Unit 2 Giving Thanks and Expressing Regrets

Session 2 Section III Maintaining a Sharp Eye Passage I

Different Attitudes to Gift -Giving Passage I Different Attitudes to Gift -Giving

Warm-up questions 1. When do Chinese usually give gifts to others?

Warm-up questions 2. What do you know about the American people’s habits of gift-giving?

Different Attitudes to Gift-Giving Reading of the passage Different Attitudes to Gift-Giving passage

Reading comprehension 1. What can we learn from the first paragraph?

Reading comprehension 2. To whom do Japanese people usually send their gifts?

Reading comprehension 3. What do American people value more when they receive a gift?

Reading comprehension Summarize the different attitudes held by Japanese and Americans towards gift-giving by completing the table below.

Country Gift-giving Japan America people who are leaving or are helpful 1. Gifts are usually offered to ___________ _______________________. 2. Gifts tend to be _______________________. substantial and expensive 3. Cards are not usually _________________. attached to the gifts 1. People are _____ likely to give __________ _________________________. more cards than gifts to express their thanks the givers themselves and are not expensive 2. Cards are often made by _________ ______________________________. are the most important 3. The courteous words on the cards _______ ______________.

Reading comprehension Work out five wh- questions in groups about the details of the passage and then ask the questions for other groups to answer.

Useful words and expressions a. vary from … to: become to be different 饮食文化因国而异。 the food culture The food culture varies from country to country.

Useful words and expressions b. illustrate: explain through pictures, examples, etc. e.g. A good teacher often illustrates his ideas with examples.

Useful words and expressions c. a gift giving country: The form “n. + V-ing” can be used as an adjective modifying a noun. e.g. a sports-loving person a tradition-observing country

Useful words and expressions d. attach … to: join one thing to another 这种产品都附有说明书。 instructions Instructions are always attached to this kind of products.

Useful words and expressions e. tend to do: be likely to do 年轻人一般都喜欢流行歌曲，而老年人则偏爱戏剧。 traditional opera Young people tend to like pop songs, while old people prefer traditional opera.

Useful words and expressions f. all the more: even more e.g. The pictures make the book all the more useful.

Exercises Key to Ex. 5: 1. Teachers should pay more attention to the students’ individual differences. 2. Professor Yang tends to give the students some substantial and valuable advice. 3. You are not required to give an expensive gift, but at least you should send him a thank-you card.

Exercises Key to Ex. 5: 4. We should learn to respect others’ life style. 5. In contrast, many students appreciate all the more the communication with their teachers out of class. 6. As a matter of fact, I prefer to live a quiet country life instead of a modern city life.

Exercises Key to Ex. 6: 1. The style of paintings may vary from one artist to another. The flavor of dishes may vary from place to place.

Exercises Key to Ex. 6: 2. Here is a book to help you with your English learning. Here is a way to improve our service.

Exercises Key to Ex. 6: 3. England is a tradition-observing country. The U.S. is a sports-loving country.

Exercises Key to Ex. 6: 4. It is not unusual in England to begin a conversation by talking about the weather. It is not unusual in Singapore to hear people speaking in different languages.

Exercises Key to Ex. 6: 5. In contrast, you get fewer friends than enemies in this way. In contrast, you get more pleasure than money in doing this job.

Exercises Key to Ex. 6: 6. As a matter of fact, the poem would be appreciated all the more if it is written in modern English. As a matter of fact, our product would be attractive all the more if there is some promotion.

Assignments 1. Recite the first paragraph of Passage I. 2. Preview Passage II and the exercises.

Reading of the passage People's attitudes towards gift-giving may vary from country to country, even though the desire to convey a feeling of friendship is often universal. Here is an example to illustrate the differences. Japan is a gift-giving country. It is not unusual in Japan to offer a gift to a person who is leaving or has been helpful. When people do that, the gifts tend to be substantial and expensive. However, at least in the typical Japanese style, it is not required to attach a thank-you note or card to the gift. Japanese people may express their gratitude and friendship directly through the gift they have carefully chosen and given to the person they love and respect.

Reading of the passage In contrast, you are likely to get more cards than gifts in the United States. A card may come with a small gift or no gift at all. In general, American people don't care very much whether the gift is expensive or not. As a matter of fact, your gift to them would be appreciated all the more if you made it yourself instead of buying it from a store. And the words on the card seem to be the most important thing. When someone does not have a card on hand, he or she would write a thank-you note on a piece of paper, give it to you in person or put it in your pigeon hole.