UNIT 3. CUSTOMS AND CULTURES
Lesson 1. Cultural Awareness
What you'll learn:
Vocabulary: Dinner etiquettes/Customs of greetings/ Table manners
Grammar: Advice/Commands/Requests in Reported Speech
Speaking: Polite requests and apologising in society
Writing: A text describing customs and traditions

| awareness [ə'weənəs] (n) knowledge or perception of a situation or fact. Computer awareness. confusion [kən'fju:ʒ(ə)n] (n) uncertainty about what is happening. Complete confusion. cultural literacy [kʌltʃ(ə)r(ə)l lıt(ə)rəsı] (n) knowing about and respecting the culture of others. customary [kʌstəm(ə)rı] (adj) usual or traditional in a particular culture. Customary law. discourteous [dıs'kə:tıəs] (adj)showing rudeness and a lack of consideration for other people. It would be discourteous to decline a visit. etiquette ['etıket] (n) the “rules” for polite behaviour in a society or a group. Diplomatic etiquette. punctuality [pʌη(k)tʃʊ'æıitı] (n) the habit ofbeing on time. Punctuality is the politeness of kings. (Idiom) taboo [tə'bu:] (n/adj) not allowed because of very strong cultural or religious rules; ban, prohibition. To break a taboo. take hold of (v) start to have an effect. Despair took hold of her. unavoidable [ʌnə'vɔıdəb(ə)l] (adj) not able to be avoided, prevented. Unavoidable loss. notify ['noʊtıfaı] (v) inform (someone) of something, typically in a formal manner. To notify a crime to the police. lasagna [lə'za:njə] (n) pasta in the form of wide strips. permissible [pə'mısıb(ə)l] (adj) permitted; allowed. A permissible level

LISTEN AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS! Read Listening Material
Read through the questions. Then listen to the passage and answer the following questions.

1. What is the passage mainly about?
   a) Savings for weddings
   b) Indian wedding traditions
   c) Ceremonies in Indian weddings
   d) Red as a symbol of Indian weddings
   e) Traditional items for Indian weddings
2. Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
   Indians start saving early, because they need to buy ___________
   1. Rice
   2. Gifts
   3. Henna
   4. Clothes
   5. Gold jewellery
   a) 1, 4, 5
   b) 1, 2, 3
   c) 2, 3, 4
   d) 2, 4, 5
   e) 2, 3, 5
3. Which is NOT mentioned according to the passage?
   a) Sangeet means singing together
   b) Several pre- parties are organized
   c) Mehendi takes place in Muslim weddings
   d) India hosts 10 million weddings every year
   e) Bride throws her bunch of flowers to the single ones
4. Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
   Which of the followings is not a Mehendi tradition?
   a) Giving rice
   b) Burning a fire
   c) Making offerings
   d) Painting bride’s hands
   e) Singing traditional songs
5. Write an answer to the question according to the passage.
   Why do Indian brides wear red garments?
6. Which word in the passage is closest in meaning to the definition “a song in the traditional style of a country”

Cultural elements are often what make weddings so special and meaningful, because they're passed down through history, connecting people to their ancestors. Families usually start saving early and spend a lot of money buying gifts, clothes and gold jewellery for the whole family during weddings. There are over 10 million weddings in India every year. The brides wear red garments, because in Indian culture, red symbolizes the rising sun. Before the wedding, there are several pre-parties. During the sangeet, which means “sing together “, the bride's family sings a traditional folk song to the groom's family to welcome them.

At the mehendi ceremony, which also takes place in Muslim weddings, henna is used draw on bride's hands. In the center of the wedding altar, a fire is burnt. Fire is kept as a witness and offerings are made. The bride's brother gives three handfuls of rice to the bride as a wish for his sister's happy marriage.

1. What is the passage mainly about?
   a) Savings for weddings
   b) Indian wedding traditions
   c) Ceremonies in Indian weddings
   d) Red as a symbol of Indian weddings
   e) Traditional items for Indian weddings
2. Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
   Indians start saving early, because they need to buy ___________
   1. Rice
   2. Gifts
   3. Henna
   4. Clothes
   5. Gold jewellery
   a) 1, 4, 5
   b) 1, 2, 3
   c) 2, 3, 4
   d) 2, 4, 5
   e) 2, 3, 5
3. Which is NOT mentioned according to the passage?
   a) Sangeet means singing together
   b) Several pre- parties are organized
   c) Mehendi takes place in Muslim weddings
   d) India hosts 10 million weddings every year
   e) Bride throws her bunch of flowers to the single ones
4. Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
   Which of the followings is not a Mehendi tradition?
   a) Giving rice
   b) Burning a fire
   c) Making offerings
   d) Painting bride’s hands
   e) Singing traditional songs
5. Write an answer to the question according to the passage.
   Why do Indian brides wear red garments?
   Answer: because red symbolizes the rising Sun
6. Which word in the passage is closest in meaning to the definition “a song in the traditional style of a country”
   Answer: folk song