王强口语 第二册 Read Text 019

　　口语部分
文化篇
Read the text carefully and be prepared to answer the question:
Topics of Discussion¹
People like to talk about politics² when they hold similar opinions, but when a group holds very different views, it is probably a subject to steer³ clear of . For the most part, we don't like to argue.  So, when arguments start, we try to settle⁴ it or stop it.  While the French may find a quarrel invigorating, we take disagreement⁵ very personally.
Americans are generally not deep-thinkers and don't keep up with what's happening in the rest of the world.  This is part of the reason why a German with many American friends once commented that he was surprised by their hardly talking about subjects of national or world awareness⁶.  It is not rude to bring up large topics and expect others to comment on them, but you will probably find the talk quickly slips⁷ back to safe, easy matters. These are often questions of opinion.  Do you like to travel?  Did you like that TV show? What do you think of the weather?  How was the food at the new restaurant?  By talking about what we like or don't like, we try to learn if we like this person. American society is ordered9according to taste just as much as other things.

1 discussion   

n.讨论，谈论；论述

参考例句：

• It is certain he will come to the discussion.他肯定会来参加讨论。
• After months of discussion,a peace agreement is gradually taking shape.经过几个月的商讨，和平协议渐渐有了眉目。

2 politics   

n.政治，政治学；政纲，政见，策略

参考例句：

• They seldom talk on politics in those days.那时人们很少谈论政治。
• The two brothers differed about politics.这兄弟俩政见不同。

3 steer   

vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶

参考例句：

• If you push the car, I'll steer it.如果你来推车，我就来驾车。
• It's no use trying to steer the boy into a course of action that suits you.想说服这孩子按你的方式行事是徒劳的。

4 settle   

vi.安家；定居；停留；vt.使定居；安排；解决

参考例句：

• I have to settle my affairs before leaving here.离开这儿以前，我得把一些私人的事情安排妥当。
• She has decided how she should settle the matter.她已做出决定如何来了解这件事。

5 disagreement   

n.不一致；分歧；意见不合

参考例句：

• They were in disagreement about the move to Cambridge.他们在是否迁居剑桥方面有争议。
• I hope this disagreement does not divide us.我希望意见不同不至于使我们分道扬镳。

6 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

7 slips   

v.滑( slip的第三人称单数 )；滑脱；下降；（健康状况等）变差

参考例句：

• There are a few trivial slips in this lesson. 在这篇课文中有几个小错误。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He slips now and then in his grammar. 他不时地犯语法错误。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》