1.Forest Fire Forest fire or wildfire is often used to signify an uncontrolled intense fire that breaks out in the wooded areas due to many factors ranging from natural to manmade causes. Wildfires can be witnessed throughout the world and they usually occur in cycles. Mild forest fires are often considered beneficial, as growth of many plant species depend on it. Many plant species also depend on wildfires for reproduction. However ,the large forest fires can have serious damaging effect on the surrounding environment. Due to the extensive size and the immense speed , a forest fire can easily spread to a vast area. Besides, it can also change its direction and overcome occasional barriers like roads, rivers and fire breaks. Forest fires break out in areas like grassland , woodland and bush. Some important causes of it are lightning and volcanic eruptions. Besides these, sparks from rock falls can also ignite forest fires. 2.Job Hunting Job hunting is a stressful problem for everyone. Whether someone getting a job right out of school or someone seeking a better position than the one they just left, it is not something that comes easy to most people. However, with preparation and planning, the difficulties can be focused on and the situation can become less stressful. For example, dressing correctly is an important step for any applicant. Also, if you dress correctly, you will feel more confident in your ability to get the job. Men should wear a dress shirt and tie or even a suit if they possess one. Women should wear a suit or other clothing suitable for the occasion. It is better to dress too conservatively than not conservatively enough. Always use honesty as some interviewers will be able to detect problems in your resume. Good manners and correct speech are essential in impressing the interviewer. 3.V ocational Schools The universities are not able to meet all the growing needs of the society for future development. Vocational schools have arisen to fill these needs by providing a more detailed knowledge than that provided by universities. This has led to weak base of theory for many workers. Their focus, practical application , is much more detailed than the theory provided at college. Many students choose to go to vocational schools instead of universities. This has led many college graduates to question the value of their degrees. They should not, as the level of education offered by different vocational schools are unequal. Some of these schools are private and offer a flexible schedule for students who may be working or are even in school at university. On the other hand, because they are run by individuals, the teaching quality and the teaching resources offered by many vocational schools maybe of low quality. 4.National Race The whole question of the changing role of Blacks in American society as been the subject of newspaper articles around the world so so frequently that visitors to the United States do not know what to expect when they arrive. They may be surprised when they see that Blacks and Whites work side by side in offices, factories ,and schools across the country. The majority of Blacks in the United States, however, live in and around only a small number of American cities. Many dark-skinned visitors arrive in the United States fearing personal attack or expecting various degrees of racial prejudice. Some forms of discrimination still exist, unfortunately, especially in the areas of the housing, schools,and jobs. The school equality is still more a dream than a reality. There are still too many areas of the country where Black American do not enjoy the same full opportunities as White American. 5.A Positive View of Every Day
If your life feels like it is lacking the power that you want and the motivation that you need, sometimes all you have to do is shift your your point of view. By training your thoughts to concentrate on the bright side of things ,you are more likely to have the incentive to follow through on your goals. You are less likely to be held back by negative ideas that might limit your performance. Your life can be enhanced, and your happiness enriched, when you choose to change your perspective. Don't leave your future to chance, or wait for things to get better mysteriously on their own. You must go in the direction of your hopes and aspirations. Begin to build your confidence, and work through problems rather than avoid them. Remember that power is not necessarily control over situations, but the ability to deal with whatever comes your way. 6.Languages in America The United States is primarily an English speaking country. The majority of the population speaks English as their native language. Business, education and most public aspects of life are conducted in English. Across the country, people pronounce English sounds in several different ways and some regional vocabulary differences exist, but for the most part, Americans speak one common language. This language is sometimes called American English. However, not everyone in the U.S. is a native speaker of English. Most immigrants to the country are speakers of other languages. There are hundreds of communities around the U.S. where English is not the most commonly used language. Chinese, Italian, German, Armenian, Greek, Vietnamese and French are all spoken in numerous communities in the U.S. Spanish is the second most commonly spoken language after English in the U.S. It is widely spoken in New York and across the southern part of the country. 7.Halloween It's October the 31st , and across Britain and the USA, thousands of children are dressing up as monsters, ghosts and witches and going to their neighbors' houses to ask for sweets or to play tricks on them if they refuse. Many houses have lanterns made from pumpkins in their windows. These lanterns have frightening faces cut into them. What is the reason for all of this? It's Halloween! To an outsider, this may seem a strang festival, but it is a very popular one and an important part of the culture in Britain and the USA. st The holiday once had a religious significance. November the 1 is All st Saint's Day, and October the 31 was believed to be a day when all the spirits came back to the world of the living. In modern times, this has changed to be a day when children dress up as monsters, ghosts and witches. 8.Universities in the UK Universities in Britain are a magnet for overseas students. There are currently over 200000 from outside Britain studying at British universities. The large single group is Chinese students. There are currently 50000 in the UK. The British government expects the total number of overseas students to be around 900000 by 2020, and also thinks that a quarter of these will be Chinese. But why is the UK such a popular destination for university students? Well, the quality of your course is guaranteed. All courses are assessed by an independent system, so you can be assured that your course is officially approved and has wide international recognition. The British education system is very flexible in order to provide for the needs of a modern, complex society. Degree courses are usually 3 years long, which
is shorter and more intensive than in other countries. There are lots of scholarships available. 9.Money and Happiness It seems only natural that happiness should flow from having more money. Even if they don't admit it, people still behave as though it were true. More money means you can have what you want and do what you want. The house you dream of? It's yours. The new car you desire? Here are the keys. The freedom to enjoy your favorite pastimes? Here's your racket, the court is down there, just past the pool. So the puzzle is this: why do social scientists consistently find only moderate relationships between having more money and being happy? Some have even suggested that this moderate connection might be exaggerated. In reality money might have very little to do with happiness at all. Most puzzling, though, is that people often seem aware at some level that money won't make them happy. And yet they continue to work away earning money they don't objectively need. 10.Tea Party Food A tea party without good food is just as distasteful as a cake without sugar. So along with cups of tea, you need to arrange variety of party foods, like cookies, snacks, chips and starters. A bite of sugar and spice will always enhance the flavor of tea party. Sandwiches, pizzas, finger chips and French fries serve as good side dishes for tea. Cream cheese salad, pudding and salads are good delicacies for tea parties. Children love to relish chicken pies, apple pies, cakes and chocolates. Above all, remember it's a tea party, so serve different varieties of tea to your guests. Black, green and white will be the ideal for your guests. You can also brew some spicy herbal tea or flavored tea. For kids, you can serve cream., honey, milk ,and sugar. You can organize glasses of wine late in the evening or punch a bottle of champagne also. 11.Adventure The idea of adventure has always captured the imagination. The idea that just over the next hill there will be excitement and mystery is a big part of what makes us human . This is just as true of ancient times as it is today. Famous explores set out in small boats or joueneyed across immense deserts and oceans. Early explorers like Christopher Columbus or Zheng He traveled to foreign places for the glory of their nations. More importantly, they set out to test themselves against the forces of nature and the pursuit of knowledge. Other explorers today do the same thing. People are going to space in pursuit of the last frontier or seeking in the depths of science for new knowledge. Most people, in their daily lives, do not have the opportunity, however, with adventuring events. 12.Office Conflict The office can be very demanding on the lives of the workers. Stress can build up and explode into problems. This can seriously influence the productivity and efficiency of a business. The problems that upset an office can vary drastically depending on the nature of the employees or even the employers. Employees may feel that they are being overworked or underpaid. They may also feel that this signals the loss of appreciation on their work, causing increasing tension as they complain about work. They may also have personality differences which can cause conflict. This can be seen in offices where too close relationships develop. People in authority may tend to place more value on these relationships than on the work itself. They may have lost sight of the goal of forwarding the development of the company. Gossiping about co-workers and the company is a frequent example of this. 13.Food and Culture The culture of food and dining in the West is a little different from that in
China. The proper western dinner at a fine restaurant is one of manners, focusing on conversation. You are expected to have knowledge of table manners such as what folk or knife to use as these are essential in western dining. The meal would consist of several courses including a soup or salad, an appetizer, the main dish and a dessert. The atmosphere will be filled with light music that would only serve as background as people converse with each other. The decorations are usually sparse and are only meant to highlight the atmosphere that is being created by the music. This type of dining is different from the dining experience in most restaurants in China. However, with the increase in internationalism, more restaurants are opening which reflect the more western dining style. 14.In-service Education and Vocational Development Many people feel that the successful finding of a job is the end of their schooling. This idea is rarely true, however, as each field of work requires a thorough knowledge of it. This may go beyond that which could be learned in high school or university. Universities, with their complete curriculum, are intended to first teach us about everything. Later studies fill in the gap of knowledge by offering more specialized courses. Universities, however, are meant to teach the theories of any particular field, not the practical knowledge needed to do our jobs. The rise of vocational school has risen to fill a gap of practical knowledge. V ocational schools can aid us in this by teaching us to be especially good at one thing. If a person has enough health and energy, as well as determination, he may go to Night School or take a self-teaching program. 15.Hospitality An American friend has invited you to visit his family. You've never been to an American's home before, and you're not sure what to do. Should you take a gift? How should you dress? What time should you arrive? What should you do when you get there? Glad you asked. When you're the guest, you should just make yourself at home. That's what hospitality is all about: making people feel at home when they're not. The question of whether or not to bring a gift often makes guests nervous. Giving your host a gift is not just a social nicety in some cultures--it's expected. But in American culture, a guest is not obligated to bring a present. Of course, some people do bring a small token of appreciation to their host. Appropriate gifts for general occasions might be flowers, candy or--if the family has small children--toys. 16.The Football Field Length Knowledge about the football field length does not seem like something fans and players have to be aware of, but it is certainly something that the most passionate fans will know. The length of a football field, be it American football or soccer, is universally known and all professional stadiums and grounds adopt these measurements. In soccer, there may be some minor differences in the football field length from stadium to stadium, and this occurs because these stadiums are historical monuments that have been around before the measurements were standardized. On the other hand, American football requires that the football field length be uniform across all the grounds and the stadiums in the country. The National Football League has laid down particular guidelines and rules about the football field length, and this cannot be altered. As a player,one must be completely aware about these football field dimensions. 17.Culture The culture values of a community give it an identity of its own. A community gains a character and a personality of its own, because of the culture of its people. Culture is shared by the members of a community. It is learned and passed from the older generations to the newer ones. For an
effective transfer of culture from one generation to another, it has to be translated into symbols. Language, art and religion serve as the symbolic means of transfer of culture values between generation. Culture is a bond that ties the people of a region or community together. It is that one common bond, which brings the people of a community together. The customs and traditions that the people of a community follow, the festivals they celebrate, the kind of clothing they wear, the food they eat, and most importantly, the culture values they adhere to, bind them together. 18.Fashion Every year London Fashion Week attracts retailers, fashion leaders, and the press to shows of all that's new in British fashion. Outrageous designs, original fabrics, and beautiful slim models are displayed on the catwalk in an atmosphere of extravagant elegance. However, how much of this gets translated into street fashion, appearing in high street shops? And how many of us actually follow the trends we see? We all need to be comfortable with what we wear. After all, first impressions count, and we want our appearance to be consistent with the image we would like to project. How can we do this without becoming a fashion slave? We are bombarded with magazines that show us the new fashions for each season, and where we can buy trendy clothes for reasonable prices. The distinction between what we see on the catwalk and what's on display in the high street is becoming increasingly blurred. 19. American Society The United States, like other countries has its rich and poor people, its rich and poor neighborhoods. Americans love---and many are themselves living examples of---the "self-made man." you will hear this expression often. But for every person who is successful,they are usually better educated than their parents and therefore more likely to have good , well paying jobs. In addition to the fact that the United States includes people whose families originally came from many other parts of the world, Americans move across the nation in great numbers. One study reported that one of every five families in the United States moves every three years. This continuous mixing of people into new communities is an important observation to consider when trying to understand the meaning of class in America. We have already discussed the questioning, "do-it-yourself" American personality that is another important consideration. 20. Recreation Recreations are an important part of people's life. For example, after hours of attentive study, students feel like having a football game to relax their nerves. Workers, too, find it very satisfying to sit in front of a TV set for an hour or two when they come back from a day's tiring work. Besides, recreations serve as a pleasing way for the retired people to pass their excessive time. Everywhere you go, you will find that during their spare time, people are engaged in recreational activities of one kind or another. Generally speaking, there are two kinds of recreations: physical activities and intellectual activities. Physical activities, on the one hand, keep one fit and develop team spirit. Basketball is an example. On the other hand, intellectual activities such as playing chess and reading novels can train one's brains and provide temporary escape from one's troubles.
1.Forest Fire Forest fire or wildfire is often used to signify an uncontrolled intense fire that breaks out in the wooded areas due to many factors ranging from natural to manmade causes. Wildfires can be witnessed throughout the world and they usually occur in cycles. Mild forest fires are often considered beneficial, as growth of many plant species depend on it. Many plant species also depend on wildfires for reproduction. However ,the large forest fires can have serious damaging effect on the surrounding environment. Due to the extensive size and the immense speed , a forest fire can easily spread to a vast area. Besides, it can also change its direction and overcome occasional barriers like roads, rivers and fire breaks. Forest fires break out in areas like grassland , woodland and bush. Some important causes of it are lightning and volcanic eruptions. Besides these, sparks from rock falls can also ignite forest fires. 2.Job Hunting Job hunting is a stressful problem for everyone. Whether someone getting a job right out of school or someone seeking a better position than the one they just left, it is not something that comes easy to most people. However, with preparation and planning, the difficulties can be focused on and the situation can become less stressful. For example, dressing correctly is an important step for any applicant. Also, if you dress correctly, you will feel more confident in your ability to get the job. Men should wear a dress shirt and tie or even a suit if they possess one. Women should wear a suit or other clothing suitable for the occasion. It is better to dress too conservatively than not conservatively enough. Always use honesty as some interviewers will be able to detect problems in your resume. Good manners and correct speech are essential in impressing the interviewer. 3.V ocational Schools The universities are not able to meet all the growing needs of the society for future development. Vocational schools have arisen to fill these needs by providing a more detailed knowledge than that provided by universities. This has led to weak base of theory for many workers. Their focus, practical application , is much more detailed than the theory provided at college. Many students choose to go to vocational schools instead of universities. This has led many college graduates to question the value of their degrees. They should not, as the level of education offered by different vocational schools are unequal. Some of these schools are private and offer a flexible schedule for students who may be working or are even in school at university. On the other hand, because they are run by individuals, the teaching quality and the teaching resources offered by many vocational schools maybe of low quality. 4.National Race The whole question of the changing role of Blacks in American society as been the subject of newspaper articles around the world so so frequently that visitors to the United States do not know what to expect when they arrive. They may be surprised when they see that Blacks and Whites work side by side in offices, factories ,and schools across the country. The majority of Blacks in the United States, however, live in and around only a small number of American cities. Many dark-skinned visitors arrive in the United States fearing personal attack or expecting various degrees of racial prejudice. Some forms of discrimination still exist, unfortunately, especially in the areas of the housing, schools,and jobs. The school equality is still more a dream than a reality. There are still too many areas of the country where Black American do not enjoy the same full opportunities as White American. 5.A Positive View of Every Day
If your life feels like it is lacking the power that you want and the motivation that you need, sometimes all you have to do is shift your your point of view. By training your thoughts to concentrate on the bright side of things ,you are more likely to have the incentive to follow through on your goals. You are less likely to be held back by negative ideas that might limit your performance. Your life can be enhanced, and your happiness enriched, when you choose to change your perspective. Don't leave your future to chance, or wait for things to get better mysteriously on their own. You must go in the direction of your hopes and aspirations. Begin to build your confidence, and work through problems rather than avoid them. Remember that power is not necessarily control over situations, but the ability to deal with whatever comes your way. 6.Languages in America The United States is primarily an English speaking country. The majority of the population speaks English as their native language. Business, education and most public aspects of life are conducted in English. Across the country, people pronounce English sounds in several different ways and some regional vocabulary differences exist, but for the most part, Americans speak one common language. This language is sometimes called American English. However, not everyone in the U.S. is a native speaker of English. Most immigrants to the country are speakers of other languages. There are hundreds of communities around the U.S. where English is not the most commonly used language. Chinese, Italian, German, Armenian, Greek, Vietnamese and French are all spoken in numerous communities in the U.S. Spanish is the second most commonly spoken language after English in the U.S. It is widely spoken in New York and across the southern part of the country. 7.Halloween It's October the 31st , and across Britain and the USA, thousands of children are dressing up as monsters, ghosts and witches and going to their neighbors' houses to ask for sweets or to play tricks on them if they refuse. Many houses have lanterns made from pumpkins in their windows. These lanterns have frightening faces cut into them. What is the reason for all of this? It's Halloween! To an outsider, this may seem a strang festival, but it is a very popular one and an important part of the culture in Britain and the USA. st The holiday once had a religious significance. November the 1 is All st Saint's Day, and October the 31 was believed to be a day when all the spirits came back to the world of the living. In modern times, this has changed to be a day when children dress up as monsters, ghosts and witches. 8.Universities in the UK Universities in Britain are a magnet for overseas students. There are currently over 200000 from outside Britain studying at British universities. The large single group is Chinese students. There are currently 50000 in the UK. The British government expects the total number of overseas students to be around 900000 by 2020, and also thinks that a quarter of these will be Chinese. But why is the UK such a popular destination for university students? Well, the quality of your course is guaranteed. All courses are assessed by an independent system, so you can be assured that your course is officially approved and has wide international recognition. The British education system is very flexible in order to provide for the needs of a modern, complex society. Degree courses are usually 3 years long, which
is shorter and more intensive than in other countries. There are lots of scholarships available. 9.Money and Happiness It seems only natural that happiness should flow from having more money. Even if they don't admit it, people still behave as though it were true. More money means you can have what you want and do what you want. The house you dream of? It's yours. The new car you desire? Here are the keys. The freedom to enjoy your favorite pastimes? Here's your racket, the court is down there, just past the pool. So the puzzle is this: why do social scientists consistently find only moderate relationships between having more money and being happy? Some have even suggested that this moderate connection might be exaggerated. In reality money might have very little to do with happiness at all. Most puzzling, though, is that people often seem aware at some level that money won't make them happy. And yet they continue to work away earning money they don't objectively need. 10.Tea Party Food A tea party without good food is just as distasteful as a cake without sugar. So along with cups of tea, you need to arrange variety of party foods, like cookies, snacks, chips and starters. A bite of sugar and spice will always enhance the flavor of tea party. Sandwiches, pizzas, finger chips and French fries serve as good side dishes for tea. Cream cheese salad, pudding and salads are good delicacies for tea parties. Children love to relish chicken pies, apple pies, cakes and chocolates. Above all, remember it's a tea party, so serve different varieties of tea to your guests. Black, green and white will be the ideal for your guests. You can also brew some spicy herbal tea or flavored tea. For kids, you can serve cream., honey, milk ,and sugar. You can organize glasses of wine late in the evening or punch a bottle of champagne also. 11.Adventure The idea of adventure has always captured the imagination. The idea that just over the next hill there will be excitement and mystery is a big part of what makes us human . This is just as true of ancient times as it is today. Famous explores set out in small boats or joueneyed across immense deserts and oceans. Early explorers like Christopher Columbus or Zheng He traveled to foreign places for the glory of their nations. More importantly, they set out to test themselves against the forces of nature and the pursuit of knowledge. Other explorers today do the same thing. People are going to space in pursuit of the last frontier or seeking in the depths of science for new knowledge. Most people, in their daily lives, do not have the opportunity, however, with adventuring events. 12.Office Conflict The office can be very demanding on the lives of the workers. Stress can build up and explode into problems. This can seriously influence the productivity and efficiency of a business. The problems that upset an office can vary drastically depending on the nature of the employees or even the employers. Employees may feel that they are being overworked or underpaid. They may also feel that this signals the loss of appreciation on their work, causing increasing tension as they complain about work. They may also have personality differences which can cause conflict. This can be seen in offices where too close relationships develop. People in authority may tend to place more value on these relationships than on the work itself. They may have lost sight of the goal of forwarding the development of the company. Gossiping about co-workers and the company is a frequent example of this. 13.Food and Culture The culture of food and dining in the West is a little different from that in
China. The proper western dinner at a fine restaurant is one of manners, focusing on conversation. You are expected to have knowledge of table manners such as what folk or knife to use as these are essential in western dining. The meal would consist of several courses including a soup or salad, an appetizer, the main dish and a dessert. The atmosphere will be filled with light music that would only serve as background as people converse with each other. The decorations are usually sparse and are only meant to highlight the atmosphere that is being created by the music. This type of dining is different from the dining experience in most restaurants in China. However, with the increase in internationalism, more restaurants are opening which reflect the more western dining style. 14.In-service Education and Vocational Development Many people feel that the successful finding of a job is the end of their schooling. This idea is rarely true, however, as each field of work requires a thorough knowledge of it. This may go beyond that which could be learned in high school or university. Universities, with their complete curriculum, are intended to first teach us about everything. Later studies fill in the gap of knowledge by offering more specialized courses. Universities, however, are meant to teach the theories of any particular field, not the practical knowledge needed to do our jobs. The rise of vocational school has risen to fill a gap of practical knowledge. V ocational schools can aid us in this by teaching us to be especially good at one thing. If a person has enough health and energy, as well as determination, he may go to Night School or take a self-teaching program. 15.Hospitality An American friend has invited you to visit his family. You've never been to an American's home before, and you're not sure what to do. Should you take a gift? How should you dress? What time should you arrive? What should you do when you get there? Glad you asked. When you're the guest, you should just make yourself at home. That's what hospitality is all about: making people feel at home when they're not. The question of whether or not to bring a gift often makes guests nervous. Giving your host a gift is not just a social nicety in some cultures--it's expected. But in American culture, a guest is not obligated to bring a present. Of course, some people do bring a small token of appreciation to their host. Appropriate gifts for general occasions might be flowers, candy or--if the family has small children--toys. 16.The Football Field Length Knowledge about the football field length does not seem like something fans and players have to be aware of, but it is certainly something that the most passionate fans will know. The length of a football field, be it American football or soccer, is universally known and all professional stadiums and grounds adopt these measurements. In soccer, there may be some minor differences in the football field length from stadium to stadium, and this occurs because these stadiums are historical monuments that have been around before the measurements were standardized. On the other hand, American football requires that the football field length be uniform across all the grounds and the stadiums in the country. The National Football League has laid down particular guidelines and rules about the football field length, and this cannot be altered. As a player,one must be completely aware about these football field dimensions. 17.Culture The culture values of a community give it an identity of its own. A community gains a character and a personality of its own, because of the culture of its people. Culture is shared by the members of a community. It is learned and passed from the older generations to the newer ones. For an
effective transfer of culture from one generation to another, it has to be translated into symbols. Language, art and religion serve as the symbolic means of transfer of culture values between generation. Culture is a bond that ties the people of a region or community together. It is that one common bond, which brings the people of a community together. The customs and traditions that the people of a community follow, the festivals they celebrate, the kind of clothing they wear, the food they eat, and most importantly, the culture values they adhere to, bind them together. 18.Fashion Every year London Fashion Week attracts retailers, fashion leaders, and the press to shows of all that's new in British fashion. Outrageous designs, original fabrics, and beautiful slim models are displayed on the catwalk in an atmosphere of extravagant elegance. However, how much of this gets translated into street fashion, appearing in high street shops? And how many of us actually follow the trends we see? We all need to be comfortable with what we wear. After all, first impressions count, and we want our appearance to be consistent with the image we would like to project. How can we do this without becoming a fashion slave? We are bombarded with magazines that show us the new fashions for each season, and where we can buy trendy clothes for reasonable prices. The distinction between what we see on the catwalk and what's on display in the high street is becoming increasingly blurred. 19. American Society The United States, like other countries has its rich and poor people, its rich and poor neighborhoods. Americans love---and many are themselves living examples of---the "self-made man." you will hear this expression often. But for every person who is successful,they are usually better educated than their parents and therefore more likely to have good , well paying jobs. In addition to the fact that the United States includes people whose families originally came from many other parts of the world, Americans move across the nation in great numbers. One study reported that one of every five families in the United States moves every three years. This continuous mixing of people into new communities is an important observation to consider when trying to understand the meaning of class in America. We have already discussed the questioning, "do-it-yourself" American personality that is another important consideration. 20. Recreation Recreations are an important part of people's life. For example, after hours of attentive study, students feel like having a football game to relax their nerves. Workers, too, find it very satisfying to sit in front of a TV set for an hour or two when they come back from a day's tiring work. Besides, recreations serve as a pleasing way for the retired people to pass their excessive time. Everywhere you go, you will find that during their spare time, people are engaged in recreational activities of one kind or another. Generally speaking, there are two kinds of recreations: physical activities and intellectual activities. Physical activities, on the one hand, keep one fit and develop team spirit. Basketball is an example. On the other hand, intellectual activities such as playing chess and reading novels can train one's brains and provide temporary escape from one's troubles.