Question

When you speak to foreigners, what will you do if you can’t understand their languages? Will you use your body language to help you, or just say sorry to them and then go away? Learning spoken language is very important, but learning local gestures (手勢) is also very necessary.

I often use gestures to communicate with someone whose language I don’t know. We use our hands to talk with each other. Although we don’t understand the other’s words, our hand movements make our conversation more necessary.

However, gestures aren’t always clear. Different gestures may have different meanings in different countries and cultures.

In many countries, people move their hands at someone to call him to come near. In the United States, people usually move hands at someone with their palms (手掌) up and sometimes move just one finger. But in many countries in Asia, hand movements like that would be impolite. In Asia, many people move hands at someone with their palms down using all fingers.

Do you use your thumb, your thick short finger to make gestures? In western countries, “thumbs-up” means agreement. But it is very rude in parts of Africa.

If you want to say “OK” in America, you can make a circle (圓) with the thumb and the second finger. But in France, it means “zero”, and it is very rude in many other countries.

You can use your second finger to point at something but not at somebody in the United States. However, in some parts of Europe, Asia and Africa, pointing at something with one’s second finger is not polite.

“V” form is often used when people take photos. But using two fingers to make up the “V” shape means “peace” in the West.

The last example is that people in parts of Asia point to their noses to mean themselves, but people in western countries usually point to their chests.

Gestures are important, but also have different meanings.

1.The writer begins with the questions in order to________.

A.tell a story B.solve some problems

C.catch readers’ attention D.introduce some gestures

2.It’s OK to________ to call someone to come near by moving just one finger.

A.America B.Asia C.Africa D.Europe

3.According to the passage, we can learn that________.

A.pointing one finger at someone in the United States is sometimes allowed B.using “thumbs-up” as your body language is very rude in parts of Africa

C.making a circle with the thumb and the next finger means “0” in America D.using two fingers to make up the “V” shape means “success” in the West.

4.The best title of this passage can be “_______”.

A.Work hard to Learn Different Cultures around the World B.Talk to Other People with Spoken Language Successfully C.Different Gestures Are Difficult to Understand and Learn

D.Making Sure Your Gestures Are Saying What You Want to Say

Answer 1