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西方礼仪文化英语作文优秀19篇

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初中英语作文:东西方文化差异

全文共 847 字

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My dream is to study abroad in the future. I am always that kind of life can come true soon. But, before I realize my dream, I have to do some preparation. I think the most important thing I need to do first is to adapt the life there.

It is said that there is a big difference between the eastern and western culture.

If I know nothing, it is easy for me to have culture conflict. It will put me into an embarrass place. For example, dragon is the leader for all animals and it has holy good meaning in china. But it means violence in the western country.

I need to learn as much the cultural conflicts as possible to make my oversea life become easier.

我的梦想是以后可以去留学。我总是希望那样的生活能早日成真。但是,在实现梦想之前,我得做一些准备工作。我想我首先需要做的是适应那里的生活。据说东西方文化是有差异的。如果我什么都不知道,很容易发生文化冲突。这会置我于一个尴尬的地方。例如,龙是在中国是万兽之王,有着无比神圣的意义。但是在西方国家则是暴力的象征。我要尽量了解的文化冲突,这样我的留学生活才会变得更简单。

[初中英语作文:东西方文化差异

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篇1:西方餐桌礼仪英语作文带翻译

全文共 1217 字

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导语:你好奇西方餐桌上的礼仪吗?下面是yuwenmi小编为大家整理的优秀英语作文,欢迎阅读与借鉴,谢谢!

Western refers to Western European countries diet cuisine.Western etiquette.Today, I introduce to you to eat Westernstyle food etiquette.

When seated, the body upright, elbow not placed on, may not.Use your fork and knife, fork, the right hand holds the knife; when the cutting things, keep the fork in the left hand hold the food, right hand with a knife cut into small pieces, fork in the entrance.Do not sip the soup to eat, chew when to shut up.Dont lick the lips or smacking sound.Overheating, can be cooled before eating, not mouth blown.A cup of coffee when ready to add milk or sugar, add the following to use tsp stirring, TSP will be placed on the coffee saucers.Drink cups should put his right, left hand end saucer, direct mouth to drink, do not use a spoon to scoop a spoonful spoonful of drink.

Western food is not only a kind of etiquette, is also a kind of civilization.The westernstyle food etiquette, you learn?

【参考译文】

西方指的是西欧国家的饮食菜肴。西方礼仪。今天,我向你介绍吃西式餐饮礼仪。

就座时,身体直立,肘不放,不可能。用你的刀和叉,叉,右手持刀;切东西时,左手拿叉按住食物,用刀切成小块的右手,在入口叉。不喝汤吃,咀嚼时闭嘴。不要舔嘴唇或咂嘴的声音。过热,可待稍凉后再吃,不要用嘴吹。一杯咖啡的时候加牛奶或糖,添加后要用小勺搅拌,将小勺放在咖啡碟。喝杯要把他的右手,左手端碟,直接用嘴喝,不要用勺子舀了一勺一勺喝。

西餐不仅是一种礼仪,也是一种文明,西式食品的礼仪,你学会了吗?

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篇2:春节文化英语

全文共 740 字

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Every year, when the Spring Festival comes, which is the biggest festival in China, Chinese people from all over the world will come back to their hometown and spend the day together. For me, as I grow up, I am not that excited about spring festival as I was a kid did. But it is true that this day let people stay together no matter how busy and how far they are. I barely have chances to see my relatives, but in Spring Festival, we will have dinner and talk the whole night. It is such a great moment for us to cherish. The meaning of Spring Festival is important for everyone.

每年,中国最大的节日春节到来的时候,来自世界各地的华人都会回到家乡,一起度过这一天。对我来说,长大之后我对春节就不像小时候那样兴奋了。但是春节确实会让大家都聚在一起,不管有多忙,多远。我很少有机会见得到我的亲戚,但我们会在春节一起吃晚饭,聊天聊上一整晚。这是一个值得我们珍惜的伟大时刻。春节的意义对每个人来说都是重要的。

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篇3:保护文化遗产英语作文小学

全文共 1113 字

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Nowadays, Hollywood movies dominate the market and many young people take

these superheroes characters as their idols. So some people start to feel

disappointed about the local culture, because they havent seen its essence. As

the world gets globalization, it is in need of building peoples sense of local

cultural heritage.

The preservation of our cultural heritage is the necessary task. The

culture contains the essence of Chinese peoples spirit, which has been tested

by time. When people admit our culture, we will be proud of being part of the

country, so as to enhance the unity and have the desire to make a contribution

to the society. The loss of cultural heritage will destroy a country, which can

be seen in history.

As the young generation faces the cultural shock in the globalization, so

they are easy to deny the local culture, because they know little about it. Thus

school should implant the education of culture and the government has named a

day called Chinese Cultural Heritage Day, in the purpose of advocating the

essence of local culture. When children grow up, they will fight for protecting

the culture.

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篇4:英国文化英语

全文共 950 字

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the englishman love to behave gentlemanly and the englishwoman love to behave ladily. they also show their respect to ladies. they always say" lady first". in their daily life. the english pay attention to their appearance. they dress neatly. they shake hands when they meet other. when they are with others, they usually say "please""thank you""sorry" and so on. the breakfast in britain is very rich. usually there are all kinds of egg products, oatmeal, bacon, ham, sausages, butter, jam, bread, milk, juice, coffee and so on. they are popular with the western countries. whats more, the english like drinking tea. they have the habit of drink afternoon tea at about 3 in the afternoon. they enjoy drinking tea and treat it as a kind of seeing friends.

英国人崇尚“绅士风度”和“淑女风范”,讲究“女士优先”。在日常生活中,英国人注意仪表,讲究穿著,英国人的见面礼是握手礼。与人交往时,注重用敬语“请”、“谢谢”“对不起”等。英式菜的早餐很丰盛,一般有各种蛋品、麦片粥、咸肉、火腿、香肠、黄油、果酱、面包、牛奶、果汁、咖啡等,受到西方各国普遍的欢迎。另外,英国人喜欢喝茶,有在下午3点左右吃茶点的习惯,英国人把喝茶当作一种享受,也当作一种社交。

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篇5:民俗文化FolkCultures英语作文

全文共 2192 字

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民俗文化(Folk Cultures)

A folk culture is a small isolated, cohesive, conservative, nearly self-sufficient group that is homogeneous in custom and race with a strong family or clan structure and highly developed rituals. Order is maintained through sanctions based in the religion or family and interpersonal. Relationships are strong. Tradition is paramount, and change comes infrequently and slowly. There is relatively little division of labor into specialized duties. Rather, each person is expected to perform a great variety of tasks, though duties may differ between the sexes. Most goods are handmade and subsistence economy prevails. Individualism is weakly developed in folk cultures as are social classes. Unaltered folk cultures no longer exist in industrialized countries such as the United States and Canada. Perhaps the nearest modern equivalent in Anglo America is the Amish, a German American farming sect that largely renounces the products and labor saving devices of the industrial age. In Amish areas, horse drawn buggies still serve as a local transportation device and the faithful are not permitted to own automobiles. The Amish's central religious concept of Demut "humility", clearly reflects the weakness of individualism and social class so typical of folk cultures and there is a corresponding strength of Amish group identity. Rarely do the Amish marry outside their sect. The religion, a variety of the Mennonite faith, provides the principal mechanism for maintaining order.

By contrast a popular culture is a large heterogeneous group often highly individualistic and a pronounced many specialized professions. Secular institutions of control such as the police and army take the place of religion and family in maintaining order, and a money-based economy prevails. Because of these contrasts, "popular" may be viewed as clearly different from "folk". The popular is replacing the folk in industrialized countries and in many developing nations. Folk-made objects give way to their popular equivalent, usually because the popular item is more quickly or cheaply produced, is easier or time saving to use or leads more prestige to the owner.

[民俗文化(Folk Cultures)英语作文

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篇6:如何对待中外文化差异英语作文

全文共 736 字

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Today,lots of people are affected by western culture especially the new generation who born after 1990s.In my opinion,some of western culture is good but some of them are not suited.Learning western culture can let us know about what is the western custom and what differnets between chinese and western.because of comparison we can learn the positive sides such as more confident,independent.On the other side,the negative sides we should not learn.for example,some high school student even younger fall in love with others.They spend much time to do it and forget what more important things they really need to do in that moment.Indeed,every coins have two sides.how to do deal with it,I think let time make the answer.

[如何对待中外文化差异英语作文

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篇7:01了解中西文化的差异是写好英语文章的前提

全文共 226 字

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中西文化差异不仅包括人文地理和民俗风情方面的不同,而且包括了中英文语言运用习惯的诸多不同。在平时的教学中,我们就必须根据教材,适时渗透一些西方文化知识,让学生尝试了解相关的文化背景等。

例如,在写“My favorite festival”一文时,很多学生都写到“Christmas Day”,对这个节日了解较多的学生,他们准备着笔的内容就比其他同学丰富多了。让学生尝试了解相关的文化背景既开阔了学生语言学习的视野,也为他们日后写作提供了一些文化素材。

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篇8:美国文化特色英语

全文共 746 字

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American citizens emphasize on achievements and respect heroes.They have great sense in their hearts to praise success and heroes.Personal achievements are one of those with the highest value in Americans mind.Americans have very strong senses of success.Success is the pursuit of most Americans,it is their attractive future and the incentives for moving forward.They believe that ones personal value is equivalent to his achievements in his career.Some high achievers in their career such as entrepreneurs,scientists,artists and all kinds of super starts became modern heroes.The process and result of how they strived have become the frame of reference of social culture value and the real life text book for parents to educate their children.

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篇9:文化冲击的英语

全文共 1251 字

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How to overcome culture shock

Some good ways to successfully minimize and overcome culture shock are to read about the place where you will be staying and the things you will be doing, also, if possible, speak with someone already living in the new environment.

Once you are there, keep in mind that people and customs may be very different from what you are used to. Having realistic expectations and realizing that difficulties and misunderstandings may occur will help you keep a cool head when they do, and keeping an open mind will allow you to find solutions to those problems that may arise.

When possible interact with the local population. Dont succumb to the temptation to isolate yourself, even if it is within a group of compatriots. Locals will generally be pleased to introduce you to their culture and willing to answer questions. Dont be afraid of making mistakes. When you are eager to learn people are usually more than willing to meet you half-way and learn from you in turn.

Find ways to keep in touch with family and friends at home. Sometimes you just need to talk with someone who fully understands who you are and feels that your way of being is not strange, or rude. Keeping in touch also makes the homecoming process much easier.

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篇10:关于茶叶蛋的文化英语作文

全文共 1160 字

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Nowadays, if you search the Internet, you may find the weird situation that people say they are rich not because they own a lot of money, but tea eggs. This is the hot topic in the latest days; the topic originated from a Taiwan TV talk show, a scholar said Mainland was so poor that people there couldn’t buy a tea egg to eat. Then people in the Mainland laughed at what the scholar said, they showed off a lot of tea eggs in the Internet, leaving the words that they were lucky to have tea eggs. Though Taiwan is part of China, because of the history issues, people don’t real get to know each other, so culture misunderstanding always happen. Some people in Taiwan think the Mainland is very poor, so they say we couldn’t afford a tea egg. People need to get more communication between Taiwan and Mainland, we are a family, we should know each other, such misunderstand should be eliminated.

现在,如果你上网,你可以发现一个很奇怪的现象,人们讲自己很富裕,并不是因为有很多钱,而是因为他们有茶叶蛋。这是最近很火的一个话题,这个话题是由台湾的一个访谈节目引起的,节目中的一位学者说大陆很贫穷,人们吃不起茶叶蛋。然后大陆的人们取笑这位学者所讲的,纷纷在网上晒茶叶蛋,并留言他们很幸运拥有茶叶蛋。虽然台湾是中国的一部分,但是由于历史问题的原因,人们彼此之间并不了解,所以文化误读经常发生。一些在台湾的民众觉得大陆很贫穷,因此才会将我们买不起茶叶蛋。台湾和大陆之间应该多交流,我们是一家人,我 们应该了解彼此,这样的误会应该要消除。

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篇11:文化冲击的英语

全文共 1209 字

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How to Deal with Culture Shock

Culture shock, hard to escape when getting into a new unfamiliar surrounding, may come out as a big problem for a new visitor and breaks down his wonderful expectations about this new country.Anyway,there are always some solutions to arm ourselves to handle the uncomfortable culture shock.

Since you has grasped the opportunity of going abroad, in the first place, it’s necessary and beneficial to refer to essential aspects about your destination, likeweather, food and culture. Get prepared for what may come around the corner in the new place and make relative responses previously, culture shock probably seems not so overwhelming.

Meanwhile, it is the positive attitude that makes a great difference.Optimistshave the powerful sword to overcome difficulties and get theirselves adapted to changing situations. When culture shock appears, consider it as a hurdle to easily pass through instead of a really big challenge.

In addition, seeking assistance and accompany from local citizens ,or even compatriotswho have the same experience, is an excellent shelter to withstand uneasy culture shock. More advices, more strength.It is adorable to seek relief in this very new world.

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篇12:英语作文美国餐桌礼仪

全文共 2553 字

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People who go to a formal Western dinner party for the first time may be surprised by table manners in Western culture.Knowing them will help you make a good impression.Having good table manners means knowing,for example,how to use knives and forks,when to drink a toast and how to behave at the table.Beside your napkin you will find a small bread roll and three glasses—one for white wine,one for the red wine,and one for water.There are two pairs of knives and forks on the table,forks on the left and knives in the right of the plate.When you see two spoons,the big one id for the suop and the samll one for the dessert.The knife and fork that are closest to your plate are a litte bit bigger than the ones beside them.When you sit down at the table, you can take your napkin, unfold it and put it on your lap.In Chinese you sometime get a hot,damp cloth to clean your face and face and hands,whinch,however,is nat the custom in Western countries.

Dinner start with a small dish, which is often called a starter.Sime people pray before they start eating , and other people may keep silent for a moment. Then you can say"Enjoy your meal"to each other and everybody start eating.For the starter,which you eat with the smaller pair,you keep the knife in your right hand and the fork in your left.After the starter you will get a bowl of soup—but only one boel of soup and never ask for a seconf serving.

The next dish is the main course.Many Westerners think the chicken breast with its tender white flesh is the best part of the bird. Some people can use their fingers when they eating chicken or other birds,but never touch beef or other meat in bones.It is polite to finish eating everthing on your plate,so dont take more food than you need.

At table ,you should try to speak quietly and smile a lot,but do not laugh all the time.

Most Westerners like soft drink if they will drive home.Many of them drink white or red wine with the food.When drinking to someones health,you raise your glasses,but the glasses should not touch. The custom of toasting in some parts of China is to finish the drink at once,but Westerners usually take only a sip.For drinking during a dinner,the best advic is never to drink too much.

Table manners change over time.They follow the fashion of the day .Beside,table manners are only important at formal dinner parties.If youre not sure what to do ,you can always follow your hosts.Although good manners always make you look good,you do not need to worry about all these rules while having dinner with your friends or family

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篇13:英语作文美国餐桌礼仪

全文共 1371 字

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Fourth if guests or elders give cloth dish. Best use of chopsticks may also be the guests or elders far away from the dishes to their front, according to the habit of the Chinese nation. Dish is a one of the Top. If the same tables leadership, the elderly, the guests said. Whenever of a new dish, let them first Dongkuaizi. rotation or invite them to the first Dongkuaizi. to show their importance.

Fifth: eat the head, fishbone, bones and other objects, not Wangwaimian vomit, not onto the ground still. Slowly to get their hands Diezili, or close on their own or on Canzhuobian prepared beforehand good on paper.

Sixth: To a timely manner about the time and people just a few humorous, to reconcile the atmosphere. Guangzhaotou not eat, regardless of others, and do not devour and destroy the lavish meal, not jail sentence.

7: It is best not to the dinner table Tiya if it is to Tiya, will use napkins or sign blocked their mouths.

8: To clear the main tasks of the meal. Must be clear to do business oriented. Feelings or to the main contact. Mainly or to eat. If it is the former, when attention should be paid to the seating arrangements. Their main negotiators the seats near each other to facilitate conversations, or dredge emotion. If it is the after. need only pay attention to common-sense courtesy on the line, to focus on the appreciation of dishes,

[英语作文美国餐桌礼仪

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篇14:中国的餐桌礼仪英语作文带翻译

全文共 2079 字

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Of course, chopsticks instead the main difference on the Chinese dinner table isof knife and fork, but thats only superficial. Besides, in decent restaurants, you can always ask for a pair of knife and fork, if you find the chopsticks not helpful enough.

The real difference is that in the West, you have your own plate of food, while in China the dishes are placed on the table and everyone shares. If you are being treated to a formal dinner and particularly if the host thinks youre in the country for the first time, he will do the best to give you a taste of many different types of dishes.

The meal usually begins with a set of at least four cold dishes, to be followed by the main courses of hot meat and vegetable dishes. Soup then will be served (unless in Guangdong style restaurants) to be followed by staple food ranging from rice, noodles to dumplings.

If you wish to have your rice to go with other dishes, you should say so in good time, for most of the Chinese choose to have the staple food at last or have none of them at all.

Perhaps one of the things that surprises a Western visitor most is that some of the Chinese hosts like to put food into the plates of their guests. In formal dinners, there are always "public" chopsticks and spoons for this purpose, but some hosts may use their own chopsticks. This is a sign of genuine friendship and politeness. It is always polite to eat the food. If you do not eat it, just leave the food in the plate.

People in China tend to over-order food, for they will find it embarrassing if all the food is consumed. When you have had enough, just say so. Or you will always overeat!

当然,筷子而不是主要的区别中餐桌上isof刀和叉,但这只是表面现象。此外,在体面的餐厅,你可以要求一副刀叉,如果你发现筷子不够有用。

真正的区别在于,在西方,你有自己的板的食品,在中国菜放在桌子上,每个人的股份。如果你对待一个正式的晚宴,特别是如果主人认为你在这个国家第一次,他会做最好的给你的许多不同类型的菜肴。

这顿饭通常始于一组至少有四个冷盘,紧随其后的是主菜的热肉和蔬菜。汤然后将服务(除非在广东风格的餐馆)将从主食米饭,面条,饺子。

如果你想拥有你的大米去与其他菜,你应该及时这么说,对大多数中国人选择主食最后或没有。

也许让西方游客感到最惊奇的事情之一是,一些中国东道主喜欢把食物放在客人的盘子。在正式晚宴,总有“公共”为此筷子和勺子,但一些虚拟主机可以用自己的筷子。这是一个真正的友谊和礼貌的迹象。总是有礼貌的吃食物。如果你不吃它,只是把盘子里的食物。

中国人倾向于over-order食物,因为他们会发现它令人尴尬的如果所有的食品消费。当你有足够的,就这么说。否则你会总是暴饮暴食!

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篇15:高三英语作文传统文化

全文共 1216 字

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ragon boat festival, often known as tuen ng festival or duan wu festival, is a traditional chinese festival held on the fifth day of the fifth month of the chinese calendar. it is also known as the double fifth.[citation needed] it has since been celebrated, in various ways, in other parts of east asia as well, most notably korea.

the exact origins of duan wu are unclear, but one traditional view holds that the festival memorializes the chinese poet qu yuan of the warring states period. he committed uicide by drowning himself in a river because he was disgusted by the corruption of the chu government. the local people, knowing him to be a good man, decided to throw food into the river to feed the fishes to prevent them from eating qus body. they also sat on dragon boats, and tried to scare the fishes away by the thundering sound of drums aboard the boat and the fierce looking dragon-head in the front of the boat.

in the early years of the chinese republic, duan wu was also celebrated as "poets day", due to qu yuans status as chinas first poet of personal renown.

today, people eat zongzi (the food originally intended to feed the fishes) and race dragon boats in memory of qus dramatic death.

[高三英语作文传统文化

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篇16:保护传统文化英语

全文共 1042 字

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Protect Traditional Chinese Culture

The passage mainly tells us the importance of protecting traditional Chinese culture, which is challenged or facing extinction because of the developing society and changing lifestyle. Besides, China is nationwide sparing no efforts to do it.

The protection of national and folk culture is of great significance to Chinese cultural diversity and also to the harmonious development between local economic and social development. It is reported that the Guangdong government pays special attention to protecting Chaoju(潮剧), a local drama born in Chaozhou in the eastern Guangdong province.

In my opinion, some measures should be taken to protect traditional culture effectively. To start with, we should make a law to regulate the society’s performance. Besides, we should draw more people’s attention to it, for the more they know about the importance of culture protection, the stronger the support we can get from the public.

In a word, it is high time for us to treasure and develop our own valuable culture.

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篇17:美国文化的英语美国文化感恩节英文1748字

全文共 2088 字

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This Thursday is Thanksgiving Day. The writer O’Henry called it the one day that is purely American. Thanksgiving is not a religious holiday. But it has ritual meaning. Some Americans attend religious services on the day before Thanksgiving or on Thanksgiving morning. Others travel long distances to be with their families. They have a large dinner which is the main part of the celebration. For many Americans, Thanksgiving is the only time when all members of the family gather. The holiday is a time of family reunion. Thanksgiving week is generally one of the busiest travel times of the year. However, experts say this year probably will be different. On September 11th, thousands of people died when terrorists hijacked airplanes that struck buildings in Washington D.C. and New York City. Many people now say they are worried about flying on a plane. Travel experts say almost 6 percent fewer people will make long trips this Thanksgiving compared with last year. Many Americans who usually visit family and friends by plane are driving shorter distances instead this week. Some mental health experts say the attacks have frightened people. They say people feel safer and happier close to home. More than any other holiday, Thanksgiving is a celebration of family and home. Many people say that this year they are especially thankful for their families and friends and the good things in their lives. On Thanksgiving, people enjoy a long day of cooking, eating and talking. The traditional meal almost always includes the turkey with a bread mixture cooked inside. Other traditional Thanksgiving food served with turkey are sweet potatoes, cranberries and pumpkin pie. Stores are said to sell more food at Thanksgiving than at any other time of the year, and many people eat more food at Thanksgiving than at any other time of the year. Over the years, Americans have added new traditions to their Thanksgiving celebration. For example, a number off professional and university football games are played on Thanksgiving Day. Some of the games are broadcast on national television.

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篇18:高三英语作文传统文化100词

全文共 1756 字

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Chinese there are a lot of traditional culture, such as the Lantern

Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival Dragon Boat Glutinous Rice Balls to eat, to

celebrate the Mid Autumn Festival, summer egg fight...... I love most is the

beginning of the egg fight.

The day of the beginning, I invited my buddy to fight my eggs. At the

beginning of the egg, mother prepared an egg for each of us and said, "who is

the last of the eggs, who is the king of the egg!" First of all, I and Yao

Peiyu, both of us egg head to the egg, who will not let anyone, to fight each

other up. We just fight soon, they heard the click sound, there is a broken egg!

I was so surprised that I looked at my eggs, and thank God, my eggs were not

broken. It was Yao Peiyu who accidentally hit the empty head with my tip! We saw

it and laughed all the time. He bites and says, "come again!" This time, we all

put out the strength of the milk, but his strength was not big, so he was

defeated by me! Left --iao Yu--uan, although she is a girl, but not a good

deal.

All of a sudden, I came up with a good plan and a seamless plan. I used to

fight with her on the empty end and broke up in a moment. I thought to myself,

"this is the end of you. Your sharp head has been damaged. I will fight with you

with a good and sharp tip." So, I tried to wipe the egg head, and suddenly

blows, give strength to my eggs. At first, her eggs were damaged, and she was

not so big as I was, so I was easily defeated. I jumped up with joy. Mother

loudly announced, "the end of the game, Sun Yize is the king of eggs!" Now

everyone begins to eat eggs. " We eat eggs, and all the people are in the

atmosphere of joy.

The egg not only brought us happiness, but also let me understand a truth:

everything should be brain, with wisdom to win!

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篇19:关于中美文化的不同英语作文

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文化差异何其大 美国为何难以理解中国

Do the events that led to the outbreak of the first world war carry lessons for the Sino-American relationship? A century ago it was the ascent of Germany under Kaiser Wilhelm I thatunsettled the world; today a rising China is roiling east Asia. Then, as now, domestic politicson both sides played a role; one that is too easily neglected.

导致一战爆发的事件对中美关系有什么启发意义吗?一个世纪以前,德国在威廉一世(Kaiser Wilhelm I)领导下的崛起让世界感到不安;如今,中国的崛起让东亚感到不安。当时和现在一样,对立双方的国内政治都发挥了作用——这是一个太容易被人们忽视的因素。

Why did Britain and Germany – linked by trade, dynastic ties, culture and religion – findthemselves at war in August 1914? In part, as historian Paul Kennedy has argued, it wasbecause London’s liberal ideology contributed to its perception of a growing German threat.

1914年8月,存在贸易、王朝纽带、文化和宗教联系的英国和德国为何开战?从某种程度上来说,正如历史学家保罗肯尼迪(Paul Kennedy)所指出的,那是因为伦敦的自由主义意识形态强化了其关于德国威胁日益加剧的认识。

Filtered through liberalism’s lens, Germany looked militarist, autocratic, mercantilist and statist– and contempt for the country’s political culture added to London’s disquiet. When the warbegan, it quickly came to be seen as a liberal crusade against “Prussianism”.

透过自由主义“棱镜”,德国给人看到的是军国主义、独裁、重商主义和计划经济——而对该国政治文化的鄙视也增加了伦敦的不安。当战争爆发时,人们立刻将之视为一场讨伐“普鲁士主义”的自由主义战争。

In this respect, today’s Sino-American rivalry resembles the pre-1914 Anglo-Germanantagonism. The speed of China’s growth worries US policy makers, as do the geopoliticalimplications of its economic transformation.

从这个方面来说,当今的中美对抗类似于1914年以前的英德对抗。中国的发展速度让美国政策制定者感到担忧,其经济改革对地缘政治的影响同样让美国不安。

Across the American political spectrum, China’s success is attributed to its failure to play bythe rules of free trade – for instance, its habit of manipulating the value of its currency andengaging in industrial espionage. Market-oriented liberalism is the dominant ideology in theUS and, as in pre-1914 Britain, it shapes policy makers’ image of their supposed adversary.

在美国政界上下看来,中国的成功得益于其没有遵守自由贸易规则,例如惯于操纵汇率,以及从事工业间谍活动。以市场为导向的自由主义是美国的主要意识形态,而正如1914年前的英国一样,它决定了政策制定者对他们所以为的对手的印象。

American leaders view China as a nation whose undemocratic political system raises doubtsabout both the scope of its foreign policy ambitions and its trustworthiness as a diplomaticpartner. Moreover, China’s combination of political authoritarianism and state-directedcapitalism causes unease because it challenges the supposed universality of the Americanmodel of liberal democracy and free-market capitalism.

在美国领导人的眼里,中国不民主的政治体制令人怀疑其外交政策雄心的范围,以及其作为外交合作伙伴的可信赖性。此外,中国政治威权主义与国家资本主义的结合令人不安,原因是它挑战了美国模式的自由主义民主和自由市场资本主义的所谓普适性。

Aaron Friedberg, a Princeton University professor, says that for Americans, “the success of amainland [Chinese] regime that blends authoritarian rule with market-driven economics is anaffront.” For members of the US foreign-policy elite, the Chinese threat is not so muchgeopolitical as ideological.

普林斯顿大学(Princeton University)的阿龙弗里德伯格(Aaron Friedberg)教授表示,在美国人看来,“中国大陆政权将威权统治和市场导向的经济学结合在一起所取得的成功是一种侮辱”。对美国上层外交政策制定者来说,中国威胁更多是意识形态层面的,而不是地缘政治上的。

Powerful external and domestic forces are putting the US and China on the road toconfrontation. China aspires to be the regional hegemon in east (and southeast) Asia. The US– the incumbent hegemon, having dominated the region since 1945 – is blocking its path.

各种强有力的内外因素正把美中推上对抗之路。中国渴望成为东亚(以及东南亚)地区的霸主,而自1945年以来主导该地区的现任霸主美国则拦在路上。

Yet America’s predominance in east Asia contributes little to the security of a nation whosegeography and unsurpassed military capabilities would anyway make it close to invulnerable.The US is the most secure great power in history – even more so if you factor in thedeterrent effect of nuclear weapons. The true cause of American insecurity is not animminent encroachment on its territory but the risk that US alliances – especially with Japan –will draw it into a regional conflict.

然而,在东亚地区的主导地位并不会让美国更安全——不管怎样,美国所处的地理位置和拥有的无可匹敌的军事能力让其处于一种近乎无懈可击的状态。美国是历史上最安全的大国——如果你考虑到核武器的威慑作用,就会更肯定这一点。美国真正的不安全因素不是其疆域会遭到入侵,而是同盟关系——尤其是美日同盟——将其拖入地区冲突的风险。

The US wants to maintain its east Asian dominance to keep the region’s markets open toAmerican goods and its people open to liberal ideas. China threatens this openness, on whichAmerica’s security is wrongly believed to depend.

美国希望保持在东亚地区的主导地位,以让该地区的市场继续向美国商品开放,其民众继续接受自由主义思想的熏陶。中国威胁到了这种开放,而美国的安全被错误地以为依赖于这种开放。

The liberal assumptions embedded in American foreign policy put the US at odds with China,and also heighten Beijing’s mistrust of Washington’s intentions and ambitions. The spiral ofanimosity that threatens to culminate in a confrontation between the two countries is inlarge part a creation of American policy.

美国外交政策中蕴含的自由主义思想导致美国与中国立场不一致,也加深了北京方面对华盛顿意图和抱负的不信任感。这种不断增长的、有可能在两国对抗中达到顶峰的敌意,在很大程度上是美国政策导致的。

As China’s rises, Washington has a last clear chance to avoid the looming Sino-Americanconflict.

在中国的崛起过程中,美国有最后的避让机会,可以避免不断迫近眼前的中美冲突真正爆发。

This would entail making real concessions on Taiwan and on China’s territorial claims in the Eastand South China Seas. It would also involve a commitment that Washington would notinterfere in China’s internal affairs.

这需要美国在台湾xx以及中国涉及东中国海和南中国海的领土主张上做出真正的妥协。此外美国也需承诺不干预中国内部事务。

America’s political culture – based on exceptionalism, liberal ideology, and openness – is a bigobstacle to coming to terms with a resurgent China. So is the fact that the foreign-policy eliteremains wedded to American primacy, and refuses to accept that this will inevitably slip awaybecause of the relative decline of US power.

美国建立在例外主义、自由主义思想和开放观念等基础之上的政治文化,是影响美国接受复兴的中国的一大障碍。另一个障碍是,美国外交政策圈子中的精英们依然痴迷于“美国主导地位”,并拒绝接受这种地位随着美国实力相对衰落必将丧失的观点。

History is also a problem.

历史也是一个问题

US policy makers are quick to invoke what they take to be the lessons of the 1930s whileoverlooking the causes of the first world war. David Calleo, a professor at Johns Hopkins, hasobserved that what we should learn from the earlier conflict “is not so much the need forvigilance against aggressors, but the ruinous consequences of refusing reasonableaccommodation to upstarts”.

美国政策制定者迅速摆出他们从上世纪30年代事件中归纳的教训,却无视一战的起因。约翰斯-霍普金斯大学(Johns Hopkins University)的戴维卡莱奥(David Calleo)教授指出,我们应该从更早那场冲突中学到的主要教训,“不是必须警惕侵略者,而是拒绝合理包容新崛起者将带来破坏性后果”。

If the US wants to avoid a future conflict with China, it cannot allow liberal ideology toobstruct a reconciliation with an ever more powerful China. That is the real lesson of 1914.

如果美国想要避免未来与中国发生冲突,就不能让自由主义意识形态妨碍它与越来越强大的中国修好。这是1914年带给我们的真正教训。

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