英国和美国的文化差异英语作文推荐20篇

2013年山东高考英语作文题目：给美国朋友Tom的回信

第二节：写作(满分30分)

假设你是新华中学的学生李华，你的美国朋友Tom一周前给你发电子邮件，询问你暑假里的打算，但你因准备期末考试未能及时回复。请根据以下要点给他回邮件：

1. 未及时回复的原因;

2. 你假期的打算(如做兼职、旅行、做志愿者等)。

注意： 1. 次数：120~150;

2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

【试题点评】

今年的书面表达题目延续山东省一贯的提纲作文命题习惯，时隔一年之后重新回到“书信题”的大框架中，考了一篇“以道歉信为外衣，以活动安排为主体段”的提纲作文，相当于10年山东卷(道歉信)和07年四川卷(假期安排)和合体。这种作文是我们平时经常练习的，因此套路很完善、套话很丰富。此外，本文中需要同学们翻译的难句不多，因此，只要在备考过程中有意识地了解过高考英语作文的提分方法，掌握了常用的亮点词汇、加分句型和过渡词，并加以针对性训练，这道题目应该不难写。

【经典套路】

第一段：问候+写信背景+写信目的

第二段：“道歉”部分(相当于“写信背景”)

第三段：“假期安排”部分

第四段：补充说明+客套话

【高分范文】

Dear Tom,

How are you doing? (问候) You asked me in your last letter about my plan for the coming summer vacation.(写信背景) I am sorry that I didn’t reply without delay.(写信目的)

How I wish I would read and reply your email as soon as I received it. However, I was busy preparing for my final exam at that time, which is vital for me. As a result, I had no choice but to completely focus on my study. I believe that if you were me, you would make the same choice.(第二段为道歉信常见套路)

By the way, I have a busy schedule for my summer vacation.(主题句) First and foremost, I would do a part time job, so that my interpersonal skills would be improved.(拓展句1) Additionally, I will take a short trip to Beijing to take a summer course in the New Oriental School.(拓展句2) Last but not least, maybe I will work as a volunteer for the school as a teaching assistant.(拓展句3)

These are my plan for the summer vacation. What’s yours? I am looking forward to your earliest reply.(以合理的客套话结尾)

What Is American Dream?

什么是美国梦？

What is the American Dream? Is it the same for all Americans? Is it a myth? Is it simply a search for a better life? How has the American Dream changed over time? Some see their dreams wither and die while others see their dreams fulfilled. Why? Everyone has dreams abut a personally fulfilled life... and what is your dream?

什么是美国梦？所有的美国人都是一样的吗？它是虚构的事吗？它是为了追求更好的生活吗？美国梦随着时间是如何改变的？有些人的梦想破灭了而有些人却实现了梦想。是什么原因呢？每个人都有自己想要实现的梦想，你的梦想是什么呢？

The term American Dream was first used by James Adams in his book The Epic of America which was written in 1931. He states: The American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. It is a difficult dream for the European upper classes to interpret adequately, and too many of us ourselves have grown tired and mistrustful of it. It is not a dream of cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to get to the fullest stature of which they are capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position."

美国梦这个词最早出现在詹姆斯·亚当斯1931年写的《美国史诗》这本书中。他写道：美国梦是指渴望生活在能够让人们生活丰裕富足的热土上，每个人都有机会实现自己的价值。它是一个欧洲上流社会很难理解和体会的梦想，并且我们中的相当多人对此持怀疑和不信任的态度。这个梦想不仅仅是拥有汽车和高工资，而且还应当包括这样一种社会秩序，在这种秩序下，男人和女人不论他们出身如何，社会地位如何，都能最大程度地实现自己的潜能并为他人所认可和接受”。

In the united States Declaration of Independence, our founding fathers state: "... all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness." Might this view be considered the foundation of the American Dream?

在美国的《独立宣言》中，我们的创始人指出：“……所有的人人生而平等，创物主赋予他们若干不可剥夺的权利，这其中包括生命权，自由权和追求幸福的权利。”这一说法也许可能被视为美国梦的基础？

Were homesteaders who left the big cities of the east to find happiness and their piece of land in the unknown wilderness of the west pursuing these Rights? Were the immigrants who came to the United States looking for their bit of life, liberty, happiness and their Dream? And what did the desire of the veteran of World War II—to settle down, to have a home, a car and a family—tell us about this Dream? Is the American Dream attainable by all Americans? Would Martin Luther King feel his Dream was attained? Did Malcolm X realize his Dream?

农场主为了寻找幸福离开了东部的大城市，抛弃了他们在西部未知荒野上的土地，他们是在实现自己权利吗？移民来到美国，是为了自己想要的生活，追求自由、幸福和梦想吗？二战老兵的愿望又是什么呢，安定下来，有居住的房子，汽车然后组建家庭——告诉我们这就是梦想？所有美国人都能实现美国梦吗？马丁·路德金会认为自己能够梦想成真吗？马尔科姆·X实现自己的梦想了吗？

[什么是美国梦的英语作文

导语：英国是一个丰富多彩、充满国际和多元文化的国家，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!

Britain is a rich and varied, with international and multi-cultural society, to welcome students from all over the world come here to learn and to value their contributions.

Britain is a tolerant, democratic society, where different political views and beliefs are respected. You will find many people wearing and eating habits and you do not have their own different major cities around the world have sales of snack food, meat from an Islamic shop, the Islamic meat from the shop. Asia to sell fruit and rice kind of Jewish food store to store, everything.

In different towns and cities, the year has a variety of activities to celebrate the worlds major religious festivals and activities, for example, in the city of Leicester at the Stradivari outside the Indian sub-section is the most spectacular Festival of Lights.

Britain itself from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, they have different characteristics and personality.

Britain from all over the world to accept immigrants and refugees has a long history, many people have been here for permanent settlement. London may be the largest gathering of minority British city, other cities also have a large number of minority residents.

All the worlds major religions are British. Mosques, Sikh temples, synagogues, churches and India Fodou together with a variety of Christian churches (Anglican and Roman Catholic from the Protestant and Orthodox) co-exist.

This diversity means that you will come to Britain is easy to integrate into Britains multi-ethnic society. You will also come from different religious and ethnic groups and people contacts, enhance understanding of different cultures.

【参考译文】

英国是一个丰富多彩、充满国际和多元文化的国家，欢迎来自世界各地的学生来这里学习和珍惜他们的贡献。

英国是一个宽容、民主的社会，不同的政治观点和信仰受到尊重。你会发现很多人的穿着和饮食习惯和你没有自己不同的大城市在世界各地有销售的零食，从伊斯兰商店的肉，从商店的清真肉。亚洲卖水果和大米的犹太食品店，所有的东西。

在不同的城市，每年都有各种各样的活动来庆祝世界主要宗教节日和活动，例如，在莱斯特市在斯特拉迪瓦里在印度部分是光的最壮观的节日。

英国本身来自英国、苏格兰、威尔士和北爱尔兰，具有不同的特点和个性。

来自世界各地的英国接受移民和难民有着悠久的历史，许多人在此定居。伦敦可能是英国少数民族最大的聚集城市，其他城市也有大量的少数民族居民。

世界上所有主要的宗教都是英国的。锡克教寺庙，教堂，清真寺，教堂和印度Fodou与各种基督教教会(圣公会和天主教一起从新教和东正教)并存。

这种多样性意味着你来到英国很容易融入英国的多民族社会。您还将来自不同的宗教和族裔群体和人们接触，增进不同文化的理解。

Going abroad for Studies

The other day I announced that I would go abroad for further studies right after my college education. My decision evoked the immediate objection of my family： Why? Why should I borrow a huge sum of money for overseas studies while I might receive the same education at home at relatively low cost? My answer is： in addition to knowledge， I can gain experience that those who stay at home will never have.

First， experience is the opportunity for the real-life use of foreign languages. While a person can study a foreign language at home， the effect can never be compared with constant use of the language in academic and everyday life. There is no better opportunity to improve second-language skills than living in the country in which it is spoken. Living in English-speaking countries such as America and Australia for several years， for example， my English will be as perfect as native speakers.

Second， living and studying abroad offers me a different perspective of the world. On a university campus， foreign students are likely to encounter their counterparts from different countries and areas and are exposed to different ideas and values. This helps me to have a meaningful understanding of different societies and inevitably sees my own country in a new light.

Third， overseas experience， frustrating and painful as it may be， is helpful. A person going abroad for study often experiences much more difficulty——difficulty in adapting to a new culture and in dealing with all problems alone. Yet， the difficulty， coupled with the frustration brought on by culture shock， is a rewarding experience for ones future life and development of personality.

Although going abroad is expensive and perhaps painful， the payoff is worthwhile. For the benefit is not merely knowledge gained， but the experience desirable in ones personal life.

The Culture of China is home to one of the worlds oldest and most complex

civilizations. China boasts a history rich in over 5,000 years of artistic,

philosophical, political, and scientific advancement. Though regional

differences provide a sense of diversity, commonalities in language and religion

connect a culture distinguished by such significant contributions such as

Confucianism and Taoism. Confucianism was the official philosophy throughout

most of Imperial Chinas history and strongly influenced other countries in East

Asia. Mastery of Confucian texts provided the primary criterion for entry into

the imperial bureaucracy.

With the rise of Western economic and military power beginning in the

mid-19th century, Western systems of social and political organization gained

adherents in China. Some of these would-be reformers rejected Chinas cultural

legacy, while others sought to combine the strengths of Chinese and Western

cultures.

China is a unified nation consisting of many different ethnic groups.

Fifty-six different ethnic groups make up the great Chinese national family.

Because the Han people accounts for more than ninety percent of Chinas

population, the remaining fifty-five groups are generally referred to as "ethnic

minorities." Next to the majority Han, the Mongolian, Hui, Tibetan, and Uygur

peoples comprise the largest ethnic groups. Although Chinas ethnic minorities

do not account for a large portion of the population, they are distributed over

a vast area, residing in every corner of China.

Particularly since the implementation of Chinas opening and reform policy,

the central government has increased investment in minority areas and

accelerated their opening to the outside world. This has resulted in an upsurge

of economic development in these areas. Each of Chinas ethnic minority groups

possesses a distinctive culture. The Chinese government respects minority

customs, and works to preserve, study, and collate the cultural artifacts of

Chinas ethnic minority groups. The government vigorously supports the

development of minority culture and the training of minority cultural workers,

and fosters the development of traditional minority medicine.

The relation among Chinas ethnic groups can be described as "overall

integration, local concentration, mutual interaction." Concentrations of ethnic

minorities reside within predominantly Han areas, and the Han people also reside

in minority areas, indicating that there has been extensive exchanges among

Chinas ethnic groups since ancient times. With the development of the market

economy, interaction among ethnic groups has become even more active in the

areas of government, economics, culture, daily life, and marriage. Linked by

interdependence, mutual assistance, and joint development, their common goals

and interests creating a deep sense of solidarity, Chinas ethnic groups

resemble a great national family, together building Chinese civilization.

It seems we are living in the conflict between modern and traditional

cultures every day. Hearing the blaring of horns the moment you step out of your

house, seeing the so called "pop" the moment you open your eyes, you cant help

thinking, "Will the traditional culture be gradually lost?"

Many people believe so. They may put right in front of you all the

evidences they can dig out. They may argue that people are rushing to

restaurants instead of cooking at home, listening to pop music but not

traditional, wearing in a way people couldnt imagine ten years ago. Modern

people like the air of freedom, not to be restrained by traditions. They offer

this long list, only trying to confirm that this world is full of

fashion,competition and temptation and the traditional culture is fading and

will be lost at last.

Though we are now living in a world in which undeclared aggression, war,

hypocrisy, chicanery, anarchy are part of our daily life. Though this is a

skeptical age, and our faith has weakened, our confidence in some aspects of the

traditional culture should and would never be lost.

Wouldnt you agree that our traditional culture is always credited with

modesty, politeness and respectfulness, which have always been treasured for

more than five thousand years?Even in this modern world, people still admire

those with good manners, those who are polite to others or respectful to old

people.

Wouldnt you agree that our Chinese traditional music is beautiful and

artistic and our Chinese tea culture is always an appealing treasure to people

around the world?

So there may just be some changes in our lifestyle or our attitudes towards

life, but little change occurs to some fundamental aspects of our traditional

culture that people still treasure in heart.

The traditional culture will never be lost, I believe.

The cartoon given above tells us that there are two persons who are arguing with each other about the importance of book Knowledge and experience. In fact, knowledge can be acquired from many sources. These include reading books, classroom activities and practice.

The knowledge we gain from books and formal education enables us to learn about things that we have no opportunity to experience in our daily life. First of all, we can study all the places in the world and learn from people we will never meet in our lifetime, just by reading about them in books. Second, we can also develop our analytical skills and learn how to view and interpret the world around us in different ways. Last but not least, we can shuttle between the past and the future by reading books. In this way, we wont repeat the mistakes of others.

Practice, on the other hand, offers us more useful knowledge. In fact, as we all know failure is the mother of success. Moreover, if one wants to make new advances, it is necessary to act. Finally, one can apply the skills and insights gained through the study of books to practical experience, making an already meaningful experience more meaningful.

The free day ,I want to go to Los Angeles.Because this is the second largest city in America! And the sun always seems to shine in LA!I need some suggestions. Firstly I want to join the 2 hours walking tour.because it is a so great chance .Secondly I will go shopping in Glendale Galleria. Finlly I want to citadel outlets and South coast plaza.

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.

In 1869, the draft of the statue of Liberty was completed, and Bartholdy began to throw himself into the work of sculpture. He has traveled to the United States to win American support for the statue scheme, but Americans have been slow to realize the value of the gift. Until 1876, Bartholdy held in Philadelphia to celebrate the 100th anniversary independent exposition, in order to attract public attention of , the statue of liberty he held the torch hand on display at the fair, just a sensation. Placed in front of people in this hand only index finger on the length of 2.44 meters, more than 1 meters in diameter, nail thickness of 25 cm, 12 people can stand on the edge of the torch. So this a few days ago also little-known sculpture suddenly worth a hundred times, become the everyone to appreciate art treasures.

We boarded the cruise ship and went up to the two floor. The river wind is very cool, put the hair on my forehead to the back, behind the hair along the wind, blown into the "fluttering" hairstyle.

I saw a wide river, suffused with blue waves, along the river, or building embedded in the trees between the hills, or tall, a flourishing; the distance, Shuitianyise blue, the river formed the sparkling, white water, and the sky seemed to have no boundaries, white clouds and the sky is abnormal white. I saw in the front of the right a statue standing there, that should be the Statue of Liberty, I think.

Not far away, just 100 meters ahead, Statue of Liberty holds aloft the torch, gentle and kind, calm and steady. Under the blue sky and white clouds, the Statue of Liberty is like a pale blue jade carving. At this moment, a small sailing boat passed by, and added a beautiful landscape to this beautiful picture.

USA field place North America central section , east face Atlantic Ocean , the north being near to Canada , meet Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico in the south. Subordinate Alaska is located in the North America northwest part , Hawaii is located in middle Pacific Ocean north part. Always cover an area of 9372614 square Qianmi. The coastline is long 22680 kilometers. The plain is that Indian lives in a compact community field. 15 ends of the century Spain , Holland , France , United Kingdom etc. migrate consecutively having come this far. In the 18 centuries fronts,United Kingdom has built 13 colonies along the bank in North America Atlantic Ocean.

1775 has been annual , has broken out to oppose United Kingdom colonizing comrades Revolutionary War. 1776 annual 7 month 4 days colonial people announce "Declaration of Independence" , announce setting up USA. 1783 annual Revolutionary War are over , United Kingdom admits that 13 colonies are independent. 1787 years pass USA constitution , set up the federation republic. 1803 years purchase Louis anna from France (be located in extensive USA central section area). 1819 years purchase Fla. from Spain.

1845 years invade and occupy Mex Texas. Fields such as that , California 1848 years are ended to Mexican War have got New Mexcico , Yalisang the day afer tomorrow. 1853 years have striven for a piece of land land of Arizona now the southern part and New Mexico southwest part from Mexico. Alaska and Aleutian Islands 1867 years have been bought to tsarist Russia. 1898 years have annexed Hawaii. These places successively add afterwards if federation , USA who forms nows, 1971 annual 1 month 1 day surname our country establishes diplomatic relations.

Early this morning, we took a flight to San Francisco. One of the things that impressed me most was the visit to the Intel museum.

Had no sooner arrived at the museum of strong science and breathed, threshold before those incredible illusion, now all become a reality in my eyes, most especially, I saw "anatomy" internal computer, reminds people of multifarious, the winding river maze.

The computer that we normally see is always so convenient, which brings people many benefits, but who thought how complicated it is inside? Today I finally saw the hard-won computer. The main thing in the computer is the chip, which looks like a labyrinth with no end. Its hard to make a chip.

First, cut the chip plate at the bottom of the well, but at the bottom of the plate, but have to hard gold wire to build by laying bricks or stones becomes, in the process of making chips, making people have to keep the body clean, because in the process of production, the chip can not be stained with a trace of dust inside. Otherwise, the previous efforts can be abandoned! The whole process must be careful, and every part needs to be carefully selected and meticulous. It is conceivable that a computer is made up of many "meticulous".

Its hard to make a computer, but the worlds elite have honed it in this difficult situation. As long as you work hard, you can create your own life and the world. Today I am proud of mankind, tomorrow man is proud of me.

前几天，我读了两篇神话——读《普罗米修斯的故事》和《燧氏钻木取火》后，我深有感触。

《普罗米修斯的故事》讲了普罗米修斯同情人类，为人类盗火结果被宙斯惩罚。《燧氏钻木取火》讲的是一个叫燧氏的年轻人在伏羲的指引下发现了钻木取火的方法。

读了两篇神话后，我发现了它们有相同点，也有不同点。相同点在于他们都是由一位天神帮助人类，带给人类光明，而且都很同情人类。不同点有两点，第一点：东方神话——《燧氏钻木取火》，伏羲同情人类，直接赐火给人类，然后将火熄灭再给出提示，告诉人类火在哪里，有人类自己寻找方法，从这里可以看出东方天神的博爱。而西方神话——《普罗米修斯的故事》我认为西方既有善良、勇敢的神，就比如普罗米修斯，他同情人类，于是冒险去见宙斯，请求宙斯把火赐给人类，可宙斯却说：“不给就是不给！”但他为什么不愿意把火给人类呢？因为宙斯自私，他希望人类永远愚昧无知，这样他就可以通知世界了。由于宙斯不赐火给人类，那么普罗米修斯也只好去盗火，结果被宙斯发现，普罗米修斯被捆在了高加索山的最高峰上，受尽折磨，这就说明了普罗米修斯的勇敢，可也写出了宙斯的自私、残酷无情。将东西方神话一对比，我发现东方天神很博爱，也很智慧，他将提示给人类，让人类自己找方法。

第二点是：《燧氏钻木取火》，伏羲指引年轻人，让他找到了永不熄灭的火种——钻木取火的方法，说明东方人民注重的是方法，方法是靠人想出来的，也就是说人们只相信人自己的力量。《普罗米修斯的故事》是普罗米修斯为人类盗火，这样会让人类觉得——神什么都可以做到，便养成了一种依赖。这说明西方的人民相信神，认为神可以给人一切。

读完这两篇神话后，解决了我的一个问题——为什么中国的发展比其它国家快，因为中国人相信自己的力量，而西方人民相信神。

《普罗米修斯的故事》讲述了普罗米修斯同情人类，为人类盗取火种，让人类过了上幸福的生活，自己却被束缚在高加索山上，接受宙斯的惩罚，最后，一位名叫海格里斯的勇士救出了普罗米修斯，让他重获自由。

而《燧氏钻木取火》讲述了大神伏羲同情人类，将火赐给了他们，不过，因为某个人的疏忽，让他们失去了火，重新陷入了黑暗之中，这时，有一位年轻人不畏狂风暴雨，不怕跋山涉水，在伏羲的指引下找到了一种永远不会熄灭的火。

从这两则故事中可以看出两位大神---普罗米修斯和伏羲都富有同情心，可是，同样有关于火的神话故事却隐藏着许多不同点。

从《普罗米修斯的故事》中---“狂风终日在他身边呼啸，冰雹敲打着他的面庞；凶猛的大鹰在他耳边尖叫，用无情的利爪撕裂他的肌体。”这段话表现了普罗米修斯的善良、无私和勇敢，彰显了西方神话故事里神的情感，然而，《燧氏钻木取火》中---“年轻人翻过高山，涉过大河、穿过森林，历尽艰辛，终于来到遂明国……年轻人不灰心，他找来各种树枝，耐心地用不同的树枝进行摩擦。”这段话体现了东方人吃苦耐劳的坚毅品格和人定胜天的壮志雄心，东方神话崇尚以人为主，每个成就都来自于人类自身的努力，刻画出了一个个勇敢鲜活的英雄人物。

两则神话的形成截然不同，相比之下，我更喜爱东方神话，因为在人们遇到困难时，他们是靠自己的努力而成功的，不是靠别人的施舍和给予。

东西方神话各有各的特点，西方神话充满美妙奇幻；东方神话充满艰辛智慧，这也让我明白了世界是多元的、美好的。

As Confucius Institute worldwide,Confucian culture appears more and more important.The more important is the Confucian culture of filial piety.

Confucian culture and pay attention to for the first filial." If you dont stop for." Profound revelation of me.Filial piety,the world will eventually.For thousands of years passed down the core of Confucian culture.Confucius said," one trip more than filial piety." Confucius humanity,Kome Takeis parents is as unalterable principles.Today,many phenomena in society to let people reflection.

Confucian filial piety,reflected in every aspect of society at all levels.For thousands of years,Chinese whether rich or poor and,by this kind of culture is deeply Taozhe smoked.It is the most important cultural asset." Is old I old as well as old person." Confucian filial piety,lead us to the important content of harmonious society.

[孝道文化英语作文

众所周知，中西方的文化存在着许多不同的差异。但这些差异是因为什么原因而造成的呢？最大的一个原因一定是地理环境了。在遥远的古代，人们还没有发明出飞机、轮船、火车这些便捷的交通工具。所以对于当时的人来说，是没有与外界的交流的。这也就造成了每个地方的人的饮食习惯、穿着习惯、以及生活习惯等等的不同。久而久之，便出现了文化之间的差异了。就中国来说，以前生活在北方的人喜欢吃面食，南方的人喜欢吃米饭。而这些差异便是地理环境所带来的，因为北方气候较为寒冷，宜种植小麦，而小麦便可加工成面粉，所以北方人好吃面食。而南方气候温暖，宜种植水稻，所以吃米饭的也多。《晏子使楚》中说道：“桔生淮南则为桔，生于淮北则为枳，果徒相似，其实味不同。所以然者何？水地异也。”从中可以看出早在中国古代，人们已经意识到了地理环境对于事物的影响。

我们现在所指的中西文化的概念，“中”主要是指以黄河中、下游流域及长江流域为轴心发展起来的华夏文明，或称中国文化：“西”则主要是指以爱琴海、地中海为中心兴起的古希腊文明、古罗马文明、古埃及文明，或称西方文化。从这一定义上，我们就能看出，文明的起源首先要依赖于地理环境。人的聚集、互动、生产乃至文明的产生和文化的发展需要一个相对温和宜人的地理环境。因此，环境作为一种横向决定因素，奠定了文化的基础。

西方的地理环境在以前就不适于农耕，土地不肥沃，地中海一带非常贫瘠。所以，在这种土地资源条件下，西方人若不远走他乡，就无法生存。西方的河和海很多，像地中海这种内海，虽然不产什么东西，可是作为航路却很方便，是连接许多周边国家的交通要道。地中海周围有很多国家，只要有船，彼此交往起来就很方便，可以进行海上的贸易。所以商业也就相对发达了。

西方的这种环境使其必然地向流动性和融合性发展，强调独立，以及个人主义。西方民族的这种战争性格也是由于其所处环境造成的，他要生存，就必须应对环境的挑战，因而造就了他们性格中的坚忍以及残忍，同时导致其各民族之间长期互相斗争不断，这种历史过程渐渐就塑造构成了西方人的性格倾向：一种崇尚竞争取胜的社会心态。所以西方的发展迅速而有力，对于新事物也比较容易接受。他们对于文化的吸收不是批判而是学习，是以“学而为我用”为最终目标的。

相反，中国内部平原广阔，特别是黄河、长江流域周围全是平原，但是却没有明显的天然屏障可以阻挡自然灾害，四周除东面沿海以外其余三面皆是地理上的阻绝地带，这种一面临海，其它三面陆路交通十分不方便，而内部回旋余地又相当开阔的环境，形成一种与外部世界半隔绝的状态，使中国没有向外部拓展的野心，专心于农耕经济，养成了独自经营，和平温顺的国民性格。所以，中国文化大体上是在本土独自酝酿成长，虽然偶有外来文化成分由西域或海上传入，但是直到今天，中国的大部分文化还是与千百年前的中国文化相同。这样的背景使中国文化的发展稳定而富于自信，具有保守性和封闭性的特征，并且始终保持着自己文化的独特风格和完整系统，使之绵延不绝。

综上所述，地理环境对文化的影响是非常重大的。它作为文化发展的一根重要的指向标，在一定的程度上决定着文化的发展前途和发展方向，也在一定程度上塑造了文化的特色，促成了文化的多样性。使不同地域环境的地区，形成了具有自己地域特点的文化、宗教信仰、民族习俗、生活习惯等。

ladies and gentlemen,

welcome to our school. we are glad to have such a group of experienced teachers visiting us. we are sure the exchange of views among us will promote① the friendly relationship between china and america. i hope you will enjoy your stay in china, make new friends and take away memories of pleasant, productive ② days.

after your visit,we sincerely hope you will give us your valuable suggestions.

美利坚民族是个年轻、天真、自信、富有生气的民族。像个血气方刚的青年人，美国人生性好动，不甘寂寞。像个精力充沛的年轻人，美国人不停地干这忙那，似乎有永远也使不完的精力。城市里的人似乎永远赶着去什么地方;乡村里的人总是在农田、养鸡场、谷仓、奶牛场之间奔跑不停;办公室里的人有着堆成山似的文字工作(paper work)要做;公司里的秘书手脚不停地接电话、送文件。你在街上走逛，后面的人会大步流星地超赶到你的前面;你去餐馆就餐，难得寻觅到能与你说笑寒喧的伴侣。生活的节奏像一根上足了的发条一样，有条不紊地不停运转，构成了一幅繁忙、近乎于疯狂的现代人生活画面。

美国人的快节奏生活方式，除了止述美利坚民族好动不好静的秉性之外，很大程度上与他们社会的激烈竞争息息相关。美国是个市场经济高度发达的国家，“物竞天择，适者生存”的法则是它的运转规律，不进则退，不胜则败。为了生存和成功，美国人必须拼搏和奋斗，而拼搏与奋斗的一个重要方面是与他人抢时间、争速度，使自己始终处于依靠地位。由此可见，美国人的快节奏生活方式是被他们紧张激烈的社会竞争所“逼迫”出来的。因为这种“逼迫”无时不在、无处不有，美国人对快节奏生活方式也就习惯成自然了。

真话重于客气

在不少国家，人们互相交谈时，喜欢拣对方高兴听的知说，而不愿指出事实真相，以免伤了和气。这多半是出于客气(courtesy)和礼貌(politeness)。但在美国人的眼光里，这种心地善良的客气和礼貌不及真话重要。美国人的伦理价值观中有一条箴言：“诚实为上策” (Honesty is the best policy)。换句话说，在比较诚实、客气、礼貌、家族声誉孰轻孰重时，美国人把诚实放在首位。因此，在美国如果要说某人的坏话，最厉害的一句是“你不能相信他”(You cannot trust him)。

试举例说明。一个美国人驾车赶路，途中，他问一路人：“这里距离下一个市镇还有多远?”在一些把客气礼貌放在高于真实位置的国家里，路边这位先生也许马上想到赶路者已疲倦不堪，急欲抵达目的地，于是便客客气气地说，“顺着这条路走就到了”(Just down the road)。他以为这样回答能使赶路者心里宽慰从而更振足精神。然而，当这美国人开了好半天的车才到达要去的市镇时他会心情不畅，甚至气愤，觉得自己受骗了(feeling tricked)。在他看来，那位路边人明知路程很远，却存心欺骗他。同样的问题，美国人会怎样回答呢?美国人认为，假如他知道下一个市镇还有24英里的路程，回答说“Just down the road”是不诚实的表现。因此，尽管对那疲倦的寻路人极富同情，但他还是实话相告：“有好一段路呢，至少24英里”。(You have a long way to go ;at least 24miles more)。问路者听了也许会失望，但他明白了自己的处境，所以也不会产生误解。

交友

在美国这样一个地域流动(geographical mobility)和社会流动(social mobility)都很的国家里，交友自有它的特色。由于人们时常从一个地方迁徙到另一个地方，他们在交友时所建立的友谊可能一时密切而牢靠。但一旦彼此迁移他处时，他们的友谊可能不久即告消失，双方各自再找合适的新朋友。美国人不会因这种友谊的处理方式而感到“薄情”，更不会觉得自己受了对方的轻视，或者侮辱。大多数情况下，“劳燕分飞”的朋友可能保持通信、或者电话联系一两年，然后逐渐中断联系。有趣的是，一旦有机会再见面，不管间隔多久，昔日的朋友会“和好如初”，重温友情，甚至继续密切往来一段时间。

基于在这交友方式，外国客人去美国人家作客时，可以无拘无束、轻松自在地与他们闲谈、玩耍。他们可以与美国人共弃假期，甚至一起生活，而不必为保持终身友谊而担忧犯愁。就美国人而言，他们邀请外国客人去作客是出于一种友情和好客，他们乐意为这种短暂的友谊花费一定的时间和精力。

爱搞实验

美利坚民族性格中，爱搞实验是她的一个重要特点。从大的范围讲，美国本身就是一个最大的实验场。自哥伦布“发现”北美新大陆后，一批又一批移民涌入美国，根据他们各自理想蓝图，在美国进行不同类型的实验。清教徒要在那里建立一个“天府之国”，共和主义者想在那里建立一个“大同世界”，注重经济发展的人要把那块广阔富饶的土地变成“强盛之邦”。从小的范围看，一代又一代来自世界各地的开拓者，不断地利用一切机会进行各种各样的尝试。有的试图在政治上发迹，有的设法在经济上发财，也有的为了自己的理想之梦而孜孜以求。不管是大范围着眼，还是小范围角度，美国都被看作是“机遇之地”(land of opportunity)，因而可以在那里展开实验。

吃一口饭就是在吃一口美国文化

说起美国餐,你可能立刻想起热狗、汉堡包、薯条和炸鸡。但是,美国餐还包括沙拉、牛排、烤排骨、鲜虾、龙虾、新英格兰奶油蛤汤、炖鸡汤、奶油蘑菇汤等等。不仅如此,美国是个开放的国度,美国餐也是世界各国各地美食的总汇。

在美国餐里,我现在最喜欢吃的是沙拉。它的特点是生,生得颜色很鲜艳,红的是西红柿,绿的是生菜、菠菜、西兰花和芹菜,橘色的是胡萝卜,黄色的是烤面包块和奶酪,白色的是酱和酸奶酪。沙拉保持了原汁原味,各种菜香都可一口品尝到。有些沙拉也加上了烤鸡肉条或培根。沙拉的不同口味主要体现在酱上,有奶油味、意大利甜酸味、印尼千岛味、加州奶油味等等。我喜欢吃沙拉的另一个原因是它营养健康,维生素含量比炒的炸的菜更丰富。

我也爱吃牛排。好的牛排是棕色的,做得好的牛排可顺畅地一切到底。上面经常有很多香喷喷的肉汁。牛排一般半磅到一磅重。好餐馆里一块牛排差不多13美元,在快餐馆里,一块牛排才只有一两美元。

新英格兰奶油蛤汤是我最爱喝的汤。它美味可口,满齿留香。汤是乳白色的,有独特的浓浓的奶油味。除了奶油以外,汤里还包括蛤、贝、芹菜、洋葱和多种草药。这个汤已经在美国餐馆的菜谱里流行几百年了。

苹果派是传统饭后甜点。苹果派有格子的派壳,里面塞满了苹果酱果。甜点一般是为了哄小孩或帮助去除油腻味的。

我知道上面谈到的不能代表整个美国佳肴。但是,每当我品尝这些食品时,就仿佛感受到美国人对大自然的理解,对生活的态度。吃一口饭就是在吃一口美国文化。

当传统国学文化与西方文化相遇，当圣诞节与春节“撞车”，随着时代的发展进步，人们越来越趋向于欣赏西方文化。如今，“崇洋媚外”已成为一种风尚；“抨击传统文化，赞赏西方文化“似乎是文学家教育家津津乐道的话题；越来越多的家长希望自己的孩子出国接受国外的教育……我不得不思索，难道中华五千年源远流长的传统文化真的比不上西方文化吗？

其实不然。中西方文化的起源不同，二者追求的信仰也不一样。我们的东方文化受到佛教、以孔子为首的儒家思想和老子的道教思想影响深远，主要追求精神的超脱，追求礼孝忠义，注重个人修养和人与自然的和谐相处。而西方文化起源于古希腊罗马文化，他们拥有平等、自由和开放的观念，追求个人权利以及对自然的探索和求证。因此，中西方文化存在明显的差异，

在文化教育方面，中西方各领风骚。传统国学文化深受儒家影响，中国的教育也注重于培养学生的个人素质，注重基础教育和因材施教。虽说应试教育不利于学生的全面发展，但是我们不能全盘否定我国的教育方式。考试是对学生在某个阶段学习效果的检验。应试教育有助于培养学生的自我思考和独立自主能力。而在西方，无论是在学校还是在家庭都很注重培养一个人的动手和实践能力。曾经有一个二年级的中国孩子，随父母去美国读小学，它的教师告诉他父母说：“我可以告诉你，六年级以前，他们的数学不用学了！”

中西方文化教育的不同直接导致了人们性格修养不同。中国人热情好客，关心和询问别人的身体健康状况是一种有礼貌，有修养的表现。人们一般见面都喜欢相互寒暄：“你吃饭了吗？”“最近过得怎么样？”而西方人喜欢尊重他人隐私，所以才以谈论天气，生活来避免尴尬。中国人提倡默默无闻和无私奉献精神，以集体利益为重，个人利益为轻，崇尚助人为乐和不求回报。但是西方人的自我中心意识很强，他们个人荣誉感极强，把个人利益放在第一位，并且推崇个人奋斗，强调多劳多得。

传统国学文化历史悠久，源远流长。漫步在历史的长廊中，我们可以细细品味抒写美的爱情，反映现实生活的《诗经》。穿越过春秋战国时期的百家争鸣的文化盛宴，我们有唐诗宋词元曲明清小说……伟大的祖先留给我们的文化瑰宝如同满天繁星般璀璨，是每个民族都可望不可及的。传统国学文化是华夏子女的历史财富，是我国全人类的文化遗产，我们应当学会珍惜。

面对着中西方文化的差异，当外来文化“入侵”时，我们应当取之精华，采取谦虚，不卑不亢的态度。对于我们的传统文化，我们则需要总结提炼其精华，推崇提倡中华民族文化之瑰宝，才能培养更高素质的人才。

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

American culture, in a sense, is an extension of European culture, because the language of the Americans, demographic composition and her spirit of the foundation are from Europe. On the other hand, American culture with Europe, because European immigrants in the North American continent to drive away after taking the Indians, in a barren wilderness land to create a stunning is the splendid civilization. Therefore, in the United States talk about cultural practices and social propriety, it is necessary to take account of the same culture of Europe and the United States, but also pay attention to both of the opposite sex. Cultural practices is a wide scope and complexity of the topic, people involved in social life and relations In all aspects.

Of tolerance.

The United States is a country of immigrants, the ancestors from around the world. People emigrated to the United States, not only in the location to move on, but also in their country and customs of the council to a new place of residence. As miscellaneous, people their differences very obvious because the differences are very common, people do not particularly pay attention to unity. In time, the cultural practices of the Americans formed a higher level of tolerance (tolerance), the different cultures and different appraisals on tolerance, an acceptable attitude. At this point, the U.S. society feasible than the custom of other countries in the world more broadly.

From a political perspective, this tolerance of performance in the pursuit of freedom and the right to freedom of maintenance. From the religious that it reflected in the harmonious coexistence of different faiths. From the viewpoint of life, and it appeared in different communities, different ethnic communities live in peace. In a nutshell, in the United States, each person can basically arbitrary choice of different ideas, beliefs, traditions and customs and way of life; people can also keep a considerable extent, their customs and instrument. For example, Jews can celebrate their religious festivals, and Christians are to their Christmas and Easter. For example, again, the United States by Chinese in Chinatown Chinese live and work; the same token, the Vietnamese immigrants in their "little Saigon" according to Vietnams way of doing business and engaged in various activities.

Americans of tolerance, in addition to the above United States is a country that factors other than immigration, and the frequent movement of the Americans. As everyone knows, the history of the United States in the development of an important part of her history of the development of the western region. At that time, the United States Blazers or hiking, horseback or car, from east to west, from north to south, wherever there are opportunities, there Jiuwang resettlement. The frequent migration and continuous replacement of the Habitat so that people will always be in the "mobile", and the occasional different facing the phenomenon of tolerance and more easily accepted. Moreover, the current migration also can help people expand the field of vision, known more widely know, the different practices with sympathy, understanding, and gradually formed diversity rather than uniformity of the openness of the concept.

As the Americans tolerant of stronger, so very few Americans to impose its will on other people, with China Confucius "by the others do not want to, not to impose on" the very Guxun like. For example, a husband may be a Republican, but he must not support the Democratic Party forced his wife to change political stance. Similarly, perhaps the mother is a Catholic, but she must not have forced her into a Muslim convert son to change religion. In their daily lives and habits of business in normal times, this spirit of tolerance is a common occurrence, commonplace.