新視野大學(xué)英語視聽說教程第四冊 Unit 10 MODEL2 What do you think are the reasons for that difference?

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Susan: Do you find that people in America often walk faster than people in China? Americans always seem to be in a hurry.

John: It’s hard to come to a definite conclusion. Some Americans walk in a leisurely way, and some Chinese hurry all the time. But on the whole, I think you’re right.

Susan: What do you think are the reasons for that difference?

John: Americans treasure time. For them, time is tangible. It’s a thing. “Time is money.” You can “spend time”, “waste time”, “save time”. You can even “kill time”!

Susan: Does this strong sense of time affect their lifestyle?

John: Sure. If you’re 20 minutes late for a bussiness appointment, the other person or persons will be annoyed. They may not trust you anymore.

Susan: But as far as I know, English-speaking people may be 15-30 minutes late for a dinner party.

John: That’s true. For an informal occasion like that, punctuality is not so important. Also, a boss may keep his employees waiting for a long time.

Susan: But if his secretary is late, she’s in trouble. She will probably receive a reprimand.

John: How true!

Susan: The American workship of time probably led them to create fast foods.

John: I agree. And globalization shrinks the differences between cultures. Now people everywhere are rushing, and anywhere you go, you find Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Susan: But plenty of Chinese are still making appointments saying, “If I am late, wait for me.”

John: But with more intercultural communication, I think the gap will eventually be bridged, and Chinese will be hurrying everywhere.