In the United States, it is not customary to telephone someone very 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 and 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 U.S. no one would think of keeping a business friend waiting for an hour; it would be too impolite. A person who is 5 minutes late is expected to make a short apology. If he is less than 5 minutes late, he will say a few words of explanation, though perhaps he will not complete the sentence.
- "The same meaning is attached to telephone calls made after 11:00 p.m." Here "attached" means_________
- taken B. drawn C. given D. shown
- Supposing one wants to make a telephone call at midnight, this would mean________
- the matter is less important B. the matter is somewhat important
- the matter requires immediate attention D. it is a matter of life and death
- According to this passage, time plays an important role in_______
- everyday life B. private life C. communications D. transmission
- The best title for this passage is________
- The Voices of Time B. The Saving of Time
- The Importance of an Announcement D. Time and Tide Wait for No Man
- According to the passage, the author of the article may agree with which of the follow statements
- It is appropriate to send your invitation cards three of four days before a dinner party date in the U.S.
- It may be appropriate to send your invitation cards to your guests three or four days before a dinner party date in some cultures.
- It is best for one to make telephone calls at night because it costs much less.
- If one is less than 5 minutes late, he has to make a short apology.
核心词汇注释
customary adj．习惯的，惯例的
shaving n．刮，修胡须；削，刨；刨花
immediate adj．直接的；紧接的，紧靠的；立即的；知觉的
communicate v．沟通，通信，(房间、道路、花园等)相通，传达，感染
appointment n．约会，指定
misunderstanding n．误会，误解
arise vi．出现，发生，起因于
promptness n．敏捷，机敏
impolite adj．无礼的，粗鲁的
explanation n．解释，解说，说明，辩解，互相讲明
长难句剖析
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.[结构分析]本句主干是it may be considered foolish to…，because…是原因状语。在这个原因状语从句中，主干是plans…tend to be forgotten，中间插入了由which引导的定语从句修饰plans。in other areas of the world是地点状语。
[参考译文]在世界上的其他地区，太早与人约定有可能被认为是愚蠢的，因为一个多星期以后的某个时间做出的计划很可能会被忘掉。
Thus，misunderstandings arise between people from cultures that treat time differently.
[结构分析]本句主干是misunderstandings arise…，between people from cultures that treat time differently作misunderstandings的后置定语，因为太长而被放到了谓语动词arise 的后面。
[参考译文]因此，来自不同文化的人们对待时间也不尽相同，这样误解就产生了。
全文参考译文
在美国，早晨很早打电话是不礼貌的。若你一大早给某人打电话，而他正在刮胡子或吃早餐，则这个时间的电话就说明事情非常重要，需要立刻关注。晚上11点以后的电话也含有同样的意思。如果有人在睡觉时间接到电话，他肯定会认为是有生死攸关的大事。打电话所选择的时间和它的重要性有关。
在社交生活中，时间也扮演着重要的角色。若宴会的邀请只提前三、四天送出，客人可能会感到他们没有受到尊重。
不过并不是所有的国家都这样。在世界上的其他地区，太早与人约定可能会被认为是愚蠢的，因为一个多星期以后的某个时间做出的计划很可能会被忘掉。时间的意义因地而异。所以来自不同文化的人们对待时间也不尽相同，这样误解就产生了；对生活在美国的人来说，守时非常重要的。如果一些人不守时，他们就会被认为是不懂礼貌或不很负责。在美国没有人会考虑让一位生意上的朋友等一个小时，这是非常不礼貌的。一个人迟到五分钟，就应该做简短的道款。
若他迟到的时间不到5分钟，他也会稍作解释，尽管他可能没有必要用一个完整的句子说完。
题目答案与解析
1． 这句“The same meaning is attached to telephone calls made after 11：00 p．m．”中“attached”的意思是________。 [答案]C
A．带走 B．拔去 C．给予 D．显示
[解析]attached to．．．的意思是“把…给予…，归于”，因此C项为正确答案。
2． 假如有人想要半夜三更打电话，这意味着_______。 [答案]D
A．事情不重要 B．事情有点重要 C．事情需要马上关注 D．事情生死攸关
[解析]本题的依据是文章第1段的倒数第2句话If someone receives a call during sleeping hours，he assumes it's a matter of life and death。从中可知，正确答案为D项。
3． 按照本篇文章，时间在________ 中扮演着重要角色。 [答案]C
A．日常生活 B．个人生活 C．交流 D．传播
[解析]本题的依据是第1段的最后一句话The time chosen for the call communicates its importance，从中可知本题的正确答案为C项。
4． 本篇文章最好的题目是________。 [答案]A
A．时间的声音 B．节约时间 C．公告的重要性 D．时间和潮流不等人
[解析]从文中内容可知，作者是在讲时间的含义。voice此处是“meaning” 的意思，因此A项为正确答案。
5． 按照本篇文章，作者最可能赞成以下哪项描述 [答案]B
A．在美国，提前三四天送出宴会邀请卡是合适的。
B．在某些文化中，提前三四天给客人送出宴会邀请卡可能是合适的。
C．最好在半夜三更打电话，因为可以节省费用。
D．如果一个人迟到了不到5分钟，他必须做简单的道歉。
[解析]本题的依据是第2段的第4句话In other areas of the world．．．tend to be forgotten，从中可知B项是正确答案。