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Passage 2
Mrs. Wilson, a Cree Indian in her sixties, was looking for a home to rent. She
Heard that one was available in an ideal location, close to the Calgary core.
Mrs. Wilson and her daughters went to look at the house. Sure enough, there
Was a “For Rent” sign in the window. A woman next door told them that the
Owner was Antonio Pompei, who owned a bakery farther up the street.
Mrs. Wilson has great difficulty walking for she is almost blind, so she waited
In the car while her daughters went along to the bakery. The daughters met Mr.
Pompei, who agreed to rent the house. However, the daughters wanted to see the
Inside of the house before they agreed to rent it. One of the bakery employees went
With them to the house, where he met Mrs. Wilson. All three women liked the
House and returned to the bakery to tell Mr. Pompei that they would rent it.
When Mr. Pompei saw Mrs. Wilson, he quickly walked out of the bakery. He
Had not realized Mrs. Wilson was Indian. Her daughters look more like their father,
Who is of a different ethnic origin. The next day, Mrs. Wilson and her daughters
Returned to the bakery in an attempt to rent the house. Because of her blindness, Mr.
Wilson was helped out of the car and guided into the bakery by one of her
Daughters. Mr. Pompei told the women that the house was already rented.
The Wilsons suspected discrimination.. As soon as they got home, Mrs.
Wilson phoned Mr. Pompei, without identifying herself, and asked about the house.
He said it was still available. When Mrs. Wilson identified herself, Mr. Pompei lost
His temper. Mrs. Wilson complained to the Human Rights commission. Their
Examination discovered that the tenants who did rent the house had not even seen it
At the time when Mrs. Wilson visited it. They applied to rent it a full week after Mrs.
Wilson had applied.
Please answer the following questions:
We know from the passage that Mrs. Wilson was ( ).
Passage 3
Although there are body languages that can cross cultural boundaries, culture
Is still a significant factor in all body languages. This is particularly true of personal
Space needs. For example, Dr. Edward Hall has shown that in Japan crowding
Together is a sign of warm and pleasant intimacy. In certain situations, Hall believes
That the Japanese prefer crowding.
Donald Keene, who wrote Living Japan, notes the fact that in the Japanese
Language there is no word for privacy. Still, this does not mean that there is no
Concept of the need to be apart from others. To the Japanese, privacy exists in terms
Of his house. He considers this area as his own, and he dislikes invasion of it. The
Fact that he crowds together with others does not contradict his need for living
Space.
Dr. Hall sees this as a reflection of the Japanese concept of space. Westerners,
He believed, see space as the distance between objects; to them space is empty. The
Japanese, on the other hand, see the shape as having as much meaning as their
Flower arrangements and art, in their gardens as well, where units of space balance
The areas containing flowers or plants.
Like the Japanese, the Arabs too prefer to be close to one another. But while in
Public they are crowded together, in privacy, they prefer a great deal of space. The
Traditional or wealthy Arab house is large and empty, with family often crowded
Together in one small area of it. The Arab s do not like to be alone, and even in their
Spacious houses they will huddle together. The difference between the Arab
Huddling and the Japanese crowding is a deep thing. The Arabs like to touch his
Companion. The Japanese, in their closeness, preserve a formality and a cool
Dignity. They manage to touch and still keep rigid boundaries. The Arabs push
These boundaries aside.
Along with this closeness, there is a pushing and shoving in the Arab world that
Many Westerners find uncomfortable, even unpleasant. To an American, for
Example, there are personal boundaries even in a public place. When he is waiting
In line, he believes that his place there is his alone, and may not be invaded by
Another. The Arab has no concept of privacy in the public place, and if he can rush
His way into a line, he feels perfectly within his rights to do so. To an American, the
Body is sacred; he dislikes being touched by a stranger, and will apologize if he
Touches another accidentally. To an Arab, bodily contact is accepted.
Hall points out that an Arab needs at times to be alone, no matter how close he
Wishes to be, physically, to his fellow men. To be alone, he simply cuts off the lines
Of communication. He retreats into himself, mentally and spiritually, and this
Withdrawal is respected by his companions. If an American were with an Arab who
Withdrew in this way, he would regard is as impolite, as lack of respect, even as an
Insult.
The main idea of this article is ( ).
1