题文
It can be hard to meet people from another culture. From the beginning, people may send the wrong signal（信号）. Or they may pay no attention to signals from another person who is trying to develop a relationship.Different cultures emphasize （强调）the importance of relationship building to a greater or lesser degree. For example, business in some countries is not possible until there is a relationship of trust. Even with people at work, it is necessary to spend a lot of time in “small talk”, usually over a glass of tea, before they do any job. In many European countries--like the UK or France—people find it easier to build up a lasting working relationship at restaurants or cafes rather than at the office.
Talk and silence may also be different in some cultures. I once made a speech in Thailand. I had expected my speech to be a success and start a lively discussion; instead there was an uncomfortable silence. The people present just stared at me and smiled. After getting to know their ways better, I realized that they thought I was talking too much. In my own culture, we express meaning mainly through words, but people there sometimes feel too many words are unnecessary.
Even within Northern Europe, cultural differences can cause serious problems. Certainly, English and German cultures share similar values; however, Germans prefer to get down to business more quickly. We think that they are rude. In fact, this is just because one culture starts discussions and makes decisions more quickly.
People from different parts of the world have different values, and sometimes these values are quite against each other. However, if we can understand them better, a multicultural environment（多元文化环境）will offer a wonderful chance for us to learn from each other.
小题1:In some countries, eating together at restaurants may make it easier for people to ________.A．keep each other companyB．share the same CultureC．get to know each otherD．develop closer relations小题2:The author mentions his experience in Thailand to show that _________.A．even talk and silence can be culturally differentB．too many words are of no useC．people from Thailand are quiet and shy by natureD．the English prefer to make long speeches小题3:According to the text, how can people from different cultures understand each other better?A．By sharing different ways of life.B．By recognizing different values.C．By accepting different habits.D．By speaking each other’s languages.小题4:What would be the best title for the text?A．Multicultural Environment.B．How to Understand Each Other.C．Cross-Cultural Differences.D．How to Build Up a Relationship. 题型：未知 难度：其他题型
答案
小题1:D
小题2:A
小题3:B
小题4:C
解析
【文章大意】本文是一篇说明文。文章讲述了不同国家之间的文化差异。理解不同国家文化的差异我们才能建立良好的人际关系。
小题1:D考查细节理解。根据文章第二段中的In many European countries--like the UK or France—people find it easier to build up a lasting working relationship at restaurants or cafes rather than at the office.可知，在许多欧洲国家像英国和法国，人们发现在饭店或咖啡店比在办公室更容易建立长期的工作关系。故选D。
小题2:A考查推理判断。根据文章第三段中的Talk and silence may also be different in some cultures.可知，这是本段的中心句，作者举他在泰国的例子就是为了证明中心句的成立。故选A。
小题3:B考查细节理解。根据文章最后一段中的People from different parts of the world have different values, and sometimes these values are quite against each other. However, if we can understand them better, a multicultural environment（多元文化环境）will offer a wonderful chance for us to learn from each other.可知，如果我们能够理解不同国家的价值观，多元文化环境就会为我们提供相互学习的机会。故选B。
小题4:C考查文章的标题。根据文章的整体可知，文章通篇讲的是欧洲国家文化之间的差异、泰国和其他国家的差异，北欧国家之间的文化差异，所以文章主要讲的是不同根据间的文化差异。故选C。
考点
据考高分专家说，试题“It can be hard to me.....”主要考查你对 [政治经济类阅读 ]考点的理解。政治经济类阅读
政治经济类文章的概念：
要做好这类阅读，平时就要注意了解国内外发生的政治经济大事，掌握一定背景知识，对这类文章的叙述特点及内容安排有一定了解，还要扩展这方面的词汇。阅读这类文章，要抓住文章的核心，即文章整体和各段主要在说什么，也要注意段落之间的逻辑关系。
如何备考政治经济类阅读理解题：
【题型说明】政治经济类阅读文章是高考常选材料之一。该类文章时代气息浓郁，语言鲜活，但熟字新义词、超纲词及专业词语多，长句、难句多。政治类文章大多数是同学们感性趣的内容，读起来倒有似曾相识的感觉，经济类文章读起来就像是雾里看花，文章看完，一头雾水。再加之这类文章的命题侧重于词义猜测、推理判断和文章主旨，同学们对这类题材是望而生畏。
【备考策略】建立心理优势。针对不同体裁的文章，我们要采取相应的阅读方法和技巧。政治类文章多采用记叙文形式，我们可采取“顺读法”，以便抓关键语句，领会文章主旨；而经济类文章则多采用说明文形式，我们则可以采取“逆读法”，先读试题，再从文章中查找有用信息。若遇到的确难读的材料。千万不用着急，因为你觉得难，其他人也一定是同感。在高考前，我们就要有这种心理准备，高考试卷肯定有一、两篇难以阅读的材料。不过，我们平时可以有意识地从报刊杂志上找一些较难的阅读材料来阅读，以培养自己迎难而上的心理素质。
【答题方法】
1、寻找主干：
根据英语中五种基本句型结构，把句子中的主语、谓语、宾语、表语等主要成分找出来，其他成分如定语、状语、补语等则易于理解。找到了句子主干，句子的意思至少明白了一半。
2、剔除从句：
在一个长句中可能会出现若干个从句，在理解时，如果把各个从句剔除出来单独理解，然后把大意拼凑起来，整个长句的意思就会明白六、七分。
3、辨别分句：
一个长句如果是由几个并列、转折、递进、对比关系的分句组成，句中往往有表示这些分句关系的连接词，只要能弄清楚分句和分句之间的逻辑关系，再把各层分句的意思加以连贯，整个长句的句意基本上能跃然脑中。
4、寻找关键词：
如果一个句子看完，一点句意的感觉也没有，下下策就是抓住句中的关键词，通过关键词大体弄懂这个长句的意思。
