Therepairmantoldme“NochargeProfessorPan!We’refriends.”“I’dratherpay”Ireplied.“Ifit’sfreeIcan’taffordit!”Chineseoftenrefusepaymentforprofessionalservicesinsisting“We’refriendsnow!

Question

The repairman told me “No charge Professor Pan! We’re friends. ” “I’d rather pay ” I replied. “If it’s free I can’t afford it!”

Chinese often refuse payment for professional services insisting “We’re friends now!” But then they show up later to ask me to tutor them in English or get them into an American university and I wish I’d have just paid the 30 yuan I owed them in the first place!

According to the Americans “There’s no free lunch ” meaning that there’s a price for everything and I’m always looking around to figure out what this means.

Many of our neighbors have given us fruit or flowers or costly teas never asking anything in return. For years a bicycle repairman has repeatedly refused to let me pay him. “Wait until you have something major to fix!” he insists.

I mentioned to a peasant friend that I wished I had a stone mill to grind (磨) flour for bread. A month later he showed up with a beautiful mill that he’d had his uncle in the countryside carve from a solid block of granite (花岗石).

Chinese generosity (慷慨) is a real education for Americans like me who would rather avoid social entanglements (纠纷) and just hand over the money. But cash can’t compensate (补偿) for the greatest gift friendship.

When an American saw some of my friends sitting on bamboo stools under the trees sipping (呷) tea he said “They must have nothing better to do.” “Actually ” I said “they are professors with plenty to do. But probably you’re right in saying that at this moment they have nothing better to do. And neither do I!”

And I joined the group. We chatted about tea and Chinese cooking and how much my boys have grown since we arrived. One man said “They were pocket-sized when you came here. Now they’re taller than you. How time flies!”

How life flies. And Chinese are smart enough to share what they know they cannot keep. They freely give of their time never too busy to help a friend. And they are teaching me slowly to both give and receive. So the next time someone says “No charge. We’re friends!” I will thank them heartily. But if they show up later asking me to tutor them in English I’ll make sure they tutor my son in Chinese as well because there’s still no free lunch.

 

60. The author insisted on paying repairman while he was offered free repairs because he ____.

A. was an honest man                                                  B. didn’t know the repairman

C. thought it natural to pay for others’ service              D. didn’t want to help others in return

61. Generally the author thinks that Chinese are ____.

A. generous and always ready to help their friends        B. good at exchange of equal values

C. free enough to drink tea and chat with their friends   D. helpful but don’t treasure time

62. The best title for the passage should be “____”.

A. Learn to Both Give And Receive                          B. A Good Lesson from Chinese

C. True Help or Not                                               D. Still No Free Lunch

63. Which of the following is TRUE?

A. The Chinese would rather not take the money to avoid problems in social communication.

B. When a peasant knew the author needed a mill he made one for the author himself.

C. The author thinks that Chinese are wise enough to enjoy the limited life.

D. The author thinks little of Chinese way of life.

Answer 1

CADC