新编大学第二册英语听力原文7

新编大学第二册英语听力原文7 Unit 7 Culture Part one Exercise 2:1. N 2. T 3. F 4. T 5. F 6. N 7. T 8. F Exercise 3: 1. stupid mistakes 2.lovely ones, make 3. eve, entirely 4. finished, fixes 5. symbol of death 6. on time, alone 7. remind, in front of 8. what we do, right away Ellen: (She talks to Wang & Zhang.) You know, Robert and I are going to China this fall and we'll stay there for at least six months. You know, every culture has its taboos... Wang: Yeah, that's right. Ellen: ...and we'd like to learn something about Chinese taboos so we won't make stupid mistakes or offend people. Wang: Ah, yes, in China there are lots of taboos and I think it's useful to know some of them. For instance, certain things are never given as presents. Robert: Yes, yes, that would be very important to know. We've been racking our brains in choosing gifts for our Chinese friends. So far, we've bought some nice plates, clocks and gift watches... Zhang: Hang on! Did you say clocks? Robert: Yes, what's wrong? I've bought some ornamental clocks, really lovely ones. They make wonderful gifts. I'm sure our Chinese friends will like them. Wang: No, no, no, no, you should never give them as presents, especially to older Chinese. Ellen: (She looks puzzled.) Why not? Wang: Oh, you know, clocks have a funeral connotation. Ellen & Robert: (They look even more puzzled.) Ah... (with their mouths wide open) Zhang: Well, it may sound strange, even absurd to you, but in China it's indeed the case. It has something to do with the pronunciation. The word for “clock” has the same pronunciation as the Chinese word “zhong”, meaning “the end of one's life”. Wang: Yeah, and similarly, always avoid the number “four” because the pronunciation of the word “four” is “si”, the same as the word for death. Robert: How interesting! Are there any other taboos which are pronunciation-related? Wang: Erm... yes, if you're invited to a Chinese home on the eve of the Spring Festival, there is one dish you should not entirely finish eating. That is fish. Ellen: But isn't it true that the host is happy to see the dishes all finished, which means that the guests enjoy the dishes he fixes? Besides, unlike other dishes, fish is better eaten when it's fresh. Right? Zhang: Yes, exactly, but on that particular occasion, you'd better be careful. You know, the pronunciation of the word for “fish” is “yu”, and Chinese would like to say “niannian youyu”, meaning “one must leave something for the next year”, indicating good luck for the coming year. Ellen: It's so interesting! Can you tell us more about Chinese taboos? Wang: Erm... let me see. Oh, yes, if you pay a visit to a Chinese family and you want to bring some flowers, you should never bring chrysanthemums which are a symbol of death. Robert: All right. Please tell us more. Wang: Ah, yes, if you're invited to a Chinese home for dinner, don't arrive exactly on time because the hosts may think you've only come for the dinner alone. Robert: When should we arrive then? Wang: Several minutes early. Robert: I see. Zhang: Ah, there is one more thing I want to remind you of. You should not unwrap a present in front of the person who gives it to you. Ellen: But that's what we do at home, so we can show our gratitude and appreciation right away. Zhang: Yes, it's a cultural difference and that's why I mention it. Ellen: Wow, China really is a fascinating country. Thanks so much for your advice; otherwise we might've made some mistakes and spoil our visit to your country. Robert: Yes, indeed. We'll keep those taboos in mind so that we will enjoy our stay more. Thanks again. Wang & Zhang: You're welcome! Part two listening 1 Exercise 1: F F T T T F F F Exercise 2: 1. cold open outgoing 2. overpowering friendly3. long time, for life 4. accent country loud behavior, language 5. closer, distance (Terry Joyce talks about her experience of living and working in England, where she has been for the past eleven years.) Interviewer: So, Terry. You've been in England for quite a long time now. Terry: Mmm. Interviewer: What differences do you notice between England and the United States? Terry: Obviously the biggest difference is the people. The average Englishman is...mm cold and not very open. Interviewer: Oh. Terry: In the United States it's very different. We start conversations with people in the street, in the subway; we're a lot more outgoing than people here. You know, when I first came, I couldn't understand why I was getting so little reaction from people, but now I see that they thought I was overpowering and too friendly too soon. Interviewer: But, tell me: Does the Englishman improve as you get to know him? Terry: Oh, yes. Interviewer: Oh, good. Terry: Once you have made a friend, it's a friend for life, but it takes a very long time. I'll tell you something that I think is very important. An Englishman in America is respected. Everyone wants to talk to him. We're inquisitive. We love his accent and his country. But Americans in England are thought to be a little inferior because of their loud behavior and their language. One thing I've learned is that English people like a certain distance. When I was talking to someone, he would move away, you know, move backwards, and I thought, “Do I smell? Am I boring him?” The reason is, you see, Americans stand closer when they're talking while English people like a certain distance. Listening II EX 1. CDABC EX 2. lost, India, settle, compare, water, spoil, sugar, stay. Many centuries ago, a group of Jews landed in India and immediately went to the king. They told him that they were lost and wanted to settle in his kingdom. In those days any foreigner was viewed with suspicion. So the king was hesitant about letting them in. He sent for one glass of milk and one glass of water. He asked the leader of the Jews to taste the milk. Then he poured out some milk and added some water. He asked the leader to taste the milk again and said, “What is the difference in taste?” The leader said, “The second time the milk tastes terrible.” “That is because of the water added to the milk,” said the king, “The water dilutes the milk and spoils its taste. So too your addition will spoil the kingdom.” The leader of the Jews thought for a moment and asked for another glass of milk. He then added sugar to the milk and asked the king to taste it. “It tastes sweet,” said the king. The leader of the Jews bowed his head and said, “Oh, Your Majesty! That is how we would like to live here: as the small amount of sugar which sweetens the large quantity of milk and not as the water which dilutes the milk.” Pleased with him, the king granted them permission to stay. Part three Practice one Ex 1. BADCA EX 2. F F T F F Many Americans follow traditions meant to bring good luck in the New Year. Some people wear special clothes or eat special foods. For example, men and women who want to find their true love wear yellow clothing. Others carry silver in the hope of finding money. People in many parts of the United States celebrate the New Year by eating black-eyed peas. Cabbage is another vegetable that people eat to bring good luck and money. In the South, people prepare and eat a traditional food called Hoppin' John. It contains peas, onions, bacon and rice. It has this unusual name because long ago children were said to like it so much they hopped around the room while waiting for it to cook. Asian-Americans sometimes make traditional fortune cookies. These sweets contain small pieces of paper telling about a person's future. Some Americans from Spanish-speaking families follow a tradition for the New Year that involves fruit. On January 1, they stand on a chair and eat grapes. Practice two EX 1. order: 4, 7, 6, 1, 3, 8, 2,5. EX 2. F F T F F A Hindu priest, rabbi and a lawyer were driving down the road when the car broke down. Fortunately, they found a farmhouse nearby. The farmer informed them that he had only one spare room, and that it had only two twin beds. They were welcome to it, but one of them had to sleep in the barn. After much discussion, the Hindu volunteered to go to the barn. A few moments later, there was a knock on the bedroom door, and the Hindu explained that there was a cow in the barn, and cows were sacred and he could not possibly sleep in the barn with a cow. Annoyed, the rabbi volunteered. A few moments later, there was a knock on the door. The rabbi explained that there was a pig in the barn and that he, being very orthodox, could not possibly spend the evening in the barn with the origin of pork. Finally, the lawyer said that he would go to the barn. A few moments later there was a knock on the door. It was the cow and the pig! Practice three EX 1. Column A: 1. E 2.B 3.G 4. A 5.D 6 .F 7. C EX 2. 1. European 2. 1:00 p.m., 4:30 p. m. 3. brown 4. party 5. stand Different cultures adhere to different business customs. For example, the British consider it impolite to interrupt a visitor, even after all business has been done. Thus a visitor should know when to stop talking and when to leave. Spanish business people need to see samples, so samples of products or services should be offered whenever possible. Visitors also need to know that in Spain offices and retail establishments generally close from 1:00 p.m. to as late as 4:30 p.m. In addition, black shoes, not brown, are considered proper for business occasions. The Spanish historically have favored black. In Scandinavia and Finland business guests may be asked to shed their clothes and join their hosts in a sauna. The invitation is a sign that a good working relationship has been established. In Denmark, a visitor who is invited to a business associate's home should take flowers or some unusual food. In Norway, the visitor is expected to send a gift the day after a dinner. In France, one sends flowers before visiting a home for dinner, but not chrysanthemums; they're for funerals. More than flowers and gifts, the French expect a business visitor to give a party after major dealings. In Germany, flowers are an appropriate gift to take to a business colleague's wife when invited to dinner, but not red roses; they're for lovers. Here men are expected to stand when a woman rises from the table and when she returns. Fortunately, German women have reached a silent understanding that when one has to be excused, the other women leave also. Practice Four EX 1. T: 1. 2. 5. EX 2. A C D A B D (An American traveler, John Smith, has just arrived in Britain. He wants to know something about British pubs, so he is talking with a British pub owner.) John Smith: Pub is a funny word. Why are pubs called pubs? Pub Owner: It's short for public house, a place that has a special licence to sell drinks. John Smith: Why do most pubs have signs hanging outside? Pub Owner: Because until the beginning of this century, most people couldn't read. So a picture was best for showing travelers where they could get a drink. John Smith: I see, but I've noticed in Britain that a lot of the pubs have the same name. I've seen three called The Red Lion. Why? Pub Owner: Well, many years ago, huge areas of Britain were owned by a few families, and innkeepers named their pubs after these families who each had their own family symbol. A red lion was the Gaunt family's symbol. The Tudors had a greyhound. That's why so many pubs all over the country have the same name. Other pubs got their names from religious events, ways of traveling, sports, jobs, famous people, famous battles and so on. Studying pub names is a really good way of learning a bit about our history. John Smith: Your pub's a “free house”. What's that? Pub Owner: It doesn't mean that the drinks are free! Most pubs are owned by big breweries which sell only their own beer. But some landlords, like me, own their own pubs. We're free to sell any beer from any brewery. John Smith: This beer is lovely and different. Pub Owner: We call it real ale. It's usually made by small local breweries so each type has a different taste. It's normally much stronger than the beer made by big when you're traveling round England you should try to taste some of the breweries— different types. Part 4 Section 1 Ex 1 matter 2 leave 3 share 4. meet 5. offer 6. Promptness 7. invited 8. delay 9. especially 10. normal 11. surprised 12. manners Customs differ from country to country. Does a man walk on the left or on the right of a woman in your country? Or doesn't it matter? What about table manners? Should you use both hands when you are eating? Should you leave one in your lap, or on the table? The Americans and the British not only speak the same language but also share a large number of social customs. For example, in both America and England people shake hands when they meet each other for the first time. Also, most Englishmen will open a door for a woman or offer their seat to a woman, and so will most Americans. Promptness is important both in England and in America. That is, if one is invited to a dinner at 7 o'clock, the dinner guest either arrives close to that time or calls up to explain his delay. The important thing to remember about social customs is not to do anything that might make other people feel uncomfortable—especially if they are your guests. There is an old story about a man who gave a normal dinner party. When the food was served, one of the guests started to eat his peas with a knife. The other guests were surprised, but the host quietly picked up his knife and began eating in the same way. It would have been bad manners to make his guest feel foolish or uncomfortable Section II Part A: T: 3 4 5 7 Part B: T F F F T F T T Throughout the world children are taught not to stuff their mouths with food, to eat politely at the table and not to be “piggish” with their eating habits. However, more and more countries have eating contests in which as much food is eaten as fast as possible, and no one cares about manners. Today, eating contests have become a sport in many countries including Japan, the U.S., Canada, Germany, Thailand, England, Russia and Scotland. In the U.S., the best known eating contest is Nathan's Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest. Each Fourth of July contestants gather at Nathan's restaurant in Coney Island, New York City's popular beach and amusement park. The contest was first held in 1916 and has been held each year except 1941 and 1971. The all-time world record is held by Takeru Kobayashi of Japan, who ate 50 hot dogs and buns in 12 minutes. Recently, a tiny Korean American woman, Sonya Thomas, came in fourth, eating 25 hot dogs in 12 minutes. This broke the women's record. Sonya Thomas holds several eating records. She ate 23 pork sandwiches in 10 minutes at a contest in Mississippi, and at a competition in Indiana, she shocked the crowd by eating 65 hard-boiled eggs in only six minutes and 40 seconds. She thinks her biggest win was when she ate 36 dozen oysters in 10 minutes. Despite all the food she eats, Sonya weighs less than 45kg. She keeps fit by eating lots of rice, vegetables and chicken and walks on a treadmill four times a week. She also says that when she is not competing in a contest she likes leisurely meals. Section III Part A: C C B D D A Part B: T F F T F T “You're going to the United States to live? How wonderful! You're really lucky!” Does this sound familiar? Is your life in this new country always wonderful and exciting? It is not easy to adjust to life in a new culture. These feelings are called culture shock. There are three stages of culture shock. In the first stage, the newcomers like their environment. Then, when the newness wears off, they begin to hate the city, the country, the people etc. in the new culture. In the final stage of culture shock, the newcomers begin to adjust to their surroundings and again enjoy their life. Some of the factors in culture shock are obvious. Maybe the weather is unpleasant. Perhaps the customs are different. Perhaps public service systems such as the telephone, post office, or transportation are difficult to figure out and you make mistakes. The simplest things seem difficult. The language may be difficult. The food may seem strange to you and you may miss the familiar smells of the food of your own country. If you don't look like the natives, you may feel strange. You may feel like everyone is watching you. In fact, you are just self-conscious. Culture shock may produce a feeling of homesickness, imagined illness, or even unreasonable fear. When people have such feelings, they sometimes feel like staying inside all the time. They want to protect themselves from the unfamiliar environment. This solves the problem of culture shock for a short while, but it does nothing to help the person learn the culture. Familiarity and experience are the long-term solutions to the problem of culture shock.