social custom

高中英语读写校本课程----“英语美文阅读与欣赏”ContentsPart I Myths and Tales神话传说Lesson 1 The Little Match Girl (2)Lesson 2 The Pied Piper of Hamelin (8)Lesson 3 Pangu Separates Sky fro m Earth (15)PartⅡFigure stories人物故事Lesson 1自由斗士曼德拉 (17)Lesson 2 Pop Star and Songwriter: Han Hong (20)Lesson 3 Louis Armstrong (24)Part ⅢSocial customs社会风情Lesson 1 The Origin of Kiss (27)Lesson 2 International Left-hander’s Day (31)Lesson 3 Make Sports a Kind of Culture (34)Part ⅣLife attitudes and ambitions人生态度与理想Lesson 1 You Are the World (39)Lesson 2 Facing Life Positively (44)Lesson 3 Honesty (49)PartⅤ History and Culture历史文化Lesson 1 Studying difference (52)Lesson 2 Spring Festival’s Symbols (56)Lesson 3 Cleopatra, Queen (60)PartⅥScience and Economy科学与经济Lesson 1 Greenhouse Effect Occurred 5,000 Years Ago (63)Lesson 2 China’s New “Four Great Inventions” (69)Lesson 3 China’s launching plans for Shenzhou 7 (73)Part I Myths and Tales神话传说Lesson 1 The Little Match Girl卖火柴的小女孩Once upon a time, a little girl tried to make a living by selling matches in the street.It was New Year’s Eve and the snow clad streets were deserted. From brightly lit windows came the tinkle (发出清脆的声响)of laughter and the sound of singing. People were getting ready to bring in the New Year. But the poor little match seller sat sadly beside the fountain. Her ragged dress and worn scarf did not keep out the cold and she tried to keep her bare feet from touching the frozen ground. She hadn’t sold one box of matches all day and she was frightened to go home, for her father would certainly be angry. It wouldn’t be much warmer anyway, in the draughty attic (阁楼) that was her home. The little girl’s fingers were frozen with cold. If only she could light a match! But what would her father say at such a waste! Falteringly (迟疑地)she took out a match and lit it. What anice warm flame! The little match seller cupped her hand over it, and as she did so, she magically saw in its light a big brightly burning stove.She held out her hands to the heat, but just then the match went out and the vision faded. The night seemed blacker than before and it was getting colder. A shiver (寒噤) ran through the little girl’s thin body. After hesitating for a long time, she struck another match on the wall, and this time, the glimmer turned the wall into a great sheet of crystal. Beyond that stood a fine table laden with food and lit by a candlestick. Holding out her arms towards the plates, the little match seller seemed to pass through the glass, but then the match went out and the magic faded. Poor thing: in just a few seconds she had caught a glimpse of everything that life had denied her: warmth and good things to eat. Her eyes were filled with tears and she lifted her gaze to the lit windows, praying that she too might know a little of such happiness.She lit the third match and an even more wonderful thing happened. There stood a Christmas tree hung with hundreds of candles, glittering (闪烁) with tinsel (金属箔) and colored balls. “Oh. How lovely!” shouted the little match seller, holding up the match. Then, the match burned her finger and went out. The light from the Christmas candles rose higher and higher, then one of the lights fell, leaving a trail behind it. “Someone is dying,” murmured the little girl, as s he remembered her beloved Granny who used to say: “When a star falls, a heart stops beating!”Scarcely aware of what she was doing, the little match seller lit another match. This time, she saw her grandmother.“Granny, stay with me!” she pleaded, as she lit one match after the other, so that her grandmother could not disappear like all the other visions. However, Granny did not disappear but gazed smilingly at her. Then she opened her arms and the little girl hugged her crying: “Granny, take me away with you!”A cold day dawned and a pale sun shone on the fountain and the icy road. Close by lay the lifeless body of a little girl surrounded by spent matches.“Poor little thing!” exclaimed the passers-by. “She was trying to keep warm!”But by that time, the little match seller was far away where there is neither cold, hunger nor pain.I Aims and Demands（教学目的和要求）To learn a story about the little match girl written by Anderson.ⅡKey Points and Special Difficulties（重点和难点）Key points: to grasp some useful words and expressionsdeserted, fade, strike, hesitate, deny, exclaim, glimpse, aware, be frozen with, go out, strike a match, catch a glimpse ofSpecial difficulties:1) to learn Inversion.2) to learn v-ed phrases used as modifiersⅢTeaching Aids and Approaches（教具及教学方法）Multi-media, Task-based approach and the integrated approachⅣBrief Teaching Procedures（教学过程）Step1 Background information（背景知识）Do you know about the great tale writer Anderson?Can you list some of his masterpieces?Step2 Fast reading（快速阅读）Read the passage quickly and answer（快速阅读并回答下列问题）:1) Why didn’t the little girl strike a match to keep herself warm?2) What did the little girl see when the last vision appeared?Keys（参考答案）:1) She was afraid that her father would be angry.2) She saw her beloved grandmother who had died.Step3 Careful reading（细读）1. What visions did the little match seller see? What did they mean to her?(a big brightly burning stove→warmth; a fine table laden with food→good things to eat; a Christmas tree hung with candles→joy and happiness; her grandmother→love and care)2. Translate the following sentences and pay attention to the underlined parts.1) From brightly lit windows came the tinkle of laughter and the sound of singing.2) Her ragged dress and worn scarf did not keep out the cold and she tried to keep her bare feet from touching the frozen ground.3) Beyond that stood a fine table laden with food and lit by a candlestick.4) Her eyes were filled with tears and she lifted her gaze to the lit windows, praying that she too might know a little of such happiness.5) There stood a Christmas tree hung with hundreds of candles, glittering with tinsel and colored balls.6) Close by lay the lifeless body of a little girl surrounded by spent matches.7) If only she could light a match!8) A cold day dawned and a pale sun shone on the fountain and the icy road.9) But by that time, the little match seller was far away where there is neither cold, hunger nor pain.What characteristics do the underlined parts have? What function? (They are all v-ed phrases, which are used as modifiers.)Step4 Key patterns(主要句型)Analyze the sentence below:From brightly lit windows came the tinkle of laughter and the sound of singing.This is an inverted sentence. The subject of the sentence is “the tinkle of laughter and the sound of singing”, and “came” functions as the predicate. Find out more similar sentence structures in the passage.(Beyond that stood a fine table laden with food and lit by a candlestick. There stood a Christmas tree hung with hundreds of candles…Close by lay the lifeless body of a little girl surrounded by spent matches.)Step5 Homework（作业）Rewrite the story. (With about 200 words.)Step6 Assessment（评价）Words and expressions（词和短语）1. deserted adj.冷清清的2. draughty adj. 漏风的3. vision n.景象4. fade v .消逝，消失5. strike vt. 擦（火柴）；击打6. hesitate v. 迟疑，犹豫7. glimpse n .v. 一瞥8. deny v.否定，否认9. pray v. n. 祈祷10. aware adj.意识到，觉察11. exclaim v.呼喊，惊叫Lesson 2 The Pied Piper of Hamelin哈米伦的吹笛人The piperThey came from the hillsAnd they came from the valleys and the plains They struggled in the coldIn the heat and the snow and in the rain Came to hear him play Play their minds away*We're all following a strange melody We're all summoned by a tune We're following the piperAnd we dance beneath the moon We're following the piperAnd we dance beneath the moon for him And we dance beneath the moonThey came from the southFrom the west and the north and from the east They waited for the manLike a parish is waiting for the priest Longed to hear him play Play their minds awayHe gave them a dreamHe seduced everybody in the land The fire in his eyes吹笛人 阿巴合唱团他们来自山坡来自山谷，来自平原 他们在寒冷中挣扎 在酷热、冰雪、大雨中挣扎 只为了听他的演奏 来使他们丧失理智我们都跟随着一段诡异的旋律 我们都受某种音调的召唤 我们都追随着吹笛人 在月光下起舞 我们都追随着吹笛人 在月光下为他起舞 在月光下起舞他们从南方来从西方、北方、东方前来 他们都在等他 像信徒们等待着牧师 等着听他演奏 来使他们丧失理智他给了人们一个梦境 他诱惑着每一个人 他的眼里有火在烧And the fear was a weapon in his hand So they let him playPlay their minds away 恐惧便是他手里的武器于是，人们任他吹奏来使他们丧失理智这首歌的故事背景取材自《格林童话》里的＜哈米伦的吹笛人＞。

文章标题：An Insight into American Customs and TraditionsAmerica, a land of diverse cultures and rich histories, is renowned for its unique customs and traditions that have been passed down through generations. From the festive celebrations to the daily routines, these practices reflect the spirit and values of the American people. In this essay, we delve deeper into some of the most noteworthy American customs and traditions.First and foremost, one cannot overlook thesignificance of Thanksgiving in American culture. This annual holiday, celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November, is a time for families and friends to gather and give thanks for the bounty of the past year. It is customary to feast on a sumptuous meal, typically including turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. This tradition dates back to the 17th century, when the Pilgrims celebrated their first successful harvest in the New World.Another iconic American custom is the Independence Day celebration on July 4th. This national holiday marks the anniversary of the United States' Declaration of Independence from Great Britain in 1776. On this day, Americans across the country host backyard barbecues, watch fireworks displays, and participate in parades to commemorate their freedom and patriotism.Christmas, the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, is also a major holiday in America. It is a time forfamilies to come together, exchange gifts, and decoratetheir homes with lights and Christmas trees. Thetraditional Christmas dinner often includes dishes like ham, turkey, and various pies. Children eagerly await thearrival of Santa Claus, who they believe delivers presentsto well-behaved kids on Christmas Eve.In addition to these major holidays, Americans also observe several other customs and traditions that areunique to their culture. For instance, baseball is considered the national pastime in America, and attending a baseball game is a popular pastime for many Americans. Thesport has a rich history in the country and is often associated with summer afternoons and family fun.Moreover, the American workplace culture is also distinctive. Americans value punctuality and efficiency, and it is customary to dress professionally for work, even in industries that are not traditionally considered formal. Meetings are often structured and focused, with clear agendas and expectations.In terms of social customs, Americans tend to be informal and direct in their interactions. They value honesty and openness in communication and often use first names even in professional settings. Small talk and pleasantries are common, especially when meeting new people or making introductions.The American dining culture is also noteworthy. Mealtimes are often social occasions where families and friends gather to share food and conversation. It is customary to tip waiters and other service staff in restaurants, as a token of appreciation for their service. In conclusion, American customs and traditions are diverse and vibrant, reflecting the rich tapestry of thecountry's history and culture. From festive holidays todaily routines, these practices bind the American people together and shape their unique identity. Understanding and appreciating these customs can provide a deeper insightinto the spirit and values of the American nation.**文章标题**：美国风俗习惯的深度解读美国，一个文化多元、历史丰富的国家，以其独特的风俗习惯而闻名。

Chinese Social Interaction Customs PartⅠ：IntroductionPartⅡ：General Sketch about Social Customs1. Definition2. Importance3. DifferenceA: The difference in gratitude and thanksB: The difference in invitationC: The difference in telephone etiquetteD: The difference in hospitalityPart Ⅲ: ConclusionIntroduction: One might also say they are rules that define the behavior that is expected, required, or acceptable in particular circumstances. They are learned by interacting in society. Even though what members of a particular culture value and how they perceive the universe explain a lot why people behave the way they do, we shouldn’t try to connect every human behavior with a certain value.Thinking is greatly influenced by culture and other elements. China and The United States show us great differences in terms of thinking pattern, which results in their different ways of dealing with problems. The thinking patterns of the different peoples in different nations are quite different as well. While different thinking patterns are bound to causedifferences in the way that people view things and cope with things. For example, Chinese thinking pattern is figurative, intuitive and synthetic while the American one is individual, abstract and unique. Chinese dialectical thinking was well interpreted by the “Golden Mean”, which tends to seek compromise and balance. However, the American thinking reflects their innovation, tending to explore the nature of things.Due to the differences of political system, cultural background and the way of being educated, there is great difference between China and the US in custom. This difference is shaped during a long-term history, some of which is deep-rooted, though it didn’t follow the rule of law, it restricts people’ sp eech and action in certain areas.Definition: A social custom is an act whose utility to the agent performing it in some way depends on the beliefs or actions of other members of the community. Social customs are very important part of culture. No communication is done without involving some custom rules, explicit or implicit. Social customs also are closely related to the deep structure of a culture that determines how a person responds to events and other people.Great changes have brought about the “shrinkage” of the earth in effect which, as the Canadian writer Marshall McLuhan rightly proposed in the 1960s, has become a “Global V illage”. This miracle is mainly attributed to the amazing development of science and technology intransportation and communication systems. However, People live in different world sometimes can hardly communicate with each other because of different social customs. So learn some principle of different social customs is a necessary for us. Before really get to it, we need to know the importance of understanding foreign customs. Importance: Social customs are very important part of culture, and communication with others as well, especially with people from distinct cultural background.Social customs are an important key to u nderstanding a country’s culture. Knowledge and practice of these customs can spell the difference between a beautiful experience and being branded a rude guest. Difference in social customs can cause misunderstanding, unsatisfactory interaction and even unpleasant physical reaction. It is a common thing for a foreigner to get confused by the local social custom. To learn a foreign language is not enough to men to really understand a country’s conventions and customs.Both Chinese custom and American customs are essential for their peoples, and for those who want to have a better understanding of their cultures as well.To know the exact distinction between Chinese culture and American culture, men should learn it from the very basic part. That is to say: the etiquettes in daily life.Difference: Chinese people differ from the people in western countries in the aspect of gratitude and thanks. In China, we often thank our teacher for his or her help in our study, but we never do so to our parents. In our mind, we are used to taking it for granted that people who are very close to us do for us, such as our families. When we are old, it’s our children’s duty to take care of us. We don’t have to say thanks. In our traditional customs, there is no need to express thanks for the small favors that others have done for us. We usually tend to repeat the terms of thanks many times to show our courtesy and heartfelt thanks especially to those whom we are not familiar with and for what we think are important favors. But in western cultures, it is very common to say “thank you” to others, even between parents and children, husband and wife and for every small and most ordinary thing, such as the teacher will thank the student’s answer to his or her question. They think tha t there is no one having the responsibility to do things for them. So, whoever they receive help from, they have to say “thank you” to express their gratitude. So they thank people all day long. This is quite different from us. We always think too much tha nks will make the “thanks” priceless, so that we just say it in important occasions. However, in the western cultures, it is quite necessary to say “thanks” to e xpress their gratitude. Because, in their eyes, help should be respected no matter it is big or small.When it comes to invitation, the differences are quite apparentbetween china and western countries. In western countries, the invitations with no specific time and place, such as let’s get together soon, are just expressions of goodwill rather than genuine invitations. But we Chinese always mean what we say. If we say “let’s get together soon” to others, it’s the true invitation. When we send an invitation, we most likely to say something like: Do come. Please do come…While the Americans who value individual freedom a lot hate to impose anything on others, which they don’t like themselves. There are always different opinions on who should pay the bill. In western countries, they agree on go Dutch. But in china, it’s normal for inviter to pay the bil l. Also a common point exists in both cultures. If anything happens that prevents you from the accepted invitation, you’d better let the host know.Today, with the popularity of telephone and other communication means, more and more Chinese are making appointments before visiting others. Yet there are still unannounced visits. We usually consider an unannounced visit as a surprise to host to indicate the deep relationship between us, and the hosts are usually very happy. But in America, whatever the visit it is, it should be arranged by appointment. This is the courtesy to be observed. Take the visit in hospital for instance. When we in hospital, unannounced visits make us know that others care about us. If no one around us makes any visits, we may take it a sign of our unpopularity. We are generally group-oriented. However, in America,visitor access to hospital patients is tightly controlled by hospitals. The number of visitors and time of visits is regulated to ensure that the patient can rest and recuperate. This may because Americans who believe in individualism tend to be private about their personal lives.From our perspective, hospitality is always behind the way we treat our guests. We usually prepare a lot of food, quite more than enough, when entertaining guests, even though it means that we have to tighten our budge on food in the next few days. It is normally the elderly man who get the first service, because in our view, it is the elder or the superior who is supposed to get special respect. During the course of entertaining, we have to usually pour more wine or tea to our guest’s glass or cup, and add more food to the guest’s plate or bowl without asking whether it’s wanted or even facing refusal. In the west, the dinner they give is much simpler: first, running water, then some thick liquid (soup), followed by raw vegetables (salad) and a piece of meat, finally some fruit or ice-cream. It is likely the young lady who is first served because of their “ladies first “tradition. And it is also impolite for the host to offering something again and again or pressing something on guest. What’s more, in the west for invitations to any meal taking place in the evening, ranging from those given at someone’s house through to dining out together or attending formal banquets, both husband and wife will be included. But in our country, it is quite common for only the husband orwife to be invited to a meal and neither of us will feel offended if one of us is not invited.Conclusion：With the strengthening of globalization, we have to adapt to this trend to learn as many countries’ cultural and social customs of understanding and learning as possible. On the other hand, Social custom is very precious spiritual wealth, but also it has intellectual resources which are very essential to our higher education and educational resources. There are certainly many other different social customs between Americans and Chinese to which we should pay much attention in the study of the English language. Only those who have an awareness of the culture of another nation can have a better command of its language.There is a saying “When in Rome, Do as the Romans Do”, if we had a better understanding of this proverb and obeyed it strictly, we will adapt ourselves to the environment in which we are. Afterwards, we could truly learn more about culture of the place where we want to visit, also could develop our knowledge in some periods. A brilliant man should be a man who not only acquire much knowledge from textbooks, but also can know a mount of extracurricular things. So let go, go to know more social customs about other countries, we can be an Authentic local some day.。

美国的社会习俗英文作文American Social CustomsAmerica, a melting pot of cultures, boasts a unique set of social customs that shape its societal fabric. From greetings to dining habits, each aspect reflects the country's diverse history and values.GreetingsIn America, greetings are often informal yet warm. People often greet each other with a handshake, a smile, and a casual "Hello" or "How are you?" This casualness extends to formal settings as well, where a firm handshake and a polite introduction are the norm. However, in some regions, like the Deep South, a more elaborate greeting, such as a hug or a kiss on the cheek, may be customary among close friends or relatives.Dining HabitsAmerican dining customs are often casual and informal. Meals are typically eaten at a table, with each person having their own plate, cup, and utensils. The custom of tipping servers, usually 15-20% of the bill, iswidespread, reflecting the importance of service in the dining experience. Shared dishes and family-style dining are also common, especially in casual settings.Etiquette in PublicIn public spaces, Americans value politeness and respect for others. Queuing is strictly observed, and cutting in line is considered rude. Conversations in public places are kept at a reasonable volume to avoid disturbing others. Additionally, personal space is respected, and people tend to maintain a certain distance from strangers.Holidays and CelebrationsHolidays and celebrations are a significant part of American culture. From Thanksgiving to Christmas, families gather to share meals, exchange gifts, and create lasting memories. Other celebrations, like Independence Day and Memorial Day, are marked with parades, fireworks, and a sense of national pride.ConclusionIn conclusion, American social customs are a reflection of the country's diverse history, values, and way of life. From informal greetings to family-style dining, these customs contribute to the unique fabric of American society. Understanding and respecting these customs is essential for anyone wishing to immerse themselves in the American culture.翻译：美国的社会习俗美国，作为一个文化的熔炉，拥有一套独特的社会习俗，这些习俗构成了其社会的结构。