Section C

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

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

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

　　The international visitor soon learns that it is considered very rude to be late -- even by 10 minutes -- for an appointment in America.

　　Time is so valued in America, because by considering time to be important one can clearly achieve more than if one “wastes” time and doesn’t keep busy. This philosophy has proven its worth. It has enabled Americans to be extremely productive, and productivity itself is highly valued in America. Many American proverbs stress the value of guarding time, using it wisely, and setting and working toward specific goals. Americans believe in spending their time and energy today so that the fruits of their labor may be enjoyed at a later time.

　　【答案及解析】

　　36. foreign

　　37. accomplished

　　38. interpersonal

　　39. detail.

　　40. controlled

　　41. abruptly

　　42. references

　　43. indication

　　44. it is considered very rude to be late -- even by 10 minutes -- for an appointment in America.

　　45. It has enabled Americans to be extremely productive, and productivity itself is highly valued in America.

　　46. Americans believe in spending their time and energy today so that the fruits of their labor may be enjoyed at a later time.

　　【點評】本文討論的是美國人的時間觀念。開頭提出美國人非常看重時間規劃，以至于到了被認為“手表控制人”的地步，接下來從語言角度給出證明，最后又從原因角度解釋說明。

　　本文的難點在于，開頭有長難句，包含插入語、比較級等，容易造成困擾。而在語言角度探討時，有給出一系列動詞，容易出現漏聽及注意力分散。同時，utmost, abruptly, reference, philosophy, productivity等較難詞匯也會帶來一定困擾。

　　空格整體分布較為均勻，除第三段兩空間隔較近，第二個容易錯過外，其它空填寫時間均較為充足。所填詞語格式比較重要，如-ed，-s等均是不可漏過的細節。