Question

【题目】Communicating with Gestures

When travelling, you may think that if you don't know the language, you can communicate using gestures. However, very few gestures are universally understood and interpreted. What is perfectly acceptable in this country may be rude in other cultures.

1. Pointing at something using the index finger. It is impolite to point with the index finger in the Middle and Far East. Use an open hand or your thumb in Indonesia.

2. Making a "V" sign. This means "victory" in most parts of Europe when you make the sign with your palm facing away from you. But if you face your palm in, the gesture is very rude.

3. Smiling. This facial expression is universally understood. However, cultures can provide different reasons for smiling. The Japanese may smile when they are confused or angry while in other parts of Asia people smile when they are embarrassed. People in some cultures only smile to friends. It is important not to judge people for not smiling, or for smiling at what we would consider "inappropriate" times.

4. Waving one's hand with the palm facing outward to greet someone. In parts of Europe, waving the hand back and forth can mean "No". To wave "goodbye", raise the palm outward and wave the fingers together; but this is rude in Nigeria if the hand is too close to another person's face.

5. Forming a circle with one's fingers to mean "OK". Although this means "OK" in the U. S. and many other countries, there are some notable exceptions. In Brazil and Germany the gesture is obscene(猥亵的), while in Japan it means "money". In France, it has the additional meaning of "zero" or "worthless".

【1】According to the text, when we travel to other countries________.

A. many gestures are universally recognized

B. the same gesture can have different meanings

C. a smile always suggests friendliness

D. we can still communicate without knowing the languages

【2】 What does the word "inappropriate" in Paragraph 4 probably mean?

A. Unsuitable.

B. Impolite.

C. Uncomfortable.

D. Ordinary.

【3】 When you talk to people from Brazil, you should remember not to ________.

A. smile at them

B. make a "V"sign

C. point at objects around you

D. make the "OK" gesture

【4】 The text is mainly to __________.

A. show that gestures are universally accepted

B. warn readers of impolite gestures

C. show the different meanings of gestures in different countries

D. teach readers how to understand gestures in other countries

Answer 1

【答案】【1】B

【2】A

【3】D

【4】C

【解析】【1】推理判断题。从第一段What is perfectly acceptable in this country may be rude in other cultures.可以推测同样的肢体语言也许在不同的地方有不同的意义，故选B。

【2】 词义猜测题。从前文可知日本人会在他们迷惑或者生气时笑，一些其他亚洲国家的人会在尴尬时笑，有些地方的人只对自己的朋友笑。所以划线部分所在的句子意思是“重要的是我们不能因为别人不笑，或者别人在我们认为不合适（unsuitable）的时候笑而对他们有意见。”

【3】 细节理解题。从最后一段In Brazil and Germany the gesture is obscene…可知在巴西做OK的手势是猥亵的，故选D。

【4】主旨大意题。文章主要介绍了几种肢体语言在不同国家的不同意义，故选C。