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1 British and American culture：an introduction

What do you think of when you think of Britain?

United or divided?

American stereotypes

Multicultural US

2 People

The characteristics of the people of Britain

Who was the greatest Brit ever?

National characteristics of the American people

The greatest and best-known Americans

3 Family and society

The place of children in British society today

A closer look at British family life

The breakdown of Western family life

Birth and breeding， or beauty and brains?

4 Homes

Houses in the UK

Houses in the US

On-campus apartment

The unspoken rules on visiting peoples homes

5 Life in the county and the city

Where is your dream home?

The British love of the past

From London to St：DaVid， what makes a city in the UK?

Differences in the city and countryside in the US

6 Education

How education works in Britain

If its tiee， why do some parents choose to pay?

School leaving traditions and rituals

Educalion in the US

7 Work

May the best candidate win！

Career building in the UK

Office etiquette in the UK and US

Longer holidays or hivher taxes

8 Leisure

Learning new skills and making new friends

Leisurely walk or extreme sports - its your choice

Get rich quick or easy come， easy go

Shop till you drop

9 Holidays

Thanksgiving

National days in the English-speaking world

Days to remember the special people in your life

The connection between holy days and holidays

10 Cuisine

What do we like toeat in the UK?

You are what you eat！

A quick cuppa or an extravagant spread?

What is on and what is not when it comes to eating?

学习英语必须了解英美文化，因为语言是文化的组成部分，是文化的载体，两者息息相关。大量事实表明，语言理解的障碍往往不在语言结构本身，而在相关文化知识的缺乏。何谓文化？从广义来说，文化是人类在社会和历史发展进程中创造的物质财富和精神财富的总和，包括文学、艺术、音乐、科学、技术、哲学、地理、建筑等。从狭义来说，文化是人们的生活方式、风俗习惯、行为准则等。所有这些，都需要用语言表达。英语有句名言：想要掌握两种语言，必须掌握两种文化。（Tobe bilingual，One must be bicultural.）英美文化对于广大的英语学习者的重要性可见一斑，而对于广大的一线英语教师来说，如果能够掌握广博的英美文化，不仅能够提升自己的文化素养，能够更加准确、传神地讲述教材，取得较好的教学效果，还能够进一步激发学生学习英语的兴趣和积极性，扩展他们的国际视野。
外研社基础教育分社经过长达四年的调查研究，广泛地听取了广大一线教师的意见，决定开发一套英美文化读本，以满足中小学英语教师的需求，并兼顾大专院校学生和一般读者的需求。为此，中方团队密切关注英美文化发展的最新态势，遵循国家《英语课程标准》的精神和中国学生学习英语的实际，提出选题方案，然后依据文章主题聘请各个领域的英美学者撰写书稿。在稿件完成后，中方专家又就内容和语言问题提出意见，请英美学者再进行修改和完善而成。