One year ago, I traveled 15,000 kilometers from Australia to the US. I am from a beachside town in the 16 of Sydney, and thought there would be almost no 17 differences between my home country and my 18 . I was surprised at how wrong I was, and at 19 different the two countries could be.
The United States is 20 in almost every aspect. The buildings are gigantic (巨大的) and so are the people who 21 and work in them. At mealtimes, the portions (份额) often 22 to me to be big enough for three or four people. I once 23 a baked potato which turned out to be bigger than my head! This was a big 24 for me.
The longer I spent in the US, the more I started to 25 smaller differences like the culture of 26 in restaurants. In Australia we don’t tend to give a tip 27 the service has been really excellent. In the US you tip for 28 everything, even at the hairdresser. Waiters and shop assistants 29 to be given 15 percent of the bill, although in places 30 New York or Washington DC, a tip can be as much as 20 percent.
31 , I also became more wary (谨慎的) of believing the stereotypes (成见) I had heard at home as I traveled. Not all Americans are ignorant of geography, for example.
Despite this, certain stereotypes about places did seem to 32 true for me. There is an immense (强烈的) sense of speed in New York. Everyone 33 to and fro, and very seldom takes time to 34 the moment. This is very different from the Australian lifestyle. Australians are laid back. Even in a major city like Sydney, we “Aussies” take time to “stop and smell the roses”---very different from our American counterparts.
Navigating (驾驭) the culture divide between Australia and the US was challenging at times. But I took up that 35 and learned a lot from it. It was an adventure.
16. A. heart B. city C. center D. suburbs
17. A. cultural B. commercial C. economic D. scientific
18. A. home town B. departure C. location D. destination
19. A. how B. why C. however D. where
20. A. big B. modern C. small D. fashionable
21. A. travel B. survive C. live D. serve
22. A. happened B. seemed C. proved D. managed
23. A. brought B. ordered C. designed D. fetched
24. A. laughter B. pleasure C. shock D. embarrassment
25. A. prefer B. notice C. tell D. appreciate
26. A. serving B. tipping C. donating D. toasting
27. A. unless B. if C. when D. since
28. A. rarely B. mostly C. almost D. hardly
29. A. try B. wait C. think D. expect
30. A. like B. along C. for D. in
31. A. So B. Therefore C. However D. But
32. A. come B. become C. turn D. get
33 A. walks B. drives C. wanders D. rushes
34. A. depend on B. reflect on C. spy on D. watch on
35. A. experience B. job C. challenge D. business