牛津英语教材课文字帖M6U3 Reading.doc

江苏省淮安中学2011级高二年级英语主阅读部分书写训练Class_ Name_ No._Cultural differencesMa Li: Hi, everyone. My names Ma Li. I need some help on my _homeworkits about cultural differences. Can I sit down and talk to _you?_Waled: Hi, Ma Li, Im Waled from Brunei._Peter: And Im Peter, from the UK. Nice to meet you._Ma Li: Nice to meet you, too. Can you tell me about some cultural _differences you have found? _Peter: Waled, why dont you tell her about the British teacher who _opened the present as soon as he received it at the end-of-term _ceremony?_Ma Li: Oh, I already know about that one. My American friend Jack _did the same thing._Peter: Well, its what we do in the West. Its rude not to open a _present when someone gives you one. We like to see how the person _reacts. We think its strange not to open it! What would be another _cultural difference . let me think. Well, I once went to an _acquaintances wedding in Korea and I was very surprised. _Ma Li: Why was that?_Peter: Well, they had a live hen and a rooster as a part of the _wedding ceremony._Ma Li: Live chickens?_Peter: Yes. Roosters are supposed to drive bad spirits away from _the wedding ceremony, and hens are thought to ensure good luck for _the marriage. During the ceremony, the hen laid an egg, and everyone _congratulated the new couple because it was considered very lucky.Waled: Thats interesting! In Brunei, at wedding receptions men and _women have to sit in separate areasthe men with the bridegroom, _and the women with the bride. Another difference is that while we _serve food, soft drinks, tea and coffee, alcohol is not permitted at the _wedding receptionin fact, alcohol is altogether prohibited in Brunei. _And you probably wouldnt get much sleep if you lived near where a _wedding reception was being held. Thats because we play loud drums _to celebrate the wedding for hours afterwards, and sometimes even _throughout the night! _Peter: Throughout the night? Waled: Yeah, people get used to it. _Ma Li: So what other things do you do in your country that are _different from other countries, Waled? _Waled: Well, you know in many countries people point with their _first finger. However, in Brunei that can cause offence, so we use our _thumb to point. Its quite funny watching the new foreign teachers _trying to adjust to doing that. Another thing is, if you came to Brunei, _you would have to take off your shoes before going into someones _house. Many foreigners have trouble getting accustomed to it.Peter: But what is really interesting is that there are sometimes _great cultural differences even between native English speakers. I am _always amazed at how Americans are so different from us Brits. Even _though we share the same languagewith different accents, of _courseour customs are not always alike._Ma Li: Really?_Peter: Yes. For example, I have fond childhood memories of Bonfire _Night, but my American friends are not familiar with that particular _festival._Ma Li: Well, Im not familiar with it either._Peter: Oh, its a celebration that takes place on November 5th _every year. People light large fires outside, and everyone gathers _around and has a party. There are plenty of fireworks, and everyone _eats hot dogs and other food that can be cooked over the fire. Its _great fun._Ma Li: Well, its time for me to go. This has been a really interesting _chat. I think now I understand a lot more about different cultures and _what is appropriate behaviour. Its really helped me with my _homework! I hope we can talk again soon. After all,