Unit 
Differences
Culture
Customs
One You must have been here
long time already.
你肯定在这里等
很久。
Introduction
A Being
time
considered good manners. It’s not polite
be late
classes, meetings, or appointments. When we do business with foreigners, make sure notbe late. Foreigners keep punctual time. Punctuality can greatly increase your credibility, too.
准时被看作很礼貌。课、开会或者约会迟到很礼貌。当我们和老外做生意时，务必要迟到。外国人很守时。守时作风也可以大大地提高你信誉度。
B In America, it’s impolitecall someone’s home very earlythe morning or very late at night unless therean emergency. For example, 8 A.M.considered too early0 P.M.considered too late. Especiallyweekends, many people likestay up lateget up late. So make sure notdisturb people who may be resting or sleeping.
在美国，除非紧急情况，早很早或者晚很晚打电话到别人家很礼貌。举例来说，早八点就被认为很早，晚十点就被认为很晚。尤其在周末，许多人喜欢晚睡晚起。所以确定要打扰他人休息或睡觉。
2 Sample Sentences
. She was heremoment ago.
她刚才还在这。
2. Don’t worry, your father will come back afterwhile.
别担心, 你爸爸会就回来。
3. The rent should be paidadvance.
房租要预先支付。
4. We must hurry up if we wantbe theretime.
如果想准时到那里话，我们就必须动作快点。
5. wishcould stay here another month.
我真希望我还能在这里再呆月。
6. thinkcan havedonea couplehours.
我想几小时之内我就可以做好。
7. Do you rentcamera byhour or byday?
你照相机出租按小时算，还按天数算？
8. was five minutes latework this morning.
今天早我班迟到五分钟。
9. Your watchten minutes aheadtimeyou’re still late.
你手表快十分钟，而你还迟到。
0. He always leaves work at sixthe dot. He won’t work an extra minute. 他六点钟总准时下班。他会多工作分钟。
3 Conversations.
A Chinese girlcaught atsubway station by heavy rain. Shesupposedmeet her friend, Hans,the lobbythe Garden Hotel at :00 A.M., but she doesn’t havewatch, so she decidesaskmanthe time.
Girl: Excuse me, Sir, do you know what timeis?
Man: Oh, it’s almost eleven twenty.
Girl: Thank you.
Man: You’re welcome. The rainquite heavy, isn’t it?
Girl: Yeah. wasa hurry andforgot my umbrella today.
Man: have one. We could share it. Which way are you going?
Girl: Oh, that’s very kindyou. am goingthe Garden Hotel.
Man: am going there, too. We can walk together.
Girl: Sure.
Helpful Information:
Timeweatherthe topic that two strangers often beginconversation. Usually people beginknow each other by this way.
时间和天气，两陌生人之间常开始谈论话题。人们通常这样开始互相认识。
【译文】
——对起，先生，你知道几点吗？
——噢，快十点二十分。
——谢谢。
——没关系。这雨可下得真大，吗？
——啊。今天我匆匆忙忙忘带伞。
——我伞，我们可以共用。你往哪边走？
——噢，那太好。我去花园酒店。
——我也去那里。我们可以起走。——当然。
2. Inlobby. Hans: Hi, Cindy. thought I’d missed you.
Girl: Oh,am very sorry, Hans. Thank youwaitingme. You must have been herelong time already.
Hans: It’s all right.
Girl: was caughtthe heavy rain, orwould have come earlier. am sorrykept you waiting.
Hans: wasa comfortable place, so really, it’s no problem. am happysee you. Didrain hold you up long?
Girl: Yes. Whencame outthe subway,was raining catsdogs. Andforgot my umbrella. Sohadwaitthe rainlet up2.
Hans: totally understand.
Helpful Information：Things don’t often happenway we expect. We may misslotimportant thingslife, but we shouldn’t missunderstandingone another.
很多时候事情都会按照我们想象发展。生命中我们可能错过很多重要东西，但我们应该错过相互理解。
【译文】
——嗨，辛迪。我以为我错过你。
——噢，真对起，汉斯。谢谢你等我。你定在这里等很久。
——没关系。
——我赶下雨，然我会早点到。很抱歉，让你久等。
——我等地方很舒适，真，没关系。我很高兴见到你。你被雨碍很长时间吗？
——啊。我从地铁站出来，就下着倾盆大雨。而我忘带伞。所以我只好等雨小点。
——我完全理解。
3. GaryEvelyn are boyfriendgirlfriend. They’re goingseemovie togethercampus. They’re supposedmeetfrontthe theater at fiveseven, five minutes beforemovie starts. And now it’s seven o’clockGary still hasn’t appeared. She decideslookhim atapartment. (Evelynknockingdoor.)
Gary: Come in, come in！
Evelyn: Hi, Gary, what happened?was waitingyou at
theater. Why didn’t you meet me there?
Gary: 
thought we were supposedmeet HERE.
Evelyn: Don’t you know our movie starts at seven? And we were goingmeet attheater at fiveseven. Then
doesn’t make sense3meet atapartment.
Gary: I’m sorry. We must have misunderstood each other.
Evelyn: Why don’t you trybe clearer about your intentions4?
Gary: You’re right. am sorry. Let’s gowatchmovie.
Evelyn: It’s okay. don’t wantgo now. We’ve already missed ten minutes
the movie. don’t wantseemovie without watchingbeginning.
【译文】
——进来，进来!
——嗨，加里，发生什么事？我在电影院等你。你为什么没去那里和我碰面呢？
——我原以为我们说好在这里见面。
——你难道
知道我们
电影七点开始吗？而且我们又打算七点差五分在电影院见面。那在公寓见面就没
道理嘛。
——对起。我们肯定
相互误解。
——你意图为什么就想清楚
点呢？
——你说得对。对起。我们去看电影吧。
——没关系。现在我想走。我们都已经错过十分钟电影。我想看电影看开头。
4. Sorry I’m late.
A high-school student from Brazilvisiting several American universities5 with her parents. They are waitingseedeana small collegeMaine.
Father: see you've brought somethingoccupy your time while we wait. Good. We may be herelong time.
Isabel: Yes, Papa. broughtcatalog6
the next college we're goingvisit--the oneNew Hampshire.
Mother: Maybe we won't havewait long. We've only been here fifteen minutes.
Isabel: I'm not usedthe way they treat time here. They wouldn't see me at that placeMassachusetts yesterday. missedappointment becausewas forty-five minutes late. That's no time at all backBrazil.
Father: It’s just that North Americans pay more attentionexact times. They're very punctual7 people.
Mother: I think that if you're more than thirty minutes late, you haveapologizeexplain what delayed you.
Father: Our appointment with this deanfor three-fifteen. My watch says three-thirty. I'm sure we’re not late.
(The dean comes outhis office.)
Dean: Isabel? Come in. Sorrykept you waiting. We're runninglittle behind schedule8 today.
【译文】
——我知道你带些东西过来，在我们等时候来打发你时间。这样好。我们可能要在这里呆很长时间。
——啊，爸爸。我把我们将要去下
学院目录表带来－在新罕布什尔那。
——也许我们要等很久。我们到这里才十五分钟。
——我习惯他们这里这样对待时间。昨天在马萨诸塞州那地方他们就会见我。就因为我迟四十五分钟，我连面试都错过。在巴西，这点时间根本就算什么。
——美国北方人就更注重时间准确性。他们很守时。
——我想如果你迟到超过三十分钟，你就得道歉并且解释什么延误你。——我们和这位系主任约面时间三点十五分。我手表三点半。我想我们没迟到。（系主任从他办公室出来。）
——伊莎贝尔？请进。对起让你久等。今天我们比预计时间晚点。
4 WordsExpression
. hold up 阻碍，拦截
2. let up 减少，暂停，减缓
3. make sense 使人懂，合理
4. intention 意图,意向,目
5. university 大寝室，团体寝室
6. catalog 目录;目录册,目录簿
7. punctual 严守时刻;准时
8. behind schedule 落后于预计时间
