Model2: What do you think are the reasons
for that difference?
Script
Susan: Do find that people in America often walk faster than people in China?
American (1) always seems to be in a hurry. John: It’s hard to come to a definite conclusion. Some Americans walk in a
leisurely way, and some Chinese hurry all the time. But on the whole, I think you’re right.
Susan: (2) What do you think are the reasons for that difference? John: Americans treasure time. For them, time is tangible. It’s a thing. “Time is
money.” You can “spend time”, “waste time”, “save time”. You can even “kill time”!
Susan: (3) Does this strong sense of time affect their lifestyle?
John: Sure. If you’re 20 minutes late for a business appointment, the other person
or persons will be annoyed. They may not trust you anymore.
Susan: But as far as I know, English-speaking people may be 15-30 minutes late for a
dinner party.
John: That’s true. For an informal occasion like that, punctuality is not so important.
Also, a boss may keep his employees waiting for a long time.
Susan: But if his secretary is late, she’s in trouble. She will probably receive a
reprimand.
John: How true!
Susan: The American worship of time probably (4) let them to create fast food.
John: I agree. And (5) globalization shrinks the differences between cultures. Now
people everywhere are rushing, and anywhere you go, you find Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Susan: But plenty of Chinese are still making appointments saying, “If I am late, wait
for me.”
John: But with more intercultural, I think (6) the gap will eventually be bridged,
and Chinese will be hurrying everywhere.
Model3: That’s the secret of their success. Script
Chris: Hey, Sue, how’s the math class going? Are you head of the class?
Susan: Are you kidding? There’s a bunch of foreign students in the class-from China
somewhere-and (1) they’re on top.
Chris: Why do you think so many Chinese students excel in math? It’s been my
observation that the Chinese students are usually the best.
Susan: In class they don’t say much, but (2) they definitely get the best marks.
Chris: I think part of it is their work ethic. (3) They never skip in class, and they pay
attention.
Susan: One Chinese student in my class (4) did homework each day until the early hours. He never took a break, watched TV, or went out for a beer.
Chris: (5) That’s the secret of their success: hard work and diligence.
Susan: It’s so unfair. I could probably do better if I worked harder, but that’s no fun. I
think learning should be more fun.
Chris: Someone with a knowledge of chess would find a chess tournament
fascinating. But if you don’t have the knowledge, then you won’t understand the significance of the moves, and you’ll be bored.
Susan: So what you’re saying is knowledge requires hard work, and knowledge
makes things interesting. I’m not against knowledge; (6) I just want to learn in an interesting way. What’s more, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.“
Ⅴ let’s talk
International Slavery Museum Script
The international Slavery Museum has opened at Albert Dock, in Liverpool. Many people travelled from all over the world to celebrate the opening on 23rd of August.
The museum is a place of reflection, contemplation and education.
It tells the story of the cruel acts of the transatlantic slave trade, the stories of the lives of the millions of Africans people, who were forced from their homelands onto ships that sailed to unknown lands where they were made to work on farms and in mines in harsh conditions without dignity or payment.
Liverpool is one of the many British seaports that became very rich from money made transporting goods such as cotton and sugar, produced by African slaves.
One of the most important parts of the museum’s exhibits are the stories of the lives of people who live all over the world today, whose family history can be traced to the Africans whose lives were changed forever by the transatlantic slave trade.
It has taken four years of the hard work and planning to organise the creation of the museum, and its opening year is a very significant date because in 2007 we commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act.
This was a law made in 1807; it banned all British people from taking part in the slave trade. Later in 1833 all people who had been forced into slavery to work for British companies were freed.
Key:
1. It tells the story of the cruel acts of the (1) transatlantic slave trade, the stories of the lives of the millions of African people, who were forced from their homelands onto ships that sailed to (2) unknown lands where they were made to work on farms and in mines in harsh conditions without (3) dignity or payments.
2. Liverpool is one of the many British seaports that became very (1) rich from many made transporting goods such as (2) cottons and sugar, produced by African slaves.
3. One of the most important parts of the museum’s exhibits are the stories of the lives of people who live (1) all over the world today, whose (2) family history can be traced to the Africans whose lives were (3) changed forever by the transatlantic
slave trade.
4. Because 2007 marks the 200th anniversary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act. 5. A law made in 1807; it (1) banned all British people from (2) taking part in the slave trade. Later in 1833 all people who had been forced into (3) slavery to work for British companies were (4) freed.
Ⅵ Further listening and speaking
Listening Task1 Punctuality
Script
To Americans, punctuality is a way of respect 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 delay. Of course, the less formal the situation, the less important it is to be exactly on time. At informal get-togethers, for example, people can arrive as much as 30 minutes past the appointed time. But they usually don’t try that at work.
American lifestyles show how much people respect the time of others. When people plan an event, they often set the time days or weeks in advance. Once the time is fixed, it takes almost an emergency to change it. If people want to come to your house for a friendly visit, they will usually call first to make sure it is convenient. Only very close friend will just “dropped in” unannounced. Also, people hesitate to call others late at night for fear they might already be in bed. The time may vary, but most people think twice about calling after 10:00p.m.
To outsiders, Americans seem tied to the clock. People in some Eastern cultures value relationships more than schedules. In these societies, people don’t try to control time, but to experience it. Many Eastern cultures, for example, view time as a cycle. The rhythm of nature- from the passing of seasons to the monthly cycle of the moon-shapes their view of events. If they have wasted some time or let an opportunity pass by, they are not very worried, knowing that more time and opportunities will come in the next cycle. But Americans often want to jump at the first opportunity. They are unwilling to stand by idly and give up the opportunity.
The early American hero Benjamin Franklin expressed that view of time like this: “Do you love life? Then do not waste time, for that is the stuff life is made of.”
Question and key:
1. When people are running late in America, what do they do? C) They call ahead to inform others of their delays.
2. What do Americans do after the time for an appointment is fixed? B) They change it only when there is an emergency.
3. How do people in Eastern cultures view relationships and schedules? A) Relationships are more important than schedules.
4. Why aren’t some Eastern people worried if they let an opportunity pass by? C) Another opportunity will come in next cycle. 5. What was Benjamin Franklin’s view of time? D) It is part of life.
Task2: Our personal space
Script
Our personal space, that piece of the universe we occupy and call our own, is contained within an invisible boundary surrounding our body. As the owners of this area, we usually decide who may enter and who may not. When our space is invaded, we react in a variety of ways. We back up and retreat, stand our ground as our hands become moist from nervousness, or sometimes even react violently. Our response shows not only our unique personality, but also our cultural background.
For example, cultures that stress individualism such as England, the United States, Germany, and Australia, generally demand more space than collective cultures do, and tend to aggressive when their space is invaded. The idea of space is quite different from the one found in the Mexican and Arab cultures. In Mexico, the physical distance between people when engaged in conversation is closer than what is usual north of the border. And for Middle Easterners, typical Arab conversations are at close arrange. Closeness cannot be avoided.
As is the case with most of our behavior, our use of space is directly linked to the value system of our culture. In some Asian cultures, for example, employees do not stand near their bosses; the extended distance demonstrates respect. Extra interpersonal distance is also part of the cultural experience of the people of Scotland and Sweden, for whom it reflects privacy. And in Germany, private space is scared.
Key: 1. T 2. F