Doing the Right Things in Britain

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    When you stop a stranger in the street to ask for directions, start by saying “Excuse me….”Also, you should say “Please” when you ask for something, and “Thank you” when people give you something.

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    Smile when you talk to people in shops, restaurants and on public transport, and they will probably smile back.

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    Don't sit or stand too close to people you don't know. Britain people don't often touch each other, and usually say “Sorry” when they touch someone by mistake.

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    Don't ask personal questions like “How old are you?”, “How much do you weigh?” or “Are you married?” You can talk about the weather, or recent TV programs, or football matches.

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    Make sure when to meet someone before you go to his home. It's unusual to call on someone when he isn't expecting you.

    Mr. Brown is a very busy man. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} He often forgets his family's birthdays. Today he remembers it is his wife's birthday. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} So on his way home from hospital, {#blank#}3{#/blank#} When Mr. Brown gets home, {#blank#}4{#/blank#} "Happy birthday to you. It is January 14^th today. I remember your birthday this year." Mr. Brown laughs(大笑) and says, "My birthday was yesterday, not today. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}"

A. he buys some flowers in a shop.

B. He always works hard.

C. He loves his wife.

D. He gives his wife the flowers and says,

E. I do not like them

F. But thank you all the same.

    Kevin loves to read mystery books. He likes to try to solve the mystery himself before he gets to the end. He also likes solving problems. Kevin can usually solve any mystery or problem.

    One day Kevin's mom was trying to find her glasses. Without her glasses, she could not drive. This was a problem because she was going to drive Kevin to his friend's house. It was also a mystery. Kevin really wanted to solve it.

    "Where do you last remember seeing your glasses?" he asked his mom.

    "I had them on while I was watching the news this morning," she said.

    "Where were you watching the news?" asked Kevin.

    His mom thought for a minute, and then she answered that she was in the living room.

She remembered sitting in her favorite chair and taking off her glasses when the news ended. She thought she put her glasses on the table, but they weren't there.

    Kevin had his mom describe everything she remembered doing during the day. She mentioned watching the news, making breakfast, working in her home office and then gardening. It was after gardening that she started looking for her glasses.

    After hearing about his mom's day, Kevin began to take action. He looked under her favorite chair, in the kitchen, in her office and around the garden. He didn't find her glasses.

    Kevin doesn't give up easily, so he looked in each place again and he looked even harder. It was on his second go around of the kitchen that he thought to open the cabinets (储藏柜). He found his mom's glasses in the drawer (抽屉).

    "Thank you, Kevin," said his mom. "I wouldn't be able to see anything without you."

    It is necessary to learn how to communicate with people from other cultures to build good relationships with them. Here are some rules.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} A little knowledge can be helpful. Before meeting with someone from another culture, try to take time to learn the basic "dos and don'ts" of that culture.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Each culture has its own values, beliefs and prejudices (成见). You shouldn't judge people based on these differences. Instead, respect them for what they are. You may even learn something new.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Don't shout at others. Raising your voice doesn't make you easier to understand. Communication difficulties lie in cultural differences, not because of intelligence (智力).

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Some cultures may expect more physical contact between people. For example, some cultures may shake or touch hands more readily than others. So don't take it as impolite.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Communicating with people from other cultures can be enlightening (使人领悟的) and useful, but also have its difficulties. Expect that not everything will come out quite right or be fully understood. Be patient with others, and ask them to be patient with you.