- 1 -
Each of the text was taken from: https://www.esleschool.com/exercise-2-different-cultures/
UNITED KINGDOM - BRITAIN
Julie: the briton
What I admire about my people is their diversity. I suppose that stems from our past. Britain, after all, once colonised nearly half the world, so it's not surprising. And it's not just the fact that all sorts of different people live here, it's also because they manage to live in harmony — well, most of the time. No matter whether you are a Briton of one generation or ten, so long as you consider yourself British everyone else will. I'm also quite proud of the monarchy. So many countries have abandoned the monarchical system, and I think that's sad. We are one of the last in Europe. I hope we never go down the route of getting rid of the queen. The one thing I'm sceptical of is Europe. I am afraid that the more involved we become in the European Union, the less distinct we are as a nation. I for one was very happy we didn't join the Euro.
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Each of the text was taken from: https://www.examenglish.com/B2/b2_reading_countries.htm
UNITED KINGDOM - BRITAIN
In the last half century, Britain, like many industrialised countries, has moved away from heavy engineering towards service and high-tech industries. With this has come a major shift in management style. Hierarchical systems have been swept aside and replaced by modern business models, heavily influenced by the US. The ‘job for life’ is rare. Neither managers nor junior workers expect to climb the corporate ladder within one company; rather, they manage their own career paths by progressing from company to company. Such short-termism can be frustrating for outsiders. British managers tend to be generalists rather than specialists, and are not necessarily the most technically competent person in the team. Instead, they are expected to have the necessary interpersonal skills to ensure the team works together effectively. They cultivate a close and humorous relationship with subordinates, which may be considered too soft. Giving direct orders can be seen as impolite, so managers often make indirect requests rather than explicit instructions, which is sometimes confusing for non-British people.