"Customs In Other Countries: Greetings"

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[A] COMPREHENSION::


Read the passage.

"Customs In Other Countries: Greetings"

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In many parts of the world, men shake with both hands when they meet. This custom, started long ago, was meant to show that each man was not hiding or holding weapons behind his back. Today, when two men shake hands, they are just being polite or friendly. Not all people, however, shake their friend's hands. In ancient China, when two men met, each shook his own hands! Today, the Chinese greet each other with "Have you eaten?" Famines, which are common in China, make it necessary for people to share their food.

-2-

Climates often affect the way people greet one another. In Greenland, the Eskimos rub their cold, red noses together, and in doing so, warm their noses. In dry Mongolia, the polite way to greet someone is to ask, "Has the rain fallen in your neighborhood?" But in the wet Poland, farmers greet one another with, "It is too wet?"

-3-

Age, too, affects the way people greet one another. In many countries, a young person shows his respect for older people by rising or bowing. The older person may pat the young person on the head or back. The Japanese, young and old alike, bow to one another.

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Answer the questions.


1. What can't a man do when he shakes with both hands?
2. How did an ancient Chinese greet his friend?
3. Why do the Chinese people greet one another with, "Have you eaten?"
4. Why do Eskimos greet each other by rubbing their noses together?
5. Name two things that affect the way people greet one another.
6. How do young people show respect to their elders?

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[B] VOCABULARY


In the passage, "Customs In Other Countries: Greetings", there are 7 underlined words. Match the words with the words and phrases below.


1. __________ : an old practice observed by many people
2. __________ : a period of time where people starve and die of hunger
3. __________ : normal, ordinary
4. __________ : a district or locality where people live
5. __________ : types of weather prevailing at a certain area
6. __________ : of or in a long past, very old, aged
7. __________ : instruments or devices used in attack or defense in combat

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[C] WRITING


In three to four sentences: In Japan, people bow to greet and show respect to each other. How did this tradition start and is it still widely practiced even among young Japanese today?


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** Some more discussion questions to be asked by the teacher.

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