The trip to the United State opened my eyes to the fact that there are a lot of similarities as well as
differences between American youth and French youth.
The first difference is in appearance. Going around in the U.S., I found that American youth do not
really care about their appearance. In the morning, they choose something in their closet and wear it with
another thing, often of different colors and styles, without wondering whether their choices make them
look strange. The reason behind this is that they don't care what people look like, but are just interested
in their ideas. I think it's great, but it also causes problems. Since they don't care about their appearance,
they don't really care about their weight. Often they get fat without realizing it.
There are differences in relationships too. When the American youth fall in love, they don't really think
of the future. Also, there are differences in the rules concerning behavior that is allowed. In some respects, the French are more accepting. For example, in America it is generally unacceptable to make physical
display of love. Lovers, actually, can't kiss or hold each other everywhere they want. People think that not showing love in public places is a way to respect others. On the contrary, the French youth can do almost everything they want.
As for other types of relationships, there are also big differences. Americans act differently from
French people in front of unknown people. When an American girl, for example, arrives in front of people she has never met before, she will talk with them, trying to create a kind of tie between her and this new
circle of people. The French girls will just think about rather than really do this kind of thing because they
are too shy and lacking in self-confidence.
To finish, I noticed that in American classes, when pupils want to say or ask something, they just do it. In general, they don't really care how the others will judge them. In France, it's not the same cas
e. If somebody wants to ask something, he/she will think about it before speaking up. I appreciate the freedom in Americans' behavior, ideas, and ways of expressing themselves.
1. The underlined word "respects" in the third paragraph probably means____.
A. approaches
B. aspects
C. honors
D. means
2. When American youth fall in love with each other, they _________.
A. will not hold each other
B. will rarely display their love in public
C. will always think about their future
D. will kiss wherever they like
3. It can be inferred from the passage that French youth may think more about ______.
A. their relationship's future
B. their public images
C. their physical displays
D. their lover's ideas
4. The passage is mainly about the______ between American youth and French youth.
A. differences
B. friendship
C. similarities
D. relationships
