Exercise 12. Read the passage and answer the questions about it.

 

What is culture? Culture is knowledge, beliefs, and behavior shared by a group of people that is learned and passed on from generation to generation.

It is not possible to say that all Americans share the same culture. It is more accurate to speak about the many cultures of Americans — the U.S. is often described as a «culture of cultures». Yet, even though it is not possible to speak of a single American culture, Americans talk about a «mainstream» U.S. culture that is shared by a majority of Americans.

When Americans describe their culture they may describe an ideal and not a real culture. For example, the following are often given as values of mainstream American culture: independence, hard work, honesty, equality of all persons. While many Americans show these values, there are also times when they do not, i.e. such values often describe an ideal way of living. The history of the USA shows Americans trying to change the values from ideal to real ones, for example, today Americans are continuing their efforts in the area of equality of women's and men's rights.

Sometimes one may overgeneralize particular features of a culture. For example, in southern U.S. «Sir» and «Ma'am» are used more frequently than in other regions, but if you have been only to southern U.S. you may think that this is true for all Americans. Overgeneralizations, called stereotypes, can create a false view of another culture. Some Overgeneralizations are positive, such as «Americans are hardworking and honest», other are negative, such as «Americans appear friendly, but don't really want to have deep relationships». Any stereotype, whether positive or negative, describes a group of people, but not individuals in that group.

Sometimes culture learning, like language learning can be tiring. This tired feeling, or culture fatigue is normal when you adapt to a different culture and language. Sometimes due to fatigue and frustration, some people become too critical of the new culture. The important thing, however, is to remember that adapting to a culture does not mean accepting everything in that culture.

 

1. What is the best title for the passage?

a. Real and ideal values.

b. Cultural stereotypes.

c. Culture learning.

d. Mainstream culture.

 

2. The U.S. can be called «a culture of cultures» because

a. Americans are very interested in cultures

b. there are many different cultures in the USA

c. all Americans share the same culture

d. American culture is a single culture

 

3. Independence, hard work, honesty, equality are:

a. examples of ideal culture for all people

b. examples of ideal American culture

c. examples of real American culture

d. examples of real culture for all people

 

4. An example of stereotype is

a. most Americans live in the U.S.

b. some Americans say «Ma'am» and «Sir» frequently

c. Americans are friendly, but don't want to have deep relationships

d. many people visit U.S. every year

 

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5. When people are adapting to a new culture they can criticize this culture because:

a. they have to accept everything in the new culture

b. they overgeneralize this culture

c. when people are tired, they may say things they don't really mean

d. they feel homesick

 

Exercise 13. Choose the one word or phrase that best keeps the meaning of the underlined word or phrase if it is substituted for it:

 

1. It's rather complicated to explain.

a. easy

b. boring

c. difficult

d. interesting

 

2. The evidence confirms our predictions.

a. tests

b. proves

c. challenges

d. confines

 

3. Can we reach a consensus on this issue?

a. solution

b. agreement

c. conclusion

d. decision

 

4. I have omitted all minor details.

a. brought about

b. added

c. revised

d. left out

 

5. We need a formal invitation.

a. valid

b. official

c. regular

d. confirmed

 

6. This fact is impossible to verify.

a. to corroborate

b. to overestimate

c to understand

d. to accept

 

7. Don't apply for the job unless you qualify.

a. if you don't

b. if only

c. in case

d. provided that

 

8. It is essential that he perform his work carefully.

a. required

b. importable

c. important

d. desirable

 

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9. Should they invite you, bring all the papers.

a. unless

b. if

c. after

d. would

 

10. It is highly desirable that we solve this problem.

a. slightly

b. usually

c. somewhat

d. very

 

11. The economists predicted an increase in the rate of inflation.

a. made an assumption

b. made prognosis

c. made effort

d. made decision

 

12. Assuming that you are right about this, what shall we do?

a. even if

b. suppose

c. only if

d. unless

 

13. Please confine yourself to the subject in question.

a. conclude

b. combine

c. extend

d. restrict

 

14. Provided (that) there is no opposition, we'll hold the meeting tomorrow.

a. now

b. so

c. as

d. if

 

Noteworthy:

 

To women who wish to become professional scientists I am also suggesting that they remember,... «If you are not for yourself, who will be? And if not now, when?»

Fay Aizenberg-Selove (a professor of physics, USA)

 

Chapter 5

UNscientifically speaking...