Counting in different cultures1 peo

Counting in different cultures
1 people in different parts of the world use different methods to count on their fingers. In the United States, people begin counting with their first, or index, finger, which they extend or stick out. They then extend the rest of their fingers and finally the thumb to count to five. Then they repeat this with the other hand to get to ten. In some cultures, people begin with their fingers already extended. They count by folding their fingers inward. In China, people count by using a variety of finger positions. In this way, a Chinese person can easily count to ten on only one hand, while an American uses two hands to count to ten.
2 In addition to methods of finger counting, scientists have found that cultures and languages differ when it comes to numbers. Some languages have only a few words for numbers, and others don’t have any words for numbers, A group of scientists Worked with aboriginal children in Australia. The scientists studied people who have a very small vocabulary for numbers. Unlike many groups, these people don’t have gestures or hand movements to indicate numbers. In most cultures, people count on fingers to indicate a number, but not in these aboriginal tribes, The Australian scientists found out that even though the children do not have words or gestures for counting, they are still able to understand different ideas about numbers.
3 In tests, aboriginal children listened to taps from a stick and then put out markers to match the number of taps they heard. For example, if they heard four taps, the scientists wanted to see if they put out four markers. They had to connect numbers with sounds and actions, without seeing written numbers. In the tests, the children put out the correct number of markers. They were able to count even though they didn’t have words for numbers. Experts believe this shows that humans have a universal ability to count.
Read the statements. Write T (true) or F (false)
____1. In the United States, people begin counting with their fingers extended.
____2. A Chinese person can count to ten using only one hand.
Choose the best response.
3. Why did scientists study aboriginal children in Australia?
A. because the children had a different way of counting of their fingers
B. because the children didn’t have words or gestures for counting
C. because the Australian aboriginal languages are so different form Western languages
4. What did the aboriginal children so when they heard the taps from the stick?
A. put out the correct number of markers
b. asked the researcher to tap the stick again so they could count
c. tapped back the same number of taps that they heard
5. What is the main idea of the reading passage?
a. No matter the language or cultural background, all humans have a universal ability to count.
B. People in different parts of the world use different methods to count on their fingers.
c. Certain cultures have no words to express numbers and counting.
Read the sentence Choose the inference you can make about the sentence
6. People in different parts of the world use different methods to count on their fingers.
a. People learn how to count on their fingers from other people in their own culture.
b. counting on one’s fingers is a universal thing that everybody knows how to do.
c. There are many ways of counting using fingers, but some ways are better.
7. A group of scientists worked with aboriginal children in Australia. The scientists studied people who have a very small vocabulary for numbers.
a. The aboriginal children do not count on their fingers.
b. The aboriginal children don’t have many words for numbers.
c. The aboriginal children did not know how to count.
Read the sentence with an inference. Is the information in the text?
Choose A or B
8. The way people count on their fingers is related to the language they speal.
a. yes
b. no
9. Only tribes in remote locations do not count on their fingers.
a. yes
b. no
10. The idea of numbers does not have to be connected to written numbers.
a. yes
b. no
Match each word with the correct definition.
____ 11 extend a. far away from where other people live
____ 12 remote b. to find something out
____ 13 determine c. accurate
____ 14 precise d. to stretch out a part of the body
Complete the sentence. Choose A, B, or C.
15. What_____ did you use to learn how to play the guitar?
a. lesson
b. concept
c. method
16. I_____ that my mom will call me on Sunday, because she calls every Sunday.
a. realize
b. assume
c. indicate
17. I never understood the basic____ regarding supply-side economics. Now I wish I had studied it harder when I was in school.
a. fact
b. concept
c. sense
18. Why do you always have to make things so ____ ? Life should be easier than that.
a. complicated
b. precise
c. disturbing
Match each word with the correct definition.
____ 19. recommendation a. have a hard time
____ 20.overestimate b. series of actions
____ 21. Process c. guess too high
____ 22. Struggle d. suggestion
23. 703-506-4993
a. seven zero three, five zero six, forty-nine nine three
b. seventy three, fifty six, forty nine ninety three
c. seven oh three, five oh six, four nine nine three
24. 12+5=17
a. twelve plus five equals seventeen
b. twelve times five is seventeen
c. twelve divided by five is seventeen
25. 230,000
a. twenty three thousand
b. two hundred thirty thousand
c. twenty three million
Complete the paragraph with numbers from the bank
200 98 1,000,000 200 1775
Tucson is one of the oldest cities in the United States. Tucson officially became a city in the year 26 ________, but people have lived in the area for almost
27_______ years. Today, about 28 _______ people live in Tucson. Tucson has about 29 ______ sunny days a year. In the summer, Tucson is very hot. The average temperature during the day is summer, Tucson is very hot. The average temperature during the day is 30_______ degrees Fahrenheit.
31. The princess didn’t believe him, but she kissed him anyway. As soon as she did, he turned into a handsome prince.
32. One day, she found a frog in her bedroom. The frog asked her to kiss him. He said he would become a handsome prince.
33. Finally, the prince and the princess got married, and they lived happily ever after.
34. Many, many years ago, there was a princess who wanted to meet a handsome prince.
35. My brother called while I ____for my final exam.
a. studied
b. was studying
36. I_____ a sandwich for lunch yesterday.
a. ate
b. was eating
37. The wind_____ all night last night.
a. blew
b. was blowing
38. I_____ the garden yesterday when I got home from work.
a. watered
b. was watering
39. I ____ my favorite novel when you called last night.
a. was reading
b. read
Nasreddin Hodja and the candle
1 In a particularly cold winter, Nasredidin Hodja and his friends sat in a coffeehouse discussing the weather. They spoke normally, but soon they were bragging about the things they could do. Before long, Hodja proudly said that “when I was a boy. I used to go out in the middle of January and break the ice on the river so that I could have a good swim in the water.
2 His friends did not believe this story. Looking at each other, they decided to challenge him. His friend said “Hodia, if you can stay out all night long in the cold without a coat or a blanket or anything at all to warm yourself, you’ll be our guest at a fine dinner. We pay for everything” “of course” said Hodja.
3 That evening the Hodja’s friends watched through the windows of their warm houses as the Hodja stroll here and there in the freezing weather. Just he was about to give up, he saw a candle in a window about a hundred meters away. Hodja imagined that the warmth of the light helped warm the blood flowing through his cold body. By doing this, he was able to stay out all night in the cold.
40. In paragraph 1 line 2 , the word “bragging” means______
a. present the super natural ability
b. talk too proudly about something
c. imagine with creativity
41. When Hodja was young, he used to ________
a. break the ice with hands
b. stay awake all night
c. swim in the cold river
42. Hodja friends challenged him to______
a. stay outside in a cold weather
b. imagine that the candle can warm his body
c. be their guest for a fine dinner
43. In paragraph 3 line 2, the word “stroll” means____
a. to walk slowly with pleasure
b. do something new
c. run into a particular spot
44. What did Hodja do to get him through the night?
a. He imagined that his blood is getting warm.
b. He focused on the warmth from the candle.
c. He used candle to warm his body.
45. What is the main idea of this passage?
a. your imagination can help you are in trouble
b. Good friends are needed when you are in trouble
c. Candle is very important tool to warm you up
Match each word with the correct definition.
_____ 46. Possession a. a person who buys things or uses services
_____ 47. Consumer b. the way you think, feel, or behave
_____48. Habit c. something that somebody does very often
_____49. Attitude d. something that you have or own
Complete the sentence. Choose A, B, or C.
50. One_____ of my new cell phone is that you can record videos with it.
a. consequence
b. feature
c. item
51. One_____ that influenced me to move there was the great weather.
a. factor
b. reason
c. persuasion
Digital Dining
1 At restaurant Z, we are known as a cool, trendy place for people who want a very special experience. We are always looking for better ways to serve our customers and make their experience unique. Next month, well make a change so that we can really stand out touch screen ordering, also known as “digital dining” you need to know about this new technology.
2 This is how it works each table will have its own tabletop computer monitor with a touch screen. Customers can view the menu on the monitor, including descriptions and photos. To start, the customer inserts her credit card and puts in her order by touching the screen. Then the program automatically