阅读理解
A friend asks me "Why don't Chinese go Dutch?" So I want to regard this question as the topic and
write an article. As everyone knows,westerners will go Dutch while having a meal in the restaurant. But
Chinese don't go Dutch. Chinese will pay the bill and check out generously. Westerners don't often
entertain guests；but Chinese often invite friends to dinner. A lot of westerners feel puzzled to this
question.
Why does there exist such a difference? First of all,food systems between China and West are
different. Chinese put into practice Gather Dining System；westerners put into practice Individual Dining
System. Everybody can share the delicious food of all over the table when eating Chinese food. Please note it is sharing,but westerners just eat the food in one's own plate. If you eat beef and he eats chicken,it is
impossible that you taste the flavor of his chicken. The result of the Individual Dining System is that you can only eat the food in your plate.
So to eat Chinese food is happier than to eat Westernstyle food. And I want to ask you a question. Do you like the free thing? I think nobody doesn't like the free thing. OK! Suppose I invite you to eat the
delicious Chinese food,then I pay the bill. This is equivalent to that you have enjoyed a delicious Chinese
food free. So you will be very glad. It will strengthen the relation between us in the happy atmosphere.
Secondly,westerners eat for the health；Chinese eat for the friendship. Westerners advocate
individualism and independence is strong. So westerners express that respect for each other's
independence through the way go Dutch. Chinese like making friends and solidarity. Chinese value the
interpersonal relationships and the friendship very much.
Third,it is only simple "Have a meal!" for westerners to entertain guests. Unlike the purpose and the
means that Chinese entertain guests,in Americans' idea,"Have a meal" definition is to add fuel to the body
for keeping health and normal life activity. That is to say,there is not any additional value. In the Chinese
idea,"Have a meal" not only is a kind of life enjoyment,but also is the means to promote friendship between the friends. After enjoying the sumptuous delicious food,you are glad,and I am glad,too. The friendship
between the friends has been strengthened in this kind of atmosphere.
1. What does "go Dutch" mean?
A. They will pay for the meal separately.
B. Either part will pay for the meal.
C. They will go to Dutch for a meal.
D. They can enjoy a meal free of charge.
2. The differences between Western and Chinese Dinning System lie in the following aspects EXCEPT
________.
A. individual and gathering
B. the purpose for health and for the friendship
C. health maintenance and life enjoyment
D. opposition and dependence
3. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A. Westerners will share the food in their plates with each other.
B. Chinese would like the free meal so they never pay the bill.
C. Westerners don't value the friendship so they never pay the meal for others.
D. Chinese attitudes towards the meal seem more complicated than westerners'.
4. The underlined word "means" in the fifth paragraph refers to ________.
A. the definition of "Have a meal!"
B. the way of strengthening the friendship
C. the meaning of a meal
D. the dinner set used for a meal
5. The passage mainly analyzes the cause of ________.
A. the different cultures between the West and China
B. the various styles of food between the West and China
C. the ways of paying the bill between westerners and Chinese
D. all kinds of tastes of food from different countries