Britain is full of culture and traditions which have been around for hundreds of years.

British people tend to be rather conservative. The conservative attitude is embodied in accepting things familiar to them and beingsuspicious of anything that is strange or foreign. To other Europeans, the best-known quality of the British, and in particular of the English, and in particular of the English, is "reserved". They do not talk very much to strangers, do not show much emotion, and seldom get excited. The main topic of British is weather. Conversation in Britain is generally quiet and restrained. The people who make loud speeches are considered ill-bread. Within their heart, the English are perhaps no less conceited than anybody else, but in their relations with others, they value, at least, modesty. Self-praise s felt to be ill-bred.

The British people are known for their politeness, but nowadays their habits of politeness are not as formal as before. Handshakes are only exchanged on a first introduction, special occasions, or as a token of agreement or congratulation.

British people do not readily ask each other to do anything that would involve real inconvenience. They prefer to wait for such service to be offered rather than ask for it. It is often polite to refuse an offer of service.

If you are invited to a person's home on a social occasion, it is not very common nor polite to arrive early as the hostess will be preparing for you, and will feel embarrassed if you arrive before she is quite ready. There are no rules about what time to leave after the dinner, but it is not polite to stay too late as it implies a lack of consideration for your hosts.

In public places, you should never jump the queue in Britain.

英国有着数百年的文化和传统习俗。

英国人一般相当保守。他们保守的态度表现在他们只接受他们熟悉的事物， 而且对任何陌生或者外来的事物都持怀疑态度。对其他欧洲人来说，英国人，尤其是英格兰人，最显著的特点就是“矜持”。他们很少与陌生人交谈，也很少表露情绪，更很少激动。英国人交谈的主要话题是天气。 他们谈话时声音很轻且克制情绪。大声讲话被看作是缺乏教养的行为。 与其他人一样，英国人在内心深处或许不乏自负，但是在与他人的交往中，至少很注重表现出谦逊的样子。自我炫耀也被认为是没有教养的。

英国人以礼貌待人而著称，但是，现在他们这种以礼相待的习惯已不像以前那么正规了。 人们只有在初次相见，或是特殊的场合，或是表示赞同和祝贺时才握手。

英国人对可能会给别人添麻烦的事从不轻易开口， 他们宁可等待别人主动提出帮忙也不先求助。 拒绝别人的主动帮忙通常是一种礼貌的行为。

如果在社交场合你被邀请到某个英国人家里做客， 提前到不常见，并且也不礼貌， 因为女主人正为你的到来做准备。 她还没准备好你就到了， 会使她感到非常尴尬。 餐后何时离去并没有硬性规定，不过， 在主人家逗留得太晚是不礼貌的， 表明你没有为主人着想。

在英国的公共场所，千万不要插队。

conservative adj. 保守的

conceited adj. 自负的

inconvenience n. 不便， 困难

hostess n. 女主人

suspicious adj. 怀疑的

congratulation n. 祝贺

embarrassed adj. 尴尬的

Jane 和 Shirley 是好朋友。 Shirley 的丈夫邀请了英国客人来家里吃饭，所以 Shirley 就来向Jane 讨教如何更好地与英国人相处以及有关英国人的饮食习惯。

S = Shirley 雪 = 雪莉 J = Jane 简 = 简

S: I am so nervous, Jane. I've never met British before. What if they do not like me and my food? How can I talk with them?

J: Take it easy, Shirley. It's not so bad, and you cook very well. But please make sure that you do not serve them with the heads or internal organs of animals.

S: They don't eat those? But I think they are delicious.

J: Yeah. In British people's words, they eat the meat of animals, not the animals. And you'd better not talk to them while you have food in your mouth. That's impolite.

S: Oh? I've got it. Any more suggestions?

J: British people prefer to tell something directly. So when they say "No", they are serious. One more advice: do not ask about the age of your female guest and the salary of your male guest. Privacy is very important to them.

S: OK, I know. Thank you, Jane.

J: My pleasure.

雪：我很紧张，简。我之前从没见过英国人。 他们要是不喜欢我和我做的饭怎么办？我该怎么和他们说话呢？

简：放轻松， 雪莉。 没有那么糟糕， 你的厨艺很好。 但是你千万不要做带 动物的头颅和内脏的食物给他们吃。

雪：他们不吃那些吗？ 我认为很好吃啊。

简：那只是你的想法。 按照英国人的说法， 他们吃的是动物的肉，而不是动物。还有，你最好不要口里含着食物跟他们讲话，那是不礼貌的。

雪：是吗？我知道了。还有什么建议？

简：英国人喜欢坦率地表达意见，所以当他们说 “不”的时候，他们是认真的。最后一个建议：不要问女客人的年龄和男客人的工资。对英国人来说，隐私是很重要的。

雪：好，我知道了。谢谢你，简。

简：不客气。

nervous adj. 紧张的

organ n. 器官

internal adj. 内脏的

privacy n. 隐私

你是英国文化专家，有个外国留学生慕名向你讨教有关英国的风俗习惯问题。试着完成下面的对话。

1. 外国留学生：Do British people have any taboos on eating?

你：___________________________________________

2. 外国留学生：Can you give me one word that can tell the characteristics of British people?

你：___________________________________________

3. 外国留学生： When will British people shake hands?

你：___________________________________________

1. Yes. They do not eat the heads and internal organs of animals.

2. Conservative.

3. Nowadays, they only shake hands on a first introduction, or special occasions, or as a token of agreement or congratulation.

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