听力填空

Time is, for the average American, ofutmost importance. To the foreign visitor, Americans seem to be more concernedwith getting things accomplished on time (according to a predeterminedschedule) than they are with developing deep interpersonal relations.Schedules, for the American, are meant to be planned and then followed in thesmallest detail.

It may seem to you that most Americans arecompletely controlled by the little machines they wear on their wrists, cuttingtheir discussions off abruptly to make it to their next appointment on time.

Americans’ language is filled withreferences to time, giving a clear indication of how much it is valued. Time issomething to be “on,” to be “kept,” “filled,” “saved,” “wasted,” “gained,”“planned,” “given,” “made the most of,” even “killed.”

The international visitor soon learns thatit is considered very rude to be late -- even by 10 minutes -- for anappointment in America.

Timeis so valued in America, because by considering time to be important one canclearly achieve more than if one “wastes” time and doesn’t keep busy. Thisphilosophy has proven its worth. It has enabled Americans to be extremelyproductive, and productivity itself is highly valued in America. Many Americanproverbs stress the value of guarding time, using it wisely, and setting andworking toward specific goals. Americans believe in spending their time andenergy today so that the fruits of their labor may be enjoyed at a later time.