153 What point was Maya Angelou trying to make to her host by walking on the rug? Do you think she reacted correctly when she realised her mistake? What would you have done? Talk in pairs. SPEAKING 8 4 Samia plummeted in my estimation: Samia sank rapide in meiner Wertschätzung I had known a woman in Egypt who would not allow her servants to walk on her rugs saying that only she, her family and friends were going to wear out her expensive carpets. Samia plummeted in my estimation4. Obviously she had informed her guests that she would not look favorably on them if they stepped on her rug. I wondered what words did one use to inform a guest how to behave? I decided to find out. I went into the room and in the guise of looking closely at some paintings on the wall, I walked across the center of the rug, then turned and walked back to another painting. I must have stepped on the rug four or five times. The guests who were bunched up on the sidelines smiled at me weakly. They might be encouraged to admit that rugs were to be walked on. A Senegalese woman in a white brocade gown smiled at me and engaged me in conversation. She was a writer and we began talking about books. I became so interested I nearly missed the next scene. Two maids came and rolled up the rug I had walked on and took it away. They returned immediately with another equally as beautiful. They spread it, and patted it until it was smooth. They then put glasses on the carpet and huge serving spoons, folded napkins and silverware, wine and pitchers of water. Finally a bowl of steaming rice and chicken was placed on the carpet. Samia and Pierre appeared and clapping their hands they called for attention. Samia announced that they were serving the most popular Senegalese dish, “Yassah, for our sister from America.” She waved her hand at me and said, “For Maya Angelou,” adding, “Shall we sit?” All the guests sank to the floor. My face and neck burned. Fortunately, because of my chocolate brown complexion, people could not know I was on fire with shame. Clever and so proper Maya Angelou, I had walked up and down over the tablecloth. I sat, but found swallowing hard to do. The food had to force its way over that knot of embarrassment. In an unfamiliar culture, it is wise to offer no innovations, no suggestions, or lessons. Statements T F First four words 0 The author had met her friends regularly. Years passed before I 1 There was a minority of European guests at the party. 2 Maya Angelou found it hard to communicate with some of the other guests. 3 She compared the host to an Egyptian woman she knew. 4 The other guests approved of her walking on the carpet. 5 A second, cheaper looking carpet was brought in. 6 When the author realised her mistake, she felt bad. 7 The author recommends behaving modestly in places you do not know well. Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjU2NDQ5MQ==