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Destiny and Personal Responsibility
One important variable affecting communication across cultures is destiny (命运) and personal responsibility.
This refers to the degree to which we feel ourselves the masters of our lives, contrary to the degree to which
we see ourselves assubjectto things outside our control. Another way to look at this is to ask how much we
see ourselves able to change and act, to choose the course of our lives and relationships. Some have drawn a
parallel between the personal responsibility in North American settings and the view itself. The North American
view is vast, with large spaces of unpopulated land. The frontier attitude of "King" of the wilderness, and the
expansiveness of the land reaching huge distances, may relate to generally high levels of confidence in the ability
to shape and choose our destinies.
In this expansive land, many children grow up with a heroic sense of life, where ideas are big, and hope
springs forever. When they experience temporary failures, they are encouraged to redouble their efforts, to "try,
try again". Action, efficiency (效率), and achievement are valued and expected. Free will is respected in laws
and enforced by courts.
Now consider places in the world with much smaller land, whose history reflects wars and tough struggles..
Northern Ireland, Mexico, Israel, Palestine. In these places, destiny's role is more important in human life. In
Mexico, there is a history of hard life, fighting over land, and loss of homes. Mexicans are more likely to see
struggles as part of their life and unavoidable. Their passive attitude is expressed in their way of responding to
failure or accident by saying "ni modo" ("no way" or "tough luck"), meaning that the failure was destined.
This variable is important to understanding cultural conflict. If someone believing in free will crosses paths
with someone more passive, miscommunication is likely. The first person may expect action and accountability.
Failing to see it, he may conclude that the second is lazy, not cooperative, or dishonest. The second person will
expect respect for the natural order of things. Failing to see it, he may conclude that the first is forcible, rude,
or big headed in his ideas of what can be accomplished or changed.
1. The author thinks that one's character is partly determined by _____.
A. physical senses
B. general attitude
C. financial background
D. geographic characteristics
2. According to the passage, Mexicans would think that Americans are _____.
A. impractical
B. dishonest
C. ambitious
D. hesitant
3. The underlined word "subject" in Paragraph l probably means _____.
A. a topic of a discussion
B. a branch of knowledge
C. a person being experimented on
D. a person under the power of others
4. The author would probably agree that _____.
A. vast land may lead to a more controllable desire
B. heroic sense of life roots deeply in a small country
C. living in limited space contributes to an accepting attitude
D. fighting over land may help people gain high levels of confidence

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