Listen to the following passage. Altogether the passage will be read to you four times. During the first reading, which will be

Americans’ Personality
    Americans usually consider themselves a friendly people. Their friendships, however, tend to be shorter and more casual / than friendships among people from other cultures. / Americans tend to be uncomfortable with silence during a conversation. / They would rather talk about the weather than deal with silence. /
    Besides, don’t expect Americans to be knowledgeable about subjects do not involve the United States. / Because some Americans tend to ignore the rest of the world.