穿著英語閱讀理解
Soldiers
Soldiers and other military people wear uniforms with various other symbols to indicate their status.But in the business world everyone wears more or less similar suits，and you cannot tell at a glance who ranks higher or lower than another.So how do people in the business world show their superiority? An attempt to study this was made by two researchers using a series of silent films.They had two actors play the parts of an executive(經理)and a visitor，and switch roles each time.The scene had one man at his desk playing the part of an executive，while the other，playing the part of a visitor，knocks at the door，opens it and approaches the desk to discuss some business matter.
The audience watching the films was asked to rate the executive and the visitor in terms of status.A certain set of rules about status began to emerge from the ratings.The visitor showed the least amount of status when he stopped just inside the door to talk across the room to the seated man.He was considered to have more status when he walked halfway up to the desk，and he had the most status when he walked directly up to the desk and stood right in front Of the seated executive.
Another thing that affected the status of the visitor in the eyes of the observers was the time between knocking and entering.For the seated executive，his status was also affected by the time between hearing the knock and answering.The quicker the visitor entered the room，the more status he had.The longer the executive took to answer，the more status he had.
41.The experiment designed by the two researchers aimed at finding out _____
A.how business is concted by all executive and a visitor
B how to tell the differences between an executive and a visitor
C.how to tell businessmen at a glance
D.how businessmen indicate status
42 Which of the statements can best sum up the passage?
A.The executive has a higher status than the visitor.
B.Military people wear uniforms but the businessmen do not
C，A study revealing a set of rules about the status of businessmen.
D It is a good method to use a series of silent film in research.
43 Having entered the room，the closer the visitor approaches the executive, ___
A.the less it affected his status
B.the lower his status
C.the more it affected his status
D.the higher his status
44.The longer the seated man was in answering the knock，_____
A.the higher his status
B.the less it affected his status
C.the lower his status
D the more it affected his status
45.Which statement is NOT true?
A Soldiers wear uniforms with various symbols so that one call tell their status at a glance.
B.In the experiment.one actor played the executive while the other played the seated man
C.Business people wear similar suits.
D The audience watching the film rated the executive and the visitor in terms of status.
答案：DCDAB
士兵和其他軍隊中的人都要穿制服，並且衣服上有各種各樣的標志來表明他們的身份地位。但是在商業的世界中，幾乎每個人都穿的差不多一樣的衣服。乍看之下，很難分出身份地位的高低。那麼，在商界，人們如果表明自己高人一等呢?
2個研究者通過一系列的默劇對此進行嘗試和研究。劇中只有2個演員，分飾經理和拜訪者的角色，每次兩人都要交換角色。劇中演的是經理坐在辦公桌旁邊辦公，來訪者敲門，推開門，往辦公桌走去，和經理討論業務上的事情。
觀看的觀眾被要求說出經理和拜訪者的地位孰高孰低。從觀眾的意見總結出一套地位的歸路。當拜訪者站在剛進門的'地方，遠遠的穿過整個房間和經理說話，表明來訪者的地位最低。當拜訪者站在門和桌子的中間時，地位較高;當他徑直走到桌子旁邊站在經理前面時，地位最高。
在觀眾眼中，另一個影響拜訪者地位的事情是他敲門和進房間之間的時間間隔。對於坐在那裡的經理來說，他的地位受聽到敲門和應答的時間間隔的影響。拜訪者越早的進入房間，他的地位就越高。
經理越遲應答敲門聲，他的地位越高。
profession
Acting is such an over-crowded profession that the only advice that should be given to a young person thinking of going on the stage is「Dont!」.But it is useless to try to discourage someone who feels that he must act，although the chances of his becoming famous are slim. The normal way to begin is to go to a drama sch001.Usually only students who show promise and talent are accepted，and the course lasts two years.Then the young actor or actress takes up work with a theatrical company(劇團)，usually as an assistant stage manager This means doing everything that there is to do in the theatre and occasionally acting in very small parts It is very hard work indeed，the hours are long and the salary is tiny.
Of course，some people have remarkable chances which lead to fame and Success without this long and hard training.Connie Pratt，for example，was just an ordinary girl working in a bicycle factory.A film procer happened to catch sight of her one morning waiting at a bus stop，as he drove past in his car.He stopped and got out to speak to the girl.He asked if she would like to go to the film studio to do a test，and she thought he was joking Then she got angry and said she would call the police It took the procer twenty minutes to convince Connie that he was serious The test was successful.And within a few weeks she was playing the leading part opposite one of the most famous actors of the day But chances like this happen once in a blue moon
36 From the very beginning，the author puts it clearly that acting is a profession __A____
A sought after by too many
B.too difficult for young people
C.for slim people only
D.one can go into without special training
37.For someone who feels he must act，it is very likely that _D____
A.he will become a film star at long last
B he will become a stage manager
C he will be well paid
D.he will end up without any Success
38.The film procer found Connie Pratt one morning when she was __D__
A.at work in a bicycle factory
B.driving past him in her car
C.going to a film studio
D.waiting for a bus
39.A few weeks after the test.Connie Pratt found herself __B____
A the most famous actress of the world
B.playing the leading female role in a play
C.as famous as the greatest actor of the world
D.no less famous than the leading actor of the day
40 The concluding sentence 「chances like this happen once in a blue moon」 means D
A this is something which happens once in a while
B.this is a highly profitable chance
C.this is something highly possible
D this is a very rare chance
答案：ADDBD
演藝界是一個人口密度過高的職業。對於想登上舞台的年輕人的唯一建議就是不要進入。但是想勸阻那些明知成功的機會很渺茫卻執意要做演員的人，這種說教是無用的。要做演員通常辦法就是去戲劇學院進修。通常這里只接受有前途和有天賦的學生，課程要花2年的時間。之後，年輕的女藝人或者男藝人以舞台助理的身份，參與到劇團的工作。這意味著要做和舞台相關的所有事務和偶爾的跑龍套。這確實是很辛苦的工作，工作時間長，薪水又少的可憐。
當然，有些人沒有經過長期辛苦訓練，而是是通過不尋常的機會就獲得了聲望和成功。例如說，Connie Pratt原本是自行車廠的一個普通女工。某個早晨她在公車站等車的時候被一個開車路過的電影製作人看中了。製作人停車出來和她交談，問她是否願意來攝影棚試鏡。Connie認為他只是在開玩笑罷了。最後她生氣了，還威脅說要叫警察。最後製作人花了20分鍾的時間讓Connie相信他是認真的。試鏡很成功。幾個星期之後，她就作為女主角和當時很有名的一個男演員在一部戲中演對手戲了。但是，類似這樣的機會少之又少啊。
2. 英語閱讀理解
46.第一段的第二行，in a clothing shop,所以選項B正確。
47.第一段的第二句，第三句，以及第一段的第四行she doesn't like other colours,所以選項B正確。
48.第一段中寫了她試穿了桔色的衣服後發現尺碼小了，想要大一點的，但是大一點的沒有桔色的，由此可知桔色的只有一件，所以選項C正確。根據第二段的第一句the second shop可知選項A錯誤。選項B的意思是第一家店裡只有一隻桔子，錯誤。選項D顯然錯誤，第二段的最後兩句寫了在第二家店，她先試穿了一件，有點大，於是她又試穿了另外一件，合適了，由此可知第二家店裡不只一件桔色的衣服。
49.第一段的第三行it is too small.所以選項A正確。
50.選項A和B顯然錯誤。選項D錯誤，因為文章中寫了店員問她們要不要買一件便宜的，媽媽說不要，就要那件貴的，只是今天錢沒帶夠，明天帶錢來買那件貴的。選項C正確。
31.根據文章第一句，TOM is arriving.
32.第三行寫了pass three one-way street
33.根據第三行內容，回答YES
34.根據第四行a big supermarket called applepie,所以是Applepie.
35.根據第五行I live on the 15th floor.
51. 根據第三句，garden正確。
52.根據第四句，新華書店在garden的後面，所以garden 在新華書店的前面，in front of 正確。
53.根據第三行，a theatre between.....,所以選項B正確。
54.根據第四行，three buildings.
55.根據倒數第二行see a market,所以選項A正確。
3. 2002年的英語專業四級閱讀理解C、D的翻譯誰知道！
事先聲明：我只看到段落C，沒有D阿？？
段落C
十幾、二十歲是各個年齡段中人們最關注自身的外表，以及別人怎樣看待自己的階段。只有少數人願意在那個時候接受自己（本來的面目），也只有更加少的人敢於嘲笑潮流。
大部分的時尚雜志和電視廣告都在告誡我們應該怎樣穿，不應該怎樣穿。似乎唯有這樣，我們才有自信的社交，避免不必要的尷尬。今天之時尚已遠非衣著之狹義。就像專為男人服務的老式剃頭匠早已作古，而女人也決不可能像他們的母親、祖母那樣裝扮自己。電視廣告帶來最新的潮流資訊，時尚女性亦步亦趨，唯恐落得圈內友人譏笑的老古董下場。
究竟什麼才是時尚背後的手？時尚忽而是方便實用，忽而又是某個名人的隨性揮就。就拿帽子來說吧，三九寒天時，早先的房子裡面也是挺冷的，所以人們在屋裡屋外的都帶著帽子。後來，已故的肯尼迪總統摒棄了在屋內帶帽子的習慣，男人們紛紛效仿；而這大大打擊了美國帽業的景氣。
當然時尚也難免輪回。20世紀的歐美，短裙當道。二戰後，裙擺長達腳踝， 然後又慢慢縮短至迷你裙的款式，隨後的幾年裡，裙子的長度又回復20世紀的樣式。
今天的社會是有史以來最自由隨性的了。穿著上每個人都可以有自己的個性， 你完全有理由按自己的喜好打扮。牛仔褲、「乞丐裝」的大行其道就是對頂級昂貴服飾的回應。
現在，儀表在特定的場合仍然很重要，需要精心挑選穿著。穿著牛仔褲和毛衣去律師事務所面試顯然是個愚蠢的決定；穿著去海灘或酒吧的打扮去拜訪德高望重的學者會被認為失禮。但無論如何，如果你看著不像雜志里的廣告，不必沮喪，看看你的周圍，沒有一個人像雜志里的廣告。
4. 2020年高考英語全國卷2 - 閱讀理解C
When you were trying to figure out what to buy for the environmentalist on your holiday list, fur probably didn』t cross your mind. But some ecologists and fashion enthusiast are trying to bring back the market for fur made from nutria.
當你想給環保人士的假日購物清單增加些什麼時，你可能不會想到皮毛。但是一些生態學家和時尚發燒友們正試圖恢復海狸鼠皮毛的市場。
Unusual fashion shows in New Orleans and Brooklyn have showcased nutria fur made into clothes in different styles. 「It sounds crazy to talk about guilt-free fur – unless you understand that the nutria are destroying vast wetlands every year,」 says Cree McCree, project director of Righteous Fur.
新奧爾良和布魯克林的不同尋常時裝秀展示了海狸鼠皮毛製成的不同風格的服裝。「談論沒有罪惡感的皮毛聽起來很瘋狂——除非你知道海狸鼠每年都在破壞大片濕地，」Righteous Fur（正義皮毛）項目總監克里·麥克里說。
Scientists in Louisiana were so concerned that they decided to pay hunters $5 a tail. Some of the fur ends up in the fashion shows like the one in Brooklyn last month.
路易斯安那州的科學家非常擔心，他們決定付給獵人每尾5美元。一些皮毛最終出現在時裝秀上，比如上個月布魯克林的時裝秀。
Nutria were brought there from Argentina by fur farmers and let go into the wild. 「The ecosystem down there can』t handle this non-native species. It』s destroying the environment. It』s them or us,」 says Michael Massimi, an expert in this field.
海狸鼠是皮毛農場主從阿根廷帶到這里並放生的。「那裡的生態系統無法應對這種非本土物種，它正在破壞環境」，這一領域的專家邁克爾·馬西米說。
The fur trade kept nutria in check for decades, but when the market for nutria collapsed in the late 1980s, the cat-sized animals multiplied like crazy.
幾十年來，皮毛貿易一直控制著海狸鼠數量，但是20世紀80年代末海狸鼠市場崩潰後，這些貓一樣大小的動物瘋狂繁殖。
Biologist Edmond Mouton runs the nutria control program for Louisiana. He says it』s not easy to convince people that people that nutria fur is green, but he has no doubt about it. Hunters bring in more than 300,000 nutria tails a year, so part of Mouton』s job these days is trying to promote fur.
生物學家埃德蒙·莫頓負責路易斯安那州的海狸鼠控制。他說要讓人們相信海狸鼠皮是綠色的並不容易，但他對此毫無疑問。獵人們每年帶來超過30萬條海狸鼠尾巴，所以莫頓現在的部分工作就是推廣皮毛。
Then there』s Righteous Fur and its unusual fashions. Model Paige Morgan says,「To give people a guilt-free option that they can wear without someone throwing paint on them – I think that』s going to be a massive thing, at least here in New York.」 Designer Jennifer Anderson admits it took her a while to come around to the opinion that using nutria fur for her creations is morally acceptable. She』s trying to come up with a label to attach to nutria fashions to show it is eco-friendly.
還有Righteous Fur和它不同尋常的時尚。模特佩奇·摩根說，「給人們一個沒有罪惡感的選擇，讓他們可以穿著，而不用被人往身上潑油漆——我認為這將是一件大事，至少在紐約是這樣。」設計師詹妮弗·安德森承認，她花了一段時間才意識到，用海狸鼠皮製作作品在道德上是可以接受的。她正嘗試給海狸鼠時尚貼上環保標簽。
5. 高一英語閱讀理解及答案(2)
高一英語閱讀理解及答案
高一英語閱讀理解【4】
A man went to see his doctor one day, because he was suffering from pains in his stomach. After the doctor had examined him carefully, he said to him, “Well, there‟s nothing really wrong with you, I‟m glad to say. Your only trouble is that you worry too much. Do you know, I had a man with the same trouble as you here a few weeks ago, and I gave him the same advice as I am going to give you. He was worried because he couldn‟t pay his tailor‟s bills. I told him not to worry about the bills any more. He took my advice and when he came to see me again two days ago, he told me that he now felt quite all right again. ” “Yes, I know all about that,” answered the patient sadly. “You see, I‟m that man‟s tailor!”
根據以上短文內容判斷正誤，正確的用“T”表示，錯誤的用“F”表示。
1. The tailor went to see his doctor because he has got a headache.
2. There is nothing serious with the tailor.
3. A man with the same trouble as the tailor a few days ago.
4. The doctor gave the man and the tailor the same advice.
5. The tailor was worried because a man couldn‟t pay his bills.
【答案及解析】
1. 選F。根據第1句A man went to see his doctor one day, because he was suffering from pains in his stomach可知本題是錯誤的。
2. 選T。根據…there is no thing really wrong with you (tailor)可知裁縫的身體並沒有什麼大礙，故可判斷此題與短文內容相符。
3. 選F。根據句子Do you know, I had a man with the same trouble as you here a few weeks ago可知本題所敘述的時間與短文內容不一致，因此可判斷此題是錯誤的。
4. 選T。根據…and I gave him the same advice as I am going to give you可知答案。
5. 選T。通讀全文我們可知：上一個病人是擔心他自己不能付錢給他的裁縫，而這個裁縫的病因卻是因為擔心那個人不能付錢給他的。
高一英語閱讀理解【5】
I‟ve loved my mother‟s desk since I was just tall enough to see above the top of it as mother sat doing letters. Standing by her chair, looking at the ink bottle, pens, and white paper, I decided that the act of writing must be the more wonderful thing in the world.
Years later, ring her final illness, mother kept different things for my sister and brother. “But the desk,” she‟d said again, “it‟s for Elizabeth. ”
I never saw her angry, never saw her cry. I knew she loved me; she showed it in action. But as a young girl, I wanted heart-to-heart talks between mother and daughter.
They never happened. And a gulf opened between us. I was “too emotional(易動感情的)”. But she lived “on the surface(表面)”.
As years passed I had my own family. I loved my mother and thanked her for our happy family. I wrote to her in careful words and asked her to let me know in any way she chose that she did forgive(原諒) me.
I posted the letter and waited for her answer. None came.
My hope turned to disappointment(失望), then little interest and, finally, peace— it seemed that nothing happened. I couldn‟t be sure that the letter had even got to mother. I only knew that I had written it, and I could stop trying to make her into someone she was not.
Now the present of her desk told, as she‟d never been able to, that she was pleased that writing was my chosen work. I cleaned the desk carefully and found some papers inside —a photo of my father and a one-page letter, folded(折疊) and refolded many times.
Give me an answer, my letter asks, in any way you choose. Mother, you always chose the act that speaks louder than words.
根據短文內容，選擇最佳答案。
1. The writer began to love her mother‟s desk ______.
A. after Mother died B. before she became a writer C. when she was a child D. when Mother gave it to her
2. The passage shows that ______.
A. mother was cold on the surface but kind in her heart to her daughter
B. mother was too serious about everything her daughter had done
C. mother cared much about her daughter in words D. mother wrote to her daughter in careful words
3. The word “gulf” in the passage means ______.
A. deep understanding between the old and the young B. different ideas between the mother and the daughter
C. free talks between mother and daughter D. part of the sea going far in land
4. What did mother do with her daughter‟s letter asking forgiveness?
A. She had never received the letter. B. For years, she often talked about the letter.
C. She didn‟t forgive her daughter at all in all her life. D. She read the letter again and again till she died.
5. What‟s the best title of the passage?
A. My letter to Mother B. Mother and Children
C. My mother‟s Desk D. Talks between Mother and Me
【答案及解析】
1. 選C。根據I‟ve loved my mother‟s desk since I was just tall enough to see above the top of it as mother sat doing letters. 可知作者當時還是個小孩子，故選C。
2. 選A。由But she lived “on the surface ”. 和全文內容可知，作者的母親表面上很冷漠，但心裡充滿了對作者的愛，正確答案是A。
3. 選B。從I was “too emotional”. But she lived “on the surface”. 可知此詞是指兩人之間不同的看法和觀點，應選B。
4. 選D。根據…a photo of my father and a one-page letter, folded and refolded many times. 可知應選D。
5. 選C。文章的開頭I‟ve loved my mother‟s desk…以及後面的Now the present of her desk told, as she‟d never been able to…可知作者是托物思人，以表達自己對母親的懷念之情，所以最佳標題應是C。
高一英語閱讀理解【6】
One day the famous American scientist Albert Einstein met an old friend of his on a street in New York.
“Mr Einstein,” said the friend, “ it seems that you need to put on a new overcoat. Look, how worn-out it is!”“It doesn‟t matter,” answered Albert Einstein. “No one knows me here in New York.”
Several years later they met in New York again. Einstein had been a world-famous physicist after then but he still wore the same old overcoat.
Once more his friend persuaded him to buy a new one.
“There is no need now,” said Einstein, “Everybody here has known me.”
根據短文內容，回答問題。
1. Where did Albert Einstein met an old friend of his? ___________________________
2. What did the friend want him to buy? ______________________
3. How about Einstein‟s overcoat? ___________________________
4. Did Einstein still wear the same old overcoat when he became a world-famous physicist? ___________________
5. What did Einstein say when the friend persuade once more him to buy a new overcoat? __________________
【答案及解析】
1. On a street in New York。所問的問題是“愛因斯坦在那兒遇見了他的老朋友?”根據One day the famous American scientist Albert Einstein met an old friend of his on a street in New York(一天，在紐約的一條街道上，著名美國科學家愛因斯坦遇見了他的一個老朋友)就能作出上述回答。
2. A new overcoat。所問的問題是 “他的朋友讓他買什麼?” 根據“ it seems that you need to put on a new overcoat. Look, how worn-out it is!”(“你該穿一件新大衣了。看，你的大衣多麼破呀!)就能作出上述回答。
3. Very old。所問的問題是 “愛因斯坦的大衣怎麼樣了?” 根據文章的標題就能作出上述回答。
4. Yes, he did。所問的問題是 “成名之後的愛因斯坦仍然穿同一件破大衣嗎?” 根據Several years later they met in New York again. Einstein had been a world-famous physicist after then but he still wore the same old overcoat. (幾年之後，他們再次在紐約相遇了，這時候的愛因斯坦已經成了世界著名的大科學家。然而，他仍然穿著那件破大衣)就能作出上述回答
5. There is no need now. Everybody here has known me。所問的問題是 “當朋友再次勸愛因斯坦買一件新大衣時，他是怎麼說的?” 根據“There is no need now,” said Einstein, “Everybody here has known me.”(愛因斯坦說：“沒有必要了，這兒的人都知道我了)就能作出上述回答。
;6. 求自考英語閱讀1 第4篇文章american social relations的翻譯
American Social Relations
Gladys G.Doty Janet Ross
American society is much more informal than that of many other countries and, in some ways, is characterized by less social distinction. The American mixture of pride in achievement and sense of 「』m just as good as anybody else.」 along with lack of importance placed on personal dignity, is difficult for a foreigner to understand. Americans in general do not like to be considered inferior, and they grumble loudly about inconveniences or not getting a 「fair deal.」 Yet they do not make a point of their personal honor. As an illustration of the difference between Europen and American reflection in this respect, John Whyte in American Words and Ways gives the following account.
A…[European] professor [visiting in American] was once sent a bil for hospital services which he had never enjoyed. The bill was accompanied by a strong letter demanding payment. It was obvious that a mistake in names had been made, but the professor, thoroughly aroused by this reflection on his character and financial integrity, wrote a vigorous letter of reply ( which an American might also have done.) But in this letter of reply he demanded that the creditor write him a formal letter of apology… for this reflection on his honor. Since no publicity could possibly have been given to the mistake, for mistake it was, most Americans in that sitution, after getting the matter off their chest ( or without doing that ) would have let the matter rest.
An example of the same thing may be that although Americans like to talk about their accomplishments, it is their custom to show certain modesty in reply to compliments. When someone praises an American upon his achievement or upon his personal appearance, which, incidentally, is a very polite thing to do in America, the American turns it aside. If someone should say, 「Congratulations upon being elected president of the club,」 an American is expected to reply, 「Well, I hope I can do a good job,」 or something of the sort. Or if someone says, 「That』s a pretty blue necktie you are wearing,」 an American is likely to say, 「I』m glad you like it,」 or 「Thank you. My wife gave it to me for my birthday.」 The response to a compliment seldom conveys the idea, 「I, too, think I』m pretty good.」
Likewise, there are fewer social conventions that show social differences in America. Students do not rise when a teacher enters the room. One does not always address a person by his title, such as 「Professor」 or 「Doctor」 (「Doctor」 is always used, however, for a doctor fo medicine). The respectful 「sir」 is not always used in the northern and western parts of the country.
Clothing in America, as in every place in the world, to a certain degree reflects a person』s social position and income, or, at least among the young, his attitudes toward society or toward himself. Yet no person is restricted to a certain uniform or manner of dress because of his occupations or class in society. A bank president may wear overalls to paint his house and is not ashamed of either the job or the clothing, and a common laborer may wear a rented tuxedo at his daughter』s wedding.
Yet in spite of all the informality, America is not completely without customs that show consciousness of social distinction. For example, one is likely to use somewhat more formal language when talking to superiors. While the informal 「Hello」 is an acceptable greeting from employee to employer, the employee is more apt to say, 「Hello, Mr. Ferguson,」 whereas the emplyer may reply, 「Hello, Jim.」 Southerners make a point of saying 「Yes,sir,」 or 「Yes,ma』am,」 or 「No,sir,」 or 「No, ma』am,」 when talking to an older person or a person in position of authority. Although this is a good form all over the United States, 「Yes, Mr. Weston.」 or 「No, Mrs. Baker」 is somewhat more common in a similar situation in the North or West.
Certain other forms of politeness are observed on social occasions. Though people wear hats less now than in the past, women still occasionally wear hats in church and at public social functions ( except those that are in the evening ).
In American there are still customs by which a man may show respect for a woman. He opens the door for her and lets her precede him through it. He walks on the side of the walk nearest the street. He takes her arm when crossing a street or descending a stairway. A younger person also shows respect for an older one in much the same fashion, by helping the older person in things requiring physical exertion or involving possible accident.
American surface informality often confuses the foreigner because he interprets it to mean no formality at all. He does not understand the point at which informality stops. A teacher, though friendly, pleasant, and informal in class, expects students to study hard, and he grades each student』s work critically and carefully. He also expects to be treated with respect. Although students are free to ask questions about statements made by the teacher, and may say that they disagree with what he says, they are not expected to contradict him. Similarly, in boy-girl relationships a foreign student should not mistake the easy relationship and flattery that are part of the dating pattern in the United States, nor presume that it means more than it does.
Also, because an American is perhaps more likely to admit and laugh at his own mistakes than one who stands more on his dignity, a foreigner sometimes does not know how to handle the American』s apparent modesty. The American is quite ready to admit certain weaknesses, such as 「I never was good at mathematics.」 「I』m a rotten tennis player.」 or 「I』m the world』s worst bridge player.」 However, the stranger must not be too quick to agree with him. American think it is all right, even sporting, to admit a defect in themselves, but they feel that it is almost an insult to have someone else agree. A part of American idea of good aportmanship is the point of being generous to a loser. This attitude is carried over into matters that have nothing to do with competition. If a man talks about his weak points, the listener says something in the way of encouragement,or point to other qualities in which the speaker excels. An American student reports that when he was in a foreign country he was completely stunned when he said to a native, 「I don』t speak your language very well.」 and the native replied, 「I should say you don』t.」 In a similar situation an American would have commented, 「Well, you have only been here two months.」 or 「But you』re making progress.」
Although Americans are quite informal, it is best for a foreigner, in case of doubt, to be too formal rather than not formal enough. Consideration for others is the basis of all courtesy.
美國的社會比其他國家的社會更加非正式，在某些方面，美國社會的特徵就是較少的社會差別。美國式的混合物－個人的成就感、不比別人差的優越感以及對個人尊嚴缺乏重要性，這些對一個外國人來說是很難理解的。通常來講美國人不喜歡被別人看成低人一等的，他們也會為自己遭受的不便而抱怨，還會為自己沒有得到公平的待遇而抱怨。然而，他們也不是很重視自己的榮譽。在這一方面，為了更好展示歐洲人和美國人的不同反映，John Whyte 在《美國語言和方式》這本書里給了我們如下的描述。
有位歐洲的教授曾在美國訪問，他有次收到一份在醫院接受治療的賬單，實際上他並沒有接受過任何治療。隨附賬單還有一封措施很強烈的信件。很明顯這是因為把姓名弄錯了，但是這位教授由於對信中對自己人格以及金錢方面的廉潔而提出的質疑感到不舒服，他也寫了一份措辭很激烈的回信。（美國人也會這樣去做）。但是在這份回信中，這位歐洲教授要求他的債權人寫一份正式的道歉信，就因為對他人格的指責。由於這樣的錯誤並沒有被公眾知悉，即使這樣的錯誤已經發生了，但大多數美國人在這種形勢下，只是將其宣洩一番，甚至有的人根本就不用宣洩，就讓這件事情過去了。
同樣的事情我再給你舉一個例子，盡管美國人比較喜歡討論自己的成就，但是他們有個習俗，那就是如果你得到某種贊美時，你的回答要展示某種謙虛。當有人在贊美一個美國人諸如他的成就或外貌的時候，這些話題在美國被認為是很有禮貌的事情，他也不會太在意。如果有人對一個美國人說：「祝賀你當選俱樂部主席」，他會回答「我希望把工作做好」或者諸如詞類的話語。當有人說：「你打的領結很漂亮」，而美國人會說「我很高興你喜歡它」或者「謝謝你，這是我妻子送給我的生日禮物」。所有對這種贊美的回答從來都不會傳達這樣的含義即「我也認為我挺不錯的」 同樣的，在美國也很少有那種社會習俗來表現這種社會差異。當老師進教室的時候，學生是不起立的。也不經常在一個人的名字前面加一些頭銜，比如教授或博士。（DOCTOR 如果從醫葯學方面來稱呼也是可以的）。表示尊敬含義的SIR在美國北部和西部也是很少使用的。
在美國正如在世界上其他地方一樣，從某種意義上，人的穿著會反映其社會地位和收入，或者至少在年輕人當中可以反映這個社會或者自己的態度。但是由於自已的職業或社會地位，沒有任何一個只局限穿一種特定的制服或選擇某種特定的穿衣方式。一個銀行的行長在粉刷自己房子的時候會穿工裝服，而且不會因這種工作和穿衣的方式而感到羞愧。而一個普通勞動者在自己女兒的婚禮上也會租穿一件無尾燕尾服。
盡管有諸如此類非正式的東西，但是美國也並不是完全沒有習俗來展現這種社會差別意識。例如，但一個人跟他的上司說話的時候，他會用更加正式的語言。盡管非正式語言HELLO可以用於雇員和僱主之間，但對於一個雇員來說，他更傾向於使用HELLO,MR FERGUSON，而上司回答時可以直接回答HELLO JIM。當跟一個年長者或者權位更高的人說話時，美國南方人主張說YES SIR 或YES MA』AM 或NO, SIR或NO, MA』MA。盡管這樣的稱謂在全美國被認為是一種很好的稱謂形式，但是在美國北部或西部，人們還更傾向於稱YES,MR WESTON或NO,MRS BAKER。某種表示禮貌的形式可以在社交場合會看到的。盡管現在的人不像過去那麼經常帶帽子，但是女性在教堂或一些公眾慶祝宴會時會帶上帽子的（當然這些場合如果發生在晚上就不用了）
在美國仍然還有些習俗，男士們通過這些習慣來表現對女士的尊敬。他會給女士開門，而且讓女士先進入。男士也會走在更靠近街道的人行道。當穿過一條階段或下樓梯時，男士會扶著女士。一個年輕人同樣也會表示對年長者的尊敬，他們通過幫助他們做一些費體力的活或一些引發事故的活。
美國人這種表面上的非正式性會讓一個外國人迷惑，因為他認為美國人的這種非正式性意味著沒有正式性而言。但是他並不知道美國人的這種非正式性會在哪裡變成了正式性，比如一個老師在課堂上看起來友好、和善，在課堂上也表現的非正式，但老師要求學生努力學習，並且在批改作業時是很嚴格和仔細的。而且這位老師也同樣希望學生能尊敬他。盡管學生對老師的陳述自由提出問題，而且也可以表達對老師觀點的不同意，但是這些學生也不能駁斥老師的觀點。同樣，在男孩和女孩交往的過程中，一個外國學生也不要對美國人在約會里表現的親近關系或奉承的話語而誤會，不要認為他們還有更深層次的含義。同樣，因為比那些經常想保持自己尊嚴的人來說，美國人非常有可能承認和嘲笑他自己的錯誤、缺點。但是有時外國人不知道怎麼處理美國人這種表面的謙虛。美國人很容易承認自己的某些弱點，諸如「我的數學不好」，「我的網球打的很爛」或者說「我的橋牌打的也是出奇的差」，但是，這個時候對於一個陌生人不能隨聲附和。美國人認為，承認自己的一些弱點沒有什麼，即使是運動項目不行，但是如果別人對他們謙虛的話語表示同意，他們認為這是對他們若大的侮辱。美國競技精神的一部分就是對失敗者要賦予同情和慷慨。這種態度從體育競技中被帶入到跟體育競技一點關系都沒有的事情當中了。如果一個人談及自己的弱點時，聽者一般都會以鼓勵來回應或指出失敗者在其他領域是很擅長的。一個美國的學生講到，有次他去國外時，當他對當地人說：「我說你們的語言說的不好」，而對方回應到「我也這么認為」，他被當地人的回答驚呆了。當然，在同樣的情勢下，一個美國人將會回應到「你來這里才剛兩個月而已」 或者說「但是你取得進步了」。
盡管美國人好像十分不正式，但對於一個外國人，尤其在不知道情況下，你最好盡可能正式的對待。總是考慮別人是所以禮儀的基礎。