Culture is the invisible bond which ties people together. The art, literature, language, and religion of a community represent its culture. The importance of culture lies in its close association with the ways of thinking and living. Differences in cultures have led to a diversity in the people from different parts of the world.
How we perceive things is largely affected by our judgment skills, preconceived notions, attitude, and emotions. These factors are closely linked with our culture. In perceiving something as good or bad, our biases play a role and so does our way of thinking. People who belong to cultures that promote individualism tend to look at only the main aspects of a situation, while those of a culture that promotes collectivism tend to consider even the minor details. People of Eastern cultures perceive success as being a collective effort, while those of the American culture perceive it as the fruit of individual effort.
Culture affects perception, and perceptions drive behavior. Thus, the culture we belong to has a direct impact on our behavior. Moreover, our environment, which has cultural influences, shapes our behavior. In a society where boys are discouraged from crying, men think of it as an odd gesture.
Group culture determines the behavioral norms for a group. To be accepted as a part of the group, we tend to follow what the group decides for us. Influenced by the norms or rules laid out by our culture, we act in accordance with them. Our culture defines people’s expectations from us. In the attempt to fulfill them, we shape our behavior and personality to suit our culture. Our religion, traditions, customs, all a part of our culture, play a major role in shaping our personalities. In a culture where children are taught to be independent early in life, they grow up to be individualistic. In a culture where boys and girls are not treated as equal, children may become aggressive and look at the opposite gender as their enemy, or those treated as inferior may grow up to be submissive.
12. What do people tend to do if they belong to a culture that promotes collectivism?
A.Ignore all unimportant aspects. | B.Think about as many details as possible. |
C.View success as a result of individual effort. | D.Blame their own failure on others. |
13. What does the underlined word “odd” in Paragraph 3 mean?
A.Harmless. | B.Acceptable. | C.Strange. | D.Interesting. |
14. What does the last paragraph mainly talk about?
A.The ways of educating children. | B.The diversity of personalities. |
C.The behavioral norms of a certain group. | D.The influence of culture on personalities. |
15. How is the passage mainly developed?
A.By providing examples. | B.By making comparisons. |
C.By following the order of time. | D.By following the order of importance. |