We are always using body language in our daily lives. When we have a conversation with someone, we may use more body language than words. However, the same body language may mean different things in different countries. That’s why people sometimes cannot understand each other.
Pointing to (指) one part of the body can have different meanings in different cultures. For example, in the USA people point to their heads when they think someone is clever. However, in Europe it means “He or she is stupid or something is wrong with his or her head.” In our Chinese culture, nodding our heads up and down means “yes” and shaking our heads from side to side means “no”. However, in some parts of India, Greece and Turkey, they mean just the opposite. |
| In England or the USA, when you raise your hand and make a circle with the thumb（拇指） and the second finger, it means “Everything is all right”. However, if we do this in France or Belgium, it means “You are worth zero”. In Greece or Turkey, we should not make this gesture. Or we are thought to be very rude（粗鲁的）. |
| The meaning of gestures can also change over time. In the 1960s, the “V” sign meant “peace”. However, during World War II, it meant “victory”. In Greece, it is an insulting sign. It will be very rude of you to make this gesture in front of a woman. |
Though the meaning of body language is different, there are some expressions having the same meaning throughout the world, such as smiling and crying.
【小题1】What can we know from the first paragraph?
| A．In different countries the same body language may have different meanings. |
| B．In different countries people use the same body language. |
| C．In different countries people speak different languages. |
| D．In different countries people can understand each other very well. |
【小题2】What do people in Europe show by pointing to their heads?
| A．Somebody is smart. | B．Somebody is hard to get along with. |
| C．Somebody is foolish. | D．Somebody is not healthy. |
【小题3】What will Americans do when they try to say “Everything goes well”?
| A．Point to their heads. |
| B．Raise their hands and make a circle. |
| C．Nod their heads up and down. |
| D．Shake their heads from side to side. |
【小题4】Which of the following is NOT true?
| A．Body language plays an important role in our life. |
| B．The meaning of the “V” sign doesn’t change over time. |
| C．In some parts of Greece, shaking one’s head from side to side means “Yes”. |
| D．Pointing to one’s head has different meanings in the USA and Europe. |
【小题5】What is the passage mainly about?
| A．Successful communication. |
| B．Some customs（习俗）in Western countries. |
| C．Body language in English-speaking countries. |
| D．Body language in different cultures. |
