s most challenging diseases, first took him to Japan, he was struck by how comfortable his Japanese co-workers were with silence. During meetings in the US, people are usually uneasy with quiet and fill a quiet period with talk. Not so in Japan. “You don’t break the silence unless you have something important to say,” says Ganti. Surprisingly, when he next lived in India, he found conversations were typically lively, loud and full of interruptions (打岔). “Silence is never expected,” he says.
The Japanese value the building of trust and relationships, Ganti adds. In Japan, nothing might be accomplished (完成) in the first meeting, and no real progress may be made until the parties sit down for a lunch or dinner. Ganti remembers greeting foreigners who flew to Japan with the intention of holding their meeting and flying out that same day. “It’s just a half-hour discussion,” they told him. He replied, “That half-hour discussion won’t go anywhere.”
Cyrus Sabouri from New Jersey, the US, had similar experiences in the Middle East. He lives in Bahrain, where he works for American Express Middle East. “Meetings can require personal introductions, which often consume more of the meeting than the things to be discussed,” he says. He was frustrated by this custom when he first moved to the island nation. “You eventually learn that it is hard to draw the line between business and personal life,” he says. “Warm and friendly relationships can be the difference between a deal or no deal with the Bahraini.”
Ganti’s current job with Merck takes him throughout Latin America. While each country presents its own cultural puzzle to figure out, Ganti has found that cultures have a lot in common. In many parts of Latin America, for instance, giving straight advice or criticism in conversation isn’t typical. To make a point, he did just that in meetings, and attendees were often shocked. “I’m usually sent to places where change is needed,” Ganti says. “You have to make changes.”
1. How do Indians differ from the Japanese according to Ganti?A.They easily accept silence. | B.They usually talk excitedly. |
C.They dislike being interrupted. | D.They seem nervous in business meetings. |
A.They would be invited to dinner. | B.They could leave Japan the next day. |
C.They could get their tasks done soon. | D.They would have a very interesting meeting. |
A.Work is more important than life there. | B.Personal introductions are often ignored. |
C.There are a lot of long business meetings. | D.Bahrainis value relationships very highly. |
A.They are generally willing to accept new ideas. |
B.They like to solve puzzles in their spare time. |
C.They seldom express their views directly. |
D.They hardly ever make comments on others. |
A.talk about some cultural differences |
B.introduce his working experience in Latin America |
C.give some facts about Japanese etiquette |
D.discuss American’s impression on Middle East |
5 . I was born in the Netherlands and lived there until I was 30 years old. In the Dutch context, I was emotionally intelligent, and I
When at the University of Michigan, I joined a discussion on
I lived in North Carolina and had new friends coming over to dinner. Conversations were lively that evening. When my guests left, they
The Netherlands and the US do not have massively different
I now think the answer is that we were interacting with different
A.never | B.rarely | C.usually | D.sometimes |
A.manners | B.emotions | C.literature | D.intelligence |
A.standards | B.procedures | C.policies | D.requirements |
A.anger | B.delight | C.disappointment | D.embarrassment |
A.asked | B.praised | C.thanked | D.blamed |
A.melted | B.ached | C.soared | D.sank |
A.distant | B.insincere | C.harmonious | D.meaningful |
A.origins | B.cultures | C.environment | D.languages |
A.complicated | B.fluent | C.interesting | D.regular |
A.annoyed | B.anxious | C.humble | D.uncomfortable |
A.preference | B.recognition | C.gratitude | D.passion |
A.attitudes | B.behaviors | C.settings | D.interactions |
A.methods | B.purposes | C.expectations | D.feelings |
A.stand out | B.show off | C.calm down | D.cheer up |
A.hero | B.trainer | C.expert | D.leader |
A.In turn | B.By contrast | C.After all | D.Above all |
A.promises | B.contributions | C.connections | D.comparisons |
A.better | B.nicer | C.braver | D.happier |
A.personal | B.different | C.important | D.widespread |
A.build | B.take | C.pick | D.mix |
6 . I’ve had the good fortune of spending a lot of time working in London over the years. I’m a typical American,
In the UK, I
Different cultures
If Americans have to work abroad, my
A.limited | B.devoted | C.addicted | D.accustomed |
A.ashamed | B.aware | C.fond | D.proud |
A.admitted | B.imagined | C.discovered | D.declared |
A.special | B.rare | C.funny | D.necessary |
A.sweet | B.artificial | C.strange | D.purposeful |
A.expected | B.analyzed | C.predicted | D.understood |
A.friendly | B.reliable | C.traditional | D.aggressive |
A.Regretfully | B.Luckily | C.Eventually | D.Frequently |
A.sympathy | B.attention | C.feelings | D.promises |
A.However | B.Instead | C.Thus | D.Otherwise |
A.cost | B.win | C.save | D.afford |
A.brief | B.vague | C.awkward | D.illegal |
A.greet | B.fancy | C.explain | D.avoid |
A.indicates | B.happens | C.matters | D.proves |
A.appear | B.leave | C.hesitate | D.observe |
A.stress | B.hide | C.share | D.assess |
A.desire | B.gift | C.reason | D.reputation |
A.chance | B.task | C.challenge | D.advice |
A.possible | B.practical | C.important | D.simple |
A.secretly | B.sensitively | C.gratefully | D.temporarily |
7 . Everyone “talks” with their hands at least sometimes. Some people’s hand-talking, or gesturing (手势) matches their messages well. Other people like to make gestures that can be confusing. And still others don’t use their hands much at all. No matter which group you are in, it’s important to pay attention to your hand gestures while you are communicating. And also remember hand gestures can have cultural meanings.
A few years ago, I was a speaker at a conference in Lisbon, Portugal. It was my first time in Portugal, and I became immediately fond of the special pastries (糕点) that Lisbon and Portugal are known for. One morning I went into a bakery and ordered two of the pastries. I did so by holding up two fingers, similar to the “victory” or “peace” gesture in the United States. The person behind the counter put three pastries in the box. I later learned that the gesture for two would raise thumb and index finger. Even though my thumb wasn’t showing, the person behind the counter thought I was signaling for three.
I was lucky that I didn’t get into more trouble than an extra pastry. Many hand gestures are not universal. Before speaking in a country that you are not familiar with, do some research to find out which gestures might be misunderstood, not understood at all or rude.
1. Why did the author go to Lisbon, Portugal?A.To taste pastries. | B.To take a holiday. |
C.To attend a meeting. | D.To learn Portuguese culture. |
A. | B. | C. | D. |
A.Normal. | B.Independent. | C.Common. | D.Complex. |
A.One should be careful when ordering food in Portugal. |
B.Hand gestures may have different meanings in different cultures. |
C.The person behind the counter understood the author’s gesture. |
D.The person behind the counter cheated the author. |
A.tell us that hand gestures are not the same worldwide |
B.explain the general use of gestures |
C.ask us to use correct hand gestures in Portugal |
D.share a funny story in Portugal |
8 . “You’re going to the United States to live? How wonderful! You’re really lucky!”
Does this sound familiar? Perhaps your family and friends said similar things to you when you left home. But does it seem true all the time? Is your life in this new country always wonderful and exciting? A great many facts show that it’s not easy for newcomers to adjust to life in a new culture. They have to experience culture shock.
What causes culture shock? Maybe the weather is unpleasant. Perhaps the customs are different. Perhaps the public service systems such as the telephone, post office, or transportation are difficult to figure out and you make mistakes. The simplest things seem difficult. The language may be difficult. The food may seem strange to you. If you don’t look similar to the natives, you may feel strange. You may feel as if everyone is watching you. In fact, you are always watching yourself.
Everyone experiences culture shock in some form or another. But culture shock comes as a surprise to most people. A lot of the time, the people with the worst culture shock are the people who never had any difficulties in their own countries.
They were active and successful in their community. They had hobbies or pastimes which they enjoyed. When they come to a new country, they do not have the same positions or hobbies as they already had in their countries. They find themselves without a role, almost without an identity. They have to build a new self-image.
Culture shock produces a feeling of disorientation (迷惘), which may be homesickness, imagined illness, or even paranoia (妄想). When people feel the disorientation of culture shock, they sometimes feel like staying inside all the time. They want to protect themselves from the unfamiliar environment. They want to create an escape within their room to give themselves a sense of security. This escape does solve the problem of culture shock for the short term, but it does nothing to familiarize the person more with the culture. Familiarity and experience are the long-term ways to settle the problem of culture shock.
1. Who is the passage mainly for?A.The family and friends of those who came to the US. |
B.Those who have got rid of culture shock. |
C.People who have just moved to a foreign country. |
D.People who can easily adjust their life in the US. |
A.you are always feeling homesick |
B.you are always worried too much about yourself |
C.you are always looking at yourself in the mirror |
D.you are always nervous about meeting other people |
A.They have trouble using public telephones. |
B.Their positions or hobbies stay the same. |
C.They are active and successful in the new community. |
D.They have got used to the life in the new country. |
A.A new identity. | B.Local food. |
C.A new self-image. | D.Strange environment. |
A.to stay inside to protect themselves |
B.to make a study of new hobbies |
C.to adapt themselves to the new environment |
D.to ask people for help when having difficulties |
9 . Who are these people rushing by you in the street? More than 215 million people now call America “home”, but most of them can trace their families back to other parts of the world. If you look at the names on shop windows, you will see that Americans come from many different lands. The idea that these people, who once were strangers to the United States, have lost the customs and cultures of their original countries and have become “American” is really not true. In fact, what exists in America is more often a kind of “side-by-side” living in which groups of people from other countries often have kept many of their customs and habits. They join the general American society only in certain areas of their lives—such as in schools, business, and sports—but they keep many of their own native customs and manners socially and at home. This living “side-by-side” has both advantages and disadvantages. Sometimes it may cause disagreements to develop between groups whose ways of life are very different from one another. However, there are also great advantages that come from the variety of cultures brought by settlers from other lands. There is great freedom of choice among ideas and dress, food, and social customs in America. Everyone can find some part of his or her familiar world in the United States, in churches, music, food, national groups, or newspapers.
1. More than 215 million people call America “home” because________.A.they buy their houses there | B.they settle there now |
C.they get married there | D.they were born there |
A.making friends with native people |
B.the groups of people who live nearby |
C.keeping their own customs while sharing American ones in certain areas |
D.that they get closer to American society |
A.share American customs and culture |
B.live in a kind of “side-by-side” society |
C.keep their own customs and habits firmly |
D.make no choice to accept American customs |
A.They always stick to their own customs and habits. |
B.“Side-by-side” living style is not suitable. |
C.They face the society they are not familiar with. |
D.The advantages coming from the variety of cultures make life in America colorful. |
A.Advantages and Disadvantages. |
B.Different Customs and Habits. |
C.Home for the People. |
D.“Side-by-side” Living Style in America. |
10 . When I lived in Spain, some Spanish friends of mine decided to visit England by car. Before they left, they asked me for advice about how to find accommodation. I suggested that they should stay at “bed and breakfast” houses, because this kind of accommodation gives a foreign visitor a good chance to speak English with the family. My friends listened to my advice, but they came back with some funny stories.
“We didn’t stay at “bed and breakfast” houses,” they said, “because we found that most families were away on holiday.”
I thought this was strange. Finally I understood what had happened. My friends spoke little English, and they thought “VACANCIES” meant “holidays”, because the Spanish word for “holidays” is “vacaciones”. So they did not go to house where the sign outside said “VACANCIES “, which in English means there are free rooms. Then my friends went to house where the sign said “NO VACANCIES”, because they thought this meant the people who owned the house were not away on holiday. But they found that these houses were all full. As a result, they stayed at hotels!
We laughed about this and about mistakes my friends made in reading other signs. In Spanish, the word “DIVERSION” means fun. In English, it means that workmen are repairing the road, and that you must take a different road. When my friends saw the word “DIVERSION” on a road sign, they thought they were going to have fun. Instead, the road ended in a large hole.
English people have problems too when they learn foreign languages. Once in Paris, when someone offered me some more coffee, I said “Thank you” in French. I meant that I would like some more. However, to my surprise, the coffee pot was taken away! Later I found out that “Thank you” in French means “No, thank you.”
1. The writer’s friends in Spain wanted to get advice about ________.A.the chance of learning English | B.the way of going to England |
C.the traffic rules in England | D.finding places to stay in England |
A.it would be convenient for them to have dinner |
B.it would be much cheaper than staying in hotels |
C.they would be able to practise their English |
D.there would be no problem about finding accommodation there |
A.they misunderstood the signs outside the door |
B.there were no such “bed and breakfast” houses in England |
C.they found there were no free rooms there |
D.people there were away on holiday |
A.fall into a hole |
B.have to take a different road |
C.find that the road is blocked by crowds of people |
D.have a lot of fun and enjoy yourself |
A.he doesn’t want any more coffee |
B.he wants to show his appreciation |
C.he just wants to express his politeness |
D.he wants to have some more coffee |