Lesson 21． About Common sense 关于一般常识

Key Sentences

344. How many nationalities are there in China?

中国有多少民族？

345. The are 56 nationalities in China.

中国有56个民族。

346. What are China's most important festivals?

中国有哪些重要节日？

347. The four important festivals are the spring Festival, the Lantern Festival, the Dragon-boat Festival and the Mid-autumn Festival.

有四个重要节日：春节、元宵节、端午节和中秋节。

348. Besides, we have Women's Day, Labor Day, and the National Day.

此外，我们有妇女节、劳动节和国庆节。

349. Tell me about Chinese families.

请讲讲中国家庭的情况。

350. This is an interesting question.

这是个有趣的问题。

351. Chinese families are very close and depend on each other a lot.

中国家庭成员非常亲密，在很大程度上互相依靠。

352. Chinese families are more closeknit than American families.

中国家庭的联系比美国家庭紧密。

353. Young people in China often live with their parents even after their marriage, but in America, the younger generation will live away from their parents.

中国的年轻人即使婚后也经常是和父母一起住，但在美国年轻人一般不住在父母家里。

354. In China, we believe in collectiveness, but in America ,people believe in individualism.

在中国，我们相信集体主义，而在美国人们相信个人主义。

355. What are some important festivals in the U. S. A., do you know?

你是否知道美国有哪些重要节日？

356. They are Christmas Day, Thanksgiving Day, New Year's Day, Easter, Independence Day, and so on.

有圣诞节，感恩节，元旦，复活节，独立日（7月4日）等等。

357. What does WTO stand for?

WTO代表什么？

358. It stands for World Trade Organization.

他代表世界贸易组织。

359. Is China a member of WTO?

中国是WTO成员吗？

360. Not yet. But China is on the way to WTO.

还不是，但中国正在加入的进程中.

361. What's the currency in EEC, do you know?

欧洲经济共同体的通货是什么？

362. It's Euro.

它是欧元。

Dialogue A

(I = Interviewer A = Applicant)

I: How many nationalities are there in China?

A: Fifty-six.

I: What are China's most important festivals?

A: The four important festival are the Spring Festival, the Lantern Festival, the Dragon-boat Festival and the Mid-autumn Festival. Besides, we have International Labor Women’s Day, Labour Day, and the National Day.

I: Tell me about Chinese families.

A: This is an interesting question. Chinese families are very close and depend on each other a lot. They will take care of their elders an help the younger ones. In a word respect the old and love the young.

I: What difference are there between Chinese and American families?

A: Chinese families are more closeknit than American families. Young people in China often live with their parents even after their marriage, but in America the younger generation will live away from their parents. In China, we believe in collectiveness but in America, people believe in individualism.

I: What are some important festivals in the U. S. do you know?

A: They are Christmas Day. Thanksgiving Day, New Year's Day, Easter, Independence Day, and so on.

I: How many states are there in the U. S. A?

A: There are fifty.

I: What is the legislative in the U. S. A?

A: The Congress.

I: What are the two major parties in the U. S. A?

A: The Republican Party and the Democratic Party.

Dialogue B

I: What does WTO stand for?

A: It stands for World Trade Organization.

I: Is China a member of WTO?

A: Not ye. But China is on the way to WTO.

I: What does EEC stand for?

A: It is the European Economic Community.

I: How many member countries are there in EEC?

A: Twelve of them. France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxemburg, Great Britain, Denmark, Spain, Greece and Portugal.

I: What's the currency in EEC, do you know?

A: It's Euro.

Notes 注释

1. In a word, respect the old and love the young.

一句话，尊老爱幼。

2. What is the legislative in the U. S. A?

美国的立法机关是什么？

3. The Congress.

是国会。

4. Twelve of them. France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxemburg, Great Britain, Denmark, Spain, Greece and Portugal.

有十二个。法国、德国、意大利、比利时、荷兰、卢森堡。英国、丹麦、西班牙、希腊和葡萄牙。

Words and Expressions

nationality n．民族，部族

festival n．节日

lantern n．灯笼

closeknit a．紧紧结合在一起的

collectiveness n．集体主义

individualism n．个人主义

Thanksgiving 感恩节

Easter n．复活节

and so on 等等，诸如此类

legislative n．立法机关

currency n．通货，货币