首页
外语
计算机
考研
公务员
职业资格
财经
工程
司法
医学
专升本
自考
实用职业技能
登录
外语
Party Random Thoughts Last night, pressured by well-intentioned friends, for the first time in months, I came out of writer’
Party Random Thoughts Last night, pressured by well-intentioned friends, for the first time in months, I came out of writer’
admin
2010-02-26
55
问题
Party Random Thoughts
Last night, pressured by well-intentioned friends, for the first time in months, I came out of writer’s seclusion and attended a cocktail party which is another word for a social gathering. So there I was, trapped in a crowded room, people milling(乱转) all around me, each with a drink in hand, chitchatting while the waiters skillfully negotiated their way through the bustle with trays of colorful beverages and fancy hors d’oeuvres (小菜). It was definitely party time! Yet, instead of losing myself to the convivial (欢乐的) surroundings of food, drink and conversations, I found myself retreating back into my head all the way to China where the subject of American sociality is of great interest. In China, many of my students are curious about how Americans party and have a good time. "What do you do? Sing and dance? To what kind of music? What’s American party talk? How do you dress and act at a party? How about food? What do you eat?"
Every year without fail, students ask their foreign teachers to dedicate a full class to this fascinating topic. Of course, one would think that a subject as interesting and entertaining as such would make for an excellent lesson plan, a rich source of discussions. But to my surprise, many teachers run into roadblocks (障碍) when generating this particular lesson plan. "Michelle, Michelle! I have to teach a class on American parties. And I only have, hmm, five things to say about it. And that I’ll talk about five minutes. What am I supposed to do after that?" They cry. "Well, tell me what those five things are," I ask. "Arrive late, talk, eat, drink and have a blast." They blurt out. It is true that the five steps listed above encompass much of the goings-on at American social gatherings. Of course, during parties for special occasions such as birthdays, holidays, weddings, baby showers, anniversaries, graduations, etc., there are additional ceremonies such as cake cutting, gift opening, dancing, toasting, game-playing, etc. But regardless, the fundamentals of a typical American soiree (社交晚会)are good company, good food and drinks, and good times. Sounds simply, doesn’t it? But if you were to look deeper and think further, you’ll realize that there’s far more to these steps than meets the eyes. Fashionably Late
It is a major faux pas (social embarrassment) to arrive at a party early or even on time. Therefore, with the exception of the hosts, you never want to be the first person present at a social function. Why? Because people fear that others may think that they have no life or nothing better to do than waiting for a party to start. Many Americans try to project an image of business which, whether true or not, has a positive correlation with success. So by arriving late, you are saying, "I lead a full life and it’s exciting and productive." Therefore, an 8 o’clock party customarily doesn’t really start until maybe 9 o’clock as everyone wants to be thought of as a busy and important person with lots to do. In other words, a party is one of those rare occasions where your punctuality can actually hurt you. Strange, isn’t it? Anyhow, remember, be fashionably late.
Small Talk
One way of gauging the success of a party is by the noise meter. The louder the party is, the mom happening it is, and the more fun people are having. Then you stop to wonder, if it’s so noisy, how can people really hear each other and have great, engaging conversations? The truth is, they don’t. They engaged in small talk, which is another word for casual, trivial conversations. They chew the fat, shoot the breeze and swap anecdotes about random subjects: work, family, news, weather, hobbies, etc. Because the surrounding noise and activities often sidetrack people, it’s difficult to get personal or discuss any one topic at length or in depth. The point is to have fun, not to get serious.
However, keep in mind that since people tend to be in good moods and spirit when attending a social function, parties often provide an excellent environment for making new friends and establishing valuable business contacts. In fact, in many professions, important business transactions are initiated at a social event. People meet, have a nice chat, exchange information and make a good impression. Sometimes that’s all it takes to begin a long-lasting friendship or business association. So never underestimate the power of small talk.
Food for Fun
With the exception of dinner parties where a full meal is served, most parties offer finger food-food that you pick up with your fingers. (So don’t worry, it is not impolite to eat with your hands at parties.) Some of the classic party foods are cheese and crackers, crudites (vegetables and dip), fruits, shrimp toasts, Swiss meatballs, mini-sandwiches, shrimp cocktail, etc. And believe it or not, Asian foods are now in fashion. Mini egg rolls, California sushi roils and various dim sum dishes always add an exotic flair to a party. And the Americans love it.
Anyhow, party foods are meant to be eaten as a meal. They are simply delicious accents to the party and eaten to absorb all that alcohol you’re about to consume. So don’t pile too much food on your plate. Remember, you can always get refills. And one more thing, don’t talk with your mouth full. It’s rude.
Drink and Be Merry
Here’s a frequently used party acronym, BYOB: bring your own bottle. Alcohol plays a big part in most American parties. To relax, unwind and enjoy themselves, people drink in a party. Anyhow that’s the way it should be. Unfortunately it’s not always the case and sometimes you sense the unspoken pressure to join the crowd. As a result, you feel out of place without a beverage in your hand. I even notice from observation that frequently the first thing people do upon arriving at a party is to hit the bar, kick off the night with a few drinks. Sometimes, there are even those, mostly young, who go to parties for the sole purpose of getting drunk, trashed, plastered, totaled. Not a smart thing to do since we all know the effect alcohol can have on us. (People tend to talk loudly when they’re intoxicated which might explain why it’s so loud at parties.) In America, there’s definitely a negative association between drinking and partying. If you lose control of your drinking, you lose control of your partying, and vice versa. As a result, drunks not only make a fool of themselves but their drunken behavior could endanger their safety and the safety of others. I suppose as with most things, moderation is the key.
Party Hearty
At the end of day, the objective of attending a party is to have an unadulterated good time. A blast! And how do you do that? You get in the spirit, go with the flow (but never do something you are uncomfortable with) and try not to be a party pooper (someone who spoils other people’s fun). If you have fun at parties, you are probably fun to have at parties. As a result, people who are more likely to invite you to their parties in the future.
As my mind wandered back to the party, I realized that I was standing alone, my stomach growling, my hands empty of a drink. I was being a total party pooper. So I quickly grabbed a drink from the bar and snatched some of the delicious party food that waiter was bringing by. With a smile, I rejoined my friends. That night, we talked, we drank, we ate. We had ourselves a great time.
Most parties offer finger food, but there are ______.
选项
答案
some exceptions
解析
本题空白处问“聚会上的食物问题”。根据关键词"food"定位于"Food for fun"的小标题下,从全文中第六段第一句"With the exception of dinner parties where a full meal is served,most parties offer finger food-food that you pick up with your fingers" 可以得知“除了晚宴,多数聚会上的食物都是可以用手拿着吃的”。原文说明晚宴(dinner parties)是个例外。因此,答案为some exceptions。
转载请注明原文地址:https://kaotiyun.com/show/FqdK777K
0
大学英语六级
相关试题推荐
Thewebisstillinitsinfancy,sopeopleareuninterestedinit.Manypeoplewillspendlesstimeinfrontofatelevisionsc
BillGatesbelievesthattheAmericanhighschoolsare"obsolete"in______.Inordertocompetewithoverseasstudents,America
Theauthorclaimsthatlyingisaseriousviceandshouldbe______.Althoughtellingliesissometimesunavoidable,suchbehavi
Whenwasthislecturegiven?Whencanastudentseetileprofessorinheroffice?
Pricesaresky-high,withprofitstomatch.Butlookingfurtherahead,theindustryfacesadramaticchange,saysanexpertofe
A、Apupil.B、Agraduate.C、Asenior.D、Anundergraduate.BWhohasmoretimetodoresearch?
__________(习惯了与大自然作斗争求生存的人们)werebewilderedbypoliticians,bankersandbusinessmen.
A、Asubscriptiontoacertainkindofnewspaper.B、Abargainondancelessons.C、AcheapairfaretoHawaii.D、Amembershiptoa
Althoughitwashisfirstexperienceaschairman______(他还是成功地主持了整个会议).
A、Theyhavetogotoworkearlyinthemorning.B、Theyhaveareputationforgoodhumor.C、Theyhavetodoadifficultjob.D、Th
随机试题
下面关于ANUG的组织病理学表现。说法正确的是
炎性肉芽肿中主要炎细胞是
患者,男,25岁,因最近双下肢水肿、蛋白尿入院,查尿蛋白(+++),胆固醇轻度升高,血清蛋白23g/L,诊断为肾病综合征。该患者最可能会出现的并发症是
关于因果关系,下列哪一选项是错误的?(2011年卷二3题)
关于晋升竞赛的说法,正确的有()。
下列各句中,没有语病的一句是()。
图8表示生态系统中碳循环的部分过程,其中甲、乙、丙、丁组成生物群落。下列分析错误的是()。
中华文明的厚重和绵延,从我国藏量丰富的典籍中____。但是,岁月的____让这座文明长城变得脆弱。依次填入画横线部分最恰当的一项是()。
某乡政府通知所辖某村村委会,要求村委会向每户村民收取500元用于修建该村文化活动中心。村民认为修建文化活动中心的决定没有经过他们讨论同意,不愿交款。村委会告知村民,如不按期交款,就不发放筑堤防洪工程补助款。村民对此强烈不满,欲罢免村委会成员。请结
InShakeShackCompany,astherestaurantmanager,youwillberesponsibleforhelpingtoleadanddrivethedailyoperationsof
最新回复
(
0
)