An important part of any business relationship is informal conversation. Before you start a discussion, ___1___, make sure you understand which topics are ___2___ and which are considered taboo (禁忌) in a ___3___ culture. Latin Americans enjoy ___4___ information about their local history, art, and customs. ___5___ questions about your family, and be sure to show pictures of your children. You may feel free to ask ___6___ questions of your Latin American friends. The French think of conversation as an art ___7___, and they enjoy the value of lively discussions as well as ___8___. For them, arguments can be interesting — and they can ___9___ pretty much or any topic— ___10___ they occur in a respectful and intelligent manner.
In the United States, business people like to discuss a ___11___ range of topics, including opinions about work, family, hobbies, and politics. In Japan, China, and Korea, however, people are much more private. They do not talk much about ___12___ thoughts, feelings, or emotions because they feel that doing so might take away the harmonious business relationship they’re trying to ___13___. Middle Easterners are also private about their personal lives and family ___14___. It is considered ___15___ , for example, to ask a businessman from Saudi Arabia about his wife or children.
As a general ___16___ , it’s best not to talk about politics or religion with your business friends. This ___17___ get you into trouble, ___18___ in the United States, where people hold different views. In addition, discussing one’s salary is usually considered unsuitable. Sports is ___19___ a friendly subject in most parts of the world, although be careful not to ___20___ a national sport. Instead, be friendly and praise your host’s team.
1. A. therefore B. however C. thus D. then
2. A. enjoyable B. respectable C. available D. suitable
3. A. particular B. special C. especial D. usual
4. A. requiring B. requesting C. speaking D. sharing
5. A. Prepare B. Collect C. Expect D. Imagine
6. A. similar B. strange C. interesting D. favorable
7. A. lesson B. show C. form D. exhibition
8. A. agreements B. equipment C. disagreements D. instruments
9. A. say B. cover C. make D. hold
10. A. as far as B. even though C. as long as D. for fear that
11. A. long B. various C. wide D. small
12. A. other B. our C. your D. their
13. A. instruct B. direct C. control D. build
14. A. history B. matters C. tree D. pictures
15. A. rude B. polite C. curious D. dangerous
16. A. idea B. rule C. regulation D. direction
17. A. can B. must C. need D. should
18. A. even B. still C. never D. not
19. A. hardly B. instantly C. nearly D. typically
20. A. beat B. criticize C. strike D. organize
