Questões de Inglês

British Culture

[1]      Awareness will be one of your best allies during your first few days in Oxford. Below you will find a brief overview
of some aspects of life in Britain that may be the most strikingly different from your own country.

General habits

    In general, the British are very polite most of the time. 'Please' and 'thank you' are among the most commonly
[5]  used words in Britain. People also have a tendency to apologize —some would say too much— and so, you will also
hear 'sorry' and 'excuse me' a lot. The popular stereotype of the average British person is more often than not true
—they will say sorry to you, even when it is in fact you who has accidentally stepped on their toes or bumped into them!

    It will not surprise you to know then that queuing, or waiting in line so that someone who arrived first is served
first, is another British near-obsession. It is sacrosanct. Seriously! Be it in the pub, at the supermarket or at a bus stop,
[10]  people in Britain queue for everything. Pushing in or cutting into a queue is considered very impolite and you will be
heavily frowned upon for doing it. It is one of the few occasions when the famously reserved British can get visibly
annoyed in public, so do bear it in mind.

    In most cases, queues are easy to spot. They tend to be tidy lines of people waiting. In public places, including
shops and restaurants, there will also usually be a sign —such as 'Please Wait Here to Be Served' or 'Please Queue
[15]  Here'. Where it can be a bit tricky is in pubs, where the lines are neither tidy nor so easy to spot at the bar. The best thing
to do is to take note of who was there before you and wait your turn to be served after them. Bar staff are usually very
good about keeping track of who should be served next.

    Finally, punctuality is important in Britain. As a rule, you should arrive on time for lectures, tutorials and any
other appointments. Similarly, if you've arranged to meet someone at a pub, café or elsewhere and find yourself running
[20]  late or unable to make it, then let the person you are meeting know.

Pubs

Students in a beer garden.

    The word 'pub' is short for 'public house', which is a
place where you can buy and consume alcohol on the
premises. A pub is not very different from a bar. Indeed, it is
[25]  often difficult to tell them apart in cities today and opinion can
be divided even among the British. Though it is difficult to
generalize, pubs are more traditional and have a more
intimate atmosphere. They also tend not to sell cocktails and
liquors, but serve a variety of beers and wine instead. You can
[30]  find a pub in or near every village, town and city in Britain.

    Going to the pub is very popular and you may be
surprised by the amount of beer people drink! This does not
mean that you have to drink alcohol, if you go to a pub. All
pubs serve non-alcoholic drinks and small snacks (such as
[35]  crisps or salted nuts). Going to the pub is a common social
activity among students and central to British social life.
People go to the pub not simply to drink, but as importantly
to meet friends, socialize and relax.

    Many pubs also have gardens —often known as 'beer gardens'— where people can sit and eat or drink in
[40]  summer. Most pubs serve food at reasonable prices, making them a great place to eat lunch and dinner with friends as
well. As with drinks, meals usually have to be ordered at the bar.

    Most pubs close at 11pm. Although recent changes in licensing law allow them to have longer opening hours
and serve alcohol round-the-clock, only a few pubs make use of these new rules. Anumber of them, however, stay open
till later on Fridays and Saturdays.

http://handbook.oxfordisc.com/01b.php (com adaptações)

British Culture

[1]      Awareness will be one of your best allies during your first few days in Oxford. Below you will find a brief overview
of some aspects of life in Britain that may be the most strikingly different from your own country.

General habits

    In general, the British are very polite most of the time. 'Please' and 'thank you' are among the most commonly
[5]  used words in Britain. People also have a tendency to apologize —some would say too much— and so, you will also
hear 'sorry' and 'excuse me' a lot. The popular stereotype of the average British person is more often than not true
—they will say sorry to you, even when it is in fact you who has accidentally stepped on their toes or bumped into them!

    It will not surprise you to know then that queuing, or waiting in line so that someone who arrived first is served
first, is another British near-obsession. It is sacrosanct. Seriously! Be it in the pub, at the supermarket or at a bus stop,
[10]  people in Britain queue for everything. Pushing in or cutting into a queue is considered very impolite and you will be
heavily frowned upon for doing it. It is one of the few occasions when the famously reserved British can get visibly
annoyed in public, so do bear it in mind.

    In most cases, queues are easy to spot. They tend to be tidy lines of people waiting. In public places, including
shops and restaurants, there will also usually be a sign —such as 'Please Wait Here to Be Served' or 'Please Queue
[15]  Here'. Where it can be a bit tricky is in pubs, where the lines are neither tidy nor so easy to spot at the bar. The best thing
to do is to take note of who was there before you and wait your turn to be served after them. Bar staff are usually very
good about keeping track of who should be served next.

    Finally, punctuality is important in Britain. As a rule, you should arrive on time for lectures, tutorials and any
other appointments. Similarly, if you've arranged to meet someone at a pub, café or elsewhere and find yourself running
[20]  late or unable to make it, then let the person you are meeting know.

Pubs

Students in a beer garden.

    The word 'pub' is short for 'public house', which is a
place where you can buy and consume alcohol on the
premises. A pub is not very different from a bar. Indeed, it is
[25]  often difficult to tell them apart in cities today and opinion can
be divided even among the British. Though it is difficult to
generalize, pubs are more traditional and have a more
intimate atmosphere. They also tend not to sell cocktails and
liquors, but serve a variety of beers and wine instead. You can
[30]  find a pub in or near every village, town and city in Britain.

    Going to the pub is very popular and you may be
surprised by the amount of beer people drink! This does not
mean that you have to drink alcohol, if you go to a pub. All
pubs serve non-alcoholic drinks and small snacks (such as
[35]  crisps or salted nuts). Going to the pub is a common social
activity among students and central to British social life.
People go to the pub not simply to drink, but as importantly
to meet friends, socialize and relax.

    Many pubs also have gardens —often known as 'beer gardens'— where people can sit and eat or drink in
[40]  summer. Most pubs serve food at reasonable prices, making them a great place to eat lunch and dinner with friends as
well. As with drinks, meals usually have to be ordered at the bar.

    Most pubs close at 11pm. Although recent changes in licensing law allow them to have longer opening hours
and serve alcohol round-the-clock, only a few pubs make use of these new rules. Anumber of them, however, stay open
till later on Fridays and Saturdays.

http://handbook.oxfordisc.com/01b.php (com adaptações)

British Culture

[1]      Awareness will be one of your best allies during your first few days in Oxford. Below you will find a brief overview
of some aspects of life in Britain that may be the most strikingly different from your own country.

General habits

    In general, the British are very polite most of the time. 'Please' and 'thank you' are among the most commonly
[5]  used words in Britain. People also have a tendency to apologize —some would say too much— and so, you will also
hear 'sorry' and 'excuse me' a lot. The popular stereotype of the average British person is more often than not true
—they will say sorry to you, even when it is in fact you who has accidentally stepped on their toes or bumped into them!

    It will not surprise you to know then that queuing, or waiting in line so that someone who arrived first is served
first, is another British near-obsession. It is sacrosanct. Seriously! Be it in the pub, at the supermarket or at a bus stop,
[10]  people in Britain queue for everything. Pushing in or cutting into a queue is considered very impolite and you will be
heavily frowned upon for doing it. It is one of the few occasions when the famously reserved British can get visibly
annoyed in public, so do bear it in mind.

    In most cases, queues are easy to spot. They tend to be tidy lines of people waiting. In public places, including
shops and restaurants, there will also usually be a sign —such as 'Please Wait Here to Be Served' or 'Please Queue
[15]  Here'. Where it can be a bit tricky is in pubs, where the lines are neither tidy nor so easy to spot at the bar. The best thing
to do is to take note of who was there before you and wait your turn to be served after them. Bar staff are usually very
good about keeping track of who should be served next.

    Finally, punctuality is important in Britain. As a rule, you should arrive on time for lectures, tutorials and any
other appointments. Similarly, if you've arranged to meet someone at a pub, café or elsewhere and find yourself running
[20]  late or unable to make it, then let the person you are meeting know.

Pubs

Students in a beer garden.

    The word 'pub' is short for 'public house', which is a
place where you can buy and consume alcohol on the
premises. A pub is not very different from a bar. Indeed, it is
[25]  often difficult to tell them apart in cities today and opinion can
be divided even among the British. Though it is difficult to
generalize, pubs are more traditional and have a more
intimate atmosphere. They also tend not to sell cocktails and
liquors, but serve a variety of beers and wine instead. You can
[30]  find a pub in or near every village, town and city in Britain.

    Going to the pub is very popular and you may be
surprised by the amount of beer people drink! This does not
mean that you have to drink alcohol, if you go to a pub. All
pubs serve non-alcoholic drinks and small snacks (such as
[35]  crisps or salted nuts). Going to the pub is a common social
activity among students and central to British social life.
People go to the pub not simply to drink, but as importantly
to meet friends, socialize and relax.

    Many pubs also have gardens —often known as 'beer gardens'— where people can sit and eat or drink in
[40]  summer. Most pubs serve food at reasonable prices, making them a great place to eat lunch and dinner with friends as
well. As with drinks, meals usually have to be ordered at the bar.

    Most pubs close at 11pm. Although recent changes in licensing law allow them to have longer opening hours
and serve alcohol round-the-clock, only a few pubs make use of these new rules. Anumber of them, however, stay open
till later on Fridays and Saturdays.

http://handbook.oxfordisc.com/01b.php (com adaptações)

British Culture

[1]      Awareness will be one of your best allies during your first few days in Oxford. Below you will find a brief overview
of some aspects of life in Britain that may be the most strikingly different from your own country.

General habits

    In general, the British are very polite most of the time. 'Please' and 'thank you' are among the most commonly
[5]  used words in Britain. People also have a tendency to apologize —some would say too much— and so, you will also
hear 'sorry' and 'excuse me' a lot. The popular stereotype of the average British person is more often than not true
—they will say sorry to you, even when it is in fact you who has accidentally stepped on their toes or bumped into them!

    It will not surprise you to know then that queuing, or waiting in line so that someone who arrived first is served
first, is another British near-obsession. It is sacrosanct. Seriously! Be it in the pub, at the supermarket or at a bus stop,
[10]  people in Britain queue for everything. Pushing in or cutting into a queue is considered very impolite and you will be
heavily frowned upon for doing it. It is one of the few occasions when the famously reserved British can get visibly
annoyed in public, so do bear it in mind.

    In most cases, queues are easy to spot. They tend to be tidy lines of people waiting. In public places, including
shops and restaurants, there will also usually be a sign —such as 'Please Wait Here to Be Served' or 'Please Queue
[15]  Here'. Where it can be a bit tricky is in pubs, where the lines are neither tidy nor so easy to spot at the bar. The best thing
to do is to take note of who was there before you and wait your turn to be served after them. Bar staff are usually very
good about keeping track of who should be served next.

    Finally, punctuality is important in Britain. As a rule, you should arrive on time for lectures, tutorials and any
other appointments. Similarly, if you've arranged to meet someone at a pub, café or elsewhere and find yourself running
[20]  late or unable to make it, then let the person you are meeting know.

Pubs

Students in a beer garden.

    The word 'pub' is short for 'public house', which is a
place where you can buy and consume alcohol on the
premises. A pub is not very different from a bar. Indeed, it is
[25]  often difficult to tell them apart in cities today and opinion can
be divided even among the British. Though it is difficult to
generalize, pubs are more traditional and have a more
intimate atmosphere. They also tend not to sell cocktails and
liquors, but serve a variety of beers and wine instead. You can
[30]  find a pub in or near every village, town and city in Britain.

    Going to the pub is very popular and you may be
surprised by the amount of beer people drink! This does not
mean that you have to drink alcohol, if you go to a pub. All
pubs serve non-alcoholic drinks and small snacks (such as
[35]  crisps or salted nuts). Going to the pub is a common social
activity among students and central to British social life.
People go to the pub not simply to drink, but as importantly
to meet friends, socialize and relax.

    Many pubs also have gardens —often known as 'beer gardens'— where people can sit and eat or drink in
[40]  summer. Most pubs serve food at reasonable prices, making them a great place to eat lunch and dinner with friends as
well. As with drinks, meals usually have to be ordered at the bar.

    Most pubs close at 11pm. Although recent changes in licensing law allow them to have longer opening hours
and serve alcohol round-the-clock, only a few pubs make use of these new rules. Anumber of them, however, stay open
till later on Fridays and Saturdays.

http://handbook.oxfordisc.com/01b.php (com adaptações)

Instrução: Leia o texto para responder à questão.

Drought brings Amazon tributary to lowest level in a century

26 October 2010.

    One of the most important tributaries of the Amazon river has fallen to its lowest level in over a century, following a fierce drought that has isolated tens of thousands of rainforest inhabitants and raised concerns about the possible impact of climate change on the region.

    The drought currently affecting areas of Amazonia has been described as the one of the worst in the last 40 years, with the rio Negro or Black river, which flows into the world-famous rio Amazonas, reportedly hitting its lowest levels since records began in l902 on Sunday. In 24 hours the level of the rio Negro near Manaus in Brazil dropped 6cm to 13.63 metres, a historic low. The Solimoes and Amazonas rivers have also seen their waters plunge since early August, isolating village dwellers who rely on the Amazon’s waterways for transport and food and marooning wooden boats on brown sand banks.

    Authorities say around 62,000 families have been affected by this year’s receding rivers. The problem has been particularly intense up river from state capital Manaus towards the border with Peru and Colombia. But the area around the city has also been badly hit. In Iranduba, 15 miles from Manaus, authorities are reportedly planning to build a small road through the rainforest in order to reconnect their community with the outside world.

    Colonel Leite, from Manaus’ Regional Air Force Command, said two Hercules cargo planes had ferried around 830 tons of food aid to isolated regions near the Amazon towns of Tefe and Tabatinga. “Medium and large boats have not been able to reach various places across the Amazon,” he said. “Our planes take the supplies to the airport and from there the transport has to be done in small boats or on foot – these are the only ways of reaching some communities.”

    Meteorologists and activists are divided on the drought’s causes – some point to hurricanes in the Atlantic which may have drained humidity from the Amazon while others blame forest fires for reducing rainfall or speculate that early effects of global warming may already be reshaping the region’s climate patterns. Rafael Cruz, a Greenpeace activist in Manaus who has been monitoring the drought, said that while the rise and fall of the Amazon’s rivers was a normal process, recent years had seen both extreme droughts and flooding become worryingly frequent. “If this situation continues the state of Amazonas will live in a permanent state of emergency. The changes in people’s lives would be horrific.”

(guardian.co.uk. Adaptado.)

Instrução: Leia o texto para responder à questão.

Drought brings Amazon tributary to lowest level in a century

26 October 2010.

    One of the most important tributaries of the Amazon river has fallen to its lowest level in over a century, following a fierce drought that has isolated tens of thousands of rainforest inhabitants and raised concerns about the possible impact of climate change on the region.

    The drought currently affecting areas of Amazonia has been described as the one of the worst in the last 40 years, with the rio Negro or Black river, which flows into the world-famous rio Amazonas, reportedly hitting its lowest levels since records began in l902 on Sunday. In 24 hours the level of the rio Negro near Manaus in Brazil dropped 6cm to 13.63 metres, a historic low. The Solimoes and Amazonas rivers have also seen their waters plunge since early August, isolating village dwellers who rely on the Amazon’s waterways for transport and food and marooning wooden boats on brown sand banks.

    Authorities say around 62,000 families have been affected by this year’s receding rivers. The problem has been particularly intense up river from state capital Manaus towards the border with Peru and Colombia. But the area around the city has also been badly hit. In Iranduba, 15 miles from Manaus, authorities are reportedly planning to build a small road through the rainforest in order to reconnect their community with the outside world.

    Colonel Leite, from Manaus’ Regional Air Force Command, said two Hercules cargo planes had ferried around 830 tons of food aid to isolated regions near the Amazon towns of Tefe and Tabatinga. “Medium and large boats have not been able to reach various places across the Amazon,” he said. “Our planes take the supplies to the airport and from there the transport has to be done in small boats or on foot – these are the only ways of reaching some communities.”

    Meteorologists and activists are divided on the drought’s causes – some point to hurricanes in the Atlantic which may have drained humidity from the Amazon while others blame forest fires for reducing rainfall or speculate that early effects of global warming may already be reshaping the region’s climate patterns. Rafael Cruz, a Greenpeace activist in Manaus who has been monitoring the drought, said that while the rise and fall of the Amazon’s rivers was a normal process, recent years had seen both extreme droughts and flooding become worryingly frequent. “If this situation continues the state of Amazonas will live in a permanent state of emergency. The changes in people’s lives would be horrific.”

(guardian.co.uk. Adaptado.)