Unit Four The Multicultural Society Teaching Objectives Students

Unit Four The Multicultural Society

Teaching Objectives Students should be able to v Grasp the main idea and structure of the text v Practice critical thinking ability through indepth discussions on issues mentioned in the text v Master the key language points and grammatical structures in the text v Learn how to make a detailed outline

Term Introduction collage pluralism mosaic multiculturalism a melting pot

A collage

collage : a picture made by sticking other pictures, photographs, cloth etc onto a surface Why is America compared to a collage? Because it consists of many races with different cultures.

mosaic

mosaic

mosaic: a pattern or picture made by fitting together small pieces of colored stone, glass etc. Why is America compared to a mosaic? Because it consists of many races with different cultures.

Map of the USA (50 states)

melting pot : a container in which a substance is melted. Why is America compared to a melting pot? Because it is a place where immigrants of different cultures or races form an integrated society.

The Great Melting Pot Anonymous My grandmother came from Russia, a satchel on her knee. My grandfather had his father's cap He brought from Italy. They'd heard about a country Where life might let them win. They paid the fare to America and there they melted in. You simply melt right in It doesn't matter what your skin It doesn't matter where you're from Or your religion, you jump right in To the great American melting pot.

• Traditionally the United States has been described as a melting pot, a place where the previous identities of each immigrant group are melted down to create an integrated, uniform society. Since 1960 s, many Americans have rejected the melting pot metaphor in favor of the images of mosaic, a picture created by assembling many small stones of tiles. In a mosaic, each piece retains its own distinctive identity, while contributing to a large design.

• Advocates of the mosaic metaphor assert that it better represents the diverse multicultural society of the United States. Today, many Americans value their immigrant heritage as an important part of their identity. More recent immigrants have established communities alongside those populated by the descendants of European immigrants, such as French Americans, German Americans, Irish Americans, and Italian Americans.

Pluralism: referring to the acceptance of many different groups in society or many different schools of thought in an intellectual or cultural discipline. Although America’s culture is becoming more uniform, its society remains a diverse mix of ethnic, racial, and religious groups. The US is a pluralistic society, meaning it is composed of many nationalities, races, religions, and creeds.

Multiculturalism is a concept with many meanings. But it often refers to acceptance of immigrant and minority groups as distinct communities, distinguishable from the majority population. Advocates of multiculturalism believe that members of minority groups should enjoy equal rights in American society without giving up their diverse ethnic cultures. Multiculturalists reject the idea of a melting pot and assimilation.

Immigrants of American Population

Immigrants take the oath of U. S. citizenship in Gilbert, Arizona

Listening Practice Listen to the news and fill in the blanks. u. The U. S. population has reached ( 300 million ) according to the Census Bureau. u. One baby is born every ( seven ) seconds, one person dies every ( 13 )seconds, and a new immigrant arrives in the United States every ( 31 ) seconds, adding up to one new American every ( 11 ) seconds.

u. In 1915, the United States reached the (100 -million ) mark. u. In 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson held a news conference to the ( 200 th million ) arrival. u. Hispanics are the fastest ( growing ) segment of America's population

America as a Collage. Ryszard Kapuscinski

Contents v v v v Background information Text Organization Language Points Text Analysis Useful Expressions Word Study Reading Skills Writing Strategy

1. Background information About the author: Ryszard Kapuscinski: Born 1932 in Pinsk, the preeminent Polish journalist and essayist, was for many years the Polish Press Agency’s only foreign correspondent, reporting on wars, coups and revolutions in America, Asia and Africa. He has created his own exciting style of reportage and reflection in books such as The Emperor, The Soccer War and Imperium.

2. Text Organization Parts Para. Main Ideas America is not declining, but is in the process of creating a new collage-like civilization. I 1 -5 II Los Angeles is a good example of 6 -21 such a collage-like civilization. III The common gain that harmonizes 22 -24 competing cultures in one place is “the chance to try”

Questions for Understanding the Text Part I 1. Why is it hard to think of America in decline? 2. What thesis does Paul Kennedy advance in his book? Does the author agree with him? 3. Why does the author think that America will not follow historical precedent that all powerful nations declined? 4. What is the main idea of Part 1?

Questions for Understanding the Text Part II 1. In what way is the city Los Angeles different from other cities? 2. What can you infer from the example of a PC company in Orange County? 3. What is the difference in the relations between developed and underdeveloped worlds now and before? 4. Who was Jose Vasconcelos? What did he write about in the book mentioned in this section? 5. What is the main idea of this part?

Questions for Understanding the Text Part III 1. What makes the diverse races and cultures exist in America harmoniously? 2. In what way is the combination of culture and space important to immigrants to America? 3. What is the main of this part?

3. Language Points Para. 3 (Line 13) — all powerful nations declined and gave way to other empires. l give way to: (1) to be replaced by something else e. g. Stone has given way to glass and concrete. (2) to agree to do what someone else wants e. g. We will not give way to those who believe that power grows out of the barrel of a gun. 我们不会向那些认为枪杆子中出权利的人让路。

3. Language Points Para. 4 (Line 18) l fuse: （with, into）to become mixed or united by or as if by melting together e. g. There was no separation between joy and sorrow: they fused into one. 痛苦与欢乐之间没有界限：它们融为了一体. l melt: to gradually change into something else or to gradually become hidden by something e. g. Here individuals of all races are melted into a new race of men. 在这里，各种族的成员融合在一起形成一个新 的人类.

3. Language Points l merge: if two things merge, or if one thing merges into another, you cannot clearly see them, hear them as separate things [merge into] e. g. She avoided reporters at the airport by merging into the crowds. [merge with] e. g. Memories seemed to merge with reality. l blend: to combine different things in a way that produces an effective or pleasant result, or to become combined in this way e. g. a story that blends fact and legend l mix: to combine, to blend

3. Language Points Para. 8 (Line 37) l facility： (1) a natural ability to do sth. easily and well �syn. talent e. g. She has an amazing facility for languages. (2) plu. rooms, equipment, or services that are provided for a particular purpose e. g. All rooms have private facilities (=private bathroom and toilet 卫生设施). The hotel has its own pool and leisure facilities.

3. Language Points Para. 10 (Line 51） Ninety percent of the immigrants to this city is. . . immigrant：someone who enters another country to live there permanently emigrant: someone who leaves their own country to live in another migrant: (1) someone who goes to live in another area or country, especially in order to find work (2) a bird or animal that travels regularly from one part of the world to another

3. Language Points Para. 21 (Line 99) This type of man is being borne in Los Angeles. Cf. born and borne “be born” 表示“出生，出身” “be borne” 表示“生育，生产” e. g He was born in Jinan in 1990. A fine prince was borne by the queen.

3. Language Points Para. 23 (Line 109) The culture allows you to try to be somebody. be someone/somebody: to be or feel important e. g. Gerber was determined to be someone. I'd always wanted to be someone. be (really/quite) something: (spoken) used to say that something is very good and impressive了不起, 很重要 e. g. Running your own company at 21 is really something. That was really something, wasn't it?

4. Text Analysis • Critical Thinking Compare three terms which are often used to describe American culture, “a melting pot”, “a collage of cultures”, “a mosaic of cultures”, and see if there any differences between them.

4. Text Analysis Writing Strategy: Symbolism is the representation of something in a symbolic form. In the text, Los Angeles symbolizes a new civilization. Other things of symbolic value found in the text are listed below. Now write down what they stand for.

Symbolism Things of Symbolic Value Los Angeles Standing for A new civilization A PC company in orange County A fusion of Third World cultures with the modern mentalities and technologies A person born in Los Angeles A citizen of the world America in the eyes of immigrants A place where you always have a chance to try

4. Text Analysis Writing Strategy: Synonyms The author stresses in different ways that the Pacific civilization is completely NEW in history. Find the synonyms or synonymous expressions Line 22. for the first time since…. Line 24. now is the first chance… Line 25. unprecedented Line 32. there is no previous example of …. . Line 34. completely unknown in the history

5. Useful Expressions 重蹈历史覆辙 follow historical precedent 从另一个角度看待正在发生的一切 another way to look at what is happening 从历史角度来看 historically speaking 以一个多民族多文化的社会进入二十一世纪 enter the twenty-first century as a multiracial and multiracial society 人类历史上前所未有的 completely unknown in the history of mankind

5. Useful Expressions 人类构成的普遍趋势 the general trend in the composition of mankind 高科技园 high-technology parks 时间观念 a conception of time 停滞不前的社会 a stagnant / paralyzed society 融洽的合作 a harmonious cooperation 生活水准/生活水平 living standard

6. Word Study aggressive paralyze offend submerge stagnant

l aggressive: (1) to be strong and forceful toward something or toward someone. 咄咄逼人 e. g. It's not polite to be aggressive with customers. (2) very determined to succeed or get what you want 积极进取 e. g. A successful businessman has to be aggressive. an aggressive marketing campaign aggressively adv. aggressiveness n. [uncountable]

l paralyze: (1) lose the ability to move part or all of one’s body, or to feel it e. g. Her legs were partly paralysed in the crash. (2) to make something unable to operate normally e. g. Fear of unemployment is paralysing the economy. Motor traffic was paralysed in much of the city. be paralyzed with fear by 被…吓瘫, 被…所吓倒。 paralyze one's efforts 使努力尽成泡影。

l offend: (1) to make someone angry or upset by doing or saying something that they think is rude, unkind etc 冒犯，触犯，得罪；激怒 e. g. His remarks deeply offended many Scottish people. [be offended by/at something] e. g. Liddy was offended by such a personal question. offend the ear /eye 刺耳(眼)，逆耳(难看) e. g. Some of these new buildings really offend the eye (=look very ugly).

(2) v. i. formal to commit a crime or crimes 犯罪，犯过错 e. g. Many of the young men here are likely to offend again. (3) formal to be against people's feelings of what is morally acceptable 违犯，违背(礼 仪等) [offend against] e. g. Broadcasters have a responsibility not to offend against good taste and decency.

l submerge: (1) to cover something completely with water or another liquid e. g. The tunnel entrance was submerged by rising sea water. (2) to go under the surface of the water and be completely covered by it e. g. The submarine submerged. (3) to hide feelings, ideas, or opinions and make yourself stop thinking about them —syn. suppress e. g. Feelings she thought she'd submerged were surfacing again.

(4) to make yourself very busy doing something, especially in order to forget about something else [submerge yourself in something] e. g. Alice submerged herself in work to try and forget about Tom.

l stagnant: (1) stagnant water or air does not move or flow and often smells bad e. g. a stagnant pond 死水潭 (2) not changing or making progress, and continuing to be in a bad condition e. g. a government plan to revive the stagnant economy 停滞的经济 (3) lacking vitality or briskness; sluggish or dull e. g. a stagnant mind 愚笨的头脑 Cf. stable: consistently dependable. 稳定 e. g. a stable economy 稳固的经济

7. Reading Skills Making an Outline The outline lets you see a whole essay at a glance. It not only records the main ideas but also shows their relative importance and their relationships with each other. Two common forms of outline: v The topic outline v The sentence outline Your success in outlining depends on your logic in choosing and arranging items.

7. Reading Skills Making an Outline The following points are worthy of note: A. The main divisions of the author’s thought are the major sections into which the lesser points are grouped. You must break down a whole into its main parts and then break each of these parts into its own smaller parts, and so on. B. You must make the main points comparable. The material of each should have about the same level of importance as that of the others.

7. Reading Skills Making an Outline C. You must omit everything irrelevant to the main plan. Rhetorical questions, figures of speech, elaborate descriptions, repetitions for effects — reduce them all to the basic points they illustrate or emphasize. Look at Text A again and try to make a detailed outline of it.

7. Reading Skills Sentence Outline of the Text (1 -5) Part I. America is not declining, but is in the process of creating a new collage-like civilization. (2) 1. It is not absolutely paralyzed, incapable of any improvement like other nations. (3) 2. It may not follow the historical precedent. (4) 3. Instead of declining, it may fuse with the Pacific culture to create a collage of cultures. (5) 4. Instead of a history of nations, it is creating a history of civilization.

(6 -21) Part II. Los Angeles is a good example of such a collage-like civilization. (7 -9) 1. Los Angeles will enter the 21 century as a multiracial, multicultural society. (10) 2. This transformation of American culture anticipates the general trend in the composition of mankind. (11 -14) 3. Traditional Third Word cultures are fusing with the most modern mentalities and technologies.

(15 -16) 4. The general character of the relationship between developed and underdeveloped worlds is cooperation and construction, not exploitation and destruction. (17 -20) 5. Los Angeles’ potential of development lies in that the Third World mentality merges with an open sense of possibility, a culture of organization, a western conception of time. ( 21) 6. Los Angeles is giving birth to a new type of man, a man of all races on the planet.

(22 -24) Part III. The common gain that harmonizes competing cultures in one place is “the chance to try”

Exercises for Unit 4 Directions: For each of the following sentences there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the ONE answer that best completes the sentence. 1. Charles Darwin, the famous biologist, was deeply B of animals and plants. interested in the _____ A) specific B) characteristic C) peculiar D) particular

C into the United States 2. Many of the earliest _____ established large plantations. A) emigrants B) emigrations C) immigrants D) migrants A 3. These goods are _____ for export, though a few of them may be sold on the home market. A) essentially B) completely C) necessarily D) remarkably A 4. Failure usually comes in _____ with misfortunes. A) combination B) relation C) connection D) association

D people from borrowing 5. High interest rates _____ money. A) dissuade B) disturb C) distract D) discourage A 6. He finished his _____for master’s degree last month. A) thesis B) treatise C) discourse D) disquisition C papers of his 7. Mr. Thompson gave all the _____ grandfather to the public library according to this grandfather’s will. A) history B) historic C) historical D) historically

D 8. It’s very difficult to understand the _____of people who say such things. A) heart B) mind C) head D) mentality B power 9. Hurricanes are killer winds, and their _____ lies in the physical damage they can do. A. cumulative B. destructive C. turbulent D. prevalent 10. Someday software will translate both written and spoken language so well that the need for any B common second language could _____. A. descend B. decline C. deteriorate D. depress

C 11. We must learn to see things in their right _____ and avoid making mistakes. A. prospective B. prosperity C. perspective D. permissive A the economic 12. The talk dwells too much _____ aspects of the problem. A. on B. in C. to D. for B popular belief that classical music is too 13. _____ complex, it achieves a simplicity that only a genius can create. A. Subject to B. Contrary to C. Familiar to D. Similar to

C the 14. The residents in the neighborhood all _____ council’s decision to close the small dye factory. A. certified B. accredited C. applauded D. ratified 15. My memory of the devastating earthquake is only a D _____. A. shady B. shadowy C. obscure D. blur 16. I don’t want to lend any money to him; he’s already A me. in debt _____ A. to B. for C. of D. with

A many other reforms. 17. The use of steam _____ A. originate B. originate in C. originate from D. originate to D from Latin. 18. Many English words are _____ A. got B. obtained C. acquired D. derived D of cruelty in his character. 19. There is a _____ A. characteristic B. quality C. feature D. streak C your greater 20. I don’t think it is wise of you to _____ knowledge in front of the director, for it may offend him. A. show up B. show out C. show off D. show in