新编跨文化交际英语教程 参考答案(15)

Reading II

Comprehension questions

Improving Intercultural Communication

1. Is knowing oneself less difficult than knowing others? Why or why not?

Knowing oneself may be as difficult as knowing others. There are many things for us to know and some of those things are not easy for us to identify, for they are taken-for-granted and hidden from our consciousness.

2. What are the things that would bias the way we perceive the world?

Those attitudes, prejudices, and opinions that we all carry around would bias the way we perceive the world.

3. Could you give some examples of hidden personal premises in our life?

We often make some generalizations about foreign cultures, and use such generalizations as premises, on which our understanding of foreigners is often based. For example, we may believe and take it for granted that Americans are very direct in communication. So when we are communicating with Americans, we will expect them to behave in direct manners and try to understand them on the basis of this premise.

4. Is the way you present yourself exactly the same as the way you perceive yourself? How does this affect your communication with others?