① Have you ever wondered how acceptable it is to hug or touch someone? While it may sound safe to avoid all physical contact so as not to offend anyone, the lack of touching might imply cold attitudes or indifference in interpersonal relationships.

② So, what should we do? The simple answer is to thoroughly learn unique cultural norms for physical contact. In nonverbal communication terminology(术语), physical contact and the study of touching are generally referred to as haptics.

③ Haptics in communication often suggest the level of intimacy. They are usually classified into two groups: high-contact and low-contact.

④ Asia and quite surprisingly the United States, Canada and Britain belong to low-contact cultures.People from the rest of the world, such as Latin America, are considered to be in high-contact cultures, where they tend to expect touching in social interactions and feel more comfortable with physical closeness. Despite the classification, there are more complex factors such as relational closeness, gender, age, and context that can affect how someone views physical contact.

⑤ One common French custom of greetings is cheek-kissing, but it is mostly restricted to friends, close acquaintances and family members. While cheek-kissing for Latin Americans is also a universal greeting form, it does not require such a high degree of relational closeness. However, gender matters more for them because cheek-kissing often only happens between women or a man and a woman but not two men.

⑥ In contrast, in certain Arabian, African, and Asian countries, men can publicly hold hands or show physical affection as signs of brotherhood or friendship while these behaviors may suggest a romantic relationship in other parts of the world. Although men’s touching is more normal in these cultures, physical contact between persons of opposite sexes who are not family members is negatively perceived in Arabian countries.

1.1. What does the author say in the first paragraph about physical contact?

A Its role in interpersonal relationships is getting increasingly important.

B It is becoming more acceptable to many who used to think it offensive.

C Its absence might suggest a lack of warmth in interpersonal relationships.

D It might prompt different responses from people of different social backgrounds.

解析：选C。C 细节理解题。解析：题目考查第一段中作者对身体接触的表述，属于直接提取原文信息的细节题。第一段明确提到 “the lack of touching might imply cold attitudes or indifference in interpersonal relationships”，即 “缺乏身体接触可能意味着人际关系中态度冷淡或漠不关心”。选项 C 中 “Its absence might suggest a lack of warmth” 是对原文 “cold attitudes or indifference” 的同义替换，表述一致。其他选项均未在第一段提及，A “作用越来越重要”、B “对曾经认为冒犯的人更可接受”、D “不同社会背景的人反应不同” 均无原文依据。故选C。

2.2. What does physical contact in communication suggest?

A What social class people belong to.

B How civilized the communicators are.

C What family background people come from.

D How close the communicators’ relationships are.

解析：选D。D 细节理解题。解析：题目询问沟通中身体接触暗示的内容，属于细节理解题。第三段第一句直接指出 “Haptics in communication often suggest the level of intimacy”，其中 “haptics” 指前文提到的 “physical contact and the study of touching”，“intimacy” 意为 “亲密程度”。选项 D“How close the communicators’ relationships are”（沟通者之间关系的亲密程度）与原文表述完全对应。A “社会阶层”、B “文明程度”、C “家庭背景” 均未在原文中提及，无依据支撑。故选D。

3.3. What do we learn about people in high-contact cultures?

A They are sensitive to the way people express their emotions.

B They take touching as a cultural norm in social interactions.

C They attach great importance to close ties among people.

D They tend to be more open in interpersonal relationships.

解析：选B。B 细节理解题。解析：题目考查高接触文化人群的特点，属于细节理解题。第四段明确说明 “high-contact cultures, where they tend to expect touching in social interactions and feel more comfortable with physical closeness”，即 “高接触文化中，人们在社交互动中倾向于期待身体接触，且对身体亲近更自在”。选项 B “They take touching as a cultural norm in social interactions”（将触摸视为社交互动中的文化规范）是对原文的合理概括。A “对情绪表达方式敏感”、C “重视人与人之间的紧密联系”、D “人际关系中更开放” 均未在高接触文化的描述中明确提及，属于无关推断。故选B。

4.4. What do we learn about social customs in Arabian countries?

A Men can show friendship in public through physical affection.

B Non-traditional romantic relationships are simply unacceptable.

C Physical contact between unfamiliar people is negatively perceived.

D People of different ages and genders show affection in different ways.

解析：选A。A 细节理解题。解析：题目考查阿拉伯国家的社会习俗，属于细节理解题。第六段开篇提到 “in certain Arabian, African, and Asian countries, men can publicly hold hands or show physical affection as signs of brotherhood or friendship”，即 “在某些阿拉伯、非洲和亚洲国家，男性可以公开牵手或表现出身体亲密，作为兄弟情谊或友谊的象征”。选项 A “Men can show friendship in public through physical affection”（男性可以通过公开的身体亲密表达友谊）与原文完全一致。B “非传统恋爱关系不可接受”、C “陌生人之间的身体接触遭否定”、D “不同年龄和性别的人表达亲密的方式不同” 均未在阿拉伯国家的相关描述中提及，无原文依据。故选A。

5.5. What does the author tell us to do concerning tactile communication?

A Lay emphasis on nonverbal communication.

B Learn to use appropriate body language first.

C Pay attention to the differences between genders.

D Take other people’s preference into consideration.

解析：选D。D 细节理解题。题目询问作者关于触觉沟通的建议，属于细节理解题。最后一段明确给出建议 “just ask for consent beforehand”，即 “事先征求同意”。选项 D“Take other people’s preference into consideration”（考虑他人的偏好）是对 “征求同意” 的同义转换，符合原文意图。A “重视非语言沟通”、B “先学会使用恰当的肢体语言”、C “关注性别差异” 均未在作者的最终建议中提及，原文核心是 “征求他人意愿”，而非其他无关点。故选D。