12．"Privacy"is translated as"yin si"in Chinese．Traditionally，in the Chinese mind，"yin si"is associated with that which is closed or unfair．If someone is said to have"yin si"，meddlers（好事者）will be attracted to pry（打探）into his or her affairs．So people always state that they don't have"yin si"．
On the contrary，Americans often declare intention to protect their privacy．Their understanding of privacy is that others have no right to pry into things which belong to themselves alone and have nothing to do with others．One who is too curious and who spreads rumors is said to violate the right to privacy．
In the evening，Sonia and I went to a bar for dinner．In China，when people mention bars，something bad usually comes to mind．But here，the bar was a quiet and tastefully laidout place．People spoke quite softly，afraid of interrupting their neighbors，and sat face to face as they drank，sometimes three or five persons sitting together．
This sort of atmosphere was totally different from my preconception（傳統(tǒng)觀念），so I wanted to take a picture．Sonia stopped me，"Don't you see these people are pouring out their hearts？Maybe they are colleagues，friends，secret lovers．They came here looking for a peaceful place free from interruption by others．They wouldn't want to leave any trace of their having come here．So taking their pictures would be a serious violation of their right to privacy．"
Is there privacy between husband and wife？One of Sonia's friends married a talented Chinese man，but recently she became so angry that she wanted a divorce．The reason was that her husband had opened one of her letters and looked through her purse．The husband didn't realize that this is not tolerated in the US．He thought that being a couple was like being one person；why couldn't he see the letter or the contents of the purse？Truly，everyone，even those living as a couple，needs room-not only in three-dimensional space，but in the heart．
24．What is the main idea of the text？C
A．Everyone has the right to privacy．
B．There is privacy between husband and wife in America．
C．The understanding of"privacy"is different in China and America．
D．Everyone in every country needs room for himself．
25．Sonia stopped me when I wanted to take a picture in the bar becauseB．
A．taking pictures in a bar was not allowed in America
B．taking pictures in a bar would violate other people's right to privacy
C．people who came here are colleagues，friends or secret lovers
D．taking pictures in a bar would interrupt the neighbors
26．One of Sonia's friends wanted a divorce becauseC．
A．she thought her husband was not clever enough
B．her husband always opened her letters
C．her husband didn't respect her right to privacy
D．her husband always looked through her purse
27．Which of the following statements is NOT the American's understanding of privacy？C
A．There is privacy even between couples．
B．Other people have no right to pry into his or her affairs．
C．Privacy is connected with something that is unfair and bad．
D．The right to privacy shouldn't be violated by others．
