大学英语四级。快速阅读.docVIP

大学英语四级： 快速阅读01 Passage One (P5) Time Pattern in America Susan Anthony has an eight-to-five job with two 15-mimute coffee breaks, a one-hour lunch break, scheduled appointments and weekly deadlines. Every time she enters and leaves her office building she punches the clock. Although she is not aware of it, her workday is strongly influenced by her cultures attitudes toward time. When travelers lack an awareness of how time is regulated in a foreign country, they can expect to feel some-what disoriented (分不清方向或目标的). Since most people take time for granted, the effects of values, customs and social etiquette on the use of time are seldom examined. A culture that values achievement and progress will discourage people from “wasting” time. Highly efficient business people from these cultures may feel frustrated in a country where work proceeds at a slow pace. In religious societies, customs specify times of the day, week, or year for prayer and religious celebrations. If an individual tries to make an appointment during a sacred holiday, he or she could unknowingly offend a religious person. Social etiquette determines appropriate times for visits, meetings, and even phone calls. Arriving two hours late for an appointment may be acceptable in one culture, whereas in another, keeping someone waiting fifteen minutes may be considered rude. Promptness Promptness is important in American business, academic and social settings. The importance of punctuality is taught to young children in school. Tardy (迟到的) slips and the use of bells signal to the child that punctuality and time itself are to be respected. An amusing report of schoolchilds experience with time appeared in a recent newspaper article. As a child, my mother used to tell me how crucial it was to be at school when the first bell rang. Preparation for my on-time appearance began the night before. I was directed to go to bed early so 1 could wake up at 7 a.m. with enough