What is time? Is it a thing to be saved or spent or wasted, like money? Or is it something we have no1over, like the weather? Is time the same all over the world? That's an easy question, you say. Wherever you go, a minute is 60 seconds, an hour is 60 minutes, a day is 24 hours, and so forth. Well, maybe. But in America, time is more than that. Americans see time as a2 resource. Maybe that's why they are fond of the expression, "Time is money."
Because Americans believe time is a limited resource, they try to conserve and manage it. People in the U. S. often attend lectures or read books on time3. It seems they all want to 4 their time better. Professionals carry around pocket planners—some in electronic form to keep5of appointments and deadlines. People do all they can to 6 more life out of their time. The early American hero Benjamin Franklin expressed this view best: "Do you love life? Then do not waste time, for that is the stuff life is made of. "
To Americans, punctuality is a way of showing7 for other people's time. Being more than 10 minutes late to an appointment usually calls for an apology, and maybe an explanation. People who are running late often call ahead to let others know of the 8. Of course, the less formal the situation, the less important it is to be 9on time.
American lifestyles show how much people respect the time of others. When people plan an event, they often set the time days or weeks 10. If people want to come to your house for a friendly visit, they will usually call first to make sure it is 11. Also, people 12 to call others late at night for fear they might be in bed. The time may13, but most folks think twice about calling after 10:00 p. m.
Even Americans would admit that no one can master time. Time—like money—14 all too easily through our fingers. And time—like the weather— is very hard to 15. Nevertheless, time is one of life's most precious gifts. And unwrapping it is half the fun.
