文化背景知识

Unit 1 How often do you exercise? 文化背景知识介绍

广东省教育厅教研室

1. In American, young people spend their free time in many different ways, according to their ages, interests, and environments. For many young people, watching television programs and using computers are popular activities. Many young people use computers to play games, look for interesting websites, listen to music, watch movies, send e-mail, and chat with their friends.

On the other hand, many young people enjoy outdoor activities. In a neighborhood, young people may play games with their neighbors including touch-football, basketball, tag, and hide-and-seek. Skateboarding, bicycling, and roller-blading may be popular. In winter, ice-skating, hockey, and skiing may be popular in areas where it snows. In middle school and high school, young people can join a sports team such as track and field, basketball, baseball, football, volleyball, swimming, and so on.

There are often clubs that young people can join, and these clubs usually meet after school. Such clubs might include the singing club in elementary school and band (orchestra) in middle school and high school. Other clubs include the drama club, mathematics club, foreign language club, debate club, student newspaper, and so on.

There are also community centers where young people can become involved in a variety of activities including sports, arts and crafts, and educational activities such as learning to play a musical instrument.

2. In order to stay healthy, you should do the following things.

Eat a balanced diet, which includes foods from the different food groups (grains, vegetables, fruit, meat, milk, sweets), and eat the most from the grains group and the least from the sweets group. Exercise and drink lots of water and milk.

Get enough sleep. (Kids between 5 and 12 usually need 10 to 11 hours of sleep each night.)

Don't smoke or use drugs (including alcohol).

Take care of your teeth and gums.

Wear the proper clothing to stay warm (or cool), protect your skin from the sun, and avoid injury from activity.

See a doctor and a dentist on a regular basis.

3. To take care of your teeth, you should do the following:

Use toothpaste that contains fluoride.

Brush your teeth at least twice a day (after breakfast and before bedtime).

Brush all of your teeth (away from your gums) for about three minutes.

Use a toothbrush ever three mouths.

Floss your teeth. (This is very important to keep your gums healthy. If you get gum disease, you may loose your teeth.)

Be careful about what you eat and drink.

S ee the dentist twice a year.

Unit 2 What's the matter? 文化背景知识介绍

广东省教育厅教研室

In the U. S., the medical treatment that you receive and the doctor or hospital that you can visit depends on the health insurance coverage that you have.

The two kinds of insurance are fee-for-service and managed care

Fee-for-service: You go to the doctor of your choice. Your insurance company only pays for specific services, not for everything.

Managed Care: There are three types of managed care.

A. HMO (Health Maintenance Organization): You can only receive care from one hospital, for example.

B. PPO (Preferred Provider Organization): You can only receive care from specific doctors, for example.

C. POS (Point-of -Service): This plan is a combination of an HMO and PPO.

To see a doctor, you should call the doctor's office or the hospital to make an appointment. If it is an emergency, you can visit the emergency room of a hospital or make an emergency appointment with a doctor, according to your insurance coverage.

When you see a doctor, the doctor will give you a prescription for your medication. You must go to a pharmacy and give the prescription to the pharmacist in order to receive your medication. The pharmacist will often explain to you how to take the medication.

You can also purchase medication, which does not require a prescription. Such medication is also referred to as over-the-counter (OTC) drugs.

Unit 3 What are you doing for vacation? 文化背景知识介绍

广东省教育厅教研室

Most schools in America have a ten-month school year with a two-month vacation during the summer. In the winter, such schools will have a two-week long winter break and a week-long spring break. In schools with a year-round schedule, students are typically in school for eight weeks and on vacation for one week with a five-week midwinter break.

The activities of young people during vacations depend on their ages, interests, and environments. Most young people will spend time doing things that they enjoy such as watching TV or playing computer games alone and with friends. In the States where it snows, during the winter break, young people may participate in activities such as skating, hockey, skiing and so on. During the longer summer break, some high school students will have part-time jobs. Other young people may take summer school classes or participate in educational activities outside of school, such as a zoo or an aquarium program. Many young people will take part in organized recreational activities, such as swimming lessons or summer sports camps, at community centers, and take vacations with their families. Outdoor activities suc h as swimming, camping, barbecuing, and fishing are popular during this time.

Unit 4 How do you get to school? 文化背景知识介绍

广东省教育厅教研室

The way that American students go to school depends on where they are living and the options available to them. Some of the ways that students go to school include the following.

· On foot

· Bicycle

· School bus

· Car (or car pool)

· Public transportation (bus or subway)

In the suburbs, using public transportation is not common, as it is usually not as available as in large cities. Many students will be driven to school by their parents.

According to the American Public Transportation Association, there are many kinds of public transportation, which include private and public buses, rail, ferryboats, train, and taxi services.

Unit 5 Can you come to my party? 文化背景知识介绍

广东省教育厅教研室

1. In some cultures, it is not considered polite to accept an invitation the first time it is offered. In such places people usually thank the person but do not give a definite answer at that time. In the United States it is polite to accept or refuse an invitation the first time it is offered. Also, Americans usually give a reason when they have to say no to an invitation.

2. In America, young people can have parties for almost any reason, but birthday parties are probably the most common. Halloween parties are also quite popular.

There is no fixed rule about how invitations are given for parties. It's possible some invitations will be by word of mouth, but more likely a written (or sometimes email) invitation may be given. If you are given an invitation to a party, it's better to confirm your attendance. In most cases, you would probably write a brief apology if you can't make it, perhaps giving a short explanation of why you can't attend.

Halloween parties have increasingly replaced trick-or-treat activities, and the guests dress up in costumes and participate in activities appropriate for their age level. Elementary schools may also hold a Halloween festival or parade at which students appear in c ostume.

Unit 6 I'm more outgoing than my sister. 文化背景知识介绍

广东省教育厅教研室

American young people make friends in many different ways. Some young people are good at making friends and other young people have to work harder at making friends. Many young people make friends through group activities. In middle school and high school, the members of a sports team or a school club often share an interest in the same activity, they work and play together, and they meet together often.

Some tips for making friends include the following

·Try to meet other students. (Be around places where other students are.)

·Look for others with similar interests and values and try to spend time with those people.·Show an interest in others. (Smile, ask questions and give positive comments.)

·Become good at giving compliments (not too much).

·Be kind.

·Have a nice expression on your face.

·Laugh at people's jokes.

·Ask (but not demand) to join in.

·Offer to help others.

·Invite people to do things.

·Become good at thinking of interesting things to do.

·Share.

·Learn to tell jokes.

·Be honest and fair.

·Respect yourself and respect others. (Do not make yourself or others a victim.)

·Be positive. (Don't be negative or complain all the time.)

Parents can also be very important in helping young people to get together. Parents of different young people can contact each other and arrange for transportation, group activities, overnight visits to homes, and so on

Unit 7 How do you make a banana milk shake? 文化背景知识介绍

广东省教育厅教研室

The following are some of the measures used in the United States.

1 inch（英寸）= 25.4 mm

1 foot（英尺）= 1

2 inches = 30.4 cm

1 yard（码）= 3 feet = 91.4 cm

1 mile（英里）= 1.64 km

1 gallon（加仑）= 4 qt = 128 fl oz = 3.7 L

1 ounce（盎司）= 28.3 g

1 pound（磅）= 453.5 g

1 ton（吨）= 2000 pounds = 907.1 kg

1 teaspoon（茶匙）= 5 mL

1 tablespoon（大汤匙）= 15 mL

1 cup（杯）= 240 mL

1 Celsius（摄氏温度）= 1.8 Fahrenheit（华氏温度）

Unit 8 How was your school trip? 文化背景知识

广东省教育厅教研室

There are many types of aquariums in the U.S. ranging from the small fish bowls that children buy in pet shops to the magnificent aquariums throughout the country.

One of the top aquariums in the U.S. is the Monterey Bay Aquarium. 1.8 million people visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium each year. The aquarium has approximately 550 different species. The animals eat approximately 305 pounds of food a day, and there are more than 100 exhibit tanks. In addition to aquariums, there are the Sea World parks in Florida, California, and Texas, which feature killer whales, dolphins, penguins, manatees, polar bears, and numerous other sea life in shows and exhibits.

Unit 9 When was he born? 文化背景知识介绍

广东省教育厅教研室

Young people idolize singers, movie stars, and professional athletes. In addition to fan clubs for individuals, Americans have fan clubs for movies such as Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings and for bands such as The Beatles.

Many teenagers' bedrooms in America will have posters on the walls of their favorite movie stars or celebrities (often singers or sports stars). Some teenagers also collect autographs (signatures) of their favorite stars. However, if a star is very famous, it will be very difficult to get his autograph, and an autograph may even be worth money.

The most common way to find information about a celebrity is to surf the Internet. Many Americans search for fan sites on the Internet or create fan sites. (Fan sites are websites

dedicated to a celebrity.) A celebrity usually has one official site and numerous unofficial "fan sites".

There are also thousands of groups discussing their favorite movies, etc., online. Most groups are very easy to join. Non-members can often read the comments written by members, but only members can post their comments.

Unit 10 I'm going to be a basketball player. 文化背景知识介绍

广东省教育厅教研室

1. There are many different types of occupations in the U.S. As technology changes more new jobs will be created, so there will be jobs in the future, which are very different from the jobs that exist now. Some of the largest growth areas for jobs in America are in computers, health care or special needs teaching.

2. Students in the U.S. will often take a test to help them determine how their interests match certain careers. They then meet with school counselors to help them choose the best university to achieve their career goals. For most positions, the minimum degree is a bachelor degree. However, many Americans continue to study and obtain graduate degrees (such as a master degree) on a part-time or full-time basis. Acquiring professional certificates and licenses is also common. In addition to studying on site, more Americans are choosing to study online due to the flexibility studying online provides.

3. In some cultures there are times other than New Year's Day when people decide to make changes in their lives. Sometimes a birthday, a religious holiday or a folk festival marks a new beginning. Ask students what times of the year people make new beginnings in their culture. Contrast this with the making of resolutions at New Year in American and European cultures.

Unit 10 I'm going to be a basketball player.文化背景知识介绍

——英语的工作许可制度（work permit）

英国法律规定，非欧盟国家公民到英国工作必须取得工作许可（Work Permit），又称工作准证。

工作许可必须由雇主向政府申请。审核工作许可由教育和技能部（Department of Education and Skill）下属的“工作许可处”（Work Permit UK）负责。一旦工作许可申请被批准，英国过去的做法是经有关资料转往英国内政部审核相关的工作签证。但现在已改变操作方式，内务部会把工作许可发还给申请人，由申请人自己申请工作签证，整个申请过程所需时间可到英国内务部网站查看最新公告。对于在英国境内申请工作签证的人，最新要求是申请人必须具有英国院校的毕业文凭。如果尚未拿到毕业文凭的，可以先离开英国然后在境外申请工作签证。

由于许可只能由雇主申请，作为申请工作者不能参与，只能全力向雇主证明你的才能，说服他们为你申请工作许可。英国内政部关于工作许可的网页（Working in the UK）上又针对雇主的详细指引，包括对雇主的要求、职位的广告发布要求、申请步骤、费用等。

工作许可不等于工作签证，但有了工作许可一般都能得到工作签证。如果你在英国境外，你的雇主为你申请工作许可成功后，将寄给你一份“工作许可”文件。你可以凭这份文件和工作合同到当地英国领事馆申请工作签证。如果你在英国境内申请（如以学生签证、SEGS签证、配偶签证转为工作许可），当工作许可申请成功后，内务部会给你寄一份批准信件，你凭这份信件申请工作签证，需要填写Immigration Employment Document 即FLR（IED）表。

在持工作许可证非间断地工作并在英国纳税满4年后，你可以申请英国的永久居留权

（Indefinite Leave to Remain，俗称Permanent Residence，PR）。这里的“非间断”并不需要你一直为同一雇主工作，只是如果曾换工作，两份工作之间的间隔不能太长。拥有永久居留权后，你在英国居住、学习、工作、从事商务活动就不再受任何限制了。

Unit 11 Could you please clean your room? 文化背景知识介绍

广东省教育厅教研室

In the U. S., it is believed that children with regular household chores have a better self-image, become more responsible and competent, and feel more closely connected to the family. Household chores are assigned to each family member. Many families use a chart to record which chores each family member will do during the month. Chores are assigned by the parents to each child and are selected to match the ability of the child. More difficult chores are usually assigned to the older children, and children are usually paid an allowance each month. The older children usually receive a larger allowance, which reflects the quantity and the type of chores that they do.

The following are some typical chores of them.

Daily Task

·Making your bed (younger children)

·Keeping your bedroom clean

·Washing and drying own dishes (as they use them)

·Keeping bathrooms clean and dry

·Putting dirty clothes in the laundry basket

·Walking / feeding the dog

Major Chores

·Doing the laundry

·Sweeping or vacuuming

·Grocery shopping

·Cooking

·Taking out the garbage

·Mowing the lawn / weeding the yard

·Washing the car

·Washing the dog

·Cleaning the windows

·Dusting the house

Unit 11 What time do you go to school? 文化背景知识

中西方家庭中常见的家务活主要有以下几种：

观念的熏陶。付出劳动便理所应当地获得报酬，这在美国几乎是一条连自家人也不例外的“金科玉律”。父母给孩子钱的初衷大多为：一是遵守按劳付酬的原则；二是让孩子有一定的钱（allowance）购买他们必要的食品和学习用品；三是让孩子得到一些劳动锻炼。甚至连一些富豪教育子女时也是坚持“不劳动者不得食”（No pain no gain.）的观点，迫使孩子从小摒弃“不劳而获”的依赖感（dependance），树立靠自己的双手吃饭（earn their own living）的观念。

Unit 12 What's the best radio station? 文化背景知识介绍

广东省教育厅教研室

1. Movies and plays are very popular in the U. S. If you want to see a movie, you can go to a movie theater. A multiplex cinema has five to six screens but a megaplex cinema has more than fifteen screens. Food and drink can be purchased in the lobby of the movie theater and consumed in the theater while watching the movie. Soft drinks and popcorn are traditional refreshments in a movie theater. Hot dogs, candy, and nachos (Mexican corn chips, usually covered with cheese) are also popular.

Many people have heard of Broadway. Broadway is the name of a wide avenue in New York City. In one area in Manhattan near Times Square, there are many theaters known as Broadway theaters, which show large-scale plays such as Cats and Fiddler on the Roof. This area is also known as the Great White Way because of all of the billboard lights. However, different theaters have different seating arrangements, so it is best to check the theater layout with the theater or the box office (where you purchase tickets) before purchasing tickets.

2. Many schools will have talent shows at certain times, such as during a school celebration or party (for example, just before the long vacation). This gives students the chance to come on stage and show off their talents to their schoolmates. Students might do such activities as singing, dancing, telling jokes, or playing a musical instrument. Sometimes talent show will be judged with prizes for the winners, or sometimes they will be just for fun. Students usually are not forced to take part in a talent show; most of the time they will volunteer