Body language

Sometimes people add to what they say even when they don’t talk. Gestures are the “silent language” of every culture. We point a finger or move another part of the body to show what we want to say. It is important to know the body language of every country or we may be misunderstood.

In the United States, people greet each other with a handshake in a formal introduction. The handshake must be firm. If the handshake is weak, it is a sign of weakness or unfriendliness. Friends may place a hand on the other’s arm or shoulder. Some people, usually women, greet a friend with a hug.

Private space is important to Americans. When two people talk to each other, they stand two and a half feet away at an angle (角), so they are not facing each other directly. Americans will get uncomfortable if a person stands too close. They will move back to have their own space. If Americans touch another person by accident, they will say, “Pardon me,” or “Excuse me.”

Americans like to look the other person in the eyes when they are talking. If you don’t do so, it means you are bored, hiding something, or are not interested. But when you stare at someone, it is not polite.

For Americans, thumbs up means yes, very good, or well done. Thumbs down means the opposite (反义词). To call a waiter, raise one hand to head level or above. To show you want the check, make a movement with your hands as if you are signing a piece of paper. It is all right to point at things but not at people with the hand and index finger (食指). Americans shake their index finger at children when they scold (责骂) them and pat (轻拍) them on the head when they admire them.

Learning a culture’s body language is sometimes confusing (难以理解的). If you don’t know what to do, the safest thing to do is to smile.

I. Answer the following questions.

1. What do people use to say more when they don’t talk at all?

________________________________________ 

2. Why is it important to know the body language of a country?

________________________________________

3. Why must a person not stand too close while talking to an American?

________________________________________

【答案】（反白可见）： 

1.They use the“silent language”of gestures.

2. It is important to know the body language of a country because we may be misunderstood if we don’t know it.

­­­­­3.Because Americans like to have private space.

 

II. Choose the best answer according to the passage.

1. In a formal introduction, Americans greet each other ________.

A. with a hug         B. with a handshake

C. by placing a hand on each other’s arm

2. When Americans talk to each other, they_____.

A. face each other directly

B. talk loudly

C. look at each other directly

3. Americans feel uncomfortable when a person________.

A. points with the index finger

B. stands too close

C. looks them in the eyes

4. In the United States, if a person touches another by accident, they ________.

A. move away        B. stare at each other

C. will say, “Excuse me.”    

【答案】（反白可见）：BCBC