Just the other day,I was in a bookshop and found a book named How to make friends with foreigners.As a Canadian living in China for a year,I was curious to see what kind of advice a Chinese writer giving on this matter.
One piece of advice really caught my attention and,I must say,made me feel quite angry.In the writer's opinion,foreigners are an"opportunity (机会)"to improve your oral English;whenever you see a foreigner,American or English,you should practise speaking English with him or her.If the foreigner doesn't want answer your questions,then he or she is a nude person who you wouldn't want to spend time with anyway.I think this advice is not only incorrect,but also may harm the relationship between Chinese and foreigners in China.
Like most other "Lao Wai" living in China,I know how lonely one can sometimes feel living in a culture different from our own familiar (熟悉的) ways.However,I simply accept as part of being here.So far my time in China has been rewarding.I have improved my Chinese language skills,learned about one of the fastest developing countries in the world today and made some very close Chinese friends.
However,I have also met many Chinese people who consider me only as an "opportunity" to improve their oral English.I have had people following me from town to my flat to trouble me to teach them English.I have had complete strangers throwing articles or speeches in my face,insisting that I help them with the English translation.I have had people asking me non﹣stop questions for half an hour at the weekly English Corner ...
Friendship for a lot of foreigners is about spending time with someone whose company (陪伴) they really enjoy.So if there is any advice to give on making and keeping friendships with foreigners,I would say that it is this:Treat foreigners as people,not opportunities.Expect to make friendships step by step,over a period of time,not in a rush. If your only reason for becoming friends with a foreigner is to improve your English,then you will probably find that you don't have a foreign friend for long.
(1)Where is the writer of this passage from?
A.America.
B.China.
C.Canada.
D.England.
(2)Why is the writer of the passage interested in the book How to make friends with foreigners?
A.Because he wants to have some more close Chinese Friends.
B.Because he has greatly improved his Chinese language skills.
C.Because no Chinese people would like to make friends with him.
D.Because he wants to know about the Chinese writer's advice on this topic.
(3)According to the writer of the book How to make friends with foreigners, .
A.his advice may make foreigners angry
B.it is rude of you to ask a foreigner questions
C.you should choose a good foreigner to practise English with
D.don't waste time on a foreigner who doesn't answer your questions
(4)In the fourth paragraph,the writer uses"I have had.." three times,because .
A.he had no better sentences to express his ideas.
B.he wanted to show how he hated to make friends with Chinese.
C.he wanted to show how he hated to be treated as an opportunity".
D.he met Chinese who wanted to make friends with him only three times.
(5)Which sentence may be the best to fill in the " " in the last paragraph?
A.True friendships stand (经得起) the test of time.
B.Learn about different cultures to make real friends.
C.Friends are about opportunities or personal advantages.
D.There's real friendship between people from different countries.