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Our culture has caused most Americans to assume not only that our language is universal but that the gestures we use are understood by everyone. We do not realize that waving good-bye is the way to summon a person from the Philippines to one's side, or that in Italy and some Latin-American countries, curling the finger to oneself is a sign of farewell.
Those private citizens who sent packages to our troops occupying Germany after World War II and marked, them GIFT to escape duty payments did not bother to find out that "Gift" means poison in German. Moreover, we like to think of ourselves as friendly, yet we prefer to be at 1east 3 feet or an arm's length away from others. Latins and Middle Easterners like to come closer and touch, which makes Americans uncomfortable.
Our linguistic and cultural blindness and the casualness with which we take notice of the developed tastes, gestures, customs and languages of other countries, are losing us friends, business and respect in the world.
Even here in the United States, we make few concessions to the needs of foreign visitors. There are no information signs in four languages on our public buildings or monuments; we do not have multilingual guided tours. Very few restaurant menus have translations, and multilingual waiters, bank clerks and policemen ate rare. Our transportation systems have maps in English only and often we ourselves have difficulty understanding them.
When we go abroad, we tend to cluster in hotels and restaurants where English is spoken. The attitudes and information we pick up are conditioned by those natives——usually the richer—who speak English. Our business dealings, as well as the nation's diplomacy, are conducted through interpreters.
For many years, America and Americans could get by with cultural blindness and linguistic ignorance. After all, America was the most powerful country of the free world, the distributor of needed funds and goods.
But all that is past. American dollars no longer buy all good things, and we are slowly beginning to realize that our proper role in the world is changing. A 1979 Harris poll reported that 55 percent of Americans want this country to play a more significant role in world affairs; we want to have a hand in the important decisions of the next century, even though it may not always be the upper hand.
It can be inferred that Americans being approached too closely by Middle Easterners would most probably ______.

A. stand still
B. step forward
C. jump aside
D. draw back

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It is not enough to observe behaviors and ______ them with physiological events that occur

A. correlate
B. comply
C. correspond
D. pertain

With the US economy slowing down, layoffs are everywhere. No industry is spared. If you end up having to start over, in addition to starting your job search, there are several things you should take care of to make your transition a smooth one.
First and foremost, clear up any misunderstanding about how and why you left your last job with your ex-boss. Whether you left voluntarily, were fired or were laid off due to budget cutbacks, make sure you both have the same explanation. Agree on job titles accordingly. Also ask for a reference if you think your ex-boss will offer one and you trust that he or she will speak honestly about your performance.
You should have a source of emergency cash that you can use in the interim. Don't panic and liquidate your stocks and bonds just yet, be optimistic in your prospects while also be more frugal than usual. You should save money on not having to dry clean work clothes so often and eating less take-out lunches. Save money by not eating out at restaurants and watch videos rather than going to the movies every weekend. Make a note of your job hunting expenses, such as career counselors' consulting fees and resume printing costs, and save the receipts. By next year's tax-filing time, you could get deductions on your job-search expense (unless you left a job willingly or was a college graduate looking for your first job).
Most companies terminate your medical insurance coverage as soon as you stop working for them. But it doesn't mean you have to forgo medical coverage altogether. There is something called Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) in the United States that legally protects an ex-employee's right to stay in the company's health care plan. However, the company will stop paying your premiums, and you will have to pay out of your pocket the expenses. This is still a good option compared to no health insurance at all.
Another important thing to take care of when you change jobs is your 401 (k) account. A 401 (k) is the retirement fund that most companies offer. It's named after section 401 (k) in the Internal Revenue Service's policy documents. You put aside a percentage of your paycheck each pay period, and the money accumulated will be managed by the 401 (k) fund manager your employer has hired and is invested in the stock market. You cannot withdraw money from this account until you reach this age, or you will incur penalties. When you leave a job, the money can sometimes be kept with your ex-employer for a while. It's always a good idea to compare your new employer's 401 (k) plan with your old one. Every company offers different types of investment options, from overseas stocks to high-tech stocks and everything in between. If you do want to transfer the account to your new employer, you need to go to the human resources department and ask for forms that help you make the transition.
Don't forget to ask for job leads from your ex-coworkers. Even if you are leaving for a job in another industry, you never know what people they happen to know that can help with your job search. Keep in touch with the friends you have made at your old job. Remember to anchor yourself to people, not institutions, and you will find that any transition is made easier.
According to paragraph 1, in the United States, ______.

A. most industries stay unaffected by global economic recession
B. each and every company spares no effort to survive the fierce competition
C. compulsory redundancy is going on in every industry
D. employees are laid off because they are not qualified for their jobs

They ______ themselves ______ the politician because they hoped he would become president

A. connected... with
B. combined ... with
C. linked... up
D. attached... to

Although tile media have paid a great deal of attention to telecommuting, in most cases it

A. precipitates
B. reciprocates
C. anticipates
D. apprehends

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