Australian Culture and Culture Shock Reading Answers

Jan 3, 2023

Australian Culture and Culture Shock Reading Answers contains a write up about Australian culture. Australian Culture and Culture Shock Reading Answers contains a total of 11 paragraphs. Related to the paragraphs are 13 questions. The passage is based on all about the culture of Australia and its influence on other cultures. Australian Culture and Culture Shock Reading Answers comprises two types of questions: Complete the Table and True/False and Not Given. Candidates in this IELTS Section will be shown various question types with clear instructions.

To answer the questions provided in the IELTS Reading passage,Applicants must attentively read each passage. Candidates to complete the summary must grasp the concept and skim the passage for key terms.The statements from the paragraphs are the basis for the true/false and not given questions. The sentence completion answers must not exceed more than two words. The paragraphs must be fully interpreted and understood by candidates. To gain proficiency, candidates can practice from IELTS reading practice test.

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Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

Australian Culture and Culture Shock Reading Answers

Sometimes work, study or a sense of adventure take us out of our familiar surroundings to go and live in a different culture. The experience can be difficult, even shocking.
Almost everyone who studies, lives or works abroad has problems adjusting to a new culture. This response is commonly referred to as 'culture shock'. Culture shock can be defined as 'the physical and emotional discomfort a person experiences when entering a culture different from their own' (Weaver, 1993).
For people moving to Australia, Price (2001) has identified certain values which may give rise to culture shock. Firstly, he argues that Australians place a high value on independence and personal choice. This means that a teacher or course tutor will not tell students what to do, but will give them a number of options and suggest they work out which one is the best in their circumstances. It also means that they are expected to take action if something goes wrong and seek out resources and support for themselves.
Australians are also prepared to accept a range of opinions rather than believing there is one truth. This means that in an educational setting, students will be expected to form their own opinions and defend the reasons for that point of view and the evidence for it.
Price also comments that Australians are uncomfortable with differences in status and hence idealize the idea of treating everyone equally. An illustration of this is that most adult Australians call each other by their first names. This concern with equality means that Australians are uncomfortable taking anything too seriously and are even ready to joke about themselves.
Australians believe that life should have a balance between work and leisure time. As a consequence, some students may be critical of others who they perceive as doing nothing but study.
Australian notions of privacy mean that areas such as financial matters, appearance and relationships are only discussed with close friends. While people may volunteer such information, they may resent someone actually asking them unless the friendship is firmly established. Even then, it is considered very impolite to ask someone what they earn. With older people, it is also rude to ask how old they are, why they are not married or why they do not have children. It is also impolite to ask people how much they have paid for something, unless there is a very good reason for asking.
Kohls (1996) describes culture shock as a process of change marked by four basic stages. During the first stage, the new arrival is excited to be in a new place, so this is often referred to as the "honeymoon" stage. Like a tourist, they are intrigued by all the new sights and sounds, new smells and tastes of their surroundings. They may have some problems, but usually, they accept them as just part of the novelty. At this point, it is the similarities that stand out, and it seems to the newcomer that people everywhere and their way of life are very much alike. This period of euphoria may last from a couple of weeks to a month, but the letdown is inevitable.
During the second stage, known as the 'rejection' stage, the newcomer starts to experience difficulties due to the differences between the new culture and the way they were accustomed to living. The initial enthusiasm turns into irritation, frustration, anger and depression, and these feelings may have the effect of people rejecting the new culture so that they notice only the things that cause them trouble, which they then complain about. In addition, they may feel homesick, bored, withdrawn and irritable during this period as well.
Fortunately, most people gradually learn to adapt to the new culture and move on to the third stage, known as 'adjustment and reorientation'. During this stage, a transition occurs to a new optimistic attitude. As the newcomer begins to understand more of the new culture, they are able to interpret some of the subtle cultural clues which passed by unnoticed earlier. Now things make more sense and the culture seems more familiar. As a result, they begin to develop problem-solving skills, and feelings of disorientation and anxiety no longer affect them.
In Kohl's model, in the fourth stage, newcomers undergo a process of adaptation. They have settled into the new culture, and this results in a feeling of direction and self-confidence. They have accepted the new food, drinks, habits and customs and may even find themselves enjoying some of the very customs that bothered them so much previously. In addition, they realize that the new culture has good and bad things to offer and that no way is really better than another, just different.

Section 2

Solution and Explanation

Questions 1-6

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the reading passage?

Write

TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

Australian teachers will suggest alternatives to students rather than offer one solution.

Answer: True
Supporting Statement: In other words, a teacher or course tutor won't tell students what to do; instead, they'll present them with a range of possibilities and encourage them to determine which is ideal for their particular set of circumstances.
Keywords: teacher, students
Keyword Location: Paragraph 3
Explanation: In paragraph 3 it has been clearly mentioned about how Australian teacher will handle students. As per the paragraph 3, the teacher will provide a range of possibilities and alternatives to the students instead of telling them what to do. The teacher lets the student decide as per his/here circumstances. So, the statement is True.

In Australia, teachers will show interest in students’ personal circumstances.

Answer: Not Given
Explanation: There has been no relevant information provided in the paragraphs related to the question statement. So, the answer is not given.

Australians use people’s first names so that everyone feels their status is similar.

Answer: True
Supporting Statement: Price adds that Australians are uncomfortable with social class inequalities and hence idealize treating everyone equally. The fact that most adult Australians address one another by their first names serves as an example of this.
Keywords: first names, Australians.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 5
Explanation: As per the paragraph 5 the statement is True. Paragraph 5 mentions that Australians try to discard all the inequalities. Many Australians address each other from their first name so equality is maintained. So, the statement is True.

Students who study all the time may receive positive comments from their colleagues.

Answer: False
Supporting Statement: Australians think that work and play should be equally distributed throughout life. As a result, some students could criticize those who they believe are only studying.
Keywords: Australians, work and play
Keyword Location: Paragraph 6
Explanation: As per the paragraph 6, the statement is contradictory. According to Australians, work and play should be equally divided in life. The students who only focus on studies get often criticized. So the statement is False.

It is acceptable to discuss financial issues with people you do not know well.

Answer: False
Supporting Statement: Australian notions of privacy mean that areas such as financial matters, appearance and relationships are only discussed with close friends. While people may volunteer such information, they may
resent someone actually asking them unless the friendship is firmly established.
Keywords: Financial matters, Appearance.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 7
Explanation: The question statement is contradictory to what paragraph 7 mentions. As per paragraph 7, Australian believe that financial matters, Appearance and relationships should be discussed with close friends only. So, the statement is false.

Younger Australians tend to be friendlier than older Australians.

Answer: Not Given
Explanation: There has been no relevant information provided in the paragraphs related to the question statement. So, the answer is not given.

Questions 7-13

Complete the table below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
THE STAGES OF CULTURE SHOCK

Name	Newcomers' reaction to problems
Stage 1	7……….	They notice the 8………. between different nationalities and cultures. They may experience this stage for up to 9……….
Stage 2	Rejection	They reject the new culture and lose the 10………. they had at the beginning.
Stage 3	Adjustment and reorientation	They can understand some 11 ………. which they had not previously observed. They learn 12………. for dealing with difficulties.
Stage 4	13……….	They enjoy some of the customs that annoyed them before.

Question 7)

Answer: Honeymoon
Supporting Statement: The first stage is frequently referred to as the "honeymoon" stage since the newcomer feels happy to be in a new location during this time. They are as captivated by their surroundings' novel sights, sounds, smells, and tastes as a traveler would be.
Keywords: first state, honeymoon.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 8
Explanation: As per paragraph 8, the first stage according rto Kohl’s mode is honeymoon stage. In thi8s stage the person feels very happy and excited towards the new feelings and newness. So, the correct answer is Honeymoon.

Question 8)

Answer: Similarities
Supporting Statement At this point, it is the similarities that stand out, and it seems to the newcomer that people everywhere and their way of life are very much alike.
Keywords: Similarities, stand out.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 8
Explanation: As per the paragraph 8, The people start looking for similarities and dissimilarities between cultures. They try to compare their culture with other cultures. Sio, the correct answer is similarities.

Question 9)

Answer: One month
Supporting Statement: This period of euphoria may last from a couple of weeks to a month, but the letdown is inevitable.
Keywords: euphoria, month
Keyword Location: Paragraph 8
Explanation: As per paragraph 8, the period of euphoric lasts for a couple of weeks or even a month. The people feel highly euphoric. Euphoria refers to the feeling of being extremely happy and active. So, the correct answer is one month.

Question 10)

Answer: Enthusiasm
Supporting Statement: The initial enthusiasm turns into irritation, frustration, anger and depression, and these feelings may have the effect of people rejecting the new culture so that they notice only the things that cause them trouble, which they then complain about.
Keywords: enthusiasm, anger and depression.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 9
Explanation: The paragraph 9 states that in the second stage, the initial enthusiasm vanishes. The enthusiasm turns into feelings of anger, depression and frustration. These feelings might have an impact on people resulting in rejection of the culture. So, the correct answer is enthusiasm.

Question 11)

Answer: Clues
Supporting Statement: As the newcomer begins to understand more of the new culture, they are able to interpret some of the subtle cultural clues which passed by unnoticed earlier.
Keywords: culture clues, new culture.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 10
Explanation: Soi, paragraph 10 tells us about the further stages. This states that the person starts to know more about the new culture. The subtle cultural clues are detected which remained unnoticed earlier. So, the correct answer is clues.

Question 12)

Answer: Skills
Supporting Statement: As a result, they begin to develop problem-solving skills, and feelings of disorientation and anxiety no longer affect them.
Keywords: problem solving skills.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 10
Explanation: Moving forward to the next stages. The paragraph 10 mentions the problem solving skills getting developed. The newcomer no longer feels disoriented. The earlier feelings of frustration also vanishes.So, the correct answer is skills.

Question 13)

Answer: Adaptation
Supporting Statement: In Kohl's model, in the fourth stage, newcomers undergo a process of adaptation. They have settled into the new culture, and this results in a feeling of direction and self-confidence.
Keywords: adaptation, fourth stage.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 11
Explanation: As per the paragraph 11, the Kohl explains the fourth stage. In the fourth stage newcomers experience a process of adaptation. They have finally settled and got comfortable in the new culture. The feeling of self confidence and comfortability comes. So, the correct answer is adaptation.

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