American custom

America is well-known for its equality, liberty, fraternity. Everyone is very friendly and informal. Children often call their parents by their first names and at work, subordinates do not normally use "Mister" when addressing their supervisors. To those visitors who come from a more rigid and stratified society, such casualness can be confusing, leading to egregious blunders. Conversely, many worldly, sophisticated Americans appear mortified because they feel America is not "civilized," with a capital "C." However, we know of terribly embarrassing incidents from mistakes which only an innocent foreigner would have made.

Public displays of affection between the sexes are very common, unlike perhaps where you have come from. In many cities, especially San Francisco, homosexuality is an accepted way of life. You may therefore see men being affectionate with men and women with women. If you disapprove of homosexuals because of your religious or cultural beliefs, please keep it to yourself. You might even find yourself a guest in a gay person's home-and might become shocked to realize that your host is a normal human being like any other and that you are actually enjoying his hospitality. Many couples also live together without being married-and may never marry. But you must realize their bond is probably as strong as the bond of marriage. So don't think one of them is available for a "date."

 America is a notoriously "open" society, and to most foreigners Americans often appear exceptionally and "instantly" friendly. But sometimes such openness can lead to serious misunderstanding, especially between men and women. A casual invitation to have drinks and/or dinner does not mean that your American host also wants to become "intimate" with you afterwards. So be careful not to read too much into a friendly invitation

QUESTIONS

1.             Match the following words to the suitable definition or synonym (2 points).

Host : Person who receives other people at home as guests

Blunder : Stupid careless mistake

Bond: State of being joined or together

Misunderstanding: Failure to understand rightly or correctly

 

2.             Answer the following questions according to the text (2 points).

a.    How do homosexuals behave in San Francisco ?

Answer : In San Francisco, homosexuality is an accepted way of life. Public displays of affection between the sexes are very common

 

b.    Do all couples marry? Give a reason for your answer.

Answer : No. Many couples also live together without being married-and may never marry. But their bond is probably as strong as the bond of marriage. So don't think one of them is available for a "date."

 

c.    What evidence can you find in the text showing that Americans are casual people?

Answer : America is a notoriously "open" society, and to most foreigners Americans often appear exceptionally and "instantly" friendly. Everyone is very friendly and informal.

d.   Why can openness lead to misunderstanding in America?

Answer: because, America is a notoriously “open” society, and to most foreigners Americans often appear exceptionally and “instantly” friendly. So that, sometimes such openness can lead to serious misundering, especially between men an women.

 

 

3.      Fill in the blanks with the Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect Continuous form of the verbs in Brackets (1.5 points).

a. He (drink) _________________________ heavily lately.

b. He (not drink) _________________________ any alcohol for years.

c. Mrs. Harris (work) _________________________ hard all her life.

d. I see you (work) _________________________ overtime during this last week.

e. He (make) _________________________ a documentary in Somalia for over a month 

Answer:

a.       Has drunk

b.      has not drunk

c.       has worked

d.      have worked

e.       has made

 

4.   Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning of the original sentence

a. He has drunk heavily lately

b. He has not drunk  any alcohol for years.

c. Mrs. Harris has worked hard all her life

d. I see you have worked overtime during this last week

e. He has made a documentary in Somalia for over a month

 

5.    Composition. Write 80 words about American habits (3 points).

Answer :

The United State guarantees freedom and equality. Many Americans drink alcohol with their friends or family. US people will occasionally eat with their left hand, which is very common for Asian people. US people always exercise in the morning by jogging with their family. Not only that, In the United States, the front passenger seat of a taxi is typically regarded as the driver's domain, a safe place to store their possessions far from passengers' prying eyes

 

 

Children for whom school has no point

Many children do not go to school either because their parents want them at home as carers for siblings, or simply because their parents cannot be bothered to send them. Thousands more are not registered at any school at all, because of their families' unstable lives.

Underlying  this  dreadful  situation  there  are  two  central  truths.  First  of  all,  the problem of children not going to school often has more to do with their parents than with the children themselves. Secondly, once children go to school, we need to make sure that the experience is a positive one so that they want to keep on going.

 

In Britain, the Ministry of Education has introduced a complex package of sticks and carrots to persuade schools to bring truants' and excluded children back into the classroom. It is paying grants so that a thousand schools can set up special units to help these children. Schools receive the grant if they bring a target number of children back to school; if they do not meet the target, the grant is withdrawn. Parents are the subject of this campaign, too: the Home Office has introduced fines for parents who fail to send their children to school, and has given the police power to pick up truants on the streets.

'truant = a child who does not go to school when he or she should.

1. Answer the following questions using your words. (2 points: 1 point each)

a) Why do many parents not send their children to school?

Answer :

Because their parents want them at home to care for the siblings, or just because their parents don't bother sending them to school and economic limitations to send their children to school

b) How are the authorities trying to solve this problem?

Answer :

The authorities trying to solve this problem is the home office has introduce fines for parents who fail to send their children to school, and has given the police power to pick up truants on the streets.

                                     

2. Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? (1 point: 0.5 each)

a) The problem of truancy is mainly a matter of obedience.

Answer: True (T)

 

b) it is very hard to persuade children that if they go to school, they will be able to get a job.

Answer: False (F)

 

3. Find a word or phrase in the text which, in context, is similar in meaning to: (1 poit : 0.5 each)

A) someone who looks after a relative at home

answer: Their parents want them at home as carers for siblings

B) turbulent

answer: The number of students who do not go to school for various reasons

 

4. Choose, a, b, or c, in each question below. Only one choice is correct. (2 points:

0.5 each)

1. According to the text, there are thousands of children who ...

a) stay at home doing the housework. b) live in stable families_

c) are not registered at any school.

Answer: C. Are not registered at any school

2. Part of the problem is ...

a) that people feel very emotional.

b) that there are not enough police to pick up truants on the streets.

c) that these children think education is a waste of time.

Answer: B. That there are not enough police to pick up truants on the streets.

3. The Ministry of Education will take away a school's grant if ...

a) they do not reach their objectives. b) they meet their targets.

c) children escape from school.

Answer: C. Children escape from school

4. The Home Office ...

a) will give money to parents to send children to school.

b) will punish parents who fail to send their children to school. c) has given powers to the police to pick up parents.

Answer: B. Will punish parents who fail to send their children to school

 

5. Composition (100-150 words approximately). Choose one of the following topics. (4 points)

Education is important. Explain why?

Answer :

Education is something that must be obtained for all living things, education has existed since humans were in the womb.  An education does not have to be in school, but education can be found anywhere. Education is the main thing for humans to become fully human. Based on the Big Indonesian Dictionary  The definition of education is a learning process for each individual to achieve higher knowledge and understanding of certain and specific objects. This formally acquired knowledge results in each individual having a pattern of thought, behavior and morals in accordance with the education he received. When humans have education they will know how to deal with life, the noble way of behaving, talking, behaving towards other people are all arranged to create a harmonious and peaceful atmosphere. The fruit of education makes human life calmer and more peaceful, therefore education is very important for humans.