- •Unit1. Cultural differences: russia – the usa – the uk
- •1. Moscow
- •The Sandwich—a Word with Nefarious, Blasphemous, and Corrupt Origins
- •Relationships:
- •Ten differences between the Russians and the Americans.
- •1. Situation: a political leader has been exposed as an adulterer.
- •Is it a disease? How can we predict it?
- •Culture Shock - Causes & Symptoms
- •Is it true or not?
- •Improve mistakes if there are any in these sentences.
- •Что такое культурный шок и как его пережить?
- •Words and Their Stories: Nicknames for New York City
- •Is it true or not?
- •Improve mistakes if there are any in these sentences.
- •Words and Their Stories: Nicknames for New York City
Unit1. Cultural differences: russia – the usa – the uk
|
E xercise 1
Find the "odd one out". There may be more than one answer. Give your reasons.
Write all your answers in your workbook.
|
A |
B |
C |
1 |
similar |
different |
dissimilar |
2 |
a muti-racial society |
a multi-lingual society |
a monoculture |
3 |
immigrants |
emigrants |
migrants |
4 |
the Normans |
the Romans |
the Saxons |
5 |
to intermarry |
to interfere |
to integrate |
6 |
asylum |
refuge |
shelter |
7 |
prejudice |
bias |
criticism |
E xercise 2
How well do you know Russia? Russia boasts rich history, strong traditions, influential arts, ballet, literature and architecture. Test your knowledge of facts about Russia.
Write all your answers in your workbook.
1. Russian flag is (from top):
Red, blue and white
White, blue and red
Green, white and red
White and red
2. Russia is a:
Republic
Commonwealth
Federation
Monarchy
3. The head of state in Russia is a:
1.Prime minister
2. President
3. Oligarch
4. King
4. What city is in the South of Russia?
Moscow
Krasnoyarsk
Khabarovsk
Krasnodar
5. What is the most popular Russian souvenir called?
Matryoshka
Matryonka
Matriushka
Matriona
6. Russian cabbage soup is called:
Borscht
Kharcho
Rassolnik
Shchi
7. Leo Tolstoy lived in what century?
17th century
18th century
19th century
20th century
8. Alexander Pushkin, a famous Russian poet:
1. died of tuberculosis
2. was killed in a duel
3. was executed
4. died when he was very old
9. Russia was baptized:
1. in 888
2. in 989
3. in 899
4. in 988
10. What was the capital of Russia in the 19th century?
1. Moscow
2. Kiev
3. Leningrad
4. St.Petersburg
11. What is The Hermitage?
1. A museum
2. A gallery
3. A palace
4. A shop
12. Which monument is NOT in Moscow?
1. St.Basil's cathedral
2. St.Isaac's cathedral
3. Novodevichy monastery
4. Cathedral of Christ the Savior
13. What is pelmeni?
1. Russian ravioli
2. Russian cheese
3. Russian soup
4. Russian salad
14. What does Kremlin mean?
1. Palace
2. House
3. Fortress
4. Castle
15. Where will the 2014 Winter Olympics take place?
1. In Vladivostok
2. In Nizhniy Novgorod
3. In Moscow
4. In Sochi
E xercise 3
Read and translate the dialogue. Build up your own dialogue comparing Russia, the UK and the USA.
Write your dialogue in your workbook.
A: What do you think is the problem between the English and the Americans?
B: That's a very interesting question, because both nationalities share a common language and are usually on the same side in war-time, yet they rarely speak well of one another on a personal level.
A: Are we talking about a struggle for superiority?
B: Yes, but we measure our superiority in different ways. Ours is cultural and historical. We believe we're more civilized. We're the country of Shakespeare and the industrial revolution. Americans visit England in search of culture and history.
A: So in what ways are they superior?
B: Well, obviously in size. Everything's bigger - their country, their salaries, their roads, their companies. Theirs is the land of MacDonald's, Coca Cola, Microsoft and IBM. They enjoy telling us that they're the best.
A: And are they right?
B: Yes, if you measure success purely in dollars, but there're two points here. Firstly, many English people actually believe that "Small is Beautiful". They prefer countries where you don't get mugged in parks and subways.
A: What's the other point?
B: I was coming to that. It's the difference in character. Maybe you think you're the best in the world, but you don't go shouting about it from the rooftops. Americans lack our modesty and reserve. They're probably warmer and more friendly, but they're often very loud and extrovert to go with it.
A: So you prefer the British character?
B: Not entirely. We tend to be rather oblique in our conversation. When Americans speak, you can take them literally, but when English people speak you have to read between the lines.
A: We say one thing and mean another?
B: Exactly.
E xercise 4
What do you know about the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland? Test your knowledge of facts about this amazing and unique country.
Write all your answers in your workbook.
1) In which town is Hyde Park?
a) Dublin
b) London
c) New York
d) San Francisco
2) What is the highest mountain in the United Kingdom?
a) Ben Macdhui
b) Ben Nevis
c) Scafell Pike
d) Snowdon
3) What is the name of a famous shopping street in London?
a) Broadway
b) Fleet Street
c) Oxford Street
d) Wall Street
4) Where is Loch Ness?
England
Ireland
Scotland
Wales
5) Which is the symbol of Scotland?
Leek
Rose
Shamrock
Thistle
6) Where in the UK is the Lake District?
England
Northern Ireland
Scotland
Wales
7) Whose statue is on Trafalgar Square in London?
Admiral Nelson
King George VI
Queen Victoria
Winston Churchill
8) What is the capital of the Republic of Ireland?
Belfast
Cardiff
Dublin
London
9) Who invented the sandwich?
Earl of Sandwich
George Washington
King Henry VIII
Queen Victoria
10) Which English King had six wives?
Charles I
Harald Godwinson
Henry VIII
Williams III
11) What is a quid?
100 Pound Sterling
100 Pound Sterling
100 US Dollars
one Pound Sterling
13) Who built the Tower of London?
a) Henry VIII
b) Maria Stuart
c) Oliver Cromwell
d) William the Conqueror
14) What is the name of the guards in the Tower of London?
a) Beefeaters
b) Castle Guards
c) Security Guards
d) Tower Guards
E xercise 5
Discuss the following situations. Express your opinion. Create an opposition of opinions. Write an essay on one of the following topics in your workbook.
Write your essay in your workbook.
1. "Cultural differences cause problems. It is better for people to stay in their own countries rather than to migrate to other ones." Do you agree?
2. Would you prefer to live in a monoculture or a multi-racial society? Why?
3. "It is better to study major international languages like English rather than to spend time on minority languages for the sake of regional identity." Do you agree?
4. "Governments should give regions in their countries more autonomy so that they can protect and enjoy their own cultures rather than serving the centralized policies of the capital city." Do you agree?
5. Is it better to marry someone of the same cultural background?
6. "Religion as a school subject should include all the major world religions - not only the majority religion in the country concerned." Do you agree?
7. How do you think "British Culture" differs from "N. American Culture"? How do these cultures differ from the culture of your own country?
E xercise 6
Read the following article about one of the most popular snakes around the world – sandwich. Why do you think it’s so popular nowadays? What other snakes do you know? Prepare a short description of your favorite snake and its recipe.
Write your recipe in your workbook.