Translation | Comprehension Questions
Text B Culture
         (1)Culture is a very broad term used to describe the arts, the beliefs, the values, the traditions, the customs, and the institutions that are considered to be characteristic of a community, a people, a region, or a nation.Culture also includes the languages and dialects that people use to express their feelings and to communicate with each other.
      (2)It is often difficult to dissociate language and culture since, in most cases, language is the main medium through which culture is transmitted. Most people feel that it is impossible to really know a culture without speaking the language. In some immigrant populations in North America, however, the original language (French, German, Chinese, Polish, etc.) has been lost but customs and traditions are still maintained. (3)Although many cultures in the world have remained isolated for centuries, commerce and trade have often been the source of all sorts of cultural exchanges, ranging from foods to tools. Chinese porcelain and other inventions reached Europe thanks to the silk route, for example. However, cultural exchanges have not always been fair or balanced. The native populations of North and South America were decimated by disease and alcohol brought by the Europeans. Throughout history, wars and political decisions have destroyed cultures and forced people to adopt the language and the customs of the dominant civilization. 		 
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