1121 In the United States, it's not customary to telephone someone very early in the morning.If you telephone him early in the day, 112] while he is shaving or having breakfast, the time of the call very important and requires immediate attention. The same meaning is attached to telephone calls made after 11:00 p.m.[11] If someone receives a call during sleeping hours, he assumes it's a matter of life or death. The time chosen for the call communicates its importance. In social life, time plays a very important part. In the U.S.A. guests tend to feel they are not highly regarded if the invitation to a dinner party is extended only three or four days before the party date. But it is not true in all countries. In other areas of the world, it may be considered foolish to make an appointment too far in advance because plans which are made for a date more than a week away tend to be forgotten. The meaning of time differs in different parts of the world. Thus, misunderstandings arise between people from different cultures that treat time differently. Promptness is valued highly in American life, for example.
        [13] If peopte are not prompt, they may be regarded as impolite or not fully responsible. In the U.S. no one would think of keeping a business associate waiting for an hour, it would be too impolite. A person who is 5 minutes late,will say a few words of explanation, though perhaps he will not complete the sentence.
【听前预测】
根据题干中出现的call someone，in the U．S．，during his other sleeping hours，most proper，Americans可以判断短文讨论的是美国人对时间的理解。
【短文大意】
美国人一般不在大清早或晚上睡觉之前给人打电话。如果他们在睡觉的时候接到电话，他们会以为有什么生死攸关的事情发生了。邀请美国人吃饭要提前一个星期或更长的时间，否则他们会以为剐人不重视他们。美国人很守时，他们认为不守时的人是不礼貌的，所以即使他们约会迟到5分钟，也会解释几句。
【试题解析】
B。本题出题点在条件句式处(If…)。短文提到，如果某人在睡觉的时候接到了电话，他会以为有什么生死攸关的事情发生了，故选B。a matter of concern意为“关注的事情”，未能准确反映文中语义，故排除。a matter of course意为“理所当然的事，必然的结果”，与原文意思正好相反，也排除。