10月16日中午12点40分

现场抽签、彩排走场

Mark Johnson, a department manager working for a companyBombardier TransportationinToronto, shared the office with a colleague from China called Lin Xiaoyi. They had worked together in the team of the same project for more than 3 months. One day, Mark invited Xiaoyi to see a movie.

Mark: Xiaoyi, do you like movies?

Xiaoyi: Yes, I do.

Mark: I’d like to invite you to see a movie.

Xiaoyi: Errr, that’s not necessary Mark, I can go to see the movie

myself.

Mark: Well, I do wish to invite you.

Xiaoyi: OK then.

Mark: What kind of movies do you like best?

Xiaoyi: I don’t care. It’s up to you.

Mark: Since I live here, I can go to any movie I like at any time. But if you have any movie particular in your mind, I will take you to that.

Xiaoyi: I don’t mind really. Any movie you like will be fine.

Mark felt confused and frustrated by the response from Xiaoyi and he was a bit at a loss to react further.

.......

The next year Mark was sent to work inBombardier Transportationin China. Mr. Ma Lin is Mark’s immediate boss of the company in China who appreciated Mark’s initiative attitude and innovative ability. He emailed every day to Mark, inquiring for the index number he was most concerned about. To his great astonishment, Mark turned in his resignation after a month and asked to go back to work in Toronto. Mr. Ma was very puzzled how Mark could do that to him as he gave such great attention to his job. A Chinese employee would have been more than happy if his boss had showed such great concern for him.

Miss Ann Smith is from U.K. and she is teaching English in a university in Shanghai. She said the first class was a disaster to her. Ann first gave a brief self introduction, and then she asked the students to raise questions.“Any questions will do”, she said. However, the questions raised by students made her feel embarrassed and confused. She recalled:“I have never been asked in this way, and I don’t know how to answer them”.

(1)

Student A: How old are you, Miss Ann?

Ann Smith: Well, about that.

Student A: Oh, about what?

(2)

Student B: Teacher Ann, how many children do you have?

Ann Smith: I’m not married actually.

Student B: I’m sorry.

Ann Smith: Sorry for what?

(3)

Student C: Ann Laoshi, I've heard that foreign teachers all have a high salary.

How much do you earn in China?

Ann Smith: Well, I am not quite clear. Maybe we get paid more than Chinese teachers.

(4)

Student D: Miss Smith, do you like travel? Have you ever visited Jianyin? That is my home

town.

Ann Smith: No. I don't think I've ever heard of that place. Is it near here?

Student D: Not very far from here. You should go and visit it this summer vacation and I can

be your tour guide. It’s really a nice place.

Ann Smith: Well, thank you. I’ve got my plan for touring in China already.

(5)

Student E: Miss Ann, are you ill? You look so pale.

Ann Smith: No, may be yesterday evening I slept too late and this morning when I got up,

I had a slight headache. Now I’m OK.

Student E: O I’m sorry to hear that. You shouldn’t sleep too late because it’s not good for

your health. And you’d better go to see the doctor after the class.

Ann Smith: Err... (The student gave the advice with a good intention, while Ann felt very uncomfortable. She just frowned and didn’t know how to response.)