The World Economic Forum
Boao Forum for Asia
Boao Forum for AsiaThe Boao Forum for Asia, abbreviated to BFA, is a non-profit organization that hosts high-level forums for leaders from government, business and academia in Asia and other continents to share their vision on the most pressing issues in this dynamic region and the world at large. BFA is modeled after the World Economic Forum held annually in Davos, Switzerland. It has its fixed address in Boao, Hainan, China, although the Secretariat is based in Beijing.The Forum is committed to promoting regional economic integration and bringing Asian countries even closer to their development goals. Initiated in 1998 by Fidel V. Ramos, former President of the Philippines, Bob Hawke, former Prime Minister of Australia, and Morihiro Hosokawa, former Prime Minister of Japan, the Boao Forum for Asia was formally inaugurated in February 2001. The founding of the BFA was driven by the People's Republic of China and founded by 26 Asian and Australasian states on 27 February 2001. The organization held its first meeting from April 12–13, 2002.Discussions at the BFA focus on economics, integration, cooperation, society, and the environment. In the past the forum also addressed China's entry into the World Trade Organization, as well as Southeast Asia's economic crisis during the 1990s. The geopolitical strategy 'China's peaceful rise' was a topic of discussion for the forum in 2004. In addition to its annual meeting, the BFA also sponsors other forums and meetings related to Asian issues.The Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2008 was held on April 10–13, 2008. It was attended by heads of government from countries including Australia, Pakistan, Norway and Kazakhstan. It also saw the historic meeting of Taiwan's Republic of China vice President-elect Vincent Siew, with People's Republic of China president Hu Jintao.。
冀教版八年级英语下册 Unit8 总复习 练习题教学课件PPT初二公开课
英语·冀教版·八年级下册Unit 8 Save Our World Lesson 43: Let’s Clean Up!一、根据句意及汉语提示写出单词1. We should pay (注意) to our safety no matter where we are.2.[2020辽宁辽阳灯塔市实验中学期末改编]There is too much (垃圾) in the kitchen. Could you please take it away?3.Students find that many rubbish bins in different colours are laid in the (校园).4.[2020江苏盐城中考]Scientists say that music makes our brain "feel happy" and it (解释) the importance of music in cultures all over the world.5.[2021江苏常州金坛区模拟] There will be less (污染) in our city if we take action to protect the environment.答案1.attention 句意:不管在哪里,我们都应该注意我们的安全。
pay attention to"注意……"。
2.rubbish/garbage 句意:厨房里垃圾太多了。
你能把它拿走吗?rubbish/garbage意为"垃圾",属于不可数名词。
3.schoolyard 句意:学生们发现校园里放了很多不同颜色的垃圾桶。
4.explains 根据and前的内容可知,此处应用一般现在时,又因主语是it,故应用动词的第三人称单数形式。
5.pollution 句意:如果我们采取行动保护环境,我们城市的污染就会减少。
国际机构名字缩写
欧盟European Union -- EU 欧元(euro)阿盟阿拉伯国家联盟League of Arab States -- LAS非洲联盟（African Union -- AU，简称“非盟”）东南亚国家联盟（简称东盟，Association of Southeast Asian Nations -- ASEAN北大西洋公约组织（North Atlantic Treaty Organization -- NATO ），简称北约大赦国际(Amnesty International -- AI)英联邦(The Commonwealth)不结盟运动（Non-Aligned Movement -- NAM）巴黎俱乐部(Paris Club) 也称“十国集团” (Group-10) 南方中心（South Centre）是以促进南南合作为宗旨的国际著名政府间组织和智，独立国家联合体(Commonwealth of Independent States -- CIS) 的简称上海合作组织(Shanghai Cooperation Organization -- SCO)阿拉伯各国议会联盟(Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union -- AIPU)阿拉伯国家联盟(League of Arab States -- LAS，简称“阿盟”)西欧联盟(Western European Union -- WEU)东南亚国家联盟（简称东盟，Association of Southeast Asian Nations -- ASEAN）非洲联盟（African Union -- AU，简称“非盟”）拉丁美洲议会(Latin-American Parliament)金砖四国”是指巴西（Brazil）、俄罗斯（Russia）、印度（India）和中国（China）四个重要国家。
由这四个国家英文首字母组成的“BRIC”一词，其发音与英文的“砖块”非常相似，故这四国被称为“金砖四国”（BRICs）。
2021年全国硕士研究生入学统一考试英语(二)试题及答案
2021年全国硕士研究生入学统一考试英语（二）试题Section I Use of EnglishDirections:Read the following text. Choose the best word(s) for each numbered blank and mark A, B, C or D on ANSWER SHEET 1.(10 points)It's not difficult to set targets for staff. It is much harder, 1 to understand their negative consequences.Most work-related behaviors have multiple components. 2 one and the others become distorted.Travel on a London bus and you'll 3 see how this works with drivers.Watch people get on and show their tickets.Are they carefully inspected? Never. Do people get on without paying? Of course! Are there inspectors to 4 that people have paid?Possibly, but very few.And people who run for the bus? They are5.How about jumping lights? Buses do so almost as frequently as cyclists.Why? Because the target is 6.People complained that buses were late and infrequent. 7 the number of buses and bus lanes were increased,and drivers were 8 or punished according to the time they took. And drivers hit these targets.But they 9 hit cyclists.If the target was changed to 10,you would have more inspectors and more sensitive pricing.If the criterion changed to safety, you would get more 11 drivers who obeyed traffic laws.But both these criteria would be at the expense of time.There is another 12:people became immensely inventive n hinting targets.Have you 13 that you can leave on a flight an hour late but stile arrive on time? Tailwinds? Of course not! Airlines have simply changed the time a 14 is meant to take.A one-hour light is now ballad as a two-hour flight.The 15 of the story is simple. Most jobs are muti dimensional, with multiple criteria. Choose one criterion and you may well 16 others.Everything Can be done faster and made cheaper,but there is a 17. Setting targets can and does have unforeseen negative consequences.This is not an argument against target-setting. But it is an argument for exploring consequences first.All good targets should have multiple criteria 18 critical factors such as time,money.quality and customer feedback.The trick is not only to 19 just one or even two dimensions of the objective, but also to understand how to help people better 20 the objective.1.[A] therefore [B]however [C] again [D] moreover2.[A] Emphasize [B]Identify [C] Assess [D] Explain3.[A] nearly [B]curio [C] eagerly [D] quickly4.[A] claim [B] prove [C] check [D] recall5.[A] threatened [B] ignored [C] mocked [D] blamed6.[A] punctuality [B] hospitality [C] competition [D] innovation7.[A] Yes [B] So [C] Besides [D] Slit8.[A] hired [B] trained [C] rewarded [D] grouped9.[A] only [B] rather [C] once [D] also10.[A]comfort [B] revenue [C]efficiency [D]security11.[A] fried [B] quiet [C] cautious [D] diligent12. [A] purpose [B] problem [C] prejudice [D] policy13.[A] report [B] revealed [C] admitted [D] noticed14.[A] break [B] trip [C] departure [D] transfer15.[A] moral [B] background [C] style [D] form16.[A] interpret [B] criticize [C] sacrifice [D] tolerate17.[A] task [B] secret [C] product [D] cast18.[A] leading to [B] calling for [C] relating to [D] accounting for19.[A] specify [B]predict [C] restore [D]create20.[A] modify [B] review [C] present [D] achieveSection II Reading ComprehensionPart A Directions:Read the foll owing four texts. Answer the questions below each text by choosing A, B, C, or D.Mark your answers on ANSWER SHEET 1(40 points)Text 1"Deskilling" is something that sounds like a buzzword but is actually a requirement if we plan to have a future in which a lot of would-be workers do not get left behind. We know we are moving into a period where the jobs in demand will change rapidly, as will the requirements of the jobs that remain. Research by the World Economic Forum finds that on average 42 percent of the "core skills" within job roles will change by 2022. That is a very short timeline.The question of who should pay for res killing is a thorny one. For individual companies, the temptation is always to let go of workers whose skills are no longer in demand and replace them with those whose skills are. That does not always happen. AT&T is often given as the gold standard of a company that decided to do massive res killing program rather than go with a fire-and-hire strategy. Other companies had also pledged to create their own plans. When the skills mismatch is in the broader economy, though, the focus usually turns to government to handle. Efforts in Canada and elsewhere have been arguably languid at best, and have given us a situation where we frequently hear of employers begging for workers, even at times and in regions where unemployment is high.With the pandemic, unemployment is very high indeed. In February, at 3.5 United States were at generational lows and worker shortages were everywhere. As of May, those rates had spiked up to13.3 per cent and 13.7 per cent, and although many worker shortages had disappeared, not all had done so. In the medical field, to take an obvious example, the pandemic meant that there were still clear shortages of doctors, nurses and other medical personnel.Of course, it is not like you can take an unemployed waiter and train him to be a doctor in a few weeks. But even if you cannot close that gap, may be you can close others, and doing so would be to the benefit of all concerned. That seems to be the case in Sweden: When forced to furlough 90 per cent of their cabin staff, Scandinavian Airlines decided to start up a short retraining program that reskilled the laid-off workers to support hospital staff. The effort was a collective one and involved other companies as well as a Swedish university.21.Research by the World Economic forum suggests_________.A.an urgent demand for new job skillsB.an increase in full-time employmentC.a steady growth of job opportunitiesD.a controversy about the " core skills"22.AT&T is cited to show _________.A.the characteristics of res killing programsB.the importance of staff appraisal standardsC.an immediate need for government supportD.an alternative to the fire-and-hire strategy23.Efforts to resolve the skills mismatch in CanadaA. have driven up labour costsB. have proved to be inconsistentC. have met with fierce oppositionD. have appeared to be insufficient24. We can learn from Paragraph 3 that there wasA. a call for policy adjustment.B. a change in hiring practices.C.a lack of medical workersD.a sign of economic recovery.25. Scandinavian Airlines decided to_A. Great job vacancies for the unemployed.B.Prepare their laid-off workers for other jobs.C.Retrain their cabin staff for better servicesD.finance their staff′s college educationText 2With the global population predicted to hit close to 10 blini by 2050,and forecasts that agricultural production in some regions will bed to nearly double to keep pace,food security is increasingly making headlines. In the UK, it has become a big talking point recently too,for a rather particular reason: Br exit.Br exit is sen by some as an opportunity to reverse a recent trend towards the UK importing food.The country produces only about 60 per cent of the food it eats,down form almost the-quarters in the late 1980s.A move back to sufficient,the argument goes, would bots the farming industry.political sovereignty and even the nation's health. Sounds great — but how feasible is this vision?According to are port on UK food production from the University of Leeds,UK,85 per cent of the country's total land area disassociated with meat and dairy production. That supplies 80 per cent of what is consumed,so even covering the whole country in livestock farms wouldn't allow us to cover all our meat and dairy needs.There are many caveats to those figures, but they are still grave. To become much more self sufficient, the UK would need to drastically reduce its consumption of animal foods,and probably also farm more intensively —meaning fewer green fields and more factory-style production.But switching to a mainly plant-based diet wouldn't help. There is a good reason why the UK is dominated by animal husbandry: most of its terrain doesn't have the right soil or climate to grow crops on commercial basis.Just 25 per cent of the country's land is suitable for crop-growing, most of which is already occupied by arable fields. Even if we converted all the suitable land to fields of fruit and veg — which would involve taking out all he nature reserves and removing thousands of people from their homes — we would achieve only a 30 per centboost in crop production.Just 23 per cent of the fruit and vegetables consumed in the UK are currently home-grown,so even with the most extreme measures we could meet only 30 per cent of our fresh produce needs. That is before we look for the space to grow the grains,sugars, seeds and oils that provide us with the vast bulk of our current calorie intake.26.Some people argue that food self sufficiency in the UK would[A] be hindered by its population growth[B] contribute to the nations well-being[C] become a priority of the government[D] post a challenge to its farming industry27.The report by the University of Leeds showed that in the UK[A] farmland has been inefficient[B] factory style production needs reforming[C]most land is used for meat and dairy production[D] more cornfields will be converted for farming28.Crop-growing in the UK is restricted due to_—[A] its farming technology[B] its dietary tradition[C] its natural conditions[D] its commercial interests29.It can bel eared from the last paragraph that British people__[A] rely largely on imports for fresh produce[B]enjoy a steady rise in fruit consumption[C] are seeking effective ways to cut calorie intake[D] are trying to grow new varieties of grains30.The author's attitude to food self-efficiency in the UK is____[A] defensive[B] doubtfu1[C] tolerant[D] optimisticText 3Big Tech's 'buy and kill' tactics come under scrutiny When Microsoft bought task management app W under list an c mobile calendar Sunrise in 2015, it picked up two newcomers that were attracting considerable buzz in Silicon Valley. Microsoft′s owe Office dominates the market for "productivity" software, but the start-ups represented a new wave of technology designed from the ground up for the smart phone world.Both apps, however, were later scrapped, after Microsoft said it has used their best features in its own products. Their teams of engineers stayed on, making them two of the many "Acquit-hires" that the biggest companies have used to feed their insatiable hunger for tech talent.To Microsoft's critics, the fates of W under list and Sunrise are examples of a remorseless drive by Big Tech to chew up any innovative companies that lie in their path. "They bought the seedlings and closed them down," complained Paul Arnold, a partner at San Francisco-based Switch Ventures, putting paid to businesses that might one day turn into competitors. Microsoft declined tc comment.Like other start-up investors,Mr Harold's own business often depends on selling start-ups to larger tech companies, though he admits to mixed feelings about the result: "I think these things are good for me, if I put my selfish hat on. But are they good for the American economy? I don' t know."The US Federal Trade Commission says it wants to find the answer to that question. This week, it asked the five most valuable US tech companies for information about their many small acquisitions oven the past decade. Although only a research project at this stage, there quest has raised the prospect ofregulators wading into early-stage tech markets that until now have been beyond their reach.Given their combined market value of more than $5.5tn, rifling ugh such small deals — many of them much less prominent Thar Wanderlust and Sunrise — might seem beside the point. Between them, the five companies(Apple,Microsoft, Google,Amazon an ace book) have spent an average of only $3.4bn a year on sub-$1br intuitions over the past five years — a drop in the ocean compared with their massive financial reserves, and the more than$130bn of venture capital that was invested in the US last year.However,critics say that the big companies use such deals to buy their most threatening potential competitors before their businesses have a chance to gain momentum, in some cases as part of a "buy and kill" tactic to simply close them down.31.What is true about Wanderlust and Sunrise after their acquisitions?A. Their engineers were retained.B. Their market values declined.C.Their tech features improved.D. Their products were re-priced.32.Microsoft's critics believe that the big tech companies tend to_A. exaggerate their product qualityB.eliminate their potential competitorsC.treat new tech talent unfairlyD.ignore public opinions33.Paula mold is concerned that small acquisitions might_A. weaken big tech companiesB. worsen market competitionC. harm the national economyD. discourage start-up investors34.The US Federal Trade Commission intends to_A. limit Big Tech's expansionB. encourage research collaborationC. examine small acquisitionsD.supervise start-operatives35.For the five biggest tech companies,their small acquisitions haveA. brought tilt financial pressureB.raised few management challengesC.set an example for future dealsD. generated considerable profitsText4We're fairly good a judging people based on frat impressions thin slices of experience ranging from a grim photographs to a five-minute interaction.and deliberation can be not only extraneous but intrusive l none study of the ability she dubbed"thin slicing."the late psychologist Na line Lambada asked participants to watch silentI0-second video clips of professors and to rate the instructor' coverall effectiveness. Their ratings correlated strongly with students' end-of-semester ratings. Another set of participants had to count backward from 1(00) by nines as they watched the clips. occupying their conscious working memory. Their ratings were just as accurate,demonstrating the intuitive nature of the social processing.Critically,another group was asked to spend a minute writing down reasons for their judgment. before giving the rating. Accuracy dropped dramatically. Lambada suspected that deliberation focused them on vivid but misleading cues,such as certain gestures or utterances,rather than letting the complex interplay of sublet signals form a holistic impression.She found similarinterference where participants watched 15-second clips of pairs of people and judged whether they were strangers, friends, or dating partners.Other research shows we' re better at detecting deception and sexual orientation from thin slices when we rely on intuition instead of reflection."It's as if you re driving a stick shift,"says Judith Hall,a psychologist a No rhea stem University,"and if you start thinking about it too much,you can't remember what you're doing.But if you go on automatic pilot, you're fine.Much of our social life is like that."Thinking too much can also harm our ability to form preferences College studentships of strawberry jams and college courses aligned better with expressionists when the students weren't t asked to analyze their rationale, And people made car-buying decisions that were both objectively better and more personally satisfying when asked to focus on their feigns rather than on details but only if the decision was complex-when they had a lot of information to process — Intuition's special powers are unleashed only in certain circumstances.In one study, particle completed a battery of eight tasks.including four that tapped reflective thinking (discerning rules. Comprehending vocabulary)and four that tapped intuition and creativity(generating new products or figures of speech)Then they rated the degree to which they had used intuition"gut feelings," hunches,"my heart"),Us of their gut hurt their performance on the fist four tasks,as expected, and helped them on the rest Sometimes the heart is smarter than the head.36.Catalina Milady's study deals with[A] the power of people's memory[B] the reliability of first impressions[C] instructor- student interaction[D] people's ability to influence others37.In Milady's study, rating accuracy dropped when participants_[A] focused on specific details[B] gave the rating in limited time[C] watched shorter video clips[D] discussed with one another38.Judith Hall mentions driving to show that ____.[A] reflection can be distracting[B] memory may be selective[C] social skills must be cultivated[D] deception is difficult to detect39.When you are making complex decisions,it is advisable to_[A] collect enough data[B] list your preferences[C] seek expert advice[D] follow your feelings40.What can agleam form the last paragraph?[A] Generating new products takes time[B] Intuition may affect reflective tasks[C] Vocabulary comprehension needs creativity CATION GROUP[D] Objective thinking may boost intuitivenessPart BDirections:Read the flowing text and answer the questions by choosing the most suitable subheading from the list A-G for each numbered paragraphs(41-45).There are two extra subheadings which you do Ned to use.Mark your answers on the ANSWER SHEET.(10 points)A. Stay calm.B. Stay humble.C. Decide whether to waitD. Be realistic about the risks.E. Don't make judgement.F. Identify a shared goal.G. Ask permission to disagree.How to disagree with someone more powerful than you Your boss proposes a new initiative you think won't work.Your senior colleague outlines a project timeline you believe is unrealistic. What do you see when you disagree with someone who has more power than you do? How do you decide whether it's worth speaking up? And if you do, what exactly should you say? Here's how to disagree with someone more powerful than you.41. CYou may decide it's best to hold off on voicing your opinion.Maybe you haven't finished thinking the problem through, or you want to get a clearer sense of what the group thinks.If you think other people are going to disagree too,you might want to gather your army first.People can contribute experience or information to your thinking — all the things that would make the disagreement stronger or more valid.It's also a good idea to delay the conversation if you are in a meeting or other public space.Discussing the issue in private will make the powerful person feel less threatened.42. FBefore you share your thoughts, think about what the powerful person cares about — it may be the credibility of their team or getting a project done on time.You're more likely to be heard if you can connect your disagreement to a higher purpose. State it overtly, contextualizing your statements so that you're seen not as a disagreeable subordinate but as a colleague who's trying to advance a common objective. The discussion will then become more like a chess game than a boxing match.43. GThis step may sound overly deferential but it's a smart way to give the powerful person psychological safety and control.You can see something like,"I know we sen to be moving toward a is t quarter commitment here.I have reasons to think that won't work. I'd like to layout my reasoning. Would that be OK?"This gives the person a choice,allowing him to verbally opt in. And,assuming he says yes,it will make you fell more confident about voicing your disagreement.44. AYou might feel your heart racing or your face tuning red,but do whatever you can to remain natural in both your words and actions. When your body language communicates reluctance or anxiety, it undercuts the ms sage. It sends a mixed message,and your counterpart gets to choose what signals to read.Deep breaths can help,as can speaking more slowly and deliberately. When we fell panicky,we tend to talk louder and faster.Simply slowing the pace and talking in an even tone helps the other person cool down and does the same for you. It also makes you seem confident, even if you aren't.45. BEmphasize that you're only offering your opinion,not gospel truth.It may be a well-informed, well-researched opinion,but it's till an opinion, so talk tentatively and slightly understate your confidence.Instead of saying,"If we set an end-of-quarter deadline,we will never make it,"say,"This is just my opinion,but I don't see how we will make that deadline."Having asserted your opinion(as a position,not as a fact),demonstrate equal curiosity about other views. Remind the person that this is your point of view,and then invite critique. Be open to hearing other opinions.Section III Translation46. Directions;Translate the following text from English into Chinese.Write your translation on ANSWER SHEET.(15 points)We tend to think that friends and family members are our biggest sources of connection. laughter,and warmth. While that may well be-true,researchers have also recently found that interacting with strangers actually brings a boost in mood and feelings of belonging that we didn't expect.In one series of studies,researchers instructed Chicago-area commuters using public transportation to strike up a conversation with some one near them.On average,participants who followed this instruction felt better than those who had been told to stand or sit in silence.The researchers also argued that when we shy away from casual interactions with strangest, it's fen due to a misplaced anxiety that they might not want to talk to us. Much of thetime,however, this be lief is false.As it tuns out,many people are actually perfectly willing to talk—and may even be flattered to receive your attention.【参考范文】我们通常认为朋友和家庭成员是我们交流，快乐和温暖的最大源泉。
5The_many_faces_of_the_future
Reading Material V: Reading Longer ArticlesThe Many Faces of the FutureWhy we'll never have a universal civilization?By Samuel P. Huntington1 Conventional wisdom tells us that we are witnessing the emer-gence of what V. S. Naipaul calleda “ universal civilization,” the cultural coming together of humanity and the increasing acceptance of common values, beliefs, and institutions by people throughout the world. Critics of this trend point to the global domination of Western-style capitalism and culture, and the gradual erosion of distinct cultures—especially in the developing world.2 If what we mean by universal culture are the assumptions, val-ues, and doctrines currently held by the many elites who travel in international circles, that's not a viable “one, world” scenario. Consider the “Davos culture”. Each-year about a thousand business ex-ecutives, government officials, intellectuals, and journalists from scores of countries meet at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Almost all of them hold degrees in the physical sci-ences, social sciences, business, or law; are reasonably fluent in English; are employed by governments, corporations, and academic institutions with extensive international connections; and travel fre-quently outside of their own countries. They also generally share beliefs in individualism, market economies, and political democracy, which are also common among people in Western civilization. This core group of people controls virtually all international institutions, many of the world's governments, and the bulk of the world's economic and military organizations. As a result, the Davos culture is tremendously important, but it is far from a universal civilization. Outside the West, these values are shared by perhaps 1 percent of the world's population.3 The argument that the spread of Western consumption patterns and popular culture around the world is creating a universal civiliza-tion is also not especially profound. Innovations have been transmit-ted from one civilization to another throughout history. But they are usually techniques lacking in significant cultural consequences or fads that come and go without altering the underlying culture of the recipient civilization. The essence of Western civilization is the Magna Carta, not the Magna Mac. The fact that non-Westerners may bite into the latter does not necessarily mean they are more likely to accept the former. During the ' 70s and ' 80s Americans bought mil-lions of Japanese cars and electronic gadgets without being "Japanized", and, in fact, became c onsiderably more antagonistic toward Japan. Only naive arrogance can lead Westerners to assume that non-Westerners will become "Westernized" by acquiring Western goods.4 A slightly more sophisticated version of the universal popular cul-ture argument focuses on the media rather than consumer goods in general. Eighty-eight of the world's hundred most popular films in 1993 were produced in the United States, and four organizations based in the United States and Europe—the Associated Press, CNN, Reuters, and the French Press Agency—dominate the dissemination of news worldwide. This situation simply reflects the universality of human interest inlove, sex, violence, mystery, heroism, and wealth, and the ability of profit motivated companies, primarily American, to exploit those interests to their own advantage. Little or no evidence exists, however, to support the assumption that the emergence of pervasive global communications is producing significant convergence in attitudes and beliefs around the world. Indeed, this Western hegemony encourages populist politicians in non-Western societies to denounce Western cultural imperialism and to rally their constituents to preserve their indigenous cultures. The extent to which global communications are dominated by the West is, thus, a major source of the resentment non-Western peoples have toward the West. In addition, rapid economic development in non-Western societies is leading to the emergence of local and regional media industries catering to the distinctive tastes of those societies.5 The central elements of any civilization are language and reli-gion. If a universal civilization is emerging, there should be signs of a universal language and a universal religion developing. Nothing of the sort is occurring.6 Despite claims from Western business leaders that the world’s language is English, no evidence exists to support this proposition, and the most reliable evidence that does exist shows just the oppo-site. English speakers dropped from 9.8 percent of the world's pop-ulation in 1958 to 7. 6 percent in 1992. Still, one can argue the English has become the world' s lingua franca, or in linguistic terms, the principal language of wider communication. Diplomats, business executives, tourists, and the service professionals catering to them need some means of efficient communication, and right now that is largely in English. But this is a form of intercultural commu-nication; it presupposes the existence of separate cultures. Adopting a lingua franca is a way of coping with linguistic and cultural differences, not a way of eliminating them. It is a tool for communica-tion, not a source of identity and community.7 The linguistic scholar Joshua Fishman has observed that a lan-guage is more likely to be accepted as a lingua franca if it is not identified with a particular ethnic group, religion, or ideology. In the past, English carried many of those associations. But more recently, Fishman says, it has been " de-ethnicized (or minimally ethnicized), " much like what happened to Akkadian, Aramaic, Greek, and Latin before it. As he puts it, "It is part of the relative good fortune of English as an additional language that neither its British nor its American fountainheads have been widely or deeply viewed in an ethnic or ideological context for the past quarter century or so." Resorting to English for intercultural communication helps main-tain—and, indeed, reinforce—separated cultural identities. Precise-ly because people want to preserve their own culture, they use Eng-lish to communicate with people of other cultures.8 A universal religion is only slightly more likely to emerge than a universal language. The late 20th century has seen a resurgence of religions around the world, including the rise of fundamentalist movements. This trend has reinforced the differences among reli-gions, and has not necessarily resulted in significant shifts in the dis-tribution of religions worldwide.9 Of course, there have been increases during the past century in the percentage of people practicing the two major proselytizing reli-gions, Islam and Christianity. Western Christians accounted for 26.9 percent of the world's population in 1900 and peaked at about 30 percent in 1980, while the Muslim population increases from 12.4 percent in 1900 to as much as 18 percent in 1980. The per-centage of Christians in the world will probably decline to about 25 percent by 2025. Meanwhile, because of extremely high rates of population growth, the proportion of Muslims in the world willcon-tinue to increase dramatically and represent about 30 percent of the world's population by 2025. Neither, however, qualifies as a uni-versal religion.10 The argument that some sort of universal civilization is emerging rests on one or more of three assumptions; that the collapse of Soviet communism meant the end of history and the universal victory of liberal democracy; that increased interaction among peoples through trade, investment, tourism, media, and electronic commu-nications is creating a common world culture; and that a universal civilization is the logical result of the process of global modernization that has been going on since the 18th century.11 The first assumption is rooted in the Cold War perspective that the only alternative to communism is liberal democracy, and the demise of the first inevitably produces the second. But there are many alternatives to liberal democracy—including authoritarianism, nationalism, corporatism, and market communism (as in China)— that are alive and well in today's world. And, more significantly, there are all the religious alternatives that lie outside the world of secular ideologies. In the modern world, religion is a central, perhaps the central, force that motivates and mobilizes people. It is sheer hubris to think that because Soviet communism has collapsed, the West has conquered the world for all time and that non-Western peoples are going to rush to embrace Western liberalism as the only alternative. The Cold War division of humanity is over. The more fundamental divisions of ethnicity, religions, and civilizations re-main and will spawn new conflicts.12 The new global economy is a reality. Improvements in transportation and communications technology have indeed made it easier and cheaper to move money, goods, knowledge, ideas, and images around the world. But what will be the impact of this increased economic interaction? In social psychology, distinctiveness theory holds that people define themselves by what makes them different from others in a particular context: People define their identity by what they are not. As advanced communications, trade, and travel multi-ply the interactions among civilizations, people will increasingly accord greater relevance to identity based on their own civilization.13 Those who argue that a universal civilization is an inevitable product of modernization assume that all modern societies must be-come Westernized. As the first civilization to modernize, the West leads in the acquisition of the culture of modernity. And as other so-cieties acquire similar patterns of education, work, wealth, and class structure—the argument runs — this modern Western culture will be-come the universal culture of the world. That significant differences exist between modern and traditional cultures is beyond dispute. It doesn' t necessarily follow, however, that societies with modern cul-tures resemble each other more than do societies with traditional cul-tures. As historian Fernand Braudel writes, "Ming China. .. was assuredly closer to the France of the Valois than the China of Mao Tsetung is to the France of the Fifth Republic."14 Yet modern societies could resemble each other more than do traditional societies for two reasons. First, the increased interaction among modern societies may not generate a common culture, but it does facilitate the transfer of techniques, inventions, and practices from one society to another with a speed and to a degree that were impossible in the traditional world. Second traditional society was based on agriculture; modern society is based on industry. Patterns of agriculture and the social structure that goes with them are much more dependent on the natural environment than are patterns of industry. Differences in industrial organization are likely to derive from differences in culture and social structure rather than geogra-phy, and the former conceivably can converge while the lattercan-not .15 Modern societies thus have much in common. But do they nec-essarily merge into homogeneity? The argument that they do rests on the assumption that modern society must approximate a single type, the Western type. This is a totally false assumption. Western civilization emerged in the 8th and 9th centuries. It did not begin to modernize until the 17th and 18th centuries. The West was the West long before it was modern. The central characteristics of the West—the classical legacy, the mix of Catholicism and Protestantism, and the separation of spiritual and temporal authority—dis-tinguish it from other civilizations and antedate the modernization of the West.16 In the post-Cold War world, the most important distinctions among people are not ideological, political, or economic. They are cultural. People and nations are attempting to answer a basic human question: Who are we? And they are answering that question in the traditional way, by reference to the things that mean the most to them: ancestry, religion, language, history, values, customs, and institutions. People identify with cultural groups: tribes, ethnic groups, religious communities, nations, and, at the broadest level, civilizations. They use politics not just to advance their interests but also to define their identity. We know who we are only when we know who we are not, and often only when we know who we are against.17 Nation-states remain the principal actors in world affairs. Their behavior is shaped, as in the past, by the pursuit of power and wealth, but it is also shaped by cultural preferences and differences. The most important groupings of states are no longer the three blocs of the Cold War but rather the world's major civilizations.18 The main responsibility of Western leaders is to recognize that intervention in the affairs of other civilizations is the single most dangerous source of instability in the world. The West should at-tempt not to reshape other civilizations in its own image, but to pre-serve and renew the unique qualities of its own civilization.。
林超伦_《实战口译》可以对照练习
林超伦_《实战口译》可以对照练习单元1 中英论坛讲话1It is a real pleasure to be here to open the third meeting of our forum and to be welcoming such a distinguished and influential group of people from both our countries, many of whom are now old friends. The forum aims to represent the strength of the relationship between our two countries outside the political relationship and looking round today it is clear that the relationship is very strong indeed.我很高兴地宣布我们论坛的第三次会议正式开幕,并在这里欢迎来自我们两国高层的、具有影响力的代表们。
我们中的很多人都已经是老朋友了。
论坛是为了体现我们两国这间关系的力量——在政治关系之外的力量。
环视今日会场，显然，我们的关系非常坚固。
It is a sign for me that the forum goes from strength to strength and I believe it is playing a key role in the relations between our two countries as confirmed by the Prime Minister in our call on him this morning. This year, we have taken the theme "The Challenge of Globalization" for our meetings and discussions. This theme has a particular resonance for me.这是一个迹象，表明我们的论坛越来越强大。
博鳌亚洲论坛英文介绍【精品】
History of BFA
BFA Permanent Venue
BFA Permanent Venue is located on the Dongyu Island near the mouth of Wanquan River to the South China Sea. It integrates modern buildings, intelligence conference systems, challenging golf course, attracting scenery and impressive legend. As the permanent venue of Boao Forum for Asia, the political leaders, industrial and commercial giants, experts and scholars from all of the Asian countries, gather to do research in the development of Asian economy every year. More than 260 leaders from all of the world have ever been in Boao, to attend the BFA Annual Conference eቤተ መጻሕፍቲ ባይዱery year.
• 博鳌亚洲论坛2006年年会于2006年4月21日至23日举行，主题是 “亚洲寻求共赢：亚洲的新机会”。
• 博鳌亚洲论坛2007年年会于2007年4月20日至22日举行，主题是 “亚洲寻求共赢：亚洲制胜全球经济-创新和可持续发展”。
博鳌亚洲论坛英语作文
博鳌亚洲论坛英语作文{z}Boao Asia ForumThe Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) is an annual conference held in Hainan, China.It is an international, non-profit organization that aims to promote regional economic integration and cooperation in Asia.The forum brings together leaders from politics, business, academia, and media to discuss key issues facing the region and the world.The BFA was established in 2001 and has since become one of the most influential platforms for international dialogue in Asia.The forum features panel discussions, roundtable meetings, and speeches by prominent figures from various fields.Participants exchange ideas and share insights on a wide range of topics, including economic development, global governance, regional security, and environmental protection.One of the highlights of the BFA is the release of the "Asia Competitiveness Report," which provides an comprehensive analysis of the economic performance and competitiveness of countries and regions in Asia.The report is prepared by a group of renowned economists and scholars and is widely regarded as an important reference for policymakers and business leaders in the region.The BFA also organizes special events and initiatives to promote young leadership, women"s empowerment, and sustainabledevelopment.These events provide opportunities for young professionals, women leaders, and environmentalists to network, share their experiences, and discuss solutions to pressing challenges.Overall, the Boao Forum for Asia serves as a valuable platform for leaders and experts to engage in meaningful dialogue and explore ways to address the complex issues facing Asia and the world.It plays a significant role in fostering cooperation, promoting economic integration, and shaping the future development of the region.。
Global_Supply_Chain_Governance_and_the_Future_of_G
January/February 2024CONTEMPORARY WORLD Global Supply Chain Governance and the Future of GlobalizationPang ZhongyingO ver the past 30 years or so, globalization has been under-pinned by ever-evolving sup-ply chains. The heightened attention to supply chain issues in recent years has been due to a series of global events in the world that have had a significant and profound impact. Fac-tors such as the COVID pandemic, the Ukraine Crisis and increased geopoliti-cal tensions have led to supply chain crises globally or regionally.Supply chains are closely related to globalization. Today, the adoption of protectionist supply chain strategies and policies by the United States and Western countries has led to major changes in the global supply chain, placing the global supply chain at a historic turning point. There is an urgent need for the international community to think about the future of globalization from the perspective of “chain”, and to build and improve the global supply chain governance system to empower globalization to move forward steadily.BIG CHANGES IN THE GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN UNDER PROFOUND GLOBAL TRANSFERMATIONAll countries are promoting supply chain diversification to avoid the com-pound and overlapping risks faced by supply chains. Strengthening supply chain resilience is a top priority in ad-dressing risks. Upgrading supply chain resilience will take some time. At the same time, the linkage of domestic and foreign policy adjustments will furthercomplicate supply chain issues.At present, countries are planningaround the supply chain and payingmore and more attention to the inter-national relations on the supply chainside. Since the Biden administrationtook office, it has been thinking aboutand responding to the supply chainproblems facing the United States.The Biden administration empha-sizes the vitality of the U.S. domesticeconomy, encourages the return ofdomestic supply chain enterprises,and introduces policies to attract othermultinational enterprises to invest inthe U.S. On November 27, 2023, Bidenannounced that the White House Sup-ply Chain Resilience Council held itsfirst meeting. Sullivan, assistant to thePresident for National Security Affairsnoted that, “in recent decades, theU.S. supply chain for critical mineralshas relied heavily on unpredictableoverseas markets, many of which aredominated by China. Because of this,the Biden administration is working tobuild resilient, enduring supply chainswith partners and allies in importantareas, including semiconductors, phar-maceuticals and biotechnology, criti-cal minerals, and batteries, so that theUnited States is not vulnerable to priceor supply disruptions.” Sullivan hasrepeatedly claimed that he has had to“discuss economic issues in depth” asNational Security Advisor. This meansthat economic issues such as supplychains have risen to the level of na-tional security for the United States.The German Scholz governmenthas learned from the lessons of thegreat supply chain disruption and hasstrategically realigned Germany’sinternational relations on the supplychain. In July 2023, the Scholz govern-ment released its first document on“China Strategy”, which argues thatGermany also needs to “diversify itssupply chain”.Supply chain issues have becomea focal point for the restructuringof relations between major powers.On July 20, 2022, the U.S. and 17 eco-nomic partners held a MinisterialForum on Supply Chains and issueda joint statement. In November 2023,the U.S. and 14 other countries signedthe Indo-Pacific Economic Framework(IPEF) during the thirtieth informalmeeting of the leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)in San Francisco. IPEF partners signedthree agreements, including the IPEFSupply Chain Agreement, to promotesupply chain diversity and resilience.An important aspect of the realign-ment of the U.S.-EU relationship iscoordination and cooperation on “criti-cal supply chains”. The U.S. and Japansigned what is considered a “historicagreement to diversify critical sup-ply chains and strengthen U.S.-Japaneconomic and trade relations,” whichdeepens U.S.-Japan cooperation onstrategic mineral supply chains.The main rationale for the stra-tegic realignment of Western sup-ply chains is de-risking. On March30, 2023, President of the European9Commission Von der Leyen first in-troduced the concept of de-risking in a speech on the EU’s relationship with China. In May, 2023, the Group of Seven (G7) countries signed an agree-ment with the U.S. and Japan to diver-sify key supply chains and strengthen U.S.-Japanese economic and trade rela-tions. In May 2023, the G7 Hiroshima Summit formally included “de-risking rather than decoupling” in its joint statement, explicitly “rejecting the use of economic vulnerability as a weapon in geopolitical relations”, and calling on all countries in the world to abide by the principles of transparency, diversity, security, sustainability and reliability in the construction of goods supply chains. In fact, even before von der Leyen’s speech, the G7 and its members, including the European Union, had already widely discussed and implemented de-risking policies. SUPPLY CHAIN AND GLOBALIZATION From the 1970s to the present, the recognition and study of globalization can be broadly divided into the follow-ing stages.First, in the 1970s, the disciplines of economics and political science recognized the interdependence of na-tions and its importance to the world economy and world peace. However, in the context of the Cold War, inter-dependence was seen as occurring only within the “two parallel markets” and not between the United States and the Soviet Union. U.S.-Soviet economic ties did not reach the level of interde-pendence. It was on the basis of the re-alization of economic and technologi-cal interdependence that American international relations scholars such as Keoghan and Joseph Nye argued that world politics had entered an “era of interdependence”.In the 1980s and 1990s, the con-cept of internationalization was very popular. However, due to a lack of innovation, the concept of interna-tionalization did not help people bet-ter understand the upcoming greattransformation of the world. In thepost-Cold War period, the concept ofglobalization has been widely used inthe theory and practice of the worldeconomy and international relations.Globalization is a concept in the senseof an unprecedented paradigm revo-lution, which was once widely soughtafter, but was also misunderstood bysome, and even subject to undeservedcriticism and opposition.Entering the 21st century, infor-mation technology plays a crucialrole in globalization. Compared withconcepts such as interdependenceand connectivity, supply chain is amore useful and powerful concept forunderstanding globalization. The riseand fall of supply chain reflects therise and fall of globalization.In other words, globalization isthe formation of global links betweeneconomic (especially financial), tech-nological, social and other actors orstakeholders. Since the first industrialrevolution took place in Europe inthe 1860s, supply chains in the worldeconomy have undergone a numberof major transformations, laying thefoundation for globalization.The formation and expansion ofsupply chains at the global level hasbeen a tremendous economic and civi-lizational advance for humanity. Thesupply chain model is widely usedbecause of its increased efficiency,unprecedentedly low transaction costsand inherent resilience. Supply chainsare an unprecedented innovation ineconomic organization, and there arevirtually no enterprises that do notrely on them. Many firms are supplychain firms in their own right, andsome are part of larger, transnational,regional and global supply chains.However, in the era of globaliza-tion, supply chains are highly vulnera-ble to external forces, and global risksin particular can impact supply chainstability and security. In recent years,the World Economic Forum in Davoshas been issuing an annual GlobalRisks Report warning the global risksof deep inter-connectedness, arguingthat geopolitical conflicts have alreadytriggered a series of global risks thatjeopardize deep inter-connectedness,including shortages in energy andgrain supplies that are likely to con-tinue to plague the world for the nexttwo years, as well as a sharp rise inthe cost of living and debt servicing.At the same time, these risks couldundermine the actions of the inter-national community to address long-term challenges, in particular thoserelated to combating climate change,protecting biodiversity and promotinginvestment in human capital.Unlike the World Economic Fo-rum, the United Nations, the Interna-tional Monetary Fund, the W orld Bankand the World Trade Organization,among others, are emphasizing thecompounding nature of global chal-lenges. Perceptions of global risks dovary considerably among stakeholdersin the global system. Geopolitical con-flict is recognized by global stakehold-ers as a big risk to supply chains. How-ever, some stakeholders magnify theconsequences of geopolitical conflicts,and instead of improving the situation Local employees were working on aTV production line at Hisense SouthAfrica Industrial Park in Cape Town,South Africa, on June 1, 2022.(Photo/Xinhua)10January/February 2024 CONTEMPORARY WORLDof supply chains, they exacerbate sup-ply chain problems, creating a sort of vicious circle.Supply chains, among other things, have become a means of competition among major powers. Some countries have mistakenly weaponized interde-pendence in a way that the scholars who studied and advocated interde-pendence in those years could never have imagined. If the issue of the weap-onization of supply chain is not effec-tively addressed, it will have even more serious consequences for the world economy and cause serious harm to the overall well-being of mankind. THE NECESSITY AND URGENCY OF BUILDING A GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN GOVERNANCE SYSTEMAt present, in order to prevent and respond to the next big supply chain crisis, countries and international or-ganizations are taking actions. Among these actions, global supply chain gov-ernance is a way out to deal with the supply chain crisis.In recent years, the international community has been summing up lessons learned and paying great at-tention to and focusing on supply chain issues. The 2023 G20 New Delhi Summit Communiqué noted “hu-man suffering and additional nega-tive impacts in terms of global food and energy security, supply chains, macro-financial stability, inflation and growth”, emphasizing “support for sustainable and responsible supply chains of key raw materials, semicon-ductors and technologies”.Global governance of supply chains is part of a new type of global governance for the 21st century. It is imperative that the international com-munity collectively resist the impact of geopolitical deterioration on global supply chains, oppose the weaponiza-tion of supply chains, and prevent supply chains from closing in on each other and the recurrence of major dis-ruptions in global supply chains, suchas those that took place during theCOVID pandemic. The fundamentalpurpose of global supply chain co-operation is to enhance the ability ofsupply chain enterprises to cope withglobal risks, and the reform of interna-tional organizations, including WTO,should result in formulating commonsupply chain rules, highlighting theimplementation of dispute settlementmechanisms in the field of supplychains, so as to ensure global open-ness in the field of supply chains.It was worrying that some regionaleconomic arrangements, such as theUnited States-led IPEF, had signed ex-clusive supply chain agreements. Ul-timately, supply chain issues can onlybe resolved by respecting the inherentlaws of the world market and usingopen multilateralism and regionalism.STRENGTHENING GLOBALSUPPLY CHAIN GOVERNANCE TOPROMOTE STEADY PROGRESS OFGLOBALIZATIONSince the outbreak of the interna-tional financial crisis in 2008, therehave been occasional global argu-ments about the end of globalization.These arguments have seriouslyaffected people’s confidence in andjudgment of globalization. In particu-lar, the so-called protectionist poli-cies adopted by the U.S. and Westerncountries, such as decoupling andbreaking the chain and de-risking,have caused serious disruptions to thestable development of globalization.However, the history of globalizationhas shown that, no matter how hard itis hit, globalization can always survive,and that economic globalization isprecisely shaped by major economiccrises. The fact that the great supplychain crises of recent years have notdestroyed global supply chain reflectsthe resilience themselves. In a certainsense, the resilience of supply chains isthe resilience of globalization.Globalization has slowed down dueto various reasons, including somecountries’ strategic and policy involve-ment in the supply chain with a zero-sum game mentality. However, theslowdown of globalization does notmean the end of globalization. In fact,globalization reconstruction is takingplace and a new type of globalization isemerging. Data technology and artifi-cial intelligence are leading globaliza-tion into an era of digital globalization.The fundamental solution tothe supply chain problem is effec-tive coordination and cooperationamong major countries at the globallevel, especially the construction ofa global supply chain governancesystem based on the principle of jointconstruction and sharing. Countries,major international organizations andmultilateral forums should continueto explore how to pursue real sup-ply chain security, effectively avoidconflicts among major countries, andfully carry out policy coordination, soas to contribute to global supply chaingovernance.China’s global comparative advan-tage is its complete domestic supplychain, which is of systemic importancein the global supply chain system. Inboth short and long terms, China’sglobal importance is irreplaceable.China has always opposed decouplingand breaking the chain. PresidentXi Jinping’s concepts of promotingthe building of a community with ashared future for mankind, the Beltand Road Initiative, and the threeglobal initiatives are of great sig-nificance in overcoming the globalchallenges of supply chains and im-proving the global supply chain gov-ernance system.——————————————Pang Zhongying is Professor of School ofEconomics at the Sichuan University11。
Culture and Arts
Social Overview Culture and Arts This data is derived from the latest edition of The Global Gender Gap Report by the World Economic Forum.Available at URL:/en/Communities/Women%20Leaders%20and%20Gender%20Parity/Gen-derGapNetwork/index.htmUpdated:2011© Copyright 2012 CountryWatch, Inc. All Rights Reserved. For permission to cite CountryWatch, please email editor@. For the full CountryWatch offering, please visit .Culture and ArtsCulture and Arts of the BahamasMusicMusic, song, and dance are so closely identified with the Bahamian culture that The Bahamas are referred to as the "Islands of Song" and the people of The Bahamas are called a "people of rhythm". There is a strong West African influence that controls the rhythms and tempo of the Bahamian sound and is evident in the percussion instrumentation. The music of the Bahamas has successfully integrated aspects of the blues, jazz, and gospel from its American neighbors, calypso from Trinidadians, and folk ballads from the Colonial period.The strength of the Bahamian music culture is best seen during two festivals named after the music -- the junkanoo and Goombay.The junkanoo is a celebration whose tradition dates back to slavery. At Christmas, slave owners would let slaves have three days off, during which the slaves would play music traditions from Africa, dance and wear masks. Today, The Bahamas is the only Caribbean nation to retain this old tradition. In the early morning hours of Boxing Day and New Year's Day, the sounds of goatskin leather drums, called goombay, cowbells, whistles and brass instruments, which have only recently been added to the music, are played while dancers clad in colorful and elaborate costumes parade through crowds of onlookers and fellow revelers. Their dance steps are called "rushin'" which consists of taking two steps forward and one step back to the beat of the music.Goombay is another celebration of dance and music. Goombay, named after the goatskin-covered drum, takes place on Bahamian Independence Day, July 10. Rake and scrape bands play this music on Bahamas Review 2012152Culture and Arts Social Overview this on July 10th as well as any other time of the year. Rake and scrape is traditional music that features the goombay, carpenter's saws, saxophones, and electric guitars as well as other instruments.Another popular dance is the lively "jump-in-dance". During this dance, a group of people create a cir-cle while clapping, singing and dancing and a solo dancer jumps into the center of the circle and dances. The solo dancer will switch off with others to dance in the middle.A number of influential musicians have come from the Bahamas. Perhaps the most interesting was Joseph Spence a singer and guitarist who played Bahamian folk, blues, gospel, and jazz. Known for his incredible guitar playing, Spence himself referred to his guitar playing as scramming, and a rather distinctive voice, Spence influenced both Bahamian and American musicians alike.Painter, poet, and musician, Exuma, also known as the Obeah Man (witch doctor), created his music career by bringing the Bahamian sound of the junkanoo and rake and scrape, the folklore and myths, and unique lifestyle of the Bahamas to an international audience.More recently, The Baha Men have made an international name for themselves with their song, "Who Let the Dogs Out". The Baha Men have stayed true to their Bahamian roots by incorporating the rhythm and instruments of the junkanoo with Western style pop and hip hop, thereby appealing to an international audience.Other important and popular musicians include Estin Sawyer and the Gully Roosters Band.; Culture:/culture/The Nina Simone Web: Exuma:/nina/html/manual/friends/exuma.htmlBahamas Travel Net:/home.htmlBahamas Net: Junkanoo:/Junkanoo/w.junkhistory.htmlArtBahamian artists have recently come to light on an international level. Using the history of their ances-tors, folk culture, as well as natural beauty and colors of the Caribbean as their muse, artists such as Amos Ferguson, Maxwell Taylor, Antonius Roberts, Jackson Burnside, John Beadle and Stan Burnside hold esteemed places in the Caribbean art.Social Overview Culture and Arts The culture of the junkanoo yields itself to year round creation of Bahamian folk art. The elaborate handmade costumes of the junkadoo will quite often take several months to complete. Costumes and masks can reach enormous proportions and as costumes are a one-person only costume, the construc-tion of each piece must be well thought out to keep up with hours of energetic dancing of its wearer. Crepe paper, feathers, sequins and small mirrors are held together by cardboard, wire mesh, wood and glue to create fantastic designs that will most likely never be worn after the festival is over. In recent year, in recognition of the masterpieces that so often go to waste after the festival, the Prince George Wharf museum in Nassau has begun collecting some of the very best of these costumes to put on dis-play for those tourist that might not get to see these creations otherwise.; Burnside-Beadle-Burnside:.br/23bienal/paises/ipbs.htmBahamas Travel Net:/home.htmlLiteratureUnfortunately, the great Bahamian novel has yet to be written, at least by international standards. While there is a great deal of travel literature available, most often this is geared for the tourism sector. What the Bahamas does have to offer in the realm of literature is wonderful history of folklore, legend and myth.CuisineThe Bahamas offers flavorful and delicious dishes based on the bounty of the sea and tropical harvests from the islands. While international cuisine is readily available throughout the islands, it is the native cuisine that captures the natural flavor of Bahamian experience.Conch, a mollusk, is quite popular, and may be served in variety of ways though the most popular is the conch fritter, which can be purchased at street vendors along boardwalks and shopping areas or in restaurants. Cracked conch, conch that is breaded and deep-fried is also popular. Crab dishes are readily available and the crab and rice is a local specialty. Grouper and red snapper are commonly found on menus. For breakfast, the spicy fish-n-grits is a tasty beginning for the day. Peas and rice, will accompany most entrees. Plantains, exotic tropical fruits, sweet potatoes, black beans and macaroni and cheese will all be featured on menus. Souse, a thin soup flavored with pork or poultry, lime or lemon, and diced celery, onion, and peppers is popular in the Bahamas and the wider Caribbean.In the Caribbean, rum is the king of spirits. Yellow Bird, the Bahama Mama, Goombay Smash, Planter's Punch and Pina Colada are just a few of the wonderful rum concoctions available. The rum liqueur, Nassau Royale is a favorite among locals and tourists alike.For more information --Bahamas Travel Net:/home.htmlThe Islands of The Bahamas; Bahamian Cuisine:Bahamas Review 2012154Etiquette Social Overview /bahamas/bscuis01.htmUseful links for students of culture:Foreign Language Phrases for Travelers/phrase//otherdicts.html/National Anthems//olusegunyayiHolidays Around the World/cgi/world_holiday.pl?hdnAction=search_countries/index.phpInternational Recipes/The_Kitchen/Recipes/Recipe_Indices/InternationalRecipesIn-dex.html//~GabyandAndy/Internation_Recipes.html© Copyright 2012 CountryWatch, Inc. All Rights Reserved. For permission to cite CountryWatch, please email editor@. For the full CountryWatch offering, please visit .EtiquetteCultural Dos and Taboos1. A handshake is an appropriate form of greeting. Close friends and relatives will often embrace and kiss each other on the cheeks as they greet each other.2. Good topics of conversation include sports, travel, family, culture and international politics.Copyright of Bahamas Country Review is the property of CountryWatch Incorporated and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use.。