Traveling to all corners of the world gets easier and easier, but bow well do we know and understand each other? Here is a  (简易的) test. Imagine you will hold a meeting at four o'clock, what time should you (预料，认为) your foreign business friends to come? If they are German, they will (到达) on time. If they are American, they'll probably be fifteen minutes early. If they are British, they'I1 be fifteen minutes (迟).

    The British seemed to think since the English language was (广泛地) used in the world, what they did was certain to be understood. Very soon they (发现) they were completely wrong. For (例子), the British are happy to have a business lunch and discuss business matters with a drink during the meal; the Japanese prefer not to work (在….的时候) eating because lunch is a time for them to (放松) and get to know each other; the Germans like to talk business before dinner; the French like to eat (先) and talk afterwards.