介紹美國的英文文章閱讀
美國文化中的普世主義是美國深層文化的一個重要方面,它無時無刻不在影響著美國人對客觀世界的看法,也影響著美國政府對外文化等戰(zhàn)略的制定。下面是學習啦小編帶來的介紹美國的英文文章閱讀,歡迎閱讀!
介紹美國的英文文章閱讀篇一
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.
一位美國朋友邀請你去他家。你以前從未去過美國人的家,你不確定該怎么做。該帶一個禮物嗎?該怎么穿?該幾點到?到了那里該做什么?很高興你發(fā)問。你若是客人,只要使自己感到自在就好了。待客之道就是這樣:雖然不是在家里,卻使客人有實至如歸之感。
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.
是否帶禮物的問題常使客人不安。在某些文化中,送主人禮物不只是社交禮節(jié)——還是必要的。但是在美國文化中,客人并不一定要帶禮物。當然,有些人的確會帶個表示感謝的小禮物給他們的主人。在一般情況下,帶花或是糖果,如果這家人有小孩,玩具應當是恰當?shù)亩Y物。如果你選擇不帶禮物,別擔心,甚至沒有人會注意到的。
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!
美國人的待客之道從家里開始——尤其是和食物有關。大多數(shù)美國人都同意,無論如何,好的家常菜勝過餐館的菜。受邀吃飯時,你或許可以問:「我可以帶些什么嗎?」除非是每人帶一道菜的聚餐,否則主人很可能會回答:「不用,你來就可以了?!勾蠖鄶?shù)非正式的聚餐,你應該穿舒適、輕便的衣服。設法準時到,否則打電話告訴主人你會晚點到。用餐時,習慣上,人們會稱贊女主人烹調(diào)的美食。當然,最大的贊美是多吃!
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.
當你吃得差不多時,或許可以主動表示要幫忙清理桌子或洗碗盤,但你既是客人,你的主人可能不會讓你這樣做。他們或許會邀請大家到客廳吃點心、喝茶或咖啡。聊個大約一小時或許就該離去了,你可不希望變得不受歡迎吧。還有最重要的是不要在屋子里四處窺探,等主人邀請你參觀才較有禮貌??墒浅藛踢w喜宴之外,客人通常都只待在客廳里。
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!
美國人通常喜歡訪客事先通知他們,只有非常親密的朋友才可能不請自來,尤其在客人要待好幾天時更是如此。最好不要久留——這是給訪客的經(jīng)驗之談。如同十九世紀一位法國作家所寫的:「第一天是客人,第二天是負擔,第三天就是討厭鬼了?!辜词故怯H戚通常也不會一次待上幾個星期。當你住在美國人家里時,設法使你住的地方保持整齊清潔。你的主人一家都會感謝你這么體貼,他們甚至會再邀請你!
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.
大多數(shù)美國人都認為他們是好客之人。尤其是美國的南方人更以款待客人自豪,事實上,「南方的款待」是人們所津津樂道口口相傳的。不過在美國各地,人們都展開雙臂歡迎他們的客人,所以當你發(fā)現(xiàn)有WELCOME字樣的鞋墊為你而時,別驚訝,只是別忘了把你的腳擦干凈就是了。
介紹美國的英文文章閱讀篇二
Driving 美國人的開車習慣
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.
介紹你認識三和木,他最近剛到美國上大學。他的目標是想把書讀好并且讓自己能夠適應這個新的文化。但三和木卻遇到了一個問題。問題不是室友,不是學費,甚至不是他的英文能力,三和木的問題是沒有車。在美國,沒有車真的會讓他成了一個十足的外國人。三和木已經(jīng)發(fā)現(xiàn)了美國文化中一個很基本的事實:開車是一種生活方式。
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.
美國不是沒有大眾運輸工具,很多都市都有出租車、公車和地下鐵幫助通車族上下班。有些規(guī)模大的大學甚至有公車在校園里載送學生到各個教室上課。不過大部份的人還是覺得開車更方便,即使他們得面對交通擁擠的問題?,F(xiàn)今忙碌的家庭通常擁有一輛以上的車。很多人把車子視為地位的象征,但是不管他們的社會地位如何,沒有車的人往往覺得很受束縛。.
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.
當三和木剛抵達美國時,他很驚訝美國許多開車的人年紀實在很輕。美國的年輕人通常在16歲左右就會通過筆試和路考,取得駕照。很多時候在他們?nèi)〉民{照之前,他們必須上一個駕駛人教育課程,這個課程提供給學生們實際的駕駛練習,它也有助于降低高額的保險費。對青少年來說,能夠開車,甚至擁有一輛自己的車是一件了不起的事,因為它帶給他們一種權力與自由的感覺。很多美國的年輕人把駕照視為一種權利,而不是一項特權。在美國要找到一個沒有駕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.
三和木最后終于決定他需要一輛車,他的寄宿家庭幫助他找到了一輛好的二手車。但是在他拿到駕照并且開始開車之前,他必須先了解,美國人的開車方式是屬于防守型,而不是進攻型。他也需要學習一些好的駕駛人應該遵守的基本道路規(guī)則。
在美國優(yōu)良駕駛的十大誡命:
1. 禮讓有先行權的車子。
2. 不超車。
3. 行車不超速。
4. 遵守所有的路標和交通警察的指揮。
5. 聽到警笛聲時,立即靠邊停車。
6. 遇到紅燈和停止標志時要完全停下來。
7. 在行人穿越道上要禮讓行人。
8. 只能在指定的停車地區(qū)內(nèi)停車。
9. 轉彎或換車道時要打方向燈。
10. 不要酒后駕車。
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.
身為一個車主,三和木必須負責維修他的車子,他知道定期作保養(yǎng)檢查可以預防許多嚴重的問題發(fā)生。不過,不管多么小心地保養(yǎng),所有的車子有時候都必須修理。很多美國人把他們的車子送到車廠保養(yǎng)和修理;有些人則喜歡自己動手修車。但三和木可不這么做。他覺得當一個學生已經(jīng)夠他忙的了。
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.
開車對美國人的必要性,就像鳥兒需要飛翔一樣,幾乎就是他們天性的一部份。對許多美國人而言,「坐在方向盤后面」就像是他們自然棲息之處。不過,如果他們不小心開車的話,他們可就會變成瀕臨危險的動物了。
介紹美國的英文文章閱讀篇三
Customer Service 美式顧客服務
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.
你想當國王或皇后嗎?想有人把你服事得服服貼貼的嗎?很多美國人每天都享受著皇室般的招待。怎樣才能享受到呢?只要是顧客就可以了啊。美式的顧客服務就是使每一個顧客成為關注的焦點。需要證明嗎?聽聽廣告就知道了。大部份都很像麥當勞的廣告一樣:麥當勞都是為你。事實上,并不是所有美國的商店都待顧客如同上賓一般。不過無論你走到哪里,好的顧客服務就是讓顧客覺得自己獨特無比。
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.
在美國逛街,顧客們可以從一開始就享受到受尊重的感覺。大部份的城市不會有「家具街」或是「計算機路」,讓你可以輕松地比價一番;取而代之的是用電話,讓他們的手指頭來代步「走過電話簿」。從第一聲「哈啰」開始,顧客們的疑問都接收到最殷勤的回答。這個初步的接觸,可以協(xié)助他們決定該到哪兒去采買。
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.
當顧客們來到店里的時候,他們會受到貴賓般的款待。他們通常不會看到店員坐在那兒看電視或是玩撲克牌。相反的,店員會親切地打招呼,并且協(xié)助尋找需要的東西。大部份的商店里,每個商品分類區(qū)清楚的標示使逛街成為一項輕松的樂事。由于價錢已清楚地標示,顧客們通常不需要再問價錢。在美國,除非是跳蚤市場或是舊貨大拍賣,否則人們不會費事去討價還價的。
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.
當顧客們要結帳的時候,他們會找一個最近、隊伍排得最短的收銀臺去結帳。不過根據(jù)莫非定律的說法,不論你排得是哪一列,結果其它列都會前進得比你這一列要快。當結帳隊伍太長時,好的商家會再開放新的收銀柜臺。有些甚至會為購物項目為十項以內(nèi)的顧客,提供快速收銀的服務。當他們付錢之后,店員會給予顧客一個微笑和一句溫暖的「謝謝」。有些商店甚至讓他們的顧客將購物推車推到停車場去,這樣他們就不必提著重重的袋子到車上去了。
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.
在美國,顧客服務在成交之后仍持續(xù)良久,很多貨品都是保證可以退款的,像是車子、電腦或音音像這樣高價位的商品,通常會有保證期限,以保證一年或更久的時間內(nèi)使用該產(chǎn)品沒有任何問題。廣告中通常會有「保證讓你滿意」的標語。所以產(chǎn)品若是有問題,顧客可以把它送回去,而客戶服務人員通常會讓他們換商品或是全額退錢。這里有一個小問題:你知道什么時候是大部份顧客服務人員最忙的時候嗎?圣誕節(jié)過后的那個禮拜。
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.
對許多美國的顧客而言,服務就是一切,如果有人在某一家店里受到很糟的服務,他以后可能就會盡量不再去那家店購物。另外一方面,一家店若提供上乘的服務,就算價錢高一點,顧客們通常會保持對該店的忠誠度。美式的顧客服務源于一個信念:顧客永遠是對的。這或許不見得全對,不過顧客永遠都是顧客!
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