She tries hard to promote the paper-cutting art in China and also the world. 3) What does Liu Ren do to pass on the art of paper-cutting?
In order to pass on this art form, she teaches people who really love the art of Chinese paper-cutting, and she doesn’t charge them any tuition. 4) Where does Liu Ren’s student come from? America.
5) What is Liu Ren’s dream?
Her dream is to set up one or two paper-cutting museums in other countries.
Exercise 2 Watching for Specific Information
Students are asked to watch the video clip again and fill in the blanks with the missing information.
I like doing 1) freehand paper-cutting. Ideally you shouldn’t draw a design on the paper and then cut it out. The best part about paper-cutting is you, the paper and 2) scissors working together. In 1993, I was invited to 3) exhibit Chinese paper-cutting to other countries. I hope to build more 4) recognition for Chinese folk paper-cutting. In order to pass on this art form, I teach people who really love the art of Chinese paper-cutting, and I don’t 5) charge them any tuition. Last year, I had an American student who was studying Chinese 6) culture at a UK university. He came to China to write his 7) thesis. I gave him some lessons on Chinese paper-cutting. After he went back to continue his studies, he entered a logo design 8) competition in his university. He created a logo by doing a paper-cutting and he won the top prize! The young student was so excited and he told me that his college friends all wanted to learn more about Chinese paper-cutting and even about me. The art form is warmly welcomed in the UK. My dream is to set up one or two paper-cutting museums in other countries. When I was young, I made 9) butterflies in different art forms. I think everyone is born with 10) artistic talent.
Part II Listening Activities
In this part, you will have 3 listening tasks to accomplish.
Task 1
In task 1, students will listen to a passage about national symbols and then do the exercises as required. Before listening, they are supposed to read the words, expressions and cultural notes related to the passage.
Transcript
National Symbols
6 / 15
When many people in the west think of China, the animal that they think of is the dragon. For them, the dragon is an aggressive monster that breathes fire. Many popular legends tell of how dragons killed brave knights and ate beautiful maidens.
For Chinese people however, the dragon is not an evil monster. It’s a cultural and spiritual symbol for prosperity and good luck. The dragon’s main task is to create harmony and bring rain. Dragons are celebrated in art and architecture, and of course the dragon dance is a very popular ritual. Millions of Chinese have the word “long”, meaning dragon, as part of their names.
China isn’t the only country to have the dragon as its symbol. Wales, one of the four countries in the UK, has a red dragon proudly displayed on its flag. The only other country in the world with a dragon on its flag is Bhutan, the tiny country between China and India.
Almost all countries in the world have an animal symbol to represent their country, and it is particularly obvious during sports. The English see lions as brave, proud animals and the England football team have three lions on the front of their football shirts.
Australia is famous for kangaroos, of course. The national rugby team is more commonly known as the Wallabies, a kind of small kangaroo. Similarly, the South African team are known as the Springboks, a type of African antelope, and the New Zealanders, whether playing sports or not, are commonly known as Kiwis. A kiwi is a native New Zealand bird that can’t fly.
All countries are proud of their symbols, which they feel reflect national characteristics or the beauty and variety of their natural environments. Recently, a Shanghai professor claimed that using the dragon as a national symbol could make western countries have a negative view of China. But in an internet survey 90% of Chinese people wanted to keep the dragon, and as we are all familiar with that Chinese symbol, people in the west would no doubt want China to keep the dragon too.
Key to Exercises
Exercise 1 Making a Sound Judgment
Students are asked to listen to the passage and decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F).
F 1) People in the west have the same ideas about dragons as people in China. F 2) In China, dragons bring bad luck.
T 3) Only two countries in the world have a dragon on their flag.
T 4) The England football team have three lions on the front of their football shirts. T 5) Many Chinese people want to keep the dragon as a symbol of China.
Exercise 2 Listening for Specific Information
Students are asked to listen to the passage again and fill in the blanks with the missing information.
7 / 15
When many people in the west 1) think of China, the animal that they think of is the 2) dragon . For them, the dragon is an 3) aggressive monster that 4) breathes fire. Many popular 5) legends tell of how dragons killed brave knights and ate beautiful maidens.
For Chinese people, however, the dragon is not an evil monster. It’s a cultural and 6) spiritual symbol for 7) prosperity and good luck. The dragon’s main task is to create 8) harmony and bring rain. Dragons are celebrated in art and 9) architecture, and of course the dragon dance is a very popular 10) ritual. Millions of Chinese have the word ‘long’, meaning dragon, as part of their name.
Exercise 3 Essay Writing
China, as one of the oldest countries in the world, does not only have the dragon as her symbol, but also a lot of others, which keep distinctive ancient Chinese features. Now students are asked to write an essay entitled Chinese Symbols with no less than 160 words to introduce other distinctive symbols of China.
Sample
Chinese Symbols
It is known to all that national symbols are heavily culture-oriented. With the world’s longest continuous civilization, for more than 40 centuries, its people created a culture with strong philosophies, traditions and values. Thus, the national symbols for china are numerous and distinctive.
The first to mention is, the Great Wall, which is one of the symbols of China and one of the seven wonders in the world. In the imperial periods, this magnificent construction was used in the defense of enemies. Sublime as it is, the Great wall is the only construction on earth that can be seen from the outer space.
When many people in the west think of China, the animal that they may think of is the Giant Panda, which is the national animal of China. Giant Panda is one of the most precious animals in the world. It is easily known by its large, distinctive black patches around the ears, and on its rotund body.
Terracotta-clay warriors, which unearthed in Xi’an, is another symbol to represent Chinese long history. It is a famous ancient city, which was sculptured in Qin Dynasty, the first dynasty of China.
As one of the cradles of human civilization, China possesses so many treasures with distinctive characteristics. The above mentioned are just a drop of water into the sea and a grave stone in comparison of the sand.
Task 2
In task 2, students will listen to a dialogue about culture shock and then do the exercises as required. Before listening, they are supposed to read the words, expressions and cultural note
8 / 15
related to the dialogue.
Transcript
Culture Shock
(Terry Joyce talks about her experience of living and working in England, where she has been for the past eleven years.)
Interviewer: So, Terry. You have been in England for quite a long time now. Terry: Mmm.
Interviewer: What differences do you notice between England and the United States?
Terry: Obviously the biggest difference is the people. The average Englishman is…mmm…cold
and not very open. Interviewer: Oh.
Terry: In the United States it’s very different. We start conversations with people in the street, in
the subway; we’re a lot more outgoing than people here. You know, when I first came, I couldn’t understand why I was getting so little reaction from people, but now I see that they thought I was overpowering and too friendly too soon.
Interviewer: But, tell me: Does the Englishman improves as you get to know him? Terry: Oh, yes.
Interviewer: Oh, good.
Terry: Once you have made a friend, it’s a friend for life, but it takes a very long time. I’ll tell you
something that I think is very important. An Englishman in America is respected. Everyone wants to talk to him. We’re inquisitive. We love his accent and his country. But Americans in England are thought to be a little inferior because of their loud behavior and their language. One thing I’ve learned is that English people like a certain distance. When I was talking to someone, he would move away, you know, move backwards, and I thought. “Do I smell? Am I boring him?” The reason is, you see, Americans stand closer when they’re talking while English people like a certain distance.
Key to Exercises
Exercise 1 Making a Sound Judgment
Students are asked to listen to the dialogue and decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F).
F 1) The biggest difference the interviewee notices between England and America is the accent. T 2) When the interviewee first went to England, she got little reaction from the people there. T 3) Friendship with an Englishman lasts longer than that with an American.
F 4) When the interviewee talked with the English people, they usually moved backwards
because of her bad smell.
9 / 15
T 5) According to the dialogue, Americans in England are thought to be a little inferior because
of their loud behavior and their language.
Exercise 2 Listening for Specific Information
Students are asked to listen to the dialogue again and fill in the blanks with the missing information.
1) English people, in general, are cold and not very open. Compared with the English people, Americans are more outgoing. 2) When the interviewee first went to England, she was considered overpowering and too friendly too soon.
3) It takes a long time to make friends with the English people. But once a friend is made, it is a friend for life. 4) The Americans like to talk with an Englishman because they love his accent and his country, while Americans in England are considered inferior because of their loud behavior and their language.
5) When talking with each other, Americans stand closer while English people like a certain distance.
Exercise 3 Topic Research
After listening to the dialogue, we know that culture differences may cause the anxiety or feelings of surprise, disorientation, uncertainty, confusion, etc., especially when in a foreign country. This kind of anxiety or feeling is called culture shock. Do you know how to cope with culture shock in order to enjoy a happy time in a foreign country? Try to research into this topic and present your ideas to the class.
Reference for the Presentation
Culture shock happens to those who leave home and live in an alien country. It is possible to shorten the duration of culture shock or minimize its impact. Here are three suggestions they offer to anyone planning a stay in a foreign land.
Firstly, we should be aware that such a thing as culture shock exists. It will affect those who come to a foreign land for the first time, however, it doesn’t last forever.
Next, we should know that we are responsible for our salvation, not the surrounding or the foreign culture.
Thirdly, try to accept the idea that culture shock is a very valuable experience, which may be a little bit painful. It will stretch your mind, broaden your perspectives, deepen your insight into yourself and widen your tolerance for other people.
Additional Listening
10 / 15
新英语视听说教程Unit+1原文及答案
