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Americans believe so much in moving ahead that they are _ 1 _ researching, experimenting and exploring. They treat time as if it _ 2 _ real — a precious resource. They budget it, save it, waste it, steal it, kill it, cut it, account for it and charge for it. A foreigner’s first impression _ 3 _ the U.S. is that everyone is in a rush and often _ 4 _ pressure. City people always appear to be hurrying to get where they are going, restlessly seeking attention or elbowing others. Foreigners who miss smiles, brief conversations, or leisurely exchanges with strangers should not feel hurt by this. Americans value time so highly, they dislike anyone “wasting” it _ 5 _ an appropriate amount. New arrivals to the States will miss the custom of social talk during a business call because Americans generally _ 6 _ or enquire about their visitors professionally rather than socially. They start talking business very quickly; time is always ticking in their heads. They work hard at saving time _ 7 _ labor-saving devices so they communicate rapidly by fax, phone or email rather than through _ 8 _ contact. The impersonality of electronic communication has _ 9 _ to do with the significance of the matter _ 10 _ hand.

1. A. engaged to      B. committed to      C. devoted themselves to      D. contribute to

2. A. were           B. is               C. was                     D. are

3. A. in             B. on               C. of                      D. to

4. A. under          B. by               C. in                      D. on

5. A. on             B. to               C. in                      D. beyond

6. A. assess          B. assure            C. assume                 D. access

7. A. in             B. of                C. to                     D. through

8. A. personnel       B. personal           C. personality             D. impersonal

9. A. little           B. no                C. less                   D. least

10. A. of             B. to                C. at                     D. in