Section_ⅢLesson_2_&_Lesson_3_-_Pre­reading

　　[原文呈现]

　　When I first arrived in San Francisco, I had a difficult time understanding① certain aspects② of the American way of doing things. Once③ I went to visit an American friend. After a splendid④ evening, I finished my cocoa⑤ and got ready to leave. As soon as⑥ we said goodbye, my friend went back to his room closing the door behind him⑦. It made me feel that I was not really welcome.

　　Jin Li

　　I've always been outgoing⑧ but since an embarrassing experience in a New York restaurant I've been much more cautious⑨. I was enjoying my dessert⑩ and talking to my American friend Janice at the table when I noticed people staring⑪ at us⑫. I asked Janice what was wrong and she told me that I was talking too loudly. She said that to some American people, it sounded like I was shouting. I whispered⑬ for the rest of the evening.

　　Wang Lei

　　[读文清障]

　　①have a difficult time doing sth.做某事很艰难

　　have difficulty/trouble/problems (in) doing sth.做某事有困难

　　②aspect/'æspekt/n.方面

　　③once adv.一次；曾经，一度

　　④splendid/'splendId/adj.极佳的，非常好的；壮观的

　　⑤cocoa/'kəʊkəʊ/n.可可饮料，可可粉

　　⑥as soon as"一......就......"，引导时间状语从句。

　　⑦closing the door behind him是现在分词短语作伴随状语。

　　⑧outgoing/'aʊt'ɡəʊIŋ/adj.友好的，乐于交友的

　　⑨cautious/'kɔːʃəs/adj.小心翼翼的，谨慎的

　　be cautious about对......谨慎

⑩dessert/dI'zɜːt/n.(正餐最后的)甜食，甜点心