单选题
Our culture has caused most Americans to assume not only that our language is universal but that the gestures we use are understood by everyone. We do not realize that waving good-bye is the way to summon a person from the Philippines to one's side, or that in Italy and some Latin-American countries, curling the finger to oneself is a sign of farewell. Those private citizens who sent packages to our troops occupying Germany after World War n and marked them GIFT to escape duty payments did not bother to find out that "Gift" means poison in German. Moreover, we like to think of ourselves as friendly, yet we prefer to be at least 3 feet or an arm's length away from others. Latins and Middle Easterners like to come closer and touch, which makes Americans uncomfortable. Our linguistic (语言上的) and cultural blindness and the casualness with which we take notice of the developed tastes, gestures, customs and languages of other countries, are losing us friends, business and respect in the world. Even here in the United States, we make few concessions (让步) to the needs of foreign visitors. There are no information signs in four languages on our public buildings or monuments; we do not have multilingual (多语言的) guided tours. Very few restaurant menus have translations, and multilingual waiters, bank clerks and policemen are rare. Our transportation systems have maps in English only and often we ourselves have difficulty understanding them. When we go abroad, we tend to cluster in hotels and restaurants where English is spoken. Then attitudes and information we pick up are conditioned by those natives—usually the richer— who speak English. Our business dealings, as well as the nation's diplomacy, are conducted through interpreters. For many years, American dollars no longer buy all good things, and we are slowly beginning to realize that our proper role in the world is changing. A 1979 Harris poll reported that 55 percent of Americans want this country to play a more significant role in world affairs; we want to have a hand in the important decisions of the 21st century, even though it may not always be the upper hand.
单选题
It can be inferred that Americans being approached too closely by Middle Easterners would most probably ______. A. stand still B. jump aside C. step forward D. draw back
【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】[解析] 推断题。根据第二段最后两句：yet we prefer to be at least 3 feet or an arm's length away from others. Latins and Middle Easterners like to come closer and touch, which makes Americans uncomfortable. 我们(美国人)喜欢与别人保持至少3英尺或一臂的距离，拉美人或中东人喜欢靠得更近些并相接触，这会使美国人感到不舒服。由此可知，如果中东人想靠近美国人，美国人很可能会往后退，即D是正确答案。
单选题
The author gives many examples to criticize Americans for their ______. A. cultural self-centeredness B. casual manners C. indifference towards foreign visitors D. arrogance towards other cultures
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】[解析] 例证题。文章在第四段中举出了许多有关美国人的例子，旨在阐述第三段中所说的Our linguistic and cultural blindness and the casualness及第四段第一句中的：we make few concessions to the needs of foreign visitors. 也就是说，美国人无视其他国家的语言、文化，总是以自己的文化为中心。故A是正确答案。
单选题
In countries other than their own, most Americans ______. A. are isolated by the local people B. are not well informed due to the language barrier C. tend to get along well with the natives D. need interpreters in hotels and restaurants
单选题
According to the author, Americans' cultural blindness and linguistic ignorance will ______. A. affect their image in the new era B. cut themselves off from the outside world C. limit their role in world affairs D. weaken the position of the U. S. dollar
单选题
The author's intention in writing this article is to make Americans realize that ______. A. it is dangerous to ignore their foreign friends B. it is important to maintain their leading role in world affairs C. it is necessary to use several languages in public places D. it is time to get acquainted with other cultures