CHAPTER 1.

NEW CHALLENGES
In This Chapter

People take on the Challenge of learning English for many reasons. For
example, it may help them advance in their career, it is used internationally for
science and business, and it is the most common language on the Internet. To
improve their skills, students of English often study or work in one of over 45
countries. In this chapter, we will look at two popular destinations. The 'first reading
gives useful information about the United 'States and some of the customs and
attitudes of its people. The second reading presents facts about Canada and
discusses the qualities that visitors Will find in Canadians that make them different
from their neighbors to the south.

Connecting to the Topic

1. Look at the photo below. What’s happening? Where do you think this
photo is taking place?

2. The quote on the opposite page mentions tolerating “small difficulties”

What kinds of small difficulties do you think the man in the photo has had to tolerate
in order to become a successful athlete?

3. This chapter examines some of the typical greetings in different parts of

the world. How do you think greeting someone from a different culture could
present a “new challenge”?

Part 1. Reading Skills and Strategies

First Impressions
Before You Read

Strategy: Reading Without Knowing Every Word

The articles in this book contain many words that you know, along with a
number of words that you do not know. This is not surprising. Linguists tell us, that,
for historical reasons, English has a larger vocabulary than any other known
language. Practice the important skill of reading without knowing the meaning of
every word by following these three steps:
 - Look over the article quickly, paying attention to the title and the headings of
the sections. Try to get a general idea of the contents of each section.

- Read the article for the main ideas. Certain words have been highlighted for
you to work on later, but for the moment, skip these and any other words you do not
understand. Do not slow yourself down by looking up words in a dictionary. Keep
going.

- Do the exercises that follow the reading, referring back to the article, and
reading all or parts of it, as necessary. Two or three quick readings are better for
understanding than one slow one.

Introduction

The following selections are taken from Living in the U.S.A., a book written by
Alison Raymond Lanier and updated after her death by Charles William Gay.

- What purpose do you think the authors had for writing this book?

- What do you know about the United States?

- Do you expect to be surprised by some of the facts given about that country
and its people?

Read

1. Reading without knowing every word.

Read the following article by practicing the steps from the Strategy Box
above. Pay attention to the key vocabulary in bold blue type and try to use it in the
exercise and activities. Key words have been put in bold blue type to aid you in Part
1, but not in Part 2

First impressions

Size

A. It is difficult to really experience or "feel" the size of the United States. To get;
the full impact you should realize, for example, that it takes 48 hours (two
entire days and two long nights) to travel by train from Chicago Los Angeles,
rolling along hour after hour across wheat fields, mountains, and deserts
B. Another way to think about it is to compare distances in the United States
with others more familiar to you. For example, New York to Washington, D.C.
is about the same as London to Paris or Nairobi to Mombasa or Tokyo to
Kyoto; New York to Los Angeles is farther than Lisbon to Cairo or Moscow to
Montreal or New Delhi to Rome.

Climate

C. Naturally, with such distances, the climate in the continental United States is
also one of great extremes. From New England and New York through
Chicago and much of the Midwest and Northwest, temperatures vary from
subzero in winter to the high 90s (Fahrenheit) or over in summer.
D. The South and Southwest have warmer weather, though even these sections
have Occasional frosts and periods of moderate cold. Generally, summers
are likely to range from 70° F to 100° F (20oC 38°C), and many areas can be
quite humid. However, air conditioning is so widespread that you can expect
most office buildings and homes to be kept at relatively comfortable
temperatures.

Americans in Motion

E. Americans are restless. Most travel whenever they get the chance. They
crow onto trains, buses, and planes. In increasing numbers, they hike with
packs on their backs or ride bicycles, heading for the mountains, seashore, or
national parks.

Blunt Speech

F. Don’t think that Americans are being rude if we tend to speak in

monosyllables or answer with a mere “O.K.” “Sure”, or “Nope” or greet you
with “Hi”. Our brevity is not a personal insult, though to those blunt. American
informality has become greeting or farewell

A Do-it-yourself society

G. The United States is a do-it-yourself country. We generally carry our own

bags, take our laundry to the Laundromat, stand in line at the grocery store,
or shine our own shoes, whoever we may be lawyer, professor, bank
 president, or corporate executive. Anyone who can afford the high cost of
service in this country and wants to pay for it may. But there is absolutely no
social stigma in doing one’s own daily chores, no matter how menial. In fact,
Americans take pride in do-it-yourself accomplishments and may devote a
great deal of their leisure time to projects around the home. Huge warehouse
so stores that cater to do-it-yourself tasks have been built throughout the
country:
H. Many Americans who could afford household help or a driver or a gardener,
do not employ them. They prefer family privacy, independence and freedom
from responsibility, all of which are at least partially lost when one has help in
one's home
I. Houses interest Americans greatly. They so spend much of their time thinking
and reading and talking about the design of houses, their, decorations, how
to improve them. Many weekend hours are passed in do-it-yourself projects
around the house. People also love to look each other's house. Since they
would thoroughly enjoy visiting and examining a house in another country,
they assume that you will probably have the same desire. Don’t be surprised,
therefore, if you are shown the entire house from top to bottom, including
bathrooms and closets! Don’t make the mistake of refusing the whole house
may have been cleaned especially for you!
J. Because people in the United States have come from so many nationalities,
there is a far wider range of what is acceptable than in some countries where
the inhabitants have grown up with a common heritage. As a result, no one
needs to feel awkward or uncomfortable in following his or her own customs.
Although Americans are noticeably informal, if you prefer somewhat greater
formality, feel free to act in your own way. This will be acceptable to those
around you

Source: "First Impressions" Living in the USA (Alison R. Lanier and Charles William
Gay)
After You Read

2. Recalling Information

Mark each of these sentences with a T (for true) or F (for false). Correct the
false statements to make them true. Remember to read the article (or parts of it)
again if you have trouble with it. If you can do this activity, you have read well
enough for your present purpose.

1._T_ The United States has a varied geography, including fields, mountains,
and deserts.

2.__ Its continental climate is basically moderate.

3.__ Its people are not very active and spend most of their time reading
books.

4.__ They are rude and like to insult others with simple direct words.

5.__ American are very interested M their homes and love to show them off,
even to people they don't know very well.

6.__ Americans spend a lot of time thinking and talking about projects to fix
up their homes.

7.__ They send their servants to huge warehouse stores to buy decorations
for their houses.

8.__ Americans come from many different nationalities.

9.__ They generally prefer formality and do not like people to be informal.

Strategy: Analyzing Paragraphs for the Main Idea and its Development

An important skill for reading is finding the mail" idea, which is often stated
directly. In most cases, a sentence or two states the win idea. This sentence is
usually (but not always) the first Sentence of the paragraph. The other sentences
develop the paragraph in these ways:

1. by giving examples or details to illustrate the main idea

2. by expanding upon it with related ideas

3. by expressing emotional reaction to the main idea

3. Analyzing Paragraphs for the Main Idea and its Development

Read the questions below about the previous reading.

1. Is the main idea in the first sentence of each of the first five sections of the
reading?

2. The first three sections develop the main idea in the same way. Which way
is that? Choose 1, 2, or 3 in the Strategy Box on page 7.

3. The fourth section also does it that same way, but finishes up with one
other way in the last sentence. Which way does it finish up? Choose 1, 2, or 3 in
the Strategy Box on page 7.

4. What punctuation mark indicates an emotional reaction? Look through the

rest of the article and find the section that uses method 3 (expressing an emotional
reaction) to finish up. What are the first four words of that paragraph?

Strategy: Understanding the Meaning of Words from Context

The context of something is its surroundings or situation. The context of a

word is what goes before it and after it. You can often guess the meaning of a new
word by reading past it to the net sentence. If the meaning is still unclear, read the
sentence before the word. If necessary, read the whole paragraph. Then go back
and try to understand the word again.

4. Understanding the Meaning of Words from Context

Choose the best definition for each word below. If you don't remember the
context, go back to the reading and look for the words in bold (darker type).

1. blunt

a. loud and rude

b. short and direct

c. personal and formal

2. stigma

a. new rule

b. good word
 c. negative mark

3. leisure

a. not working

b. work

c. family

4. chores

a. tasks

b. accounts

c. pastimes

5. monk

a. difficult

b. attractive

c. low

6. thoroughly

a. somewhat

b. completely

c. possibly

7. assume

a. doubt

b. believe

c. fear

8. refusing

a. saying yes

b. saying no

c. not saying anything

9. heritage
 a. history and tradition

b. physical appearance

c. economics and class

ANALYZING SUFFIXES

A suffix is a letter or group of letters put at the end of a word to form a new
word. For example, suffixes can make a noun (person, place, or thing) out ova verb
(action word) or an adjective (a word that describes a noun) out of a noun. Learning
common suffixes can help you to increase your vocabulary.

You will work with these six suffixes in the exercise below:

-able (comfortable)

-al (logical)

-ant (consultant)

-er (reader)

-ity (tranquility)

-less (helpless)

5. Analyzing Suffixes

Study the meanings of the following suffixes and fill in the second example
for each one. The first one is done as an example.

1. -able

The suffix -able means relating to the action of a verb. It makes adjectives out
of verbs. Something you can love is loveable.

A house you can affordable is an affordable house.

2. -al

The suffix -at means relating to some object or thing. It makes adjectives out
of nouns. Things that relate to nature are natural things.

A job you get for only one season of the year is a… job.
 3. -ant

The suffix -ant means a person who does the action of the verb. It makes
nouns out of verbs. A person who serves is a servant.

A person who applies for something is an… (Note: the spelling changes
here—add a c before the suffix.)

4. -er

The suffix -er means a person who is capable of doing the action of the verb.
It makes nouns out of verbs. A person who can bake is a bake.

A person who can teach is a

5. -ity

The suffix -ity means the state or condition of some quality. It makes a noun
out of an adjective. A material that is elastic has elasticity.

People who are cordial are known for their

6. -less

The suffix -less means "without." It makes adjectives out of nouns. A situation
without hope is a hopeless situation.

A person who is causing no harm is a… person.

6. Making New Words by Adding Suffixes

Form words used in the reading adding suffixes from the list on page 9.
Check your answers by finding the words in the reading. The first sentence is an
example and is not from the reading.

1. A person who settles (comes to live) in a place is a settler

2. A person who gardens (works in a garden) is a… (line 54)

3. A person who drives is a… (line 54)

4. A chair that gives a lot of comfort is a… chair (line 26)

5. Some groups of people are formal. They are known for their… (line 78)

6. Other groups of people are informal. They are known for their… (line 38)
 7. The people who inhabit a region are the… of that region (line 75)

8. We accept certain ways of acting. Those ways are… to us. (line 74)

9. They take that trip only on certain occasions. They take an… trip. (line 22)

10. A quality we all desire to have is a… quality. (line 39)

11. Sortie information relates especially to just one person. It is his or her…
information (line 36)

12. We are responsible for our employees. They are our… (line 57)

13. Many Americans participate in numerous activities without much rest.

They are a… people. (line 28)

14. Weather patterns that affect a whole continent are … weather patterns.
(line 16)

15. A speaker sometimes gives al brief speech. If we are tired, we appreciate

his or her… (line 35) (Notice that there is a spelling change in this one.)

16. Part of our identities relate t4 our national origins. We call them our…
(line 74)

Strategy: Understanding Compound Words

Some English words are made up of smaller words joined together.

Sometimes these words contain hyphens and sometimes they don't. To understand
them, look at the words and break them into their smaller parts. Then you can
usually guess their meaning, especially if you also find clues in the context.

Examples: do-it-yourself (project): this is a project you have to do on your

own bedroom: the room with a bed, the room for sleeping

7. Understanding Compound Words

Guess the meanings of the words in italics below by looking at each

individual word and the general context. Write the meanings in the blanks.

Compound Words With Hyphens

1. Kim wanted to buy-a CD with some easy-listening music.

Music that is soft and easy to listen to

 2. My friend can't go out until he finishes his to-do list.

………..

3. The bookstore has a big section of self-help books.

………..

4. Her brother always helps people out; he's a real do-gooder.

………..

Compound Words Without Hyphens

1. Chicago is an overnight train trip from New York.

a train trip that continues through the night

2. Air conditioning is widespread.

………..

3. They do not use long formal expressions of greeting or farewell.

………..

4. People in the U.S. go to the mountains, seashore, or national parks to

hike.

………..

5. Many Americans do not have household help.

8. Around the Globe

Working with a classmate, look at the photos in each section below to find out
more about customs in the United States and around the world. Take turns reading
aloud the descriptions that accompany the photos. Then follow the directions and
answer the questions after each section.

A. Meeting and Greeting

A. In some cultures, such as Japan and Korea, people bow to each other
when they meet. In others they put their palms together in front of their faces and
incline their heads. (This is called namaste In India and wai in Thailand) In Russia,
France, Italy, and many other parts of Europe, as well as in Latin America, people
touch each other when they meet, embracing (hugging) and often exchanging a
quick kiss on one or both Cheeks. Muslims greet each other with a salaam
greeting. This means that they bow, sometimes touching their foreheads with the
palm of their right hand, and say "Salaam Alaikum!" or a similar phrase wishing
peace to each other. (Salaam means peace). In the English-speaking world
(Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand, and the U.S.A.), the usual custom is to
shake hands, but sometimes people don't, preferring to just nod and Smile. A
casual "Hi" or "How ya' doin'?" or "Hello, there" often takes the place of formal
handshake, but it means the same thing. If a person extends her or his hand in
greeting, then it is polite to shake hands.

Look at the photos on page 12 and discuss the following:

1. What is happening in each photo? Where is the greeting taking place?

2. What do you think of these ways of greeting?

3. Which one is similar td the customs in your culture?

4. With your partner, practice greeting each other as they do in English-

speaking cultures, and also in some other way. Introduce yourself by saying, "My
name is… What is your name?" This is acceptable and often appreciated in
English-speaking cultures. After learning the name of a person, say "Pleased to
meet you!" or "Nice meeting you!"

B. Social Distance

B. The "comfort zone," or the distance people stand from each other when
they talk, varies among different cultures. Asians stand quite far apart when they
talk. Greeks, Arabs, and South Americans stand quite close together often, they
move closer as the conversation heats up. Americans and Canadians are
somewhere in the middle. Studies show that they feel most comfortable in
conversation when standing about 21 inches apart from each other.

Look at the photos above and discuss the following:

1. What are the people doing and where do you think the conversation is
taking place?
 2. How far apart do people usually stand when having a conversation in your
culture?

3. Stand up and play the role of two people talking about the weather. First -
pretend you are in an Asian country, then in Greece, and then in the United States.
Which distance feels most comfortable to you? Why?

9. Asking Personal Questions

What questions are polite for a first meeting? This varies greatly depending
on where you live. Look at the following questions. Every one of them is polite in
some cultures. Decide which ones would be polite and which would be impolite for
&first meeting in your culture.

1. Where are you from?

2. How much did you pay for your jacket?

3. What do you do for a living?

4. How much money do you make?

5. Are you married?

6. How old are you?

7. Do you have any children?

8. What is your religion?

10. Politeness

Look at the questions in Activity 9 again. Circle the questions that are impolite
in your culture. Half of them are generally considered impolite in American culture.
Check (v) those that you think are impolite in the U.S. (Answers at the bottom of
this page.) Discuss the questions below.

1. Are there more that are impolite in your culture or in U.S. culture?

2. In your opinion, what is the man in the photo thinking? What do you think
he will say to the woman? Will he answer her question?

3. What can you say if someone asks you a question you don't want to
answer?
11. Talking About Preferences

The reading passage, First Impressions, describes some American customs

and attitudes. Of course, these would not apply to all Americans. There are cultural
preferences and personal preferences. In small groups, talk about the following
U.S. customs and attitudes. Which do you each agree with personally, and why? In
general, should you "do as the Americans do" if you live in the U.S.?

1. the use of air conditioning in homes and public buildings

2. hiking with backpacks in the mountains

3. blunt speech

4. informal dinners in private homes

5. informality in the workplace

6. doing things for yourself and not having live-in servants in your home

Strategy: Using a Continuum

A continuum is a diagram, like the two below, used to show different amounts
or degrees of something, in this case, degrees of acceptance. You will use these
diagrams in the next exercise.

Continuum 1: Acceptance in the U.S.A.

Continuum 2: Acceptance in…

12. Using a Continuum: Rating Social Acceptance

Work in a small group and read the situation and the list of actions on page
16. Discuss and rate the acceptance of each action and mark it from Low to High
on each continuum diagram in the strategy box above. Continuum 1 represents the
U.S. and Continuum 2 represents a culture we which your group is familiar. Base
your ratings on the article you have read and on your knowledge of the other
culture.

Situation: Imagine that you are a fairly wealthy professional man or woman
and you want to do the actions below. How acceptable would they be in the U.S.?
How acceptable would they be in another culture? Rate each action and write the
letter on each continuum above.
 Actions:

a. Answering in short words like "Nope" or "Sure"

b. Asking a person how old he or she is

c. Asking someone how much money he or she makes

d. Digging in your garden

e. Driving your own car

f. Hiking with a backpack

g. Inviting someone over to your house

h. Painting your fence by yourself

i. Refusing to look at someone's home

j. Saying to someone: "Do you have any children?"

k. Saying to someone: "What is your religion?"

l. Shining your own shoes

m. Speaking bluntly

n. Telling a couple you'd like to see their new bathroom

o. Washing your own clothes

p. Wearing shorts or jeans and a t-shirt

Part 2. Reading Skills and Strategies

My Country

Before You Read

1. Getting the Meaning of Words from Context and Structure

Working by yourself or with a partner, guess the meaning of the following

italicized words or phrases and underline the correct definition for each To help
guess the meaning, determine if it has a suffix, if it's a compound word, and if you
can examine how it is used in context.
 1. Berton says that to a stranger the land must seem endless. (line 1)
Endless means (full of variety / stretching out in all directions).

2. It is the vastness of Canada that surprises people. (line 4) Vastness means

(beauty / large size)

3. The observant visitor will note some differences. (line 8) This means the
visitor who (looks around / talks a lot).The national makeup (line 9) refers to the
Canadian (economy / character).

4. Berton talks about the American melting pot. (line 10) This means a
society of people who become very (similar / different).

5. In July and August, eastern Canadians suffer in the heat and humidity.
(line 17) Humidity means (wetness / dryness).

6. A newcomer (line 10) is someone who (wants to arrive / has just arrived).

7. Canada did not have a civil war, but it did have some uprisings. (line 27)
Uprisings are (big revolutions / small battles).

8. The lawmen (line 31) are (robbers and murderers /sheriff 41-pralicemea.)

9. The author says that Americans are more outgoing than Canadians. (line
48) This means they are not as (shy / loud) as Canadians.

10. The French-style cooking of. Quebec (line 61) means food prepared (for
French people / in the French way).

Read

Strategy: Finding the implied Main Idea of a Paragraph

Sometimes the main idea of a paragraph is not stated directly in one

sentence. The main idea is implied (suggested by the facts, details, and ideas
about the topic). A main idea brings together all or most of the different parts of the
paragraph. It does not express just one part.
 Introduction

The following excerpts are from a book by Pierre Berton, one of Canada's
leading writers and a popular TV personality who wrote over 50 books before he
passed away in 2004 at the age of 84. He was best known for his books on
Canadian history. In this selection, Berton gives his personal reply to the question
so often asked by visitors: "What is the difference between Canadians and
Americans?"

- What do you know about Canadians?

- In what ways do you think they are different from Americans?

2. Reading an Article: Finding Implied Main Ideas

Practice the skill of finding implied main ideas by analyzing the first five
paragraphs of the followings reading selection on pages 18-21. Most of its
paragraphs do not have one sentence that describes the main idea. The main ideas
are implied. Read each paragraph and the three phrases that follow it. Choose the
phrase that best expresses the main idea.

My country (excerpts)

A. To a stranger, the land must seem endless. A herring gull, winging its way
from St. John’s Newfoundland, to Victoria on the southern tip of Vancouver Island,
will travel as far as the distance from London to Baghdad. It is the vastness that
startles the imagination of all who visit my country

1. What is the main idea of the paragraph above?

a. Canada is strange and surprising

b. Canada is very, very big

c. Canada is hard to know

B. Contrary to common belief, we do not live in snow-covered cabins far from

civilization. Most of us inhabit cities that do not seen to differ greatly from those to
the south of us. The observant visitor, however, will note some differences. The
variety of our national makeup is, I believe, more pronounced than it is in the
American melting pot. A newcomer in the 10 United States quickly learns to cover
up his or her origins and become an American. A newcomer to Canada manages to
keep something of the culture and customs of his or her ethnic background.

2. What is the main idea of the paragraph above?

a. Canadians appear to others as simple people who inhabit snow-covered

cabins in the woods.

b. Canadians live in almost exactly the *same way as Americans live but
really there are differences.

c. All Canadians seem alike but they have more variety in their customs and
culture than Americans.

C. Traditionally, the stranger has thought of Canada as a mountainous,

Snows-swept land. Certainly it can get very cold in Canada Few non-Canadians
understand that it can also get very hot. The eastern cities suffer in the humidity of
July and August, and people actually die, each year from the heat. In Victoria, roses
bloom on Christmas Day

3. What is the main idea of the paragraph above?

a. It can get very cold in Canada.

b. It can get very hot in Canada.

c. Roses can bloom on Christmas Day.

D. Where temperature is concerned we are a country of extremes; and yet,

as a people, we tend toward moderation and even conservatism. Non- 20
Canadians think we are the same as our American neighbors, but we are not really
like the Americans. Our temperament, our social attitudes, our environment, and
our history make us a different kind of North American.

4. What is the main idea of the paragraph above?

a. People think Canadians are like Americans, but Canadians are really more
conservative and moderate.

b. Canada is a country of extremes, both in its temperatures and in the

character of its people.
 c. The Canadian temperament is like the American one because of social
attitudes, environment, and history.

E. First, there is the Matter of our history. It has been called dull because it is
not very bloody. We are, after all, the only people in all the Americas who did not
separate violently from Europe. We have had three or four small uprisings but no
reyolat4Qn or civil war.

5. What is the main idea of the paragraph above?

a. Canadian history is dull.

b. Canadian history is bloody.

c. Canadian history is not violent.

F. We were slow to give tip our colonial ties to England. While the Americans
chose freedom, we chose above, not elected from below. The idea of choosing
town marshals and country, sheriffs by vote to keep the peace with guns never
fitted into the Canadian scheme of things. Instead, we invented the North West
Mounted Polite. The Canadian symbol of the Mountie, neat arid clean in his scarlet
coat, contrasts with the American symbol of the lawman in his open shirt and gun-
belt. The two differing social attitudes persist to this day. In the United States, the
settlers moved across the continent before law hence the “wild” west. In Canada,
the law came first, settlement followed

G. Outward displays of emotion are riot part of the Canadian style. We are
after all, a northern people: The Americans are far more outgoing than we are. One
reason for this, I think, is the very real presence of nature in our lives. Most of us
live within a few hours' drive of the wilderness. No Canadian city is far removed
from those mysterious and silent places that can have such an effect on the human
soul.

H. There is another aspect of my country that makes it unique in the

Americas, and that is our bilingual and multicultural makeup. (Canada has two
official languages, English and French, and in its largest province, a majority of the
inhabitants speak French almost exclusively.) It gives us a picturesque quality, of
course, and that certainly helps tourism: Visitors are attracted to the foreignness of
Quebec City, with its twisting streets and its French-style cooking. But there is also
a disturbing regional tension. Quebec has become a nation within a nation, and the
separatist movement is powerful there.

I. Canadians are not anti-American. We watch American television programs.

We tend to prefer American-made cars over the European and Asian products. We
welcome hundreds of thousands of American tourists to our country every year and
don't complain much when they tell us that we're exactly the same as they are.

J. Of course, we're not the same. But the visitor may be pardoned for thinking
so when he or she first crosses the border. The buildings in our cities are designed
in the international styles. The brand names in the supermarkets are all familiar. It is
only after several days that the newcomer begins to sense a difference. He cannot
put his finger on that difference, but then, neither can many of my fellow Canadians.
The only thing we are really sure of is that we are not Americans.

Source: my Country (Pierre Berton)

After You Read

3. Checking your Comprehension

Mark the following statements T (true) or F (false), according to Pierre

Berton. Correct the false statements to make them true.

1. …Most Canadians live in snow-covered cabins far from civilization.

2. …In Canada, newcomers keep more of their original country's customs

and culture than do newcomers in the United States.

3. …Canada is a very cold country, even in the summertime.

4. …The history of Canada is more bloody and violent than the history of the
United States.

5. …Generally speaking, Canadians are more conservative than Americans.

6. …The "wild west," with its guns and sheriffs with open shirts, was an
important part of American and Canadian history.

7. …Canadians express their emotions more openly than Americans do.

8. …The United States has only one official language, but Canada has two.
 9. …In general, Canadians are anti-American, and Americans are anti-
Canadian.

10. …Canadian buildings, food, and businesses look very different from
those in the United States.

Strategy: Analyzing the Prefixes Non- and Anti-

A prefix is a group of letters at the beginning of a word that changes its

meaning. Learning the meaning of some of the common prefixes, such as non- and
anti- can expand your vocabulary and reading comprehension

- The prefix non- means “not”

- The prefix anti- means “against”

In the reading My Country, there are two words with hyphens that have the
prefixes non- and anti- in them: non-Canadians and anti-American. (These prefixes
are also used at times without hyphens.) So non-Canadians are "people who are
not Canadians". Being anti-American means being "against Americans or things
associated with Americans."

4. Analyzing the Prefixes Non- and Anti-

Using the examples in the Strategy Box above as models, write definitions for
the following words:

1. nonresidents…

2. anti-anxiety pills…

3. an antiwar protest …

4. nonviolent group…

5. non-Germans …

6. non-Mexicans…

7. an anticommunist…

8. nonvoters…

9. antimonopoly laws…
 10. nonpayment …

5. Analyzing Four More Suffixes

Here are more common suffixes to add to your knowledge of English words.
Study them and fill in the second example for each one.

1. -ation

The suffix -ation means the “process or condition of some action or quality.” It
makes nouns out of verbs. If a couple is in the process of separating, they are
going through a separation.

If you are in the process of decorating, you are involved in…

2. -ful

The suffix -ful means "full of or characterized by a certain quality." It makes

adjectives out of nouns. Something full of beauty is beautiful.

Something that can cause a lot of harm is

3. –ment

The suffix -ment means "something that results from the action of a verb." It
makes nouns out of verbs. The things that people accomplish are
accomplishments.

The group of people who govern are members of the

4. –ous

The suffix -ous means "having or being full of some quality." It makes
adjectives out of nouns. People who are full of fury become furious.

A moment that is full of glory is a… moment.

6. Making New Words by Adding Suffixes

Form words used in the reading by adding suffixes from the previous activity.
Check your answers by finding the words in the reading. Line numbers are given in
parentheses.

1. Our surroundings are our environs. Everything that is around us is our…

(line 23)
 2. Some countries are hard to imagine. It is difficult to see them in our… (line
4)

3. The head of that corporation has a lot of power, and he also has many…
friends. (line 64)

4. Some people are moderate. They show… in their reactions. (line 20)

5. The place that settlers come to live is a… (line 46)

6. Many of the people who want to separate from their nation are on the
move and hope to build a strong separatist… (line 64)

7. North America is filled with mountains, and its… region attract many
tourists. (line 14)

8. Certain natural spots seem full of mystery and their… atmosphere can
have a strong effect on the human soul. (line 51)

7. Focusing on Words from the Academic

Word List Read the paragraphs below from the reading in Part 2. Write the
most appropriate word from the box in each of the blanks. One word is used twice.
Do NOT look back at the reading right away; instead, first see if you can remember
the vocabulary. Check your answers on page 20.

attitudes / displays / scheme / symbol / contrasts/ removed style

We were show to give up our Colonial ties to England. While the Americans
chose freedom, we chose order. Our lawmen are appointed from above, not
elected from below The idea of choosing town marshals and county sheriffs by vote
to keep the peace with guns never fitted into the Canadian (1)… of things. Instead,
we invented the North West Mounted Police. The Canadian (2)… of the Mountie,
neat and clean in his scarlet coat, (3)… with the American (4)… of the lawn-tan in
his open shirt and gun-belt. The two differing social (5)… persist to this day In the
United States, the settlers moved across" the continent before law—hence the
"Wild". west: In Canada, the law came first; Settlement followed:

Outward (6)… of emotion are not part of the Canadian (7)… We are, after
all, a northern people. The Americans are far more outgoing than we are; One
reason for this, I think, is the very real presence of nature in our lives. Most of us
live within a few hours' drive of the wilderness. No Canadian city is far (8)… from
those mysterious and silent places that can have such an effect on the human soul.

8. Guided Academic Conversation.

In small groups, discuss three of the following four topics. Make sure that
everyone in the group contributes to the discussion. Choose one person to report
the group's ideas to the class.

1. The effects of history on national character. What countries in the

Americas did not separate violently from a European colonial power? According to
one of the writers in this chapter, what effect did this have on the character of the
people? What wars or periods of violence do you know about that have had an
effect on the character of a nation?

2. The power of language. How many official languages does Canada have?
In your opinion, does it make a country weak or strong to have more than one
official language? What other countries do you know of that have more than one
official language? Are there any countries that you think should change their
language policy?

3. Actions of newcomers. Does a newcomer to your culture have to cover up

his or her origins? Do different groups keep some of their own culture or customs?
There is an English proverb that says, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do."
What do you think this means? Do you agree with it or not? Explain.

4. The climate factor. In your opinion, is there a connection between climate

or geography and national character? Do these connections exist in your country?
In large countries, how do you think that the character of the people changes with
the region?

Focus on Testing

Analyzing Points of Contrast on Tests

The TOFL@iBT often asks questions about points of contrast in a reading.

These contrasts are usually between two ideas. Questions might also be about
differences between events, styles, or groups of people. To analyze points of
contrast

1. Fix firmly in your mind the two things that are being considered.

2. Look carefully for the ways in which the two are different. These are the
points contrast

3. For each point, ask yourself exactly how the two things are different from
each other.

4. Try to see how the many points of contrast add up to an overall idea

Practice Analyze the points of contrast in the following paragraph from "My
Country” by Pierre Berton. Read the paragraph. Then mark an x to indicate whether
each point relates to Canadian or American society

We were slow to give up our colonial ties to England: While the Americans
Chose freedom, we chose order. Our lawmen are appointed from above, not
elected from below. The idea of choosing town marshals and county sheriffs by
vote to keep the peace with guns never fitted into the Canadian scheme of things.
Instead, we invented the North West Mounted Police. The Canadian symbol of the
Mountie neat and clean m his scarlet coat, contrasts with the American symbol of
the lawman in his open shirt, and gun-belt The two differing social attitudes persist
to this day. In the United States, the settlers moved across the continent before law
hence the "wild" west. In Canada, the law came first; settlement followed.

Canadian American

1. freedom rather than order

2. the neat and clean Mountie

3. order instead of freedom

4. sheriffs elected by vote

5. keeping the peace with guns

6. lawmen appointed from above

7. settlement before law

 8. law before settlement

9. lawmen in scarlet coats

10. the "wild" west

9. What Do You Think? Read the paragraph below and in small groups
discuss the questions that follow.

What to Wear?

When you traveled a new country, it's often difficult to decide what clothes to
pack in your suitcase. If you are going on a business trip, chances are a man will
bring a suit and tie, and a woman, a business suit. But what would you wear if you
are doing business in the tropics? What job interview in England or Australia? What
would you wear to a barbecue in Canada? What would you wear to a dinner party
in Japan? Although the world has become more casual, and less formal, there are
still certain dress codes that should be followed

1. What would be the best sources to go to find out what to wear to a certain
occasion in a certain country?

2. Have you ever been in a situation where you wore the wrong clothing and
felt out of place? Explain.

3. Is there an international outfit for casual wear? What do you think is the
most popular item of clothing in the world?

Part 3. Tying It All Together

1. Making Connections

Read the questions below and choose one that interests you. Work by
yourself to answer that question by finding facts and opinions on the Internet or in
books at the library: Report your findings to the class.

1. Choose England, Ireland, Scotland, or some other country where English

is spoken, and find information about its regional cooking. What are some special
dishes from different regions? Give their names, key ingredients, and a brief
description of them.

2. Choose Australia, New Zealand, India, or some other country where

English is spoken. What are some of the most famous and interesting national
parks in the country, and where are they located? What activities do people
participate in? How do the seasons influence the activities?

3. If you were going to live in the U.S., where would you like to live? In what
state and in what city or region? Give facts and statistics about this place, along
with a physical description, and explain why you would like to live there.

4. If you were going to live in Canada, where would you like to live? In what
province and in what city or region? Give facts and statistics about that place, along
with a physical description, and explain why you would like to live there

Responding in Writing

WRITING TIP: USING. DETAILS TO SUPPORT YOUR IDEAS

Details are small points. They serve as examples or illustrations of a larger

idea and make it convincing and understandable. For example, if you say,
Tornadoes can be very destructive, you can then describe houses that have fallen
down and trees with their roots in the air. These details support your main idea.

2. Writing a Paragraph Using Betas

Write a clear paragraph in English about something you have learned in

either Part 1 or Part 2 of this chapter. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Choose one of the following beginnings (depending on which part of

the chapter you have chosen). Fill in the blank with a country you know well.

A. From what I Wave learned in this chapter, I would say that living in the
U.S. is different from living in… because

B. From what I have learned in this chapter, I would say that Canada is
different from… because
 Step 2: Complete the sentence you chose by stating the main reason you
find the life style described in Part 1 (or in Part 2) different from the one in another
country.

Step 3: Go back to the selection you are discussing and reread it quickly,
making a list of the details (small points) that illustrate oi give examples of your
reason.

Step 4: Choose the three or four details that are the most interesting or
convincing.

Step 5: Write a sentence about each one.

Step 6: Check over what you have written. Do all the sentences support your
main idea? Change any that do not seem right.

Step 7: Look at the spelling, grammar and vocabulary. Make your paragraph
as correct, clear, and interesting as you can.

Self-Assessment Log

Read the lists below. Check (v) the strategies and vocabulary that you
learned in this chapter. Look through the chapter or ask your instructor about the
strategies and words that you do not understand.

Reading and Vocabulary-Building Strategies

- Reading without knowing every word

- Analyzing paragraphs for the main idea and its development

- Understanding the meaning of words from context

- Analyzing suffixes

- Understanding compound words

- Using a continuum

- Getting the meaning of words from context and structure

- Finding the implied main idea of a paragraph

- Analyzing the prefixes non- and anti

 Target Vocabulary

Nouns melting pot Verbs household

Attitudes moderation assume leisure

brevity movement contrasts menial

chores nationalities refusing mountainous

displays newcomer removed mysterious

driver non-Canadians observant

environment responsibility Adjectives occasional

formality scheme acceptable outgoing

gardener settlement anti-American personal

heritage stigma blunt powerful

humidity styles comfortable restless

imagination symbol continental

informality uprisings desirable Adverb

inhabitants vastness do-it-yourself thoroughly

lawmen endless

makeup French-style