英语标准美文100篇 050（在线收听）

Taboo topics in American(part two)

３．Income You should never ever ask how much someone' s salary is．There's no way around this one．However，it' s perfectly appropriate to ask about their job title and what they do for a living．This information should give you some idea how much they make a year．

４．Matters of the Heart This is a tricky one．Sometimes you'll run into people who can't wait to pour their hearts out to you．Then there are those who make sure their personal business stays behind closed doors．The general rule is to not get too personal，too fast．You don't want others to think that you're prying into their lives．Therefore，try not to ask too many questions about someone' s love life，marriage and family until you have a friendship with this person．Even then，you better wait for your friend to come to you with the matters of their heart．

５．Is It Real？ Many Americans are proponents of the all－natural look．Stick with what Mother Nature gave you and do the best you can with it．But how man y truly abide by this principle？With plastic surgery and products like colored contact lens，hair coloring，acrylic7) nails，etc，the answer would be：not many．I suppose some of us either like to experiment with our looks or are simply unhappy with what we're born with．

As artificial as the results of these physical alterations may be，they are done to imitate nature．At the end of the day，people want others to believe they' re simply born beautiful．So don' t ruin it for them by asking，“Hey，I love your eye color．Is it real？”

What makes certain topics taboo？These topics may lead to disclosure of information that people don't want others to know about．In other words，sometimes it' s not so much that you asked the wrong question，but that you touched a sore spot．You should never ever ask how much someone' s salary is
什 么 是 美 国 人 避 而 不 谈 的(2)

３．收入 你绝对不要问别人挣多少钱。这没什么可说的。但你完全可以问他们的工作头衔和以什么为生计。这个信息可以让你对他们一年挣多少有所了解。

４．心里的事 这是个很微妙的问题。有时你会碰到迫不及待向你倾诉心声的人。但有些人时刻确保自己的私事不为外人知晓。总的规则是，不要太急于跟人谈个人私事。不要让人认为你在刺探他们的生活。所以，不要对别人的爱情、婚姻和家庭情况提太多问题，直到你跟此人结成了朋友。即便那时，你最好还是等着你的朋友带着心事来找你谈。

５．是真的吗？ 许多美国人都主张天生的相貌。坚持从母体带来的一切并尽力善待之。但有多少人真正地遵守这一原则呢？答案是：不多，因为有整形手术和诸如有色隐形眼镜、染发剂、丙烯酸指甲等产品。我猜我们中有些人或者喜欢去尝试换个长相，或者就是对自己天生的长相不那么满意罢了。

尽管这些实物改变的效果足可以假乱真，但它们还是仿真的。到头来，人们还是希望别人相信他们就是天生漂亮。所以别问：“嗨，我喜欢你眼睛的颜色。是真的吗？”免得让人失望。

有些话题为什么犯忌呢？因为这些话题可能会把人们不愿为外人所知的情况泄露出去。换言之，有时你提错了问题倒没什么大不了，但你却戳到了他人的痛处。你绝对不要问别人挣多少钱。