DIRECTIONS: Read the following point of view and answer the questions in five minutes.
I am from Thailand. I am a student in an American university. This is my third year in the United States. After three years, it is difficult to remember my first impressions of the United States. But I noticed then and still notice now how much more informality there is in the United States than there is in Thailand.
Take, for example, clothes. I expected to see blue jeans because this is where they started, isn’t it? But I didn’t expect to see so many running shoes. People wear running shoes in classes, downtown, in expensive restaurants, and with business suits! I also couldn’t believe the runners, joggers they call them, all over the place, but that gets into how Americans feel about health, which is another interesting concept.
If you think about the English language, you know that it is not a formal language. There is only one you and not a formal you for older people and an informal you for friends and children. I remember another thing that surprised me. My first English teacher in the United States was about fifty years old, but we called him Al, his first name. I wanted to call him Mr. Al, but he didn’t like that. But not all situations are informal like this; in business and in certain professions like medicine things are more formal.
As a young person, I like the American idea of informality, but I think it will be better to be old in Thailand where people respect old people and have more formal relationships.
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DIRECTIONS: |
Read each of the following statements carefully to determine whether each is true (Tj, false (F), or impossible to know (ITK). |
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1. |
The writer is a woman. |
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2. |
The writer is a university student. |
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3. |
Al was the teacher’s last name. |
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4. |
The writer is young. |
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5. |
The writer is married. |
6. _______ The writer never saw running shoes downtown.
7. _______ The writer lived in the city of San Francisco.
8. _______ Americans call doctors by their first name.
9. The writer has more ideas about Americans and health.
10. The writer thinks formality is better for old people.
C. Vocabulary
DIRECTIONS: Circle the letter of the word/sj with the same meaning as the italicized word.
1. The way Americans feel about informality is an interesting concept,
a. information b. idea
2. I noticed a person sitting alone in the restaurant.
a. saw b. talked to
3. I know a lot of runners.
a. bicycles b. office people
4. They had a very old friendship.
a. kind of relationship b. understanding
5. I have a good impression of her.
a. general idea b. custom
6. I never start my homework until 10:00 P. M.
a. end b. begin
7. Please give me more information.
a. additional b. good
8. I never question my father’s ideas.
a. answer b. understand
9. This is an interesting thought.
a. issue b. quick idea с feeling
10. When my mother telephoned, I immediately told her the news, a. at the first moment b. generally с slowly
DIRECTIONS: Answer these questions. Discuss them with a classmate.
1. What are some examples of informality?
2. Is your country formal or informal?
3. Do you think formality or informality is better? Why? In what situations?
E. Word Analysis Part I
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DIRECTIONS: |
What shorter words can you |
see in these words? |
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Example: runner |
-4з>_____ |
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lifestyle |
(1) |
freedom |
(7) |
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informality |
(2) |
production |
(8) |
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homemaker |
(3) |
friendship |
(9) |
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landscape |
(4) |
knowledge |
(10) |
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newspaper |
(5) |
action |
(11) |
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comparison |
(6) |
advertisement |
(12) |
Part 2
DIRECTIONS: Read the following information about nouns and adjectives and then complete the exercise. Decide whether the italicized words are nouns or adjectives.
A noun is a word used to name something. For example, girl, box, idea, and restaurant are all nouns.
An adjective gives some information about a noun. For example, good, interesting, and green are all adjectives when they describe a noun.
ADJECTIVE
1. 
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I live in a small apartment.
2. English is difficult.
3. I am studying English history.
4. That is a great idea!
5. Many good things in life are free.
6. I have a negative feeling about politics.
7. Good friends are life’s greatest pleasure.
8. I never read the newspaper here.
9. Is that a typical product of your country?
10. My aunt is one of the friendliest people I know.