A
(2020·合肥市第二次教学质量检测)People often talk about cultural differences between western and eastern countries，but how about the western world itself? Surprisingly，a closer look at it can reveal a good many curious details.
The most obvious characteristic of the majority of Americans is that they smile a lot.It does not matter whether they have a strong reason to smile；they do it，sometimes simply because they have to.A smile is not just a powerful marketing tool but also a way to show that someone is friendly，and that life in general is fine.Europeans，on the contrary，prefer to keep a more neutral(不带感情色彩的)facial expression.They smile mostly when they are in a good mood，or feel amused；if not，a European's face will remain neutral，or even dull.In Russia，for example，there is a proverb saying that laughing for no reason is a sign of a fool.It does not mean that Europeans are serious，or that they do not have a sense of humor.
The same refers to communication in general.Americans are extremely communicative；small talks and chats are common.Europeans talk mostly when there is something to say，and rarely enter communication just for the purpose of talking to other people.American people prefer to express what they think carefully，considering how it might affect surrounding people.Europeans are more straightforward，even with unfamiliar people.A European friend will almost always voice his opinion on different occasions，and will not hesitate to remind you that you need to lose some weight or take a shower.
It can be said that Americans are people of contrasts.They are openminded，flexible，and ready to accept everything new enthusiastically；but at the same time，American society manages to bring up unbelievable conservatives.Americans are extremely politically correct，which，in most cases，is indeed a secure and beneficial practice，but it can also mess up daily or even private communication，sometimes preventing having close relationships.Europeans，on the contrary，are more straightforward，preferring to tell the truth in direct ways.Each way of communication is different — neither is correct or incorrect.
【语篇解读】 本文主要介绍了西方国家间的文化差异，包括微笑和交流等方面。
1．What does the author say about smiling?
A．It is culturerelated within western countries.
B．It is a powerful marketing tool across cultures.
C．It is thought of as a sign of a fool in America.
D．It is regarded as a social necessity in Europe.
A [推理判断题。作者在第二段中讲到了美国人、欧洲人对微笑的不同解读，据此可以推知，在西方国家笑是与文化有关的，故A项正确。]
2．What is typical of Europeans' communication?
A．Beating around the bush.
B．Having small talks and chats.
C．Hiding their feelings carefully.
D．Expressing themselves openly.
D [细节理解题。根据第三段中的“Europeans are more straightforward...take a shower”可知，欧洲人通常坦诚地表达自己，故选D。A项意为“绕圈子，拐弯抹角地讲话”。]
3．What does the underlined word “it” in the last paragraph refer to?
A．Being straightforward.
B．Being politically correct.
C．Accepting everything new.
D．Raising unbelievable conservatives.
B [代词指代题。画线词前的“Americans are extremely politically correct, which，in most cases，is indeed a secure and beneficial practice”与后面的“mess up daily or even private communication”存在转折关系，又结合语境可推知，it指代的应该是美国人的这种政治正确性，故选B。]
4．How is the text mainly developed?
A．By analyzing cause and effect.
B．By making comparisons.
C．By classifying body language.
D．By discussing research findings.
B [推理判断题。通读全文可知，作者通过分析美国人和欧洲人对微笑的不同解读以及通常在交际中
的不同表现来展开文章，因此可推知，作者是通过做比较展开文章的，故选B。]
