Uint10 IL. Basic listening practice 1. Script W: Many Chinese students are too shy to say anything in a classroom M: I think they don t speak because their culture values modesty, and they dont want to appear to be showing off. Goes back to Confucius Q: Why don t Chinese students say anything in classroom accord ing to the man? 2. Script W: The government is doing something at last about sex discrimination in the workplace. Women deserve the same pay as men for the same work M: Yeah. In the United States, women earn only 70 percent of what men do for the same job. It's a situation that has to be changed Q: What does the man say about women? 3. Script W: i admire Michael Dell. He had a dream to be the world 's largest manufacturer of personal computers, and he has realized that dream M: And he dropped out of university to become a success. I wonder if there is a lesson in that Q: What do we learn about dell from the conversation 4. Sc M: Successful entrepreneurs are often self-made people who have a vision and know where they are going W: But do they enjoy life like you and me, or is money their only concern? Q: What are the two speakers attitudes toward successful entrepreneurs? W: Do you agree that equal opportunity for all in an educational system is important? M: Yes, but we have to recognize that all of us are not of equal ability Q: What does the man imply? Keys: 1.C 2.A 3.D 4.B 5.A II. Listening n Task 1: Competition in America
1 Uint10 II. Basic Listening Practice 1. Script W: Many Chinese students are too shy to say anything in a classroom. M: I think they don’t speak because their culture values modesty, and they don’t want to appear to be showing off. Goes back to Confucius. Q: Why don’t Chinese students say anything in classroom according to the man? 2. Script W: The government is doing something at last about sex discrimination in the workplace. Women deserve the same pay as men for the same work. M: Yeah. In the United States, women earn only 70 percent of what men do for the same job. It’s a situation that has to be changed. Q: What does the man say about women? 3. Script W: I admire Michael Dell. He had a dream to be the world’s largest manufacturer of personal computers, and he has realized that dream. M: And he dropped out of university to become a success. I wonder if there is a lesson in that. Q: What do we learn about Dell from the conversation? 4. Script M: Successful entrepreneurs are often self-made people who have a vision and know where they are going. W: But do they enjoy life like you and me, or is money their only concern? Q: What are the two speakers’ attitudes toward successful entrepreneurs? 5. Script W: Do you agree that equal opportunity for all in an educational system is important? M: Yes, but we have to recognize that all of us are not of equal ability. Q: What does the man imply? Keys: 1.C 2.A 3. D 4.B 5.A III. Listening In Task 1: Competition in America Script
Alan: What are you reading, Eliza? Eliza: An article on American competition Alan: Competition is everywhere and constant. Why so much fuss about it, Miss Knowled ge Eliza: Don't make fun of me. Accord ing to the author, competition is especially important in American life. They're taught to compete from early childhood When children play games, they learn how to beat others Alan: And many girls want to look more attractive than the girls sitting next to them in class. Do you think that way? Eliza: Dont be silly. Lets get back to the point. When children are growing up, they compete with one another in their studies Alan: Isn't that also true of students in other nations? As we all know, many Asian students kill for a high test score and grab every opportunity to sharpen their competitive edge over others Eliza: American boys find great pleasure in competing with each other in sports, according to the author Alan: I do like sports. When our football team beats the other team, I feel great Makes me want to shout out loud. But isnt that normal throughout the world Eliza: American people also compete with each other at work and at climbing the social ladder Alan: But there's competition in other countries as well Eliza: You're right in a sense, but the author says the idea of competing is more deeply rooted in the minds of Americans. They re even taught that if you lose and don't feel hurt, there must be something wrong with you Alan: I hear that some Asians put emphasis on cooperation. Which approach do you think makes more sense? Eliza: It's hard to say. Anyway, there's no accounting for different cultures 1. What is the d ialog mainly about? 2. What is the woman doing? 3. What do children learn from play ing games according to the woman? 4. What does the man say about students' stud ies? 5. What does the woman say when asked which makes more sense, competition o cooperation? Keys: 1.C 2.A 3C 4. B 5D Task 2: Americans' Work ethic Script For four hundred years or more, one thing has been a characteristic of Americans. It is called their"work ethic". Its(S1) roots were in the teaching of the Christian Puritans who first settled in(S2)what is now the northeastern state of Massachusetts. They believed that it was their(S3)moral duty to work at every task to please god by their
2 Alan: What are you reading, Eliza? Eliza: An article on American competition. Alan: Competition is everywhere and constant. Why so much fuss about it, Miss Knowledge? Eliza: Don’t make fun of me. According to the author, competition is especially important in American life. They’re taught to compete from early childhood. When children play games, they learn how to beat others. Alan: And many girls want to look more attractive than the girls sitting next to them in class. Do you think that way? Eliza: Don’t be silly. Let’s get back to the point. When children are growing up, they compete with one another in their studies. Alan: Isn’t that also true of students in other nations? As we all know, many Asian students kill for a high test score and grab every opportunity to sharpen their competitive edge over others. Eliza: American boys find great pleasure in competing with each other in sports, according to the author. Alan: I do like sports. When our football team beats the other team, I feel great. Makes me want to shout out loud. But isn’t that normal throughout the world? Eliza: American people also compete with each other at work and at climbing the social ladder. Alan: But there’s competition in other countries as well. Eliza: You’re right in a sense, but the author says the idea of competing is more deeply rooted in the minds of Americans. They’re even taught that if you lose and don’t feel hurt, there must be something wrong with you. Alan: I hear that some Asians put emphasis on cooperation. Which approach do you think makes more sense? Eliza: It’s hard to say. Anyway, there’s no accounting for different cultures. 1. What is the dialog mainly about? 2. What is the woman doing? 3. What do children learn from playing games according to the woman? 4. What does the man say about students’ studies? 5. What does the woman say when asked which makes more sense, competition or cooperation? Keys: 1.C 2.A 3.C 4.B 5.D Task 2: Americans’ Work Ethic Script For four hundred years or more, one thing has been a characteristic of Americans. It is called their “work ethic”. Its (S1) roots were in the teaching of the Christian Puritans who first settled in (S2) what is now the northeastern state of Massachusetts. They believed that it was their (S3) moral duty to work at every task to please God by their
(S4)diligence, honesty, attention to details, skill, and attitude. To these Puritans, it was a(s5)sin to be lazy or to do less than your best in any task. They and later Americans tried to follow the Bible's (S6)teachings, " If a man will not work, he shall not eat Therefore, Americans have for(S7) centuries believed that they were guilty of sin if they did not work as carefully and hard as they could when they did anything. God would punish those who were careless or lazy in their work. (S8)Even as children they were taught. "If it's worth doing at all. it's worth doing well But some people have gone beyond the usual sense of diligence. They are especially attracted to the notion of climbing the ladder so as to increase their status financial position, and sense of self-worth. ($9)In English a new word has been created to describe people who work compulsively. The word"workaholic"describes an individual who is as add icted to work as an alcoholic is to alcohol There are conflicting points of view about workaholics. Those concerned with problems of mental stress believe workaholics abuse themselves physically and mentally.(S10) Others hold that workaholics are valuable members of society beca they are extremely productive. The American culture values achieve ment, efficiency, and production, and a workaholic upholds these values Task 3: Do you know what"Freeze! means? Script There is one word which you must learn before you visit the U.S.A. That is"Freeze! It means, "Stand still and don't move. Police officers use it when they are ready to use their guns. If the person does not obey the command and moves, they shoot One evening in Los Angeles, someone rang the bell doorbell of a house. It was a dangerous area at night, so the owner of the house took his gun with him when he answered the door. He opened the door and saw a person, who turned round and started walking away from the house. The owner cried"Freeze!", but the man went on walking. The owner thought he tried to escape, so he shot him dead Later, a sad story was uncovered. The dead man was Yoshiro Hattori, a 16-year-old Japanese exchange student. He went to visit a friend for a Halloween party, but he could not remember the number of the house. When he realized that he had gone to the wrong house, he turned round to leave. He did not know much English and so did not understand the command "freeze! The tragedy arose from cultural misunderstand ing. Those who have lived in the United States for a long time understand the possibility of being shot when one trespasses upon an individual's property. It is a well-known fact in America that a person's home is his castle. Although Rodney Pears, the owner of the house, gave a verbal warning"Freeze! to Hattori, Hattori did not know it meant"Stand still and dont move", and therefore did not obey it. This misunderstand ing became the trigger of Hattoris disaster. The concept of owning gun hard for Japanese people to understand, but in America you are permitted to own a gun under the U.s Constitution
3 (S4) diligence, honesty, attention to details, skill, and attitude. To these Puritans, it was a (S5) sin to be lazy or to do less than your best in any task. They and later Americans tried to follow the Bible’s (S6) teachings, “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” Therefore, Americans have for (S7) centuries believed that they were guilty of sin if they did not work as carefully and hard as they could when they did anything. God would punish those who were careless or lazy in their work. (S8) Even as children they were taught, “If it’s worth doing at all, it’s worth doing well.” But some people have gone beyond the usual sense of diligence. They are especially attracted to the notion of “climbing the ladder” so as to increase their status, financial position, and sense of self-worth. (S9) In English a new word has been created to describe people who work compulsivelly. The word “workaholic” describes an individual who is as addicted to work as an alcoholic is to alcohol. There are conflicting points of view about workaholics. Those concerned with problems of mental stress believe workaholics abuse themselves physically and mentally. (S10) Others hold that workaholics are valuable members of society because they are extremely productive. The American culture values achievement, efficiency, and production, and a workaholic upholds these values. Task 3: Do you know what “Freeze!” means? Script There is one word which you must learn before you visit the U.S.A. That is “Freeze!” It means, “Stand still and don’t move.” Police officers use it when they are ready to use their guns. If the person does not obey the command and moves, they shoot. One evening in Los Angeles, someone rang the bell doorbell of a house. It was a dangerous area at night, so the owner of the house took his gun with him when he answered the door. He opened the door and saw a person, who turned round and started walking away from the house. The owner cried “Freeze!”, but the man went on walking. The owner thought he tried to escape, so he shot him dead. Later, a sad story was uncovered. The dead man was Yoshiro Hattori, a 16-year-old Japanese exchange student. He went to visit a friend for a Halloween party, but he could not remember the number of the house. When he realized that he had gone to the wrong house, he turned round to leave. He did not know much English and so did not understand the command “Freeze!”. The tragedy arose from cultural misunderstanding. Those who have lived in the United States for a long time understand the possibility of being shot when one trespasses upon an individual’s property. It is a well-known fact in America that a person’s home is his castle. Although Rodney Pears, the owner of the house, gave a verbal warning “Freeze!” to Hattori, Hattori did not know it meant “Stand still and don’t move”, and therefore did not obey it. This misunderstanding became the trigger of Hattori’s disaster. The concept of owning guns is hard for Japanese people to understand, but in America you are permitted to own a gun under the U.S. Constitution
1. What does the word"Freeze! mean in the passage? 2. What d id the owner of the house take with him when he answered the door? 3. Why did the Japanese student turn around and leave? 4. What is mentioned as a possible result of trespassing? 5. Why is the phrase"a persons home is his castle" quoted in the passage? Keys: 1.C 2.A 3. 4.B 5.C T. Speaking Out MODEL 1 Americans glorify individualism Susan: John, I was looking for you. Where have you been hiding all morning? John: Well, I caught Professor Browns lecture on American ind ividualism Susan: Oh, how did you find it? John: Enlightening. Americans glorify individualism. They believe individual hing els Susan: Sounds intersting. It's a sharp contrast to the oriental collectivism Professor Wang talked about last semester John: But you should know that the individualism in the United States is not necesssarily an equivalent for selfishness Susan: Then what does it mean in the states? John: They believe all values, rights, and duties originate in individuals, so they emphasize individ ual initiative and independence Susan: There could be something in that. Of course in oriental countries the interests of the group are more important than anything else John:I So it's all the more necessary for foreigners to understand American culture or they can't hope to understand the importance of privacy in the West Susan: Maybe thats the reason nuclear families outnumber extended families in the United States John: Right on! You re catching on fast Susan: Now let me ask you a question John: Shoot Go ahead Susan: Why do Americans cherish ind ividualism more than oriental people? John: I don't know Anyway, Professor Brown didnt say Susan: One reason might be that American children stop sleeping with their parents at an early age. They learn independence early, so it's deeply rooted John: Wow. that 's an intelligent guess! MoDEL2 What do you think are the reasons for that difference?
4 1.What does the word “Freeze!” mean in the passage? 2.What did the owner of the house take with him when he answered the door? 3. Why did the Japanese student turn around and leave? 4. What is mentioned as a possible result of trespassing? 5. Why is the phrase “a person’s home is his castle” quoted in the passage? Keys: 1.C 2.A 3.D 4.B 5.C IV. Speaking Out MODEL 1 Americans glorify individualism. Susan: John, I was looking for you. Where have you been hiding all morning? John: Well, I caught Professor Brown’s lecture on American individualism. Susan: Oh, how did you find it? John: Enlightening. Americans glorify individualism. They believe individual interests rank above everything else. Susan: Sounds intersting. It’s a sharp contrast to the oriental collectivism Professor Wang talked about last semester. John: But you should know that the individualism in the United States is not necesssarily an equivalent for selfishness. Susan: Then what does it mean in the States? John: They believe all values, rights, and duties originate in individuals, so they emphasize individual initiative and independence. Susan: There could be something in that. Of course in oriental countries the interests of the group are more important than anything else. John: I So, it’s all the more necessary for foreigners to understand American culture, or they can’t hope to understand the importance of privacy in the West.. Susan: Maybe that’s the reason nuclear families outnumber extended families in the United States. John: Right on! You’re catching on fast! Susan: Now let me ask you a question. John: Shoot. Go ahead. Susan: Why do Americans cherish individualism more than oriental people? John: I don’t know. Anyway, Professor Brown didn’t say. Susan: One reason might be that American children stop sleeping with their parents at an early age. They learn independence early, so it’s deeply rooted. John: Wow, that’s an intelligent guess! MODEL2 What do you think are the reasons for that difference? Script
Susan: Do you find that people in America often walk faster than people in China? Americans always seem 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: 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: Does this strong sense of time affect their lifestyle? John: Sure. If you're 20 minutes late for a buss iness 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: Thats 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 workship of time probably led them to create fast foods John: I agree. And 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 communication, I think the gap will eventually be bridged, and Chinese will be hurrying everywhere MODEL3 That' s the secret of their success Script Chris: Hey Sue, hows 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 they are 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 they definitely get the best marks Ch think part of it is their work ethic. They never skip class, and they pay attention Susan: One Chinese student in my class did homework each night until the early hours. He never took a break. watched TV or went out for a beer Chris: That's the secret of their success: hard work and deligence Susan: It's so unfair. I could probably do better if I worked harder, but thats no fun
5 Susan: Do you find that people in America often walk faster than people in China? Americans always seem 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: 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: Does this strong sense of time affect their lifestyle? John: Sure. If you’re 20 minutes late for a bussiness 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 workship of time probably led them to create fast foods. John: I agree. And 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 communication, I think 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 they are 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 they definitely get the best marks. Chris: I think part of it is their work ethic. They never skip class, and they pay attention. Susan: One Chinese student in my class did homework each night until the early hours. He never took a break, watched TV, or went out for a beer. Chris: That’s the secret of their success: hard work and deligence. Susan: It’s so unfair. I could probably do better if I worked harder, but that’s no fun