(A) When you learn a
foreign language you must learn more than just the words and the grammar. To
communicate successfully in speech, you must also learn the non-verbal language,
or "body language" of that culture. "Body language" is a term used to describe
facial expressions, gestures, and other movements of the body that send
messages. This means of communication is so important that we may actually say
more with our movements than we do with words. Unconsciously,
everyone understands the importance of body language. That’s why we stand on
tiptoe (脚尖) in a crowded room to see a speaker’s face and hands, even though we
may be able to hear him very clearly. For some messages, words are not enough.
Speaking a foreign language is sometimes difficult because we may not understand
the non-verbal signals of another culture, or they may mean something very
different from what they mean in our culture. For example, nodding the head up
and down is a gesture that may communicate a different message in different
parts of the world. In North America it means "I agree. " In the Middle East
nodding the head down means "I agree" and up means "I disagree. " In a
conversation among Japanese it often simply means "I’m listening. " One Japanese
student in the U.S. learned the difference the hard way. While speaking with a
salesman the student nodded his head politely to show that he was paying
attention. The next day the salesman brought a new washing machine to the
student’s apartment. Eye contact is also meaningful, but it,
too, can mean different things in different countries. In some Spanish-speaking
countries, children show respect to an older person by not looking directly into
the person’s eyes during a conversation. In other cultures, looking into a
person’s eyes is expected. For example, if you don’t do it in the U.S., people
may think you are afraid or angry. In the Middle East, direct eye contact during
a conversation is more continuous than in many other parts of the world. People
who are not used to this may feel uncomfortable. What is the main idea of this passage
A. It is difficult to speak a foreign language.
B. Everybody understands the importance of body language.
C. Different cultures have different non-verbal signals.
D. Body language is an important means of communication.