.
“Don’t just stand there,” goes a typical bit of American advice, “do something!” This expression is normally used in a crisis situation, yet, in a sense, it describes most Americans’ entire waking life, where action—any action—is seen to be superior to inaction.
Americans routinely plan and schedule an extremely active day. Any relaxation must be limited in time, preplanned, and aimed at “recreating” their ability to work harder and more productively once the recreation is over. Americans believe leisure activities should assume a relatively small portion of one’s total life. People think that it is “sinful(有罪的)” to “waste one’s time”, “to sit around doing nothing”, or just to “daydream”.
Such a “no nonsense” attitude toward life has created many people who have come to be known as “workaholics”, or people who are addicted to their work, who think constantly about their jobs and who are frustrated if they are kept away from them, even during their evening hours and weekends.
The workaholic syndrome(综合症), in turn, causes Americans to identify themselves wholly with their professions. The first question one American will ask another American when meeting for the first time is related to his or her work: ”Where do you work?” or “Who(what company) are you with?” And when such a person finally goes on vacation, even the vacation will be carefully planned, very busy and active.
America may be one of the few countries in the world where it seems reasonable to speak about the “dignity(尊严) of human labor”, meaning by that, hard, physical labor. In America, even corporation presidents will engage in physical labor from time to time and gain, rather than lose, respect from others for such action.
64.What is mainly talked about in the passage?
A.How Americans act during a crisis situation.
B.The workaholic syndrome in America.
C.Americans’ attitude towards relaxation.
D.Americans’ “no nonsense” attitude toward life.
65.Americans hold the belief that _______.
A.they should try to enjoy life as much as possible
B.they should go all out to help others in a crisis situation
C.they should not spend too much on relaxation
D.leisure activities should be an important part of their life
66.In America, corporation presidents will _______.
A.give instructions to workers only
B.often take part in physical labor themselves
C.look down upon the laborers
D.do physical labor only when it is necessary
67.When workers see their boss doing physical labor, they’ll _______.
A.take the place of him
B.stand by and watch
C.be more respectful to him
D.laugh at him
