普通高中课程标准实验教科书 英语必修4 Unit 4 Body language-Re

THE OPEN HAND — A UNIVERSAL¹ SIGN

      When meeting people at the airport, most people smile and shake hands with people they meet. We know that a smile is usually a sign that people feel friendly and happy, but what if we don't know who the new person is? What if we are not introduced by a friend? What if we are meeting a stranger in an unfamiliar² place? Sometimes people are dangerous and humans have to find ways to protect themselves. We have to make sure we can trust people we do not know, and we have to show that we are not dangerous. Showing Our hands means³ that we are not armed. In many cultures today, the Western custom of shaking hands is used. We use our right hand, which is usually stronger than the left one. If we are using our hand this way, it cannot be holding a knife or a gun. It shows that we trust the other person, and that the other person can trust us.

      Not all cultures use the handshake⁴, and people in many Asian cultures do not always touch another person. The traditional greeting in China was to cover the left hand with the right and bow. Japanese people might cover one hand with the other and, depending 0n whom they are greeting, bow slightly or quite low. In India, Hindu people join their hands in front of their faces and bow their heads. A Muslim will touch his heart, mouth and forehead(额) to show respect. Even young people in the West now give each other the "high five", when they slap(拍) each other's hands high in the air. They are all keeping their hands busy. In almost all cultures, to smile and show an open right hand means, "Welcome, you are safe with me."

1 universal   

adj.宇宙的，全世界的；普遍的，一般的；通用的，万能的

参考例句：

• First of all we should make primary education universal.首先我们应普及初等教育。
• Climate change is a universal problem.气候变化是个世界性的问题。

2 unfamiliar   

adj.陌生的，不熟悉的

参考例句：

• I am unfamiliar with the place and the people here.我在这儿人地生疏。
• The man seemed unfamiliar to me.这人很面生。

3 means   

n.方法，手段，折中点，物质财富

参考例句：

• That man used artful means to find out secrets.那人使用狡猾的手段获取机密。
• We must get it done by some means or other.我们总得想办法把它干完。

4 handshake   

n.握手

参考例句：

• He welcomed me back with a smile and a handshake.他微笑着和我握手，欢迎我归来。
• Fawcett gave me a hearty handshake.福西特和我亲切地握了握手。