跨文化交际英语思考题目(5)

unfortunately, they needed special care, they would move into senior homes rather than living with their daughters and grandchildren. ―There would be too much interference into our own way of life,‖ they said.

2. A famous Chinese actress married a German. One day when she was acting, her husband was there watching, saying again and again that she was the best actress. The actress‘ colleagues present asked her afterwards to tell her husband not to praise his own wife like that in public. On learning this, the German wondered what he did wrong.

Once the actress and her husband were talking with their Chinese friends at a party. Her husband politely praised a Chinese lady on her beauty. The lady‘s husband said that his wife was moderately good looking when young, but now she was old and no longer so. The lady nodded in agreement with a smile. The actress‘ husband was surprised. Discuss why the German was confused in the first situation and surprised in the second.

3. Now study the following statements and think how you would respond to each of them. Discuss in small groups.

1) Let‘s get together soon.

2) I haven‘t seen you for a long time. You must come round for dinner sometimes.

3) It‘s good seeing you. I‘ll invite you to tea later.

4) I‘m going to give a party this weekend. Come if you like. 5) How about joining us for dinner this Friday night?

6) If an American friend of yours suggests you have lunch with him, you might simply say something like this, ―I‘m afraid it‘ll have to be some place inexpensive, as I have very little money.‖ Your friend may say, ―O.K., I‘ll meet you at McDonald‘s.‖ Who do you think would pay for the meal?

4. The following is what an American wrote of a Chinese banquet (from Moser, 2000) The first six or seven dishes seemed to fill the table to overflowing, with plates precariously wedged one on top of another. With my American-bred expectations, I assumed this vast first wave of food was surely the total number of dishes to be served, and I dug in greedily, dazzled by the variety and sheer quantity. The Chinese guests around me, however, had a different reaction. They must not be very hungry,‖ I thought with a shrug, and continued my feast.

To my surprise, more dishes soon were piled on top of the already mountainous stack. Plus two or three soups, side dishes, desserts, and delicacies of various kinds, all seemingly enough to feed the entire People‘ Liberation Army. No wonder my fellow guests had merely sampled a few bites of each dish; they knew very well that these first few items were just the tip of a titanic culinary iceberg. I, however, was so stuffed after the first fifteen minutes that I could only watch in a bloated stupor as the remainder of the banquet took its course.

Can you see some characteristics of the Chinese way of entertaining guests to

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dinner from the above account?

5. An American went to a Chinese home. He was offered some tea. Just when the first cup was about to finish, more tea was added. The visitor drank the second cup. Then the cup was filled the third time. Then he drank it, then...until the visitor was quite full. Why?

二、分析、解答题

1. Read the case (taken from Zanger, 1985) and answer the questions below.

Jose and Jim worked together in a restaurant. They had become friendly because both of them were also studying. Jim was studying business, and Jose was taking English classes and planned to study engineering.

One day, as they were leaving work, Jim asked Jose, ―Jose, I need a favor. I have to go over to school, and I‘m out of money. Could you lend me a dollar so I can take the bus over there and then get home? I‘ll pay you back tomorrow.‖

―Sure, Jim. No problem. You don‘t have to pay me back,‖ said Jose, as he handed Jim a dollar. …… 此处隐藏：1763字，全部文档内容请下载后查看。喜欢就下载吧 ……