Different people have different ideas about time. Peoplein the U. S. think that it is important to know the time. In cities in America,there are clocks in stations, factories and other buildings. Radio announcers (播音员) tell you the correct timeduring the day. Most Americans also have watches with them wherever they go. Theywant to do certain things at certain time. They don't like to be late.

But time is not so important to everybody in theworld.When you visita country in South America, you will find that people there don't like to rush.If you had an appointment with somebody, he could probably be late, because hemay not want to arrive on time.

In South America, even the radio program may notbegin on time. The men on the radio may not think it is important to tell theexact time. People in South America think that clocks or watches are justmachines. They think that you let a clock or a watchcontrolyour lifeif you do everything on time.