a.

The handshake is the most widely used form of greeting in the world.

b.

When it comes to shaking hands, people of different cultures have different expectations.

c.

People of different cultures use different methods for greeting one another.

d.

Touch is an important type of human expression.

1.

¹If you're searching real estate ads for a house, descriptions like "charming fixer-upper" might lead you to believe that you could be reading about your future dream home. ²However, according to author Lou Manfredini, there's often a very big difference between an advertisement's description of a house and the actual property. ³Manfredini says that in a real estate ad, the phrase "lots of potential" actually means "lots of problems." ⁴Often, he says, these problems require bulldozers, not just paint, to correct. ⁵The phrase "priced to sell" is used to make a house seem like a bargain. ⁶However, bargain prices are obvious, so these words are often used to make an overpriced house merely seem more affordable. ⁷The phrase "in an up-and-coming neighborhood" can be translated as "in a rough part of town." ⁸And a "handyman's special" really means that you yourself had better be a trained carpenter, plumber, and electrician. ⁹If you're not, you're going to pay twice as much to repair the place as you paid to buy it. (Source of information: Lou Manfredini, "Reading Between the Lines," USA Weekend, June 18-20, 2004, p. 12.)

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2.

¹The 1980s have been named the "Me Decade" because individuals focused more on personal concerns than on larger social issues. ²During these years, acquiring money became very important to many people. ³In 1974, only 46 percent of college freshmen and high school seniors claimed that becoming "financially successful" was their number one priority. ⁴In 1986, however, 73 percent of college freshmen said that their first priority was becoming "very well off financially." ⁵Not surprisingly, young Americans flocked to law schools, medical schools, and business and other postgraduate schools, and the number of doctors, lawyers, and high-paid executives increased. ⁶Between 1980 and 1987, the circulation of Money magazine jumped from 800,000 to 1.85 million. ⁷This nationwide focus on personal and financial success led Newsweek to declare 1984 the "Year of the Yuppie," the young, upwardly mobile, urban professional. (Source of information: Carol Berkin et al., Making America, 3^rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2003, p. 965.)

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3.

¹In 1975, only about 10 percent of babies were born by C-section, the procedure in which a doctor removes the baby surgically. ²Today, though, at least 25 percent of babies are born by C-section. ³This dramatic increase in the rate can be explained by a number of factors. ⁴First of all, many parents want to avoid the trauma and serious risks of natural childbirth. ⁵During difficult deliveries, the baby can suffocate or suffer brain damage in the birth canal, and mothers can experience severe tearing that can cause medical problems and require a long, painful recovery. ⁶Secondly, modern mothers with careers or other obligations like the convenience of being able to plan the baby's birth to accommodate a busy schedule. ⁷Third, soaring medical malpractice premiums have made doctors far less willing to take even the slightest risk with natural childbirth. ⁸They would rather deliver the baby via C-section than face a possible lawsuit when complications cause injuries to the mother or the infant. ⁹Commercial managed care corporations, too, have contributed to the growing rate of C-sections. ¹⁰They have sought to cut costs by reducing hospital stays, and prescheduled C-sections not only increase hospital efficiency but are also covered by insurance as a medical procedure. (Sources of information: Kelvin L. Seifert et al., Lifespan Development, 2^nd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2000, p. 101; Sora Song, "Too Posh to Push?" Time, April 19, 2004, pp. 58, 60.)

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4.

¹More and more women who hold graduate or professional degrees are deciding to leave work to become stay-at-home moms. ²In fact, 22 percent of them are now home with the kids instead of at the office, and the overall number of working, married mothers with a child less than one year old has been steadily declining. ³Many people praise these women for putting their children before paychecks and prestige. ⁴However, others point out that women who decide to become stay-at-home moms may underestimate the sense of pride and meaning they got from their work. ⁵Even if the family can handle the mother's loss of income, sometimes it cannot handle her loss of identity. ⁶Some also claim that stay-at-home moms put themselves at risk when they lose all of those years in the workforce. ⁷If they get a divorce later, they will lack the experience they might need to revive their careers and earn a living. ⁸And when stay-at-home moms decide to return to the workplace—usually when the kids are old enough to go to school—they may find that younger, talented women have taken their places. ⁹Clearly, choosing to stay home with the kids has some risks. (Source of information: Claudia Wallis, "The Case for Staying Home," Time, March 22, 2004.)

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5.

¹Do you want to live to be 80, 90, or even 100 years old? ²Research shows that long life does run in families, so having good genes helps. ³However, other studies indicate that your lifestyle, too, plays a major role in keeping your mind and body healthy for eight, nine, or even ten decades. ⁴If you want to live a long life, you should exercise regularly and trim down if you're overweight. ⁵Extra pounds and lack of physical activity contribute to heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and many other diseases; thus, getting in shape will increase your chances of living longer. ⁶You should also eat a healthy diet. ⁷In particular, consuming ten servings of fruits and vegetables every day will help prevent disease and age-related damage to cells. ⁸You should find ways to reduce stress, too. ⁹According to scientists, adding stress relievers to your daily routine will help prevent chronic diseases that can shorten your life. ¹⁰Mentally, you should adopt a positive attitude; research shows that people who live for 100 years are usually optimistic and have good skills for coping with life's setbacks. ¹¹You should also keep learning new skills and information, for doing so will build new brain cells and keep you mentally alert as you age. (Source of information: Kathleen Fackelmann, "The Secrets to Longevity," USA Today, February 23, 2004, p. 6D.)

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