Australian Culture and Culture Shock: How to Get Better in Reading Answers Section?

The IELTS Reading section can be a tricky one to get a good score, but it isn’t impossible if you follow some tips and tricks. Speed and time management are two important factors of this section.

The candidates who have practised a lot and built up these factors have scored more than 7 bands easily. If you want to learn about those techniques, this article is just for you. Check out how we solved the topic of the reading answer: Australian culture and culture shock

Australian Culture and Culture Shock Section A

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.

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Australian Culture and Culture Shock Section B

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 idealise 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.

Australian Culture and Culture Shock Section C

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.

Australian Culture and Culture Shock Section D

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.

Australian Culture and Culture Shock Section E

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.

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Australian Culture and Culture Shock Section F

In Kohls’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 realise that the new culture has good and bad things to offer and that no way is really better than another, just different.

Australian Culture and Culture Shock Reading Answers Questions

Fill in The Gaps

1. In Kohls’s model, in the fourth stage, newcomers undergo a process of ______ .

Ans. adaptation

1. This _____ may last from a couple of weeks to a month, but the letdown is inevitable.

Ans. period of euphoria.

1. During the first stage, the new arrival is excited to be in a new place, so this is often referred to as the ” _____ ” stage.

Ans. honeymoon

1. For people moving to Australia, ______ has identified certain values which may give rise to culture shock.

Ans. Price (2001)

1. During the _____ , 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.

Ans. second stage

Synonyms Questions

Write the synonym of the word highlighted in bold in the following questions

1. Australian notions of privacy mean that areas such as financial matters, appearance and relationships are only discussed with close friends.

Ans. ideas

1. It also means that they are expected to take action if something goes wrong and seek out resources and support for themselves.

Ans. look for

1. During this stage a transition occurs to a new optimistic attitude.

Ans. hopeful

1. It is also impolite to ask people how much they have paid for something unless there is a very good reason for asking.

Ans. rude

1. 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.

Ans. surrounding

1. Like a tourist, they are intrigued by all the new sights and sounds, new smells and tastes of their surroundings.

Ans. interested

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How to Get Better in the IELTS Reading Section?

Make Reading a Habit

Make it a habit to read daily. Make time in your calendar for light reading throughout the day, such as reading the headlines or 10 pages of your favourite book. Make an effort to improve your pace.

IELTS reading passages can cover a wide range of themes, so don’t limit yourself to merely reading books that interest you. Examine the reading passage from the previous year’s IELTS exam.

Build a Unique Approach

Create your own strategy for tackling the reading comprehension component of the IELTS. Apply this when taking IELTS 2022 sample tests so that you know how to approach the reading section when the time comes. This offers two advantages. For starters, you’ll know exactly what to accomplish because your ideas and approach to the IELTS exam will be well-organized.

Read The Questions and Find The Keywords First

Before you begin reading the IELTS comprehension, check over the questions once more and attempt to find the keywords in each one. This will help you comprehend what is being asked in each question.

Make a mental note of it and then properly read the understanding. This method will save you a lot of time since you will begin to uncover solutions to some of the questions as soon as you begin reading.

Taking IELTS Practise Tests

Make sure to take as many mock assessments as possible when studying for IELTS 2022. If you read and solve fresh comprehension passages on a daily basis, you will get into the swing of things, and passing the real comprehension portion of your IELTS exam will become second nature.

Time Yourself

Make careful to keep track of your time whether taking mock tests, writing, reading study materials, or reading any books or other materials. Set timelines for when you want to complete each activity. This will really assist you in improving your speed.

Skimming

Make care to go over the reading text quickly before beginning the IELTS comprehension. What you believe is most significant should be highlighted. This will help you grasp the passage’s main points, and you’ll be able to read it more easily once you’ve done so.

Conclusion

These passages can be hard and complicated but we advise you to attempt all the questions as there is no negative marking. By doing this, you have a good probability of getting the mark for that question.

Follow the IELTS preparation tips given above to easily tackle these reading passages. If you need more reading passages for your IELTS preparation, you can visit the blog section of the IELTS Ninja website.

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