期末考试范围?1. 阅读理解2篇（20%）?2. 选词填空：15个句子（15个备选项，课后的key concepts,概念的词为主。（15%）?eg: ———the belief that any individual, no matter how poor, can achieve wealth and fame through diligence and virtue.?3. 简答题：课后comprehension questions和case study( 课内或者稍微改动的）。（25%）4. 实用写作：一封信什么的（格式）（10%）5. 写作：给出某个文化现象观点，运用所学文化差异进行评论（comment)。（30%）如: 说给一个关于教育的话题（文化现象），我们要用所学的中美教育差异进行评论，议论文形式。价值观，家庭观，社会关系朋友观，饮食观，教育观，时间观等篇目：Unit1: A B C Unit2 A Unit3 A B Unit5A Unit6A Unit7 AUnit10 B
Unit1 A
Key concepts
reservation: 谦逊的 coldness: 冷静的 modesty：谦虚的 humor：幽默的 sportsmanship：运动员精神
Q1、what is a reserved person like?
Answer: A reserved person is one who does not talk very much to strangers, does not show much emotion, and seldom gets excited.
Q2、what is the character of the Englishmen?
Answer: reserved 、humor、modesty、cold、sportsmanship.
Q3、what is sportsmanship?
Answer: sportsmanship is the ability to practice a sport according to its rules, while also showing generosity to one’s opponent and good temper in defeat.
Case study
Q、What made the British feel quite unhappy in this situation?
Answer: The loud speaking and speaking their native language made the reserved British feel quite unhappy. The Englishman is reserved, he doesn’t show much emotion and seldom gets excited.
Unit1 B
Key concepts
the pioneering spirit 创业精神 trying something new 探索精神 equality 平等 national optimism 民族乐观
freedom自由 the Declaration of Independence 独立宣言 rags-to-richer白手起家 social mobility社会流动性 American dream 美国梦
Comprehension questions
1. Can you summarize the character of Americans?
The characters of Americans are the pioneering spirit, trying something new and being eager to equality and freedom. The American is competitive, friendly, spontaneous, adaptable, efficient, energetic, and kindhearted.
2.In what sense is the pioneering spirit still an important part of the American character?
1). Except for the slaves, immigrants came to America voluntarily in search of greater prosperity and freedom. (para3)
2). In the mid-nineteenth century, the pioneering spirit led American settlers to travel westward in search of land and gold. (para4)
3). The desire to start a new life in a new place is noticeable throughout the nation. Many Americans change residences every year. (para5)
4). Americans who don’t change residence are also on the move—traveling by air or auto to see their own country or to visit others. The need to explore a new frontier is basic to the American character. (para7)
3. What is the American Dream? What is its impact on the American character?
The American Dream is the belief that any individual, no matter how poor, can achieve wealth and fame through diligence and virtue.
Impact: Americans are optimistic and adventurous. The typical American believed in trying something new in an attempt to make life better. He had a firm faith in the possibility of progress. Every day in every way I am getting better and better.
4. What are the basic roots of American character?
The basic roots of American character are the pioneering spirit, the liberty spirit and the equality spirit.
Case study
Q;Why did the American feel uncomfortable? Please give him suggestions on how to get along with English people. The American did something that he thought is friendly, but the English seemed quite unfriendly to him, so he felt uncomfortable. American is a bit casual, optimistic and outgoing. He called the first names and touched the people on the shoulder.
But, English are reserved and conservative. They dislike physical touch and dislike to show much emotion. It’s also not polite to call the first names.
Suggestions:
1. On the whole British habits of politeness are very informal. All politeness is based on the elementary rule of showing consideration for others, and acknowledging the consideration they show to you.
2. Conversation in Britain is in general quiet and restrained and loud speech is considered ill-bred.
Passage C The Chinese Character
Comprehension Questions
1. Apart from family, what are other important units in Chinese society? How do they work?
Clan. A clan is the aggregate of kinship. A clan may comprise a whole village or suburb, and counties, provinces and state are conglomerates of a vast number of villages and suburbs with such clan populations.
Grouping linked by friendship or marriage is also another important unit in Chinese society. A district may have all its groupings so associated together, and this forms the basis for common action in an emergency.
2. Why is China a country with highly complicated social relationship? What are supposed to be the advantages and disadvantages of it?
Chinese society appears as a mass of circles or groupings rather than status or levels. Within each circle or grouping the people are related in clan or closer kinship and offer cooperation and succor to each other. Marriage and friendship created links with other clans and groupings. Therefore, a district may have all its groupings so associated together. So, the social relationship in China is more close and complicated than Western countries.
Such kind is good for the steady of a society and peaceful life, good for governing but not good for development, for any new ideas and reformation. It is as personal oriented society. Sometimes it is easy to deal with something, but other times it makes things more complicated and even hinder the development of a society. For example, the complicated social relation becomes a big barrier for the implementation of law
and justice. It may give rise to the unequal of chance and resources. ...(a free answer question)
3. Can you list some of the characteristics of the general character of the Chinese people based on the text. Try to give the possible reasons for the formation of such character.
Chinese people are compromising, patient, mediative, harmonious, obedient, passive, pacific, long-viewing, tolerant, filial, conservative, thrift, friendly, diligent, and so on. They tend to be in low profile, hide their strength and depreciate their success. The character of Chinese is caused by many factors. From the text, we know its closely related to the organization of Chinese society. The Chinese society is organized by clans or friends of close association. It is a big circle of complicated relations. To maintain the steady of the circle, such kinds of character are of significant importance.
Case Study
China is a society of complicated social relation. Friend is a very important factor in society. Chinese people take care of maintaining friendship and tend to avoid direct conflict or making other lose face. In this case, to maintain the face of Jimmy, I would not mention the borrowed money in the face of Jimmy. But Jimmy keeping reminding \of the money made \feel quite embarrassed, and a bit angry. \thought Jimmy was not friendly.
America is a society advocates individualism and their social relation is quite loose. They think friend is friend, money is money. What's more, compared with Chinese society, it is one with low-contexted culture, in which people would put everything in words and say it directly. In the case, Jimmy reminded \about the money lest \forget about it. To Jimmy, it was the fault of \not mentioning about the borrowed money earlier. So, when \\
What’s more, Americans don’t readily give money to others, which will most likely render a sense of humiliation about one’s ability to earn one’s own living. So in this case, Jimmy is a bit annoyed for “I” not remind him to pay back the borrowed money. He thought that he had been looked upon by “I”.
Unit2 A
key concept:
Five Relationships of Confucianism孔子的五伦思想 humanism 人道主义
individualism个人主义 collectivism集体主义 individual's right个人权利
1. According to Confucianism , what are the five cardinal relationships in Chinese society and what should these relationships be?
Five cardinal relationship: ruler-minister, father-son, husband-wife, elder-younger brother and friend and friend. This was explained as “There should be affection between father and son, righteous sense of duty between ruler and minister, division of function between man and wife, stratification between old and young, and good faith between friends.”
2. Can you tell the main influence of Confucianism on the ideology of Chinese people?
In traditional Chinese beliefs, especially in Confucianism, collectivism is appreciated .It emphasizes cooperation among group members and individual success is due to the collective effort of the staff in a unit,an organization or a community .
3. Can you tell the main influence of the Renaissance on Western values? In the Renaissance period of England ,people began to emphasize the dignity of human beings and the importance of the present life .This is the rudiment of Humanism .People began to respect the humanity from then on ,and then developed into the ideas of what we always call freedom ,democracy .
4. What is the difference between collectivism and individualism? Individualism refers to the doctrine that the rights of the individual are the most important ones in a society .Collectivism emphasizes cooperation among group members.
(1)Westerners tend to believe that people should rely on themselves as much as possible--and usually expect other people to do the same .People in collectivist cultures generally feel they have a right to expect help from other members of their groups ,and they also tend to feel they have an obligation to help other members of their groups . (2)Westerners generally feel that the rights of individuals should not be subordinated to the needs of a larger group .People in collectivist cultures are generally more willing to accept the idea that individuals should sacrifice for the benefit of the group. (3)Westerners tend to believe that individuals should make decisions for themselves, and that individuals should take credit responsibility for what they are personally done. People in collectivist cultures tend to feel more that they are representative of their group, and to accept more responsibility for other members of their groups too.
(4)Westerners tend to view individualism as a good thing .The Chinese term for “individualism,” geren zhuyi, often has a somewhat negative connotation, and is sometimes used as a synonym for “selfishness”.