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Task I. Match the information in column A with the corresponding information in column B.
A B
1) Gestures such as backslapping and a) especially amongst the young.
hugging
2) Firm handshakes are the norm b) when people are introduced for the first
time only.
3) The continental habit of exchanging c) to mean those they do use.
kisses has gained currency
4) “How do you do?” is a greeting not d) are discouraged.
a question used
5) If the British use few words, it is e) slip open for you to include any additional
because they prefer contribution.
6) You should be wary of establishments f) as part of formal introduction.
that leave the credit card
Task II. Read the text, find the following words and expressions and translate them, check their pronunciation with the vocabulary.
Notoriously undemonstrative, conversation, to avoid, old-fashioned interlocutors, to go ahead, procedure, correct response, enquiry, abhorrence, in return, to tip.
Spain.
Life in Spain is unhurried, loud and smoke-filled. There is, however, little point in getting irritated and even less point in trying to complain. It may take a few days to adapt.
The Spanish attitude towards time is notoriously flexible. Nothing is done in a hurry but whatever needs doing gets done
The Spanish daily timetable is also alien to most visitors. Although wider use of air-conditioning is hastening change, old habits die hard and most Spaniards enjoy an active social life out of doors in the cool of the evening and into the night. You should not be surprised to see young children still up at midnight and you should not be annoyed if your colleagues stay out drinking into the early hours. The Spanish day is not rigidly structured; it is not divided crudely into work and play but the two are interwoven throughout the 24-hour cycle.
In general, the Spanish are tolerant, easy-going and even welcoming. In a culture where the self and one's family are paramount, the other — the outsider who does not belong to any obvious group is accorded a distinctly inferior status and priority. Still, this does not mean that you should ignore the basic social niceties.
Initial introductions with Spaniards are always formal: extend a brief but firm handshake, while maintaining eye contact and saying buenos dias or buenas tardes depending on the time of day.
In conversation, Spaniards may not only stand uncomfortably close, but may also pat your arm or shoulder. If you are put out by such gestures, it will only cause offence to try to retreat into your own private space.
Indeed, a wide range of gestures accompanies all conversations and the more animated the discussion the more the Spanish will gesticulate. Most Spanish body language is self-explanatory—shrugs of indifference, shaking the hands downwards for emphasis, the universal gestures of contempt, etc.—but you shouldn't hesitate to ask a trusted colleague if you have difficulty understanding certain unfamiliar gestures.
Remember that the North American symbol for 'OK' (i.e. making a circle with the index finger and thumb) is considered vulgar in Spain.
By law the service charge is included in the bill in Spanish restaurants, hotels, etc. It is customary, however, to round the bill up and to leave small change in cafes and bars. You might reward exceptional service with an additional tip of 5%.
All taxis are metered and there are usually fixed fares advertised for journeys from the airport to the city centre. A gratuity of 10% will be appreciated.
Driving in Spain, incidentally, can be a hazardous and nerve-racking experience for the more sedate foreign driver; the rules of the road are generally observed but the volume of traffic and pace of driving, especially in city-centers, can be disconcerting for those still struggling to come to terms with the gentle rhythms of all other aspects of Spanish life.