介绍美国的英文文章阅读
美国文化中的普世主义是美国深层文化的一个重要方面,它无时无刻不在影响着美国人对客观世界的看法,也影响着美国政府对外文化等战略的制定。下面是学习啦小编带来的介绍美国的英文文章阅读,欢迎阅读!
介绍美国的英文文章阅读篇一
Hospitality美式待客之道
An American friend has invited you to visit his family. You've never been to an American's home before, and you're not sure what to do. Should you take a gift? How should you dress? What time should you arrive? What should you do when you get there? Glad you asked. When you're the guest, you should just make yourself at home. That's what hospitality is all about: making people feel at home when they're not.
一位美国朋友邀请你去他家。你以前从未去过美国人的家,你不确定该怎么做。该带一个礼物吗?该怎么穿?该几点到?到了那里该做什么?很高兴你发问。你若是客人,只要使自己感到自在就好了。待客之道就是这样:虽然不是在家里,却使客人有实至如归之感。
The question of whether or not to bring a gift often makes guests squirm. Giving your host a gift is not just a social nicety in some cultures-it's expected. But in American culture, a guest is not obligated to bring a present. Of course, some people do bring a small token of appreciation to their host. Appropriate gifts for general occasions might be flowers, candy or-if the family has small children-toys. If you choose not to bring a gift, don't worry. No one will even notice.
是否带礼物的问题常使客人不安。在某些文化中,送主人礼物不只是社交礼节——还是必要的。但是在美国文化中,客人并不一定要带礼物。当然,有些人的确会带个表示感谢的小礼物给他们的主人。在一般情況下,带花或是糖果,如果这家人有小孩,玩具应当是恰当的礼物。如果你选择不带礼物,別担心,甚至沒有人会注意到的。
American hospitality begins at home-especially when it involves food. Most Americans agree that good home cooking beats restaurant food any day. When invited for a meal, you might ask, "Can I bring anything?" Unless it's a potluck, where everyone brings a dish, the host will probably respond, "No, just yourself." For most informal dinners, you should wear comfortable, casual clothes. Plan to arrive on time, or else call to inform your hosts of the delay. During the dinner conversation, it's customary to compliment the hostess on the wonderful meal. Of course, the biggest compliment is to eat lots of food!
美国人的待客之道从家里开始——尤其是和食物有关。大多数美国人都同意,无论如何,好的家常菜胜过餐馆的菜。受邀吃饭时,你或许可以问:「我可以带些什么吗?」除非是每人带一道菜的聚餐,否则主人很可能会回答:「不用,你来就可以了。」大多数非正式的聚餐,你应该穿舒适、轻便的衣服。设法准时到,否则打电话告诉主人你会晚点到。用餐时,习惯上,人们会称赞女主人烹调的美食。当然,最大的赞美是多吃!
When you've had plenty, you might offer to clear the table or wash the dishes. But since you're the guest, your hosts may not let you. Instead, they may invite everyone to move to the living room for dessert with tea or coffee. After an hour or so of general chit-chat, it's probably time to head for the door. You don't want to wear out your welcome. And above all, don't go snooping around the house. It's more polite to wait for the host to offer you a guided tour. But except for housewarmings, guests often don't get past the living room.
当你吃得差不多时,或许可以主动表示要帮忙清理桌子或洗碗盘,但你既是客人,你的主人可能不会让你这样做。他们或许会邀请大家到客厅吃点心、喝茶或咖啡。聊个大约一小时或许就该离去了,你可不希望变得不受欢迎吧。还有最重要的是不要在屋子里四处窥探,等主人邀请你参观才较有礼貌。可是除了乔迁喜宴之外,客人通常都只待在客厅里。
Americans usually like to have advance notice when people come to see them. Only very close friends drop by unannounced. This is especially true if the guests want to stay for a few days. Here's a good rule of thumb for house guests: Short stays are best. As one 19th century French writer put it, "The first day a man is a guest, the second a burden, the third a pest." Even relatives don't usually stay for several weeks at a time. While you're staying with an American family, try to keep your living area neat and tidy. Your host family will appreciate your consideration. And they may even invite you back!
美国人通常喜欢访客事先通知他们,只有非常亲密的朋友才可能不请自来,尤其在客人要待好几天时更是如此。最好不要久留——这是给访客的经验之谈。如同十九世纪一位法国作家所写的:「第一天是客人,第二天是负担,第三天就是讨厌鬼了。」即使是亲戚通常也不会一次待上几个星期。当你住在美国人家里时,设法使你住的地方保持整齐清洁。你的主人一家都会感谢你这么体贴,他们甚至会再邀请你!
Most Americans consider themselves hospitable people. Folks in the southern United States, in particular, take pride in entertaining guests. In fact, "southern hospitality" has become legendary. But in all parts of America, people welcome their guests with open arms. So don't be surprised to find the welcome mat out for you. Just don't forget to wipe your feet.
大多数美国人都认为他们是好客之人。尤其是美国的南方人更以款待客人自豪,事实上,「南方的款待」是人们所津津乐道口口相传的。不过在美国各地,人们都展开双臂欢迎他们的客人,所以当你发现有WELCOME字样的鞋垫为你而时,別惊讶,只是別忘了把你的脚擦干净就是了。
介绍美国的英文文章阅读篇二
Driving 美国人的开车习惯
Meet Mitsuaki. He recently arrived in the United States to enter university. He wants to dowell in his studies and adjust to the new culture. But Mitsuaki has a problem. It's not hisroommates. It's not his school fees. It's not even his English ability. Mitsuaki's problem is thathe doesn't have a car. And in America, that really makes him a foreigner. Mitsuaki has alreadydiscovered a basic fact of American culture: Driving is a way of life.
介绍你认识三和木,他最近刚到美国上大学。他的目标是想把书读好并且让自己能够适应这个新的文化。但三和木却遇到了一个问题。问题不是室友,不是学费,甚至不是他的英文能力,三和木的问题是没有车。在美国,没有车真的会让他成了一个十足的外国人。三和木已经发现了美国文化中一个很基本的事实:开车是一种生活方式。
It's not that there's no public transportation in America. Many cities have taxis, buses andsubways to help commuters get to and from work. Some large universities even have buses totake students to classes across campus. But most people find it much more convenient todrive, even if they do have to deal with traffic. Nowadays busy families often have more thanone vehicle. Many people view their car as a status symbol. But no matter their social status,people without wheels feel tied down.
美国不是没有大众运输工具,很多都市都有出租车、公车和地下铁帮助通车族上下班。有些规模大的大学甚至有公车在校园里载送学生到各个教室上课。不过大部份的人还是觉得开车更方便,即使他们得面对交通拥挤的问题。现今忙碌的家庭通常拥有一辆以上的车。很多人把车子视为地位的象征,但是不管他们的社会地位如何,没有车的人往往觉得很受束缚。.
When Mitsuaki first arrived, he was amazed at how young many American drivers therewere. Young people in America often get their driver's license around age 16 by passing awritten test and a driving test. In many cases, before they can get their license, they have totake a driver education course. This course gives students hands-on practice with driving. Italso helps to reduce the high cost of insurance. For teenagers, being able to drive——and insome cases, have their own car——is a big deal. It gives them a sense of power and freedom.Many young Americans consider a driver's license a right, not a privilege. It's rare to find anAmerican teenager without one.
当三和木刚抵达美国时,他很惊讶美国许多开车的人年纪实在很轻。美国的年轻人通常在16岁左右就会通过笔试和路考,取得驾照。很多时候在他们取得驾照之前,他们必须上一个驾驶人教育课程,这个课程提供给学生们实际的驾驶练习,它也有助于降低高额的保险费。对青少年来说,能够开车,甚至拥有一辆自己的车是一件了不起的事,因为它带给他们一种权力与自由的感觉。很多美国的年轻人把驾照视为一种权利,而不是一项特权。在美国要找到一个没有驾照的青少年是很不容易的。
Mitsuaki finally decides that he needs a car. His host family helps him find a good used carto buy. But before he gets his license and starts driving, he has to understand that theAmerican style of driving is defensive, not offensive. He also needs to learn some of the basicrules of the road that good drivers follow.
10 Commandments of Good Driving in America:
1. Yield to vehicles who have the right of way.
2. Don't cut in front of other vehicles.
3. Drive within the speed limit.
4. Obey all road signs and police officers.
5. Pull over to the side of the road when you hear a siren.
6. Stop completely at red lights and stop signs.
7. Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks.
8. Park only in a designated parking space.
9. Use your turn signals when turning or changing lanes.
10. Don't drink and drive.
三和木最后终于决定他需要一辆车,他的寄宿家庭帮助他找到了一辆好的二手车。但是在他拿到驾照并且开始开车之前,他必须先了解,美国人的开车方式是属于防守型,而不是进攻型。他也需要学习一些好的驾驶人应该遵守的基本道路规则。
在美国优良驾驶的十大诫命:
1. 礼让有先行权的车子。
2. 不超车。
3. 行车不超速。
4. 遵守所有的路标和交通警察的指挥。
5. 听到警笛声时,立即靠边停车。
6. 遇到红灯和停止标志时要完全停下来。
7. 在行人穿越道上要礼让行人。
8. 只能在指定的停车地区内停车。
9. 转弯或换车道时要打方向灯。
10. 不要酒后驾车。
As a car owner, Mitsuaki has the responsibility of maintaining his car. He knows that regularmaintenance checkups can help to prevent many serious problems. But no matter how carefulthe maintenance, all vehicles need to be repaired sometimes. Many Americans take their carsto a garage for maintenance and repairs. Others like to work on their own vehicles. NotMitsuaki. He decides that being a student is enough work for him.
身为一个车主,三和木必须负责维修他的车子,他知道定期作保养检查可以预防许多严重的问题发生。不过,不管多么小心地保养,所有的车子有时候都必须修理。很多美国人把他们的车子送到车厂保养和修理;有些人则喜欢自己动手修车。但三和木可不这么做。他觉得当一个学生已经够他忙的了。
Driving is to Americans what flying is to birds. It's almost part of their nature. For manyAmericans, being behind the wheel is like their natural habitat. But if they don't drive carefully,they can become an endangered species.
开车对美国人的必要性,就像鸟儿需要飞翔一样,几乎就是他们天性的一部份。对许多美国人而言,「坐在方向盘后面」就像是他们自然栖息之处。不过,如果他们不小心开车的话,他们可就会变成濒临危险的动物了。
介绍美国的英文文章阅读篇三
Customer Service 美式顾客服务
Would you like to be a king or queen? To have people waiting on you hand and foot? ManyAmericans experience this royal treatment every day. How? By being customers. The Americanidea of customer service is to make each customer the center of attention. Need proof? Justlisten to the commercials. Most of them sound like the McDonald's ad: "We do it all for you."Actually, not all stores in America roll out the red carpet for their customers. But wherever yougo, good customer service means making customers feel special.
你想当国王或皇后吗?想有人把你服事得服服贴贴的吗?很多美国人每天都享受着皇室般的招待。怎样才能享受到呢?只要是顾客就可以了啊。美式的顾客服务就是使每一个顾客成为关注的焦点。需要证明吗?听听广告就知道了。大部份都很像麦当劳的广告一样:麦当劳都是为你。事实上,并不是所有美国的商店都待顾客如同上宾一般。不过无论你走到哪里,好的顾客服务就是让顾客觉得自己独特无比。
People going shopping in America can expect to be treated with respect from the verybeginning. Most places don't have a "furniture street" or a "computer road" which allow you tocompare prices easily. Instead, people often use the telephone and "let their fingers do thewalking" through the Yellow Pages. From the first "hello," customers receive a courteousresponse to their questions. This initial contact can help them decide where to shop.
在美国逛街,顾客们可以从一开始就享受到受尊重的感觉。大部份的城市不会有「家具街」或是「计算机路」,让你可以轻松地比价一番;取而代之的是用电话,让他们的手指头来代步「走过电话簿」。从第一声「哈啰」开始,顾客们的疑问都接收到最殷勤的回答。这个初步的接触,可以协助他们决定该到哪儿去采买。
When customers get to the store, they are treated as honored guests. Customers don'tusually find store clerks sitting around watching TV or playing cards. Instead, the clerks greetthem warmly and offer to help them find what they want. In most stores, the signs that labeleach department make shopping a breeze. Customers usually don't have to ask how muchitems cost, since prices are clearly marked. And unless they're at a flea market or a yard sale,they don't bother trying to bargain.
当顾客们来到店里的时候,他们会受到贵宾般的款待。他们通常不会看到店员坐在那儿看电视或是玩扑克牌。相反的,店员会亲切地打招呼,并且协助寻找需要的东西。大部份的商店里,每个商品分类区清楚的标示使逛街成为一项轻松的乐事。由于价钱已清楚地标示,顾客们通常不需要再问价钱。在美国,除非是跳蚤市场或是旧货大拍卖,否则人们不会费事去讨价还价的。
When customers are ready to check out, they find the nearest and shortest checkout lane.But as Murphy's Law would have it, whichever lane they get in, all the other lanes will movefaster. Good stores open new checkout lanes when the lanes get too long. Some even offerexpress lanes for customers with 10 items or less. After they pay for their purchases,customers receive a smile and a warm "thank you" from the clerk. Many stores even allowcustomers to take their shopping carts out to the parking lot. That way, they don't have tocarry heavy bags out to the car.
当顾客们要结帐的时候,他们会找一个最近、队伍排得最短的收银台去结帐。不过根据莫非定律的说法,不论你排得是哪一列,结果其它列都会前进得比你这一列要快。当结帐队伍太长时,好的商家会再开放新的收银柜台。有些甚至会为购物项目为十项以内的顾客,提供快速收银的服务。当他们付钱之后,店员会给予顾客一个微笑和一句温暖的「谢谢」。有些商店甚至让他们的顾客将购物推车推到停车场去,这样他们就不必提着重重的袋子到车上去了。
In America, customer service continues long after the sale. Many products come with amoney-back guarantee. Expensive items-like cars, computers or stereos-often have awarranty that ensures trouble-free use for a period of a year or more. Advertisements regularlyinclude the motto "Your satisfaction is guaranteed." So if there is a problem with the product,customers can take it back. The customer service representative will often allow them toexchange the item or return it for a full refund. Here's a trivia question: Do you know what'sthe busiest time for most customer service representatives? The week after Christmas.
在美国,顾客服务在成交之后仍持续良久,很多货品都是保证可以退款的,像是车子、電脑或音音像这样高价位的商品,通常会有保证期限,以保证一年或更久的时间內使用该产品没有任何问题。广告中通常会有「保证让你满意」的标语。所以产品若是有问题,顾客可以把它送回去,而客戶服务人员通常会让他们换商品或是全额退钱。这里有一个小问题:你知道什么时候是大部份顾客服务人员最忙的时候吗?圣诞节过后的那个礼拜。
For many American customers, service is everything. If a person receives poor service froma store, he probably will avoid shopping there in the future. On the other hand, customersoften remain loyal to a business that has excellent service even if their prices are high.Customer service in America grows out of the belief that "the customer is always right." Thatmay not always be true. But, as someone has said, the customer is always the customer.
对许多美国的顾客而言,服务就是一切,如果有人在某一家店里受到很糟的服务,他以后可能就会尽量不再去那家店购物。另外一方面,一家店若提供上乘的服务,就算价钱高一点,顾客们通常会保持对该店的忠诚度。美式的顾客服务源于一个信念:顾客永远是对的。这或许不见得全对,不过顾客永远都是顾客!
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