COUNTRY STUDIES QUIZ

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ADVANCED

TASK 8. Cross-cultural Test

Part 1. There is a list below which gives some of the most common stereotypes of the British and American people.
Divide it into two groups:

Stereotypes	the Brirish	Americans	Stereotypes	the Brirish	Americans
individualism achievement action work materialism equality informality time consciousness directness assertiveness optimism future orientation being reserved using understatement			friendliness conservative punctuality cleanliness privacy responsibility thriftiness practicality frugality good sportsmanship work ethic politeness tactfulness aggressiveness

Part 2. Under what circumstances would you say?

1. Take it easy.

2. Feel at ease.

3. You have made a mess of it!

4. To be at one’s wits’ end.

5. To be at a loss.

6. I cannot do a thing with her.

7. Out of sight, out of mind.

8. To have one's hands full.

9. To flush to the top of one's ears.

10. It rains cats and dogs.

Part 3. Complete the table about British and American cultural styles:

Typical behaviour	The British	Americans
1. Show anger in formal situation.
2. Use a lot of gestures.
3. Look directly at people.
4. Interrupt/speak at the same time.
5. Say “please” and “thank you” a lot.

Part 4. You are watching a film, reading a newspaper article,
listening to an interview on the radio, speaking with somebody from Britain.
Define a person's social group:

1. He/she went to Oxford, Cambridge, Eton, Harrow.

2. He/she went to public school, prep school, finishing school.

3. He/she went to grammar school, state school.

4. He/she went to comprehensive school, technical school.

     5. He/she works as a judge, stockbroker, company director,
     has a job in the City, is an MP, does not work, has a
     professional or white-collar job.

6. He/she is a teacher, accountant, bank manager, doctor,
has a professional or white-collar job.

7. He/she has a blue collar or manual job, is a miner, a
mechanic, a factory worker, a shop assistant, a lorry driver.

8. He/she lives in Mayfair (Knightsbridge), owns several
homes, owns a stately home.

9. He/she owns his/her own home, has a second home, lives
in a semidetached or detached house in suburbs.

10. He/she lives in a council house or council flat (owned or rented in inner city areas).

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