5th Chapter

Question 1

Which areas of life does the popular belief that Britain is a ‘land of tradition’ (not) apply to, and how is this manifested?

Answer 1

True in public life - the changing of guards outside Buckingham Palace never changes
Some ceremonies follow centuries old customs
Private everyday lives - not following traditions, they are too individualistic

Question 2

What is the stereotyped image of the London ‘city gent’?

Answer 2

Wearing of a bowler hat (not common nowadays)

Question 3

What is the iconic version of the London red bus called, and how does its (hi)story illustrate the British love of tradition?

Answer 3

Routemaster
When buses were privatized, the companies wanted to paint them in their colours, but people disagreed
After taken out of regular service, Routemaster became a tourist trips bus

Question 4

Give 3 examples of supposedly typical British habits connected with food and drink which are simply not typical anymore. What is the reality?

Answer 4

“Fry up” (cereal, milk, toast, butter and marmalade) a traditional breakfast, is not very common, most people have just cereal, tea and toast or even less

Afternoon tea with biscuits etc. is confined to retired and leisured middle-class

Image of the British as a nation of tea-drinkers is outdated

Question 5

What wrong conclusion can be drawn from the British habit queuing? How does the author argue against such an explanation? How do some other authors (A. A. Gill) explain this habit?

Answer 5

British form queues but they do not enjoy it, it is wrong to conclude that they are patient people.
They queue because they have to, otherwise they would kill each other, they care about (un)fairness more than anything else

Question 6

What is behind British anti-intellectualism, how is it manifested, what contradicts it, and why is it probably better seen as a specifically English characteristic, and not a British one?

Answer 6

Suspicion of education and “high culture” - teachers do not have as high a status as they do in other countries
People are not that interested to getting their children to university
They like quizzes, but dislike academical knowledge
Specifically English because:
Scottish place high value for all classes
Irish value being quick and able with words
Welsh - export teachers to other parts of Britain

Question 7

How is English anti-intellectualism reflected in vocabulary? (give and explain 7 examples)

Answer 7

swot - someone who works hard and does well academically - a term of abuse

teacher’s pet - student who shows a desire to learn

clever - person who cannot be trusted

get all the ideas from books

lack in common sense

smartarse

intellectual - negative connotations

Question 8

Where in Britain are multicultural communities most likely to be found, how do the divergences between imported and traditional attitudes/values in Britain compare with those in the USA, and what contribution have the new British made to British life and attitudes?

Answer 8

In cities

Larger physical spaces between communities, they do not necessarily have to learn English, this doesn’t happen in Britain

They helped make people more informal in their behaviour and changed the nature of the “corner shop”

Question 9

What are the three possible perceptions/interpretations of the concept of multiculturalism, and which one is dominant? Give examples of some negatively viewed aspects of their application.

Answer 9

“Salad bowl” - different ingredients mixed together, appetizing the whole but still distinct, the dominant perception

“Melting pot” - ingredients blend together, each making their contribution to a single overall taste

Some members of mainstream British culture think that it means their own cultural ingredients are excluded

Separation, lack of understanding, hostility.

Question 10

Why and how has the procedure for becoming a British citizen changed?

Answer 10

Because of the fear of cultural misunderstandings

Applicants had to be a resident for 5 years with good behaviour, then they received a naturalization certificate through the post

Now they study a book called Life in the UK and need to pass a “citizenship test”

Question 11

Give examples of how British conservatism manifests itself in the British liking for symbols of tradition and dislike of change/modernity. Why does the author consider this as paradoxical with respect to British mentality?

Answer 11

Politicians say they are enthusiastic for “traditional family values” to get support.

In general, British value continuity over modernity

It is a paradox because they like symbols of tradition, but are too individualistic to have the same traditions.

Question 12

How does Britain compare with other countries in terms of the number of CCTVs, and why is this fact curious?

Answer 12

4,5 million CCTVs - more than the rest of Europe combined

British people value privacy, so it is curious that they are one of the most spied-upon nations.

Question 13

In what matters does British conservatism combine with British individualism, and how is the resulting pride in being different reflected in the side for driving in Britain, its time zone and start of the financial year?

Answer 13

British are proud of being different, they will not change from driving on the left-hand side of the road, there are no advantages to it, they simply do not want to be like everyone else.

Britain did not adopt Central European Time, they remain one hour behind.

It starts its financial year at the beginning of April, not at the beginning of the calendar year.

Question 14

Give examples of how British conservatism has manifested itself in the public resistance to the metric system (in volume, temperature, and weight/mass measurement). Who were the ‘metric martyrs’, what does the fund named after them do, and what characteristically British attitude drives it?

Answer 14

Only in the 21st century people in Britain have accustomed to litres/Celsius scale, they still use their own measurements, even British manufacturers give the equivalent in pounds and ounces

Metric martyrs were two greengrocers in the north-east of England, who were selling their fruit and vegetables by pounds

Metric Martyrs Fund supported many other traders who had problems with the law because of selling in other weight systems.

British hatred of conformist regulations in general.

Question 15

What do British length/height/distance and weight measurements (inch, foot, yard, mile, pound, stone) equal (approximately) in metric measures?

Answer 15

length/ height:
1 inch = 2.53 cm,
12 inches = 1 foot = 30.48 cm

distance: 1 yard = 0.92 m,
1760 yards = 1 mile = 1.6 km

weight: 1lb = 0.456 kg,
14 lbs = 1 stone = 6.38 kg

Question 16

Give 2 examples of Britain’s pioneering role in nature/countryside conservation. Name Britain’s leading conservation charity, and illustrate its activities, strength, and which 2 British attitudes it embodies.

Answer 16

First appointed a government-sponsored conservation body (the Nature Conservancy in 1949)

First large green pressure group was founded (the World Wildlife Fund in 1961)

The Youth Hostels Association - help all, especially young people of limited means, to a greater knowledge, love and care of the countryside, it embodies British conservatism

Question 17

What negative/positive associations does the countryside (not) have to the British, and what is the stereotypical picture of a country village they would like to live in if they could? How do some 4x4 owners try to give the impression of driving to the countryside?

Answer 17

Since they became a nation of “city dwellers”, they idealized the vision of the countryside.
To them it does not have negative associations such as poverty, unemployment, it means peace, quiet and health to the British

Having a house in the country carries prestige

Owners of 4x4s spray spray-on mud on their cars

Question 18

Why was the high-speed rail link through the channel tunnel completed later on the British side than on the continental side of the tunnel, and what British attitude led to this situation?

Answer 18

Communities battled about where it should be built

The British wanted to preserve their peace and quiet, they feared change - conservatism

Question 19

How does the author explain the British love of the countryside? Comment on some aspects of British people’s access to the countryside and the public ‘rights of way’.

Answer 19

The countryside represents stability

They regard being able to go into the country when they want as a privilege and take an active interest in country matters

It is a constant battle with landowners to keep open the public “rights of way” for enthusiastic country walkers

Question 20

Which popular hobby illustrates the British love of nature, and how? What is the word for a small piece of land in or just outside a town that a person rents for growing vegetables, fruits or flowers?

Answer 20

Gardening, one of the most popular hobbies in the country, when they cannot get into the countryside, they spend a lot of time in nature

Allotments

Question 21

What is the (prevailing) British attitude to genetically modified (GM) crops and new nuclear power stations, and how can it be explained in terms of the British love of nature?

Answer 21

Strong opposition

Since they love nature, they dislike everything that seems “unnatural”

Question 22

How does the British love of animals manifest itself with respect to pets? What proportion of British households keep an animal as a pet?

Answer 22

Sentimental attitude to animals, when a dog is run over, you have to inform the owner

50 percent of households

Question 23

Apart from sentimental attachment to domestic pets, what else illustrates the British love of animals? What is a peculiarly British pastime in this respect? What is the RSPCA, and what is peculiar bout its prominent status?

Answer 23

Wildlife programmes are very popular

Many families have “bird tables” in their gardens

Bird-watching

Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals - it has royal patronage, while the equivalent charity for children does not

Question 24

Is foxhunting legal in Great Britain? What did the foxhunting debate look like, and what attitudes and features of British life made it such an issue?

Answer 24

Illegal since 2004

In 2005 large demonstrations in London, some pro-hunt demonstrators even staged a brief “invasion of Parliament”

Debate continues, main opposition party wants to lift the ban

Conservatism, love of animals and individualism made it such an issue

Question 25

What idea has Britain traditionally followed in public life, what is it supposed to mean, where can this be seen, and how has the attitude towards ‘professionalism’ changed?

Answer 25

“The cult of the talented amateur” - being too professionally dedicated is looked at with suspicion, it is best when everybody is “chipping in”

It can be seen in the structure of the civil service, the use of unpaid non-lawyers to run much of the legal system

Question 26

Give examples of some new and traditional areas of amateur participation in public life, and of 6 (charitable/self-help) organizations and their activities representing Britain’s active role in this respect at the national and international level respectively.

Answer 26

Amateur participation - Neighbourhood Watch schemes, charity work, blood transfusion

The National Trust - preserving the countryside and its historic buildings

Family Planning Association - clinics give advice and help regarding birth control

Consumers’ Association - magazine Which? that exposes abuses in the marketplace, and basically protects customers

Moneysavingexpert.com - “A company’s job is to screw us for profit, our job is to stop them”

Amnesty International

Save the Children

Question 27

What is the British attitude towards clothes and what image do the British have in this respect (compared with other western European countries)?

Answer 27

Public role - quite strict rules
Private life - no rules at all

Compared to others, western European countries, they are not good at wearing clothes

Question 28

Illustrate how the British display friendliness or keep their distance by (not) observing formalities.

Answer 28

Not bothering with formalities (addressing by titles, not dressing smartly when having guests, not saying “please” when making a request)

British people do not feel welcomed, if the host is wearing smart clothes and set a grand table for them

Question 29

What is the reputation of the British/English in terms of their dealings with other people? What has changed about the public display of their emotions such as laughter and grief? What has made them more comfortable in this respect, according to the author, and what historically/culturally conditioned phenomenon can their habit of reserve be attributed to?

Answer 29

Reserved in dealings with other people, being polite rather than openly friendly or hostile

Laughter is publicly displayed, however it is changing, kissing when meeting a friend is more and more often.

Extreme emotions on reality TV shows made them more comfortable with public display of emotions.

They shocked themselves by their public grief following the death of Princess Diana

The Victorian “stiff upper lip”

Question 30

How is British/English people’s politeness reflected in the language they use? What meanings can the word ‘sorry’ have? (give at least 5 examples)

Answer 30

Saying “thank you” and “sorry” a lot

I apologize
I am sad for you
Excuse me
I can't hear you
I am angry

Question 31

What is meant by the idea of privacy which underlies many aspects of British life?

Answer 31

Individual’s right to keep personal information private - it is rude to ask “personal” questions unless you know that person very well

Question 32

What reputation does British public life have, and to what degree does it allow a politician a private life, respecting their privacy? How has public life changed in regard to sexual puritanism?

Answer 32

Reputation for demanding puritanical standards of behaviour

British allow politicians private lives as long as it is not mixed up with:

• national security
• breaking the law
• abuse of position

Sexual puritanism has disappeared almost completely at the public level

Question 33

What are some problems attributed to the British attitude treating sex as an absolutely private matter? What is the official attitude to prostitution in Britain?

Answer 33

The highest rate of unwanted teenage pregnancies in Europe

It is not illegal to be a prostitute, but to publicly behave like one (doing anything to find customers)

Question 34

How do some customs of road use illustrate the British tendency to support ‘the underdog’? What is ‘jaywalking’ and is it illegal in Britain?

Answer 34

The underdog on the roads is the pedestrian - If a person has just one foot on a zebra crossing, the vehicles must stop
Traffic lights work as an advice, if the figure is red but no cars are approaching, they cross the road immediately

Jaywalking is crossing the road by dodging in between cars, it has never been illegal in Britain

Question 35

How can the well-known stereotype that the British are always talking about the weather be explained?

Answer 35

Combination of the demands privacy and informality

Personal questions or silence would be rude, the weather is very convenient to “fill the gap”