五、阅读与回答问题。〔人与社会——历史、社会与文化〕
In the eyes of many foreigners, the Chinese are the best hosts and the worst guests in the world. And Western hosts sometimes look rude in the eyes of Chinese guests. It is because the guest-host relationship(关系) in China is quite different from that in some Western countries.
Whenever I enter a Chinese friend’s home, there is always fruit on the table for me, and someone is quick to bring me a cup of tea or water. In the West, acting according to the host’s way of doing things is the usual behaviour for a guest.
My wife’s mother, a very kind Chinese lady, doesn’t smoke. When I see some of her guests smoking in her house, as a non-smoker I feel unhappy. Usually I want to stop them directly, but I must realize that in China, to be a good host, she must not do that.
In most North American homes, if you are a guest, and the hosts are not smokers, you should not smoke in their houses. At the very least, you should ask “Is it OK if I smoke?” But don’t be surprised if they say “No, you can’t smoke.” In my culture, if you smoke in their houses, you are a bad guest, but if they don’t allow you to smoke in their houses, they are not rude hosts.
In a word, no matter where you are, the best way to be a good guest is to adapt to(适应) the local customs. Just as the saying goes, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”
1. To many foreigners, who are the best hosts and the worst guests in the world?
The Chinese.
2. What is the usual behaviour for a guest in the West?
Acting according to the host's way of doing things.
3. How does the writer feel when he sees some guests smoking in his wife’s mother’s home?
He feels unhappy.
4. If a guest wants to smoke in an American host’s home, what question should he or she ask?
Is it OK if I smoke?
5. If you are a guest, what can’t you do in the host’s house?(请自拟一句话作答)
I can't talk loudly. (答案不唯一,符合情理即可)
