北京交通大学英美文化第二单元答案

UNIT 2 ABCs OF BRITISH AND AMERICAN CULTURES

I. Can You Pass a UK / US Citizenship Test?

Directions: The following two tests are designed respectively for foreigners who want to get British and American citizenship. Please have a try and see how well you do.

Can You Pass a UK Citizenship Test?

1. According to the guide book Life in the UK, to be British means you should______.

A."Respect laws, the elected political structures, traditional values of mutual tolerance and

respect for rights and mutual concern."

B."Share in the history and culture of an island nation with a character moulded by many

different peoples over more than two thousand years."

C."be part of a modern European democracy, one with a tradition of sharing our ways with

the world – and allowing the world to bring its ways to us."

2. Almost 60 million people live in the UK. By what factor do the native-born English

outnumber their Scots or Welsh neighbours? ______.

A. By nine to one

B. By seven to one

C. By six to one

3. "The origins of our Parliament were in the early Middle Ages. In 1215 the great barons

forced rights from a tyrannical King John". What is that document called? ______.

A. The Mappa Mundi

B. The Magna Carta

C. The Bill of Rights

4. When did all 18-year-olds get the vote? ______.

A. 1918

B. 1928

C. 1969

5. There are four national saints' days in the UK, one for each nation. Which order do they fall

in the calendar? ______.

A.St Andrews, St Patrick's, St David's and St George's

B.St David's, St Patrick's, St George's and St Andrews

C.St George's, St Patrick's, St Andrews and St David's

6. According to Life in the UK, where does Father Christmas come from? ______.

A. Lapland

B. Iceland

C. The North Pole

7. According to the book, where does the myth of Father Christmas come from? ______.

A. The Victorians

B. Pagan myths updated by Shakespeare

C. German/Swedish immigrants to the USA

8. Life in the UK explains what to do if you spill someone's pint in the pub (we're not making

this up). What, according to the book, usually happens next? ______.

A.You would offer to buy the person another pint

B.You would offer to dry their wet shirt with your own

C.You may need to prepare for a fight in the car park

9. You've unfortunately had that fight and are bleeding from a well-placed left hook. Which two

telephone numbers can you call for an ambulance? ______.

A. 999 or 112

B. 999 or 111

C. 999 or any other digit three times

10. What or who is PG (again, according to the guide)? ______.

A.One of the brand names for the national British drink - tea

B. A Personal Guide, a British-born mentor provided to each immigrant applying for

nationality

C.Part of the cinema film classification system

11. The British are a nation of animal lovers. What must dog owners do? ________.

A. Get a licence

B. Get the dog neutered

C. Get a collar with the owner's name and address

12. Back to that pub. The police turn up with the ambulance and an officer asks you to attend an

interview at the station. What are your rights? ______.

A. You don't have to go if you are not arrested, but if you do go voluntarily you are free to

leave at any time

B. You must go. Failure to attend an interview is an arrestable offence

C. You must go if you are a foreign national

13. What's the minimum time you must have been married before you can divorce? ______.

A. Six months

B. One year

C. Two years

Could You Pass a US Citizenship Test?

1. What are the first three words of the Constitution? ______.

A. “Four score and…”

B. “We the people…”

C. “The Conventions of…”

2. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? ______.

A. Thomas Jefferson

B. George Washington

C. Benjamin Franklin

3. How many U.S. senators are there? ______.

A. 50

B. 100

C. 150

4. We elect a U.S. senator for how many years? ______.

A. 2

B. 4

C. 6

5. How many voting members does the House of Representatives have? ______.

A. 265

B. 435

C. 545

6. We elect a U.S. representative for how many years? ______.

A. 2

B. 4

C. 6

7. If both the president and the vice president can no longer serve, who becomes president?

______.

A. The Secretary of State

B. The Chief of Staff

C. The Speaker of the House

8. How many branches of government are there? ______.

A. 2

B. 3

C. 4

9. Who is in charge of the executive branch? ______.

A. The President

B. The Vice President

C. The Speaker of the House

10. In what month do we vote for the president? ______.

A. September

B. October

C. November

11. How old do citizens have to be to vote for the president? ______.

A. 16

B. 18

C. 21

12. Who is the commander in chief of the military? ______.

A. The President

B. The Secretary of Defense

C. The Secretary of State

13. What is the highest court in the U.S? ______.

A. The National Court

B. The Supreme Court

C. The Court of Appeals

14. How many justices are on the above court?

A. 7

B. 9

C. 10

15. What is the political party of the current president? ______.

A. Democrat

B. Republican

C. Green Party

16. Why did the colonists come to America? ______.

A. To escape persecution

B. Economic opportunity

C. Political liberty

D. All of the above

17. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived? ______.

A. The Native Americans

B. The Mayans

C. The Native Canadians

18. Who is the "Father of Our Country?" ______.

A. Christopher Columbus

B. George Washington

C. Abraham Lincoln

19. What was the U.S. war between the north and south? ______.

A. The Civil War

B. World War II

C. The Japanese War

D. None of the Above

20. Who did the U.S. fight in World War II? ______.

A. Germany, France, Italy

B. Japan, Germany, Italy

C. Russia, Germany, Austria

21. What ocean is on the west coast of the United States? ______.

A. The Atlantic Ocean

B. The Indian Ocean

C. The Pacific Ocean

22. What ocean is on the east coast of the United States? ______.

A. The Atlantic Ocean

B. The Indian Ocean

C. The Pacific Ocean

23. Which state borders Canada? ______.

A. Minnesota

B. Montana

C. New York

D. All of the Above

24. Which state borders Mexico? ______.

A. Oklahoma

B. Arizona

C. Louisiana

D. All of the Above

25. What is the name of the national anthem? ______.

A. “America The Beautiful”

B. “The Star-Spangled Banner”

C. “God Save Our Country”

II.British and American Culture

Directions:Watch the video clip about Top 10 London Attractions, and then summarize the main idea of the video clip.

http://youtu.be/pvF9ZxfRlRc

Directions:Watch the video clip about American culture, and then answer the following questions.

1.What is the main idea of this video clip?

2.What analogy does the speaker use for American culture?

3.How many things does the speaker list as a distinctive American culture?

4. According to Dennis Prager, what is the clear distinction between culture and values?

5.According to the speaker, what is the difference between values and culture?

Directions: Read the text and then answer the following questions.

Cultural DNA that Makes America What It Is

When most people think about the "American culture", images of Coca-Cola, hot dogs, baseball games, big cars and suburban mansions (豪宅) come to mind. But there is a deeper side to American culture than Hollywood and Disney World. Underneath the layers of TV advertising and hyper-consumerism(过度消费), there is a cultural DNA that makes America what it is. Here is a brief look at several cultural “genes” that influence the way Americans think and act.

Individualism is a way of life by which a person places his or her own desires, needs, and comforts above the needs of a broader community. This does not mean that Americans have no concern for other people, but it does mean that they give high priority to their personal ambitions. This can turn in to an extreme form of selfishness, which makes good relationships almost impossible. In a classic book about American culture, called Habits of the Heart, the authors say that Americans often enter into relationships only if their own needs are met first. And if those needs aren’t satisfied, then they usually end the relationship. Per haps this is one reason why fewer Americans are getting married.

The positive side of American individualism is that people are encouraged to express

themselves in unique ways. Because the culture values individuality, Americans admire those who do something new and innovative. Perhaps this is one reason why so many technological inventions and new ideas come from the U.S. It’s certainly one reason why so many new artistic and musical movements—such as Jazz—have been born in America.

Individualism also fuels hyper-consumerism in the U.S. The best physical example of America’s individualistic consumer culture is the Mall of America in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is a monument to individualism, a place where you can fulfill any material desire. The shopping center has 520 stores, two full-sized indoor roller coasters(过山车), and a large saltwater aquarium with sharks, stingrays and other exotic ocean life. The place is so big that 32 Boeing 747s or seven professional baseball stadiums would fit inside. If a person spent 10 minutes in each store it would take 86 hours to go through the entire mall.

It’s important to remember that individualism in the U.S. hasn’t suffocated（窒息而死）the American community spirit. When tragedy strikes—a natural disaster or terrorist attack—Americans set all differences aside and pool their efforts to help one another. Americans have formed thousands of professional and recreational associations, groups of people who bond around a common activity aimed at serving the community or just having fun. One of the best ways to get connected with new friends is to find an activity you enjoy and join a local association.

One of the first questions that Americans ask each other when they meet is, “So, what do you do?” This is a common question bec ause most people in the U.S. define who they are by the work they do. In other cultures, people might define themselves in relation to family lineage, ethnic heritage, or religious belief. But for many people in the U.S., “you are what you do.” Work is a c entral part of a person’s identity.

Americans work more hours and have fewer vacation days than most Europeans. According to Robert Reich, former Secretary of Labor, the average American worker now spends two weeks more on the job than he or she did 20-ye ars ago. And the average married couple’s combined annual workload is now seven weeks longer than it was just a decade ago.

Needless to say, all this work puts tremendous limitations on relationships with family and friends. People have very little free time. Most parents struggle to balance work and family. Americans are always searching for faster and more efficient ways to accomplish their work. This need is one factor that drives the technology and computer industries. But because it’s impossible to “save time,” these advances usually mean that people just end up doing more work.

The individualism described above influences the way Americans express spirituality and religion. There are so many different religious expressions in the U.S. that it can seem like a spiritual Mall of America—a religion for every taste and style.

The American culture is far more complex and diverse than we have described here. But these three factors—individualism, work, and religion—are among the most important factors that make the culture what it is today.

For those interested in understanding more about the American culture, there are at least three books worth reading: Habits of the Heart, by Robert Bellah; Democracy in America, published in 1835 by a French researcher named Alexis de Tocqueville; and, for an overview of American youth, Millennials（千年的）Rising, by Neil Howe and William Strauss.

1.What are cultural “genes” that influence the way Americans think and act?

2.What is the positive side of American individualism?

3.Can you find some examples to support it?

4.What is the negative side of American individualism?

5.What example is used to support the idea?

6.Why do Americans define who they are by the work they do?

7.What are the possible reasons that drive them to work so hard?

8. Why are there so many different religious expressions in the U.S.?

III.Differences between the US and the UK

While you may not think it at first, there are numerous cultural differences between the US and the UK that you will likely encounter. Just as there are language differences between the US and UK, there are even differences in customs, attitudes, opinions, and reactions within the US. The US encompasses (包含) many different cultures and regions, so the information here is simply a general guide and may not be valid everywhere. However, it can be a great way to get familiar with your new home before you arrive.

HOLIDAYS

These are some of the more notable holidays. There are numerous holidays in the American academic calendar, most of which will provide days off from classes. Major holidays you should note are:

●Labor Day - First Monday in September. This day is federal bank holiday where most

public offices are closed.

●Columbus Day - 10 October, to celebrate Columbus's landing in the Americas.（“哥伦布

发现美洲纪念日”）

●Veteran’s Day - American variation of Remembrance Day on 11 November honouring

military veterans. （“退伍军人节”）

●Thanksgiving - Last Thursday of November, typically celebrations with turkey.

●Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - celebrated on the third Monday of January, this federal

holiday marks the birthday of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

●President's Day - the third Monday of February, celebrating the birthday of George

Washington (the first president of the US).

●Spring Break - usually March-April time giving students a week off school. Some take

this time to catch up on work, go on organised student trips or travel. （“三月春假”）

●Memorial Day - the last Monday of May, commemorating US who died while in

military service. ( “美国阵亡将士纪念日”)

●4th of July - a celebration of America’s independence, traditionally celebrated with

fireworks and BBQ’s.

MEETING PEOPLE

One of the best ways to learn about US culture is to make friends and get involved on campus. Besides, they will want to hear your accent! You should do your best to avoid falling into a clique of other international students when you arrive. The friendships you make with Americans will enhance your experience and the depth of your exposure to US culture.

In addition to learning more about American culture, there are many perks of becoming friends with Americans. They will know about the local area and getting involved in campus. They may be willing to drive you to the supermarket or for travelling/road trips, and they may even invite you home for weekends or holidays such as Thanksgiving.

A Few Tips for Meeting People:

●Make sure you introduce yourself to your suitemates / hall mates and generally those

around you. Americans are generally happy to talk to new people

●Introduce yourself to your professors and classmates so you will be able to smile and say

hello when seeing them around campus

●Join organisations, groups or fraternities/sororities (兄弟会/女学生联谊会) in order to

build up smaller groups of friends you may not have the chance to socialise with otherwise

●Attend orientation

●Get involved with your dorm activities if you live on-campus

●Follow your chosen group or organisation on Twitter and Facebook to meet likeminded

individuals interested in similar activities

PERSONAL LIVES

In general, Americans are much more open than Britons. Friends and even acquaintances discuss personal thoughts and opinions that might seem private or intrusive in the UK. Do not feel embarrassed if an American asks you a seemingly private or presumptuous question. He or she is most likely sincerely curious about your thoughts and feelings and is assuming you would like to share them.

You may learn more about your American friends than you wanted to know, or you may hear more childhood stories than you care to listen to. Americans will be interested in your experiences and background as well since your upbringing may differ greatly from theirs. In addition to more frequent discussion about their personal lives, there is often a greater display of photographs, posters and memorabilia in dorm rooms or office spaces.

ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION

Alcohol is a less integral part of the campus culture in the US than perhaps it is in the UK. The drinking age in the US is 21, so many university events are dry (no alcohol allowed). If a

campus is known as a dry campus, this means there are no on-campus bars and that no alcohol is permitted on campus grounds.

HUMOUR

The sense of humour differs from one side of the Atlantic to the other. Americans tend to be less dry or sarcastic; do not be surprised if your subtlety is not understood at first! Some Americans may feel offended if they do not understand your humour, but after a brief explanation they will be laughing along with you. Similarly, absurd and nonsensical humour is not typical and may not translate at first.

You also may find that typically British programmes such as The Office or Downton Abbey have gained a large following in America, and are great starting points when meeting people for the first time.

A LOCAL MINDSET

Due to the size of the US, news and education are focused more locally. Unlike in the UK, culturally similar regions are large and slowly blend into other regions.

While European countries are close together, and therefore host visitors more frequently, the vast majority of Americans are removed geographically from international borders and feel they have no need to apply for a passport - only about 22% of the American population have one. You may find that your local newspaper does not cover much in terms of global news. This is important to keep in mind when studying with or getting to know American students.

TIPPING

As you may already know, tipping is a common practice in the US. It is the general rule to tip your waiter or waitress at restaurants 15-20% on top of the price of bill, as a service charge is not usually automatically charged. Not tipping your server is considered VERY rude, and even if the service is poor, Americans will still tend to tip something (10% of the service is poor, 15% if it is good and 20% if it is excellent). In addition to servers, it is generally expected to tip other customer service providers:

●Cab drivers – 5-10%

●Bartenders – One or two dollars every time you order

●Hairdressers – 10%

●Luggage carriers at airports/hotels – 3-5 dollars. If you have lots of suitcases you

want to be a bit more generous

Please keep in mind that often a large part of these workers’ salaries are made in tips, so if they did a good job, be sure to show your appreciation.

V ALUES

Americans tend to believe that individuals control their circumstances by how much they work. This work ethic is reflected in American attitudes towards academics. Do not be surprised if you meet students who spend a vast majority of their free time studying in the library.

Americans also tend to care much more for punctuality than their UK peers. Everything from

classes to a lunch date is expected to start right on time. Along with punctuality, most of the US moves at a faster pace than in the UK. For example, dinners at a restaurant, even a sit-down restaurant, can be finished in under a half-hour. Additionally, you will not have to ask for the bill. It will be brought to you as soon as it is clear to your waiter or waitress that you are finished ordering more items.

The vast majority of Americans also tend to be more openly patriotic than Britons. Having been raised reciting the Pledge of Allegiance daily at school, many Americans are proud (at times even defensive) of their country. Just as some Americans do not appreciate sarcastic humour, they may not appreciate self-deprecating humour either. Whether it is about them or their country, Americans can have a hard time laughing at themselves.

SOCIAL CHARACTER

The American social character is characterised by individuality and self-reliance, time consciousness and direct communication. Getting a picture of American character will prepare you for communicating with Americans upon your arrival. (1350 words)

Exercise 1

Directions: After reading the text, please decide whether the following statements are True (T) or False (F).

1.The information about the cultural differences between the US and the UK is a good guide

for the international students who intend to study in America.

2.Numerous holidays in the American academic calendar provide days off from classes.

https://www.360docs.net/doc/7c6416650.html,bor Day, May 1st, is federal bank holiday where most public offices are closed.

4.The friendships you make with Americans will enhance your experience and the depth of

your exposure to US culture.

5.Generally speaking, Americans are much more open than British people, so they tend to

discuss personal thoughts and opinions that might seem private or intrusive in the UK.

6. A dry campus means there are no on-campus bars and that no alcohol is permitted on campus

grounds.

7.American humor is different from British humour, because the former is less dry or sarcastic.

8.American local newspapers cover as much global news as local news.

9.As tipping is a common practice in the US, it is very rude if you don’t tip your service

providers.

10.Like their UK peers, Americans tend to value time very much.

Exercise 2

Directions: After reading the text, please answer the following questions.

1.What is the main idea of the text?

2.Who is the target audience?

3.What topics have covered in this text?

4.What are the American values?

5.Why is it hard for Americans to laugh at themselves?

KEY & REFERENCES

I. Can You Pass a UK / US Citizenship Test?

Directions: The following two tests are designed respectively for foreigners who want to get British and American citizenship. Please have a try and see how well you do.

Can You Pass a UK Citizenship Test?

1-5 AABCB 6-10 CCAAD 11-13 CABC

Some explanations to the answers are provided below.

3. The Mappa Mundi is an ancient map of the world held at Hereford Cathedral and the Bill of

Rights came later in 1689.

4. Women over 30-years-old got the vote in 1918. Ten years later the law equalised the franchise

for all men and women over 21. In 1969 the Labour government lowered the voting age to 18.

5. The dates are 1 March (David for Wales), 17 March (Patrick for N Ireland), 23 April (George

for England) and 30 November (Andrew for Scotland)

7. This is a hotly disputed issue, not least because of the role of the Coca Cola Company in

updating the legend in the early 20th Century.

8. Manners should prevail, says the guide, saying it would be "prudent" to buy a replacement.

9. The UK introduced the 112 number to help foreign visitors who may not know that 999 is the

main emergency number.

10. It means Parental Guidance and applies to films where viewing is at the discretion of the

parent. The other classifications are U, 12, 15 and 18.

11. Dog licences were abolished in 1987, but Life in the UK says there is still an obligation for a

dog to wear a collar with the appropriate details.

Could Y ou Pass a US Citizenship Test?

KEY

1-5 BABCB 6-10 ACBAC 11-15 BABBA

16-20 DABAB 21-25 CADBB

II. British and American Culture

Exercise 1 Directions:Watch the video clip about Top 10 London Attractions, and then and

then summarize the main idea of the video clip.

Omitted.

Exercise 2 Directions:Watch the video clip about American culture, and then answer the following questions.

1.This video clip is an introductory talk about the culture and values of people in the United

States.

2.American culture is compared to a fish in a fish bowl that does not realize that it is wet. It's

surrounded by water. It doesn't recognize what "dry" is versus what "wet" is.

3.The speaker tallies up several things as a distinctive American culture.

●Americans dress in an informal way; wearing blue jeans is like the primary pants of

choice.

●The whole world was watching soccer while everybody in America's watching the Super

Bowl.

●People in other countries like negotiating prices when shopping, while Americans do less.

●Tipping is American culture.

●American like to celebrate certain holidays: Memorial Day, and Halloween, being with its

dress-up costumes, even though that didn't originate in the United States.

4.According to Dennis Prager, the values are the things that are more permanent, because they

are the things that define what Americans believe...or what it is to be an American, whereas culture is always shifting.

5.According to the speaker, values are something that is a bedrock, foundational. Values

influence our culture. But culture doesn’t influence our values. It's the other way around.

SCRIPT:

What Is American Culture?

Alright, so do you think there is such a thing as an "American" culture? You know, we see this sort of thing when you think of Japan or Korea or other countries, you can kind of identify certain characteristics that you would say, "That's Korean", or "That's Japanese", or "That's French". But when it comes to America, there's a lot of confusion on that topic.

Yeah, I think there's a distinctive American culture. But, we don't recognize it. I like to tell my students, to use the analogy, "A fish in a fish bowl does not realize that it is wet." It's surrounded by water. It doesn't recognize what "dry" is versus what "wet" is. And so we don't recognize our accents. We don't recognize our culture as compared to, maybe, something else, and... But, I do see what you mean. I know what you're driving at. America has got a cornucopia of cultures kind of mixed together in the melting pot.

All of these things we are saying are good and true, but it still kind leaves with this question, you know that...is there something that we could say is consistent? I've heard it from people in

other countries who say, you know, "Well America, I just can't figure out, what is American culture? Is it hamburgers and hot dogs?" I kind of tried to tally up a list of things. [Distinctively American things?] Yeah. [OK.] I mean, for example, the way people dress in this country. If you compare us to the way a lot of people dress on various occasions in Europe, people would say we're quite informal. I mean, wearing blue jeans is like the primary pants of choice. Things like American football, which distinguishes itself from what other people call "football" around the world, being soccer.

That's a big one, I think, [Yeah.] yes. We stick out like a sore thumb when it comes to that. We have very little attention paid to adult soccer, whereas American football there's a great deal of attention paid to that. [Enthusiasm, right.] Enthusiasm. I don't think, more so than any other country in the world...You know, baseball is celebrated in Japan even though it was invented in America. But, it's kind of like, the whole world was watching soccer while everybody in America's watching the Super Bowl.

In other countries, people do things like negotiating prices when you go to a store. Or, you know, you don't find that as commonly in America as you do in other countries. [This is true.] Or, the culture of tipping, you know, [Yes.] in a restaurant. Things like certain holidays: Memorial Day, and Halloween, being with its dress-up costumes, even though that didn't originate in the United States, it has become sort of an American phenomenon. And then, these holidays represent something distinctly American.

To sum up, I think American culture can be identified on our coin, the three expressions that are found on the back of our coin. I'm borrowing this from Dennis Prager. I'm sure you've heard this, too, right? "E Pluribus Unum", "In God We Trust", and the third one? [Liberty.] Liberty! Right!

Dennis Prager, I mean, he would probably make a clear distinction between culture and values. He would say something like, "The values are the things that are more permanent, relatively speaking, because they are the things that define what Americans, in general, believe...or what it is to be an American, whereas culture is always shifting. You know, tattoos as we noticed in the last decade or fifteen years, I guess, you see more and more and more people wearing them on all parts of the body that are exposed. And so, that would not be a value, but it would definitely be a cultural trend.

I agree. That's an important distinction, yeah. Values are something that's a bedrock, foundational.

Our values as Americans influence our culture. But I don't think culture influences our values.

I think it's the other way around.

Exercise 3 Directions: Read the text and then answer the following questions.

1. These three factors—individualism, work, and religion—are among the most important

factors that make the culture what it is today.

2. The positive side of American individualism is that people are encouraged to express

themselves in unique ways. And they are inventive and innovative.

3. For example, so many technological inventions and new ideas come from the U.S. So many

new artistic and musical movements—such as Jazz—have been born in America. And American community spirit is highly praised while they are suffering from national disasters.

4. The negative side of American individualism is that they give high priority to their personal

ambitions. This can turn in to an extreme form of selfishness, which makes good relationships almost impossible.

5. In a classic book about American culture, called Habits of the Heart, the authors say that

Americans often enter into relationships only if their own needs are met first. And if those needs aren’t satisfied, then they usually end the relationship. Perhaps this is one reason why fewer Americans are getting married.

6. Because work is a central part of an American identity. One of the first questions that

Americans ask each other when they meet is, “So, what do you do?” And because Americans work more hours and have fewer vacation days than most Europeans.

7. Because most parents struggle to balance work and family. They are always searching for

faster and more efficient ways to accomplish their work, so they can enjoy the benefits of advanced technology and computer industries have brought about. Hyper-consumerism is a case in point.

8. The individualism described above influences the way Americans express spirituality and

religion. There are so many different religious expressions in the U.S. that it can seem like a spiritual Mall of America—a religion for every taste and style.

III.Differences between the US and the UK

Exercise 1

Directions: After reading the text, please decide whether the following statements are True (T) or False (F).

1-5 FFFTT 6-10 TTFTF

Exercise 2

Directions: After reading the text, please answer the following questions.

2.The text is a brief introduction about the cultural differences between the US and the UK.

3.The information is mainly for those college students who are planning to study in America.

4.The text has covered the following eight aspects: holidays, meeting People, personal lives,

alcohol consumption, humour, a local mindset, tipping, and values.

5.What are the American values?

6.Because Americans are, in general, straightforward, frank and honest. They may not

appreciate self-deprecating humour.

More Readings

American Family Values

https://www.360docs.net/doc/7c6416650.html,/2011/07/american-family-values-british-and.html Everybody knows the clichés and stereotypes when it comes to British and American differences: Americans are individualistic, the British are old-fashioned and resistant to change, Americans don’t do international travel, the British have bad teeth, etc. and sometimes there is a degree of truth in them. But now and again you come across differences that do not feature in the clichéhandbook, which, despite being subtle, are no less powerful. One thing that is a bit of a shock to the system is that, generally speaking, there is a different concept of family in the US to the UK, which comes as a bit of a surprise, as you somehow expect that it is going to be in a similar Anglo-Saxon mould.

This is going to be a tough one to explain and put into words, but I will do my best. In general terms, the USA is much more family orientated than the UK and their family values are different. Families really are the building block of this young, immigrant country. There are lots more family-orientated things to do and members of families are more interlinked and interdependent in the US. The bonds also carry on throughout adulthood to a stronger degree.

The obvious explanation for this from a British point of view is that the family thing is there for purely practical and sociological reasons: firstly the US is more religious and traditional in some ways and the churches emphasize family values and family life, and secondly, there isn’t much of a social safety net, or government help generally, so if someone gets sick or loses their job, they are dependent on their family much more than they are in the UK. The “obvious” answer falls short, however, in my opinion and the true answer I suspect is a lot more complex and goes deeper, as many Americans relish the family structure and interdependence - in short I would say that the idea of family is a cherished part of American culture, as well as it having practical benefits.

British family values are different, I’ve realized. British culture generally places a lot more emphasis on the idea of being “emotionally independent” (rather than the “pract ical independence” promoted in American culture). In generalized terms, the Brits place more importance on individuals being able to cope emotionally on their own. It is easy to buy into the stereotype of Americans being individualistic, but in terms of families, they are certainly not, methinks – certainly if you compare them to Brits.

My wife has talked to me a bit about British culture from an American perspective. One thing that she mentioned was how alien the British public schools system seem to an American (confusingly, the term, “public school” in the UK refers to the elite fee-paying private schools), where the environment is influenced by ancient Spartan style deprivations that are meant to be character building. I did explain to my wife that in the British class system, the public school culture is a minority one and seems alien to most Brits too – as most of us are educated differently.

But her point was still valid, I realized. The public schools system is really just the extreme end of stream of thought that runs right through British culture.

I guess this is probably one reason why the Brits can seem aloof and reserved to other cultures and why Americans can seem a little schmaltzy to Brits (I probably shouldn’t mix metaphors by throwing in a Yiddish term, but there you go!).

I don’t pretend to fully understand all this to be frank. I cannot get inside an American head, at the end of the day, and most Americans have a limited experience of British culture firsthand, so they don’t necessarily know exactly where I am coming from either (my wife being an exception).

I could say that the American concept of family seems more akin to the Southern European one (e.g. Italian) than the protestant Northern European, but that wouldn’t be quite true eit her. I guess the only thing that I know for certain is that the concept of family is not quite the same here to what it is back in Blighty and that came as a slight surprise to me.

10 American Habits Brits Will Never Understand

Love Americans as we do, there are some cultural proclivities that will baffle British expats for as long as we live here.

1. Flossing

Digging sharp string between your teeth everyday is standard oral hygiene procedure in America. We know we’re supposed to do this too, but it hurts and it’s boring. Most Brits probably own a tub of floss, but only dust it off before a date or dental appointment.

2. Compulsive baking

This one I like, although I don’t get how people with children and jobs and pets find the time to whip up regular batches of themed, iced and elaborately flavored cupcakes, muffins and brownies. It’s America’s most family friendly superpower.

3. Sending personalized holiday cards

By this, I mean those creepy Christmas cards with a family portrait on the front. The children are wearing elf outfits while the parents grin unnaturally. Inside, there’s a run-down of the family’s year and, more importantly, its achievements. I’ve even heard of people inserting copies of their kids’ report cards.

4. Talking to strangers unprompted

This happens most often on public transport. I’ll be on a plane or train in the U.S., minding my own business, when someone I’ve never met will try to start a conversation. Short of pretending to be deaf and/or French, there’s nothing to be done.

5. Whooping

Americans like to let the world know that they’re having fun —or approve heartily of what’s being said or done in front of them — by contorting their vocal chords into a shape that will allow them to pump out obnoxious mouth hoots, one after another. One word: earplugs.

6. Compulsive sentimentality

Gushing public displays are usually meant well but give Brits the creeps. For instance, my husband and I recently checked out of a B&B after a two-night stay. Instead of bidding us farewell with a firm handshake and a receipt, the owner – a man in his 50s –latched on to me, then my man, for a prolonged hug. Just when we thought it was over, he announced, “I’ll miss you guys!” No, actually. You won’t.

7. Drinking milk

Moo juice is meant for putting on cereal, adding to pancake batter and pouring in tea. Americans must have missed the memo because they drink the stuff neat. To me, this is only slightly less absurd than eating a plate of salt and pepper for dinner.

8. Ordering supersize portions

In American cinemas, patrons load up with pails of soda so vast they require their own seat. They must have bladders the size of hot air balloons. Plates of food, meanwhile, more closely resemble those guilt-inducing, this-is-what-you-eat-in-a-week spreads laid out by TV diet gurus than a single course of a single meal meant for one person.

9. Taking home leftovers

Thanks to the previous point, doggy bags have long been part of American restaurant culture.

I can’t quite bring myself to make off with my unfinished fare. It feels… icky. Plus, I’ve usually overeaten, and I’m convinced I’ll never want to look at food again. Naturally, I regret this decision in the morning.

10. Eating breakfast together

You know in films featuring perfect American families there’s always a scene whe re an implausibly jolly parent makes the kids pancakes in the shape of dinosaurs, then the entire household sits down to a sumptuous spread. Well, I am reliably informed that this kind of thing actually happens here. Breakfast is something Brits have if th ey’re hung over or if the hotel they’re staying in provides it. We’d never be so eccentric as to sit down and eat it at the same time — and in the same location — as our loved ones.

See also:

10 British Habits Americans Will Never Understand

10 Things Americans Do That Drive British People Nuts

10 Things Brits Do That Drive Americans Nuts

Five American Things Brits Have Never Found Cool