TOEFL Questions
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CLI 아카데미
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2019-07-27 11:58
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The Spread of Culture
Cultural diffusion occurs when aspects or traits from one culture are spread and incorporated into another culture. It is a natural process that does not involve a country forcing its traditions and culture onto another, as in assimilation. Three recognized modes of cultural diffusion are direct contact, intermediate contact, and stimulus diffusion.
Direct contact diffusion occurs when one culture directly borrows from another. This is usually facilitated by close proximity; in other word, when two countries are located near each other, they are more likely to experience direct contact diffusion. For example, the game of hockey, a favorite national pastime in Canada, is now popular in the United States. The United States has also influenced Canadian culture by popularizing baseball in the northern country.
Intermediate contact diffusion is when parts of a culture spread through an intermediary, or “middleman.” In the past, intermediaries were merchant sailors or missionaries traveling to distant countries who returned with cultural treasures. For example, anthropologists believe that soldiers were instrumental in the spread of culture during the Middle Ages. The Knights Templar and the Knights of St. John traveled between North Africa and Europe. As they did so, they spread different aspects of their respective cultures. Furthermore, it can be argued that today, the Internet is a primary intermediary for cultural diffusion as it connects people from all over the world.
The last type of cultural diffusion is stimulus diffusion. This occurs when the knowledge of a certain trait is enough to spur the creation of an equal trait or aspect in another culture. Without direct contact, this tends to be an interpretation of the culture’s traits rather than an exact replica. Take the case of the arrival of Europeans in North America. A Cherokee Indian named Sequoya noted that the Europeans had a writing system. Without directly adopting the English system, Sequoya developed a completely unique writing system for his people.
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Incorporate: to include something
Assimilation: the process in which a group takes on cultural and other traits of a larger group
Mode: a way of doing something
Proficiency: the state of being skilled
Standardized: conforming to an approved model
Intuitive: having a deep insight
Context: a situation
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Q. Which of the following best expresses the essential information in the essential information in the highlighted sentence in paragraph 2? Incorrect answer choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.
(A) Analytical intelligence only applies to people who have been learned in school.
(B) Learning from books is a skill that is part of analytical intelligence.
(C) Skills learned in school on in books makes up the type of intelligence called analytical intelligence.
(D) Analytical intelligence is promoted by schools and books because it helps people learn skills.
A> (B) Learning from books is a skill that is part of analytical intelligence.