英語美文鑒賞 035

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One of the recurring questions that my students in China often ask is：“What are the things they shouldn't talk about with Americans?”Taboo topics tend to make people feel uneasy.Every culture has these off-limits subjects.In ours，the following immediately come to mind：

1.Age Yes，age is a very sensitive subject t o many Americans，especially to women over age 30.In this youth obsessed culture，the thought of growing older is a painful one and most of us，if possible，would like to have nothing to do with it.Unfortunately aging is one of the inevitabilities of life and it happens to the best of us.As a result，many Americans work hard to maintain a youthful appearance or at least give the illusion of youth.So the last thing they want is for some one to rub their faces in harsh reality and ask the unthinkable，“How old are you exactly?”

This question may result in replies like：“How old do you think I am?”“30ish，30something.I'm in my thirties.Let' s just leave it at that.”“I can' t remember.”“Oh，don't ask me that.”“I stopped keeping track after I turned 30.”“A lot older than what I would like to be.”

Anyhow，if you are dying to know someone's age，this is how you could go about finding out.First you estimate their age by their appearance and mannerism.Then you subtract ten years from that estimation.I guarantee you will get a big smile from that person who will also blush and say，“Wow.You are my best friend.I'm 38already.Can you believe it?”You，of course，reply，“No.I really can' t.You' re kidding.You don' t look a day over28.This is amazing.”Now that' s one surefire way to boost someone' s ego。

2.Weight This is one of the touchiest subjects.In America，it is okay，even desirable，to be thin but it is a sin and a huge embarrassment to be overweight.In fact，the thinner you are，the prettier you are considered.Flip through any American fashion magazines，you'll notice that most models are nothing more than skin and bones.A woman who sports this emaciated，skeletal physique is called a waif，which is a thin person who appears fragile andneedy.Believe it not，the waif look was the hottest look of the 1990' s.Of course，there are obvious health related advantages to having a slender figure but please don't over diet for the sake of vanity.You could potentially become a victim to horrible eating disorders likeanorexia and bulimia.

什 么 是 美 國 人 避 而 不 談 的(1)

我的中國學(xué)生反復(fù)提的問題之一就是，“他們不該與美國人談?wù)摰氖聝河心男?”忌諱的話題往往會使人尷尬。每種文化都有這些禁忌的話題，在美國文化中，立即可想起的有下列幾個:

1 年齡. 是的，對許多美國人來說，年齡是個非常敏感的問題，特別是對年過 30 的女人來說更是如此。在這個崇尚年輕的文化中，想到變老是很痛苦的，我們大多數(shù)人，如果有可能的話，都不想沾它的邊。不幸的是，變老是人生不可避免的事情之一，誰都不能例外。結(jié)果，許多美國人竭力想維持外貌的年輕，或至少給人留下年輕的假象。所以，他們最不愿別人當(dāng)面觸及痛處，提那個令人不快的問題：“你到底多大年紀(jì)了?”

對這個問題可以有這樣幾個回答：“你認(rèn)為我多大了?”“30來歲，30左右。我30多歲了咱們不談這個了吧。”“我記不得了。”“噢，別問我這個。”“我一過30，就不記年齡了。”“比我希望的要老得多。”

不管怎么說，如果你極想知道某人的年齡，你也是可以打探得到的。首先，你從他們的外貌和言談舉止估算年齡;然后，從你的估計上減去10歲。我敢擔(dān)保此人會沖你綻放笑容，還會紅著臉說，“哇，你是我最好的朋友。我早就38歲了。你能相信嗎?”你當(dāng)然會回答，“不，難以置信。你在開玩笑。你看起來連28都不到。真讓人驚嘆。”這招肯定會讓人的虛榮心得以滿足。

2.體重 這是最敏感的話題之一。在美國，長得瘦是不錯的，甚至?xí)屓肆w慕，但超重就讓人極為難堪，是種罪過。實際上，你越瘦，別人會認(rèn)為你越漂亮。隨便翻翻美國哪本時尚雜志，你會發(fā)現(xiàn)大多數(shù)模特都是皮包骨頭。瘦骨嶙峋的女人被稱為細挑個兒，看上去弱不禁風(fēng)。不管你信不信，細挑個兒可是20世紀(jì)90年代最酷的。當(dāng)然，苗條的身材顯然還有健康的體格，請不要為了虛榮而過于節(jié)食。你可能會成為可怕的飲食失調(diào)的受害者，如厭食和食欲過盛