Bloque A - Text 2 · Inglés PAU Andalucía Ordinaria Suplente 2021

TEXT 2: CULTURAL DIFFERENCES

1 Consider this situation: Sarah is an American teenager and her family recently moved to Japan, where her father has been transferred

2 for work. Sarah is finding life in the big city of Tokyo rather overwhelming, but she is trying to get settled and make friends. One of her

3 biggest adjustment challenges has been related to school. There are many new rules and rituals, considerably more than she had

4 experienced in the United States. For example, in Japan she must wear a uniform, while in the US she did not. At her Japanese school,

5 they not only wear the same uniform, but also all students of a certain grade level wear the same indoor shoes. Her classmates seem

6 to like wearing identical clothes, but Sarah feels like she has lost a significant portion of her ability to express herself.

7 Another challenge for Sarah is the fact that, every day after school, all students work together to clean up their classroom and the

8 school hallways. Sarah doesn't generally mind cleaning, but it is the last thing she wants to do after a long day at school, and she

9 frequently gets frustrated and upset by the additional activity. Finally, the school year began with a one-hour ceremony. While Sarah

10 had gotten bored and tired of standing so long, her classmates seemed to really enjoy the event.

11 What is going on? Why do people from other cultures behave and think differently? According to Professor Hofstede's “Cultural

12 Dimensions Theory,” discrepancies in behavior can be explained by cultural differences, taking into account that “national culture

13 cannot be changed, but you should understand and respect it.”

CHOOSE AND WRITE THE CORRECT OPTION (A, B, C or D). (0.5 points each)

9. Sarah thinks that wearing a uniform...

10. The opening school ceremony...

ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH THE PRECISE WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT, OR USE YOUR OWN WORDS. (0.5 points each)

11.

Sarah is struggling to get used to her new life in Tokyo.

TRUE

FALSE

12.

Uniforms were compulsory at Sarah's previous school.

TRUE

FALSE

13.

At her Japanese school, every student clears up their own desk only.

TRUE

FALSE

14.

After classes, Sarah is not in the mood for tidying up.

TRUE

FALSE

15. FIND IN THE TEXT: (0.5 points)

15.1.

15.2.

16. FIND IN THE TEXT: (0.5 points)

16.1.

16.2.