Fluency(流利) in another language is one of the most important aims of a newcomer to another country. In addition, understanding the culture and learning to communicate comfortably with people of that culture are as important as learning the rules of the language. Language learning and culture learning go together and may take a long time.?
Sometimes people feel that they understand a culture after a few weeks or months. People do learn a lot when they first begin living in another culture, but this is only the first stage of learning. It usually involves(含包) things like learning everyday activities and some basic customs.?
To really understand another culture, people have to go beyond the first stage, This is challenge because it is often difficult to know what to learn. Much of what we call “culture” is hard to see.?
Culture is like an iceberg. Picture in your mind a huge iceberg in the ocean. The only part of the iceberg that you see is the tip.
You don’t see the rest of the iceberg because it is hidden from sight in the water. It is easy to forget that it is there. Most of the iceberg is deep within the ocean, just as much of a culture is deep within its people.?
When you meet someone from another culture， certain culture differences are obvious: You hear another language or you hear your own language spoken with an accent. You see different foods, clothes and sometimes physical characteristics of people. You observe new customs or habits, such as the use of chopsticks, and, bowing or kissing on both cheeks as a greeting. These differences are interesting and important, but they are usually not too difficult to understand. They are visible so they are seen easily and quickly.?
The part of culture that is like the underwater part of the iceberg consists of assumptions(設想), communication styles, values, and beliefs about what is right and wrong. The hidden part of culture affects much of a person’s way of thinking and communicating. It is the meaning behind his or her verbal (言語的) and nonverbal language. Learning to communicate well with people from a
nother culture involves becoming aware of the hidden part of culture.
61.What’s the subject of this passage?
A. Learning about culture. B. Language learning.
C. The hidden part of the iceberg. D. Fluency in another language.
62.What is learning about culture?
A. Learning the hidden part of the iceberg, which is underwater.
B. Learning everyday activities and some basic customs.
C. Learning the culture of an iceberg.
D. Learning the visible as well as the hidden differences of culture.
63.What’s the writer’s opinion?
A. Communication styles can be easily seen and learned.
B. Language learning is more important than culture learning.
C. Learning about culture is not easy and may take a long time.
D. People usually learn a culture after a few weeks or months.
64.The underlined phrase “consists of” can be replaced by “______”.
A. lies in B. is made up of C. agrees with D. is different from
65.What conclusion can we draw after reading this passage?
A. Values and beliefs are like the tip of the iceberg.
B. People often become aware of the hidden part of culture.
C. The tip of the iceberg is larger than the hidden part.
D. The hidden part of culture has a great effect on people’s communication styles.
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