5. Every country has its own customs. To communicate successfully with the British you should follow certain social rules.
1) Do the British like to complain? Read the article from the travel guide to check your prediction, (reading for the main idea)
British people are said to be indifferent to complaint. As a rule they tend to avoid making a fuss and keep themselves in check. All this helps to explain their reaction to bad plays, bad performances or bad service in hotels or restaurants.
Except on rare occasions, the British do not bop in the theatre, they simply stay away. They do not whistle and jeer like an Italian crowd at the opera or Spanish crowd at a bullfight. If the star cricketer scores a duck, if the highly praised footballer misses a goal, the British allow them to leave the ground in heavy silence.
When the British do complain they generally do that in a rather apologetic manner. In fact, they tend to give the impression of being unsure in order to be polite and diplomatic.
2) WORD POWER
How do the British usually express their complaints? Fill in the column with the exact word or word expression from the article to match the explanation, (reading for specific information)
[Explanation]
go away without saying a word
avoid something
produce a tune by blowing through rounded lips
laugh rudely; make fun of
exclamation made to show unsatisfaction
treat with too much affection
control emotions
[Word (expression) which is explained]
[In Britain]
[In your country]
3) IN YOUR CULTURE
Compare the British complaints habits with those in your country. Write Yes or No in the appropriate column in the table on page 52.
4) Use the article as a model to write an extract for a travel guide about your country for foreigners.
1) Do the British like to complain? Read the article from the travel guide to check your prediction, (reading for the main idea)
British people are said to be indifferent to complaint. As a rule they tend to avoid making a fuss and keep themselves in check. All this helps to explain their reaction to bad plays, bad performances or bad service in hotels or restaurants.
Except on rare occasions, the British do not bop in the theatre, they simply stay away. They do not whistle and jeer like an Italian crowd at the opera or Spanish crowd at a bullfight. If the star cricketer scores a duck, if the highly praised footballer misses a goal, the British allow them to leave the ground in heavy silence.
When the British do complain they generally do that in a rather apologetic manner. In fact, they tend to give the impression of being unsure in order to be polite and diplomatic.
2) WORD POWER
How do the British usually express their complaints? Fill in the column with the exact word or word expression from the article to match the explanation, (reading for specific information)
[Explanation]
go away without saying a word
avoid something
produce a tune by blowing through rounded lips
laugh rudely; make fun of
exclamation made to show unsatisfaction
treat with too much affection
control emotions
[Word (expression) which is explained]
[In Britain]
[In your country]
3) IN YOUR CULTURE
Compare the British complaints habits with those in your country. Write Yes or No in the appropriate column in the table on page 52.
4) Use the article as a model to write an extract for a travel guide about your country for foreigners.