【正文】 ion/Work Orientation 17 . “Don?t just stand there,” goes a typical bit of American advice, “do something!” This expression is normally used in a crisis situation, yet, in a sense, it describes most American?s entire waking life, where action — any action — is seen to be superior to inaction. 18. 美國人的一天通常會安排得很緊湊。而且他們可以隨時加入或退出某個團體。美國以外的人認為一個人從剛一出生就知道自己是誰、屬于被稱之為“社會”的復雜體系的哪個階層會讓人感到寬慰。他們說人“生來平等”。在外國人看來，美國人似乎更關注按時（根據(jù)預定的日程表）完成任務而不是發(fā)展深層人際關系。 ? Personal Control over the Environment ? 6. Americans no longer believe in the power of Fate, and they have e to look at people who do as being backward, primitive, or hopelessly naive. To be called “fatalistic” is one of the worst criticisms one can receive in the American context。美國人普遍認為他們受家庭、教會或學校影響很輕微。?Text A ?The Values Americans Live By ? A culture can be viewed as a collection of values that go together to shape the way a group of people perceive and relate to the world around them. As people grow up, they learn certain values, which will influence and shape their way of life. How does American culture differ from others? The way to address this question is to consider the values Americans live by. ? “Values” are ideas about what is right and wrong, desirable and undesirable, normal and abnormal, proper and improper. Most people who grow up in a particular culture share certain values. These values overlap and support each other。 3. Although Americans may think of themselves as being more varied and unpredictable than they actually are, it is significant that they think they are. Americans tend to think they have been only slightly influenced by family, church or schools. In the end, each believes, “I personally chose which values I want to live my own life by.” 3. 盡管美國人可能認為他們自己比實際看上去更加變幻莫測，但重要的是他們的確認為自己變幻莫測。因此，僅僅熟悉這些價值觀是不夠的，還必須盡可能做到不因自身經歷和文化身份而對這些價值觀有負面和貶損的看法。 ? Time and Its Control 8. Time is, for the average American, of utmost importance. To the foreign visitor, Americans seem to be more concerned with getting things acplished on time (according to a predetermined schedule) than they are with developing deep interpersonal relations. Schedules, for the American, are meant to be planned and then followed in the smallest detail. 把握時間 8. 對普通美國人來說，時間至關重要。 Equality 12. Equality is, for Americans, one of their most cherished values. This concept is so important for Americans that they have even given it a religious basis. They say all people have been “created equal.” Most Americans believe that God views all humans alike without regard to intelligence, physical condition or economic status. 平等 12. 平等是美國人最珍視的價值理念之一，美國人也因此而賦予這一理念以宗教基礎。 Class and authority seem to give people in those other societies a sense of security and certainty. People outside the United States consider it reassuring to know, from birth, who they are and where they fit into the plex system called “society.” 等級和權威似乎能給那些其他國家的人一種安全感和確定感。 They may, and do, join groups — in fact many groups — but somehow believe they?re just a little different, just a little unique, just a little special, from other members of the same group. And they tend to leave groups as easily as they enter them. 他們的確會加入一個群體（亦或許多群體），但他們相信他們與眾不同、獨一無二，與其他團體成員總有區(qū)別。在美國人的生活中，認為活動 —任何活動 —都比不作為要好。 ? 20. The workaholic syndrome, in turn, causes Americans to identify themselves wholly with their professions. The first question one American will ask another American when meeting for the first time is related to his or her work: “Where do you work?” or “Who (what pany) are you with?” 20. 相應地，這種對工作的狂熱使美國人完全把自己和職業(yè)劃上等號。 ? 25. Dress is another area where American informality will be most noticeable, perhaps even shocking. One can go to a symphony performance, for example, in any large American city nowadays and find some people in the audience dressed in blue jeans and tieless, shortsleeved shirts. 25. 美國人的這一風格在衣著方面體現(xiàn)得淋漓盡致，甚至令人嘆為觀止。如果在你的國家人們用間接委婉的方式來傳達壞消息或負面評價，美國人的直率簡直會令習慣隱喻的你大驚失色！ They are likely to be pletely honest in delivering their negative evaluations. If you e from a society that uses the indirect manner of conveying bad news or unplimentary evaluations, you will be shocked at Americans? bluntness. 29. If you e from a country where saving face is important, be assured that Americans are not trying to make you lose face with their directness. It is important to realize that an American would not, in such case, lose face. 29. 如果你認為“要面子”很重要，那么請相信美國人的直率并不是存心讓你大丟面子。 Practicality and Efficiency 32. Americans have a reputation for being realistic, practical, and efficient. The practical consideration is likely to be given highest priority in making any important decision. 務實和效率 32. 美國人被公認是務實和講效 率的。 Americans belittle “emotional” and “subjective” evaluations in favor of “rational” and “objective” assessments. Americans try to avoid being “too sentimental” in making their decisions. They judge every situation “on its own merits.” 美國人鄙視主觀感性，偏愛理性客觀。 誹謗 He criticized the poem severely and went on to make derogatory remarks about her. Such conduct would only be derogatory to his own ,并說了許多詆毀她的話。s death, resulting in the eviction of her family from their home, precipitates Tess39。 cut off： interrupt sb speaking on the phone by breaking the connection切斷電話線路； stop the supply of sth to sb停止向某人供應； prevent sth or sb from leaving or reaching a place or municating with people outside a place使與外界隔絕；disinherit sb 剝奪某人的繼承權 We were cut off in the mi