The true flag of Scotland，tartan，is recognizable from the brightly colored plaid patterns which are used to distinguish the various clans clan n.部落，氏族，宗族，党派over the last few decades this fabric has made a comeback and is part of the daily life of this country.
The typical Scottish garmentgarment n.衣服，外衣，外表，the kilt，is de rigueur when the Scots play the Great Highland bagpipes，especially when they march in parades.
Bagpipesbagpipe n.风笛and dancing open the competitions of local sporting events，which are called Highland Gatherings. The games，which have strange rules，involve a spirit that has more to do with brute force than with athleticsathletics n.运动.
苏格兰的风情
苏格兰是一个独特的地方，自然条件虽不得天独厚，历史的厚重感却随处可见。豪门望族的府第与城堡历历在目，仪仗队的士兵也还穿着传统服装。这里有全欧洲最美的城市，诉说着苏格兰昔日的荣光。
想看看真正的苏格兰，追寻这里民族精神的源泉，就得去北部的格兰扁山区。格兰扁山区景色宜人，还没有受到现代文明的污染。格兰扁一度不适合耕作，倔强的苏格兰人，凭着双手征服了这片土地。
苏格兰先民的艰苦劳作与他们自古对这片贫瘠土地的眷恋，在这个博物馆里一览无余。这里展出的都是平常的物品，营造出往日乡间的氛围，使人油然而生怀旧之情。
从沿海的阿伯丁，有一条古堡之路，一直蜿蜒到格兰扁山区深处。沿途很多昔日的要塞，都是苏格兰在历史上不断反抗英格兰统治的见证。
苏格兰争取自治的过程中最大快人心的时刻莫过于1320年在这个修道院，布鲁斯国王鼓动百姓大肆庆贺独立宣言签订。布鲁斯采纳传奇英雄威廉·华勒斯所献的计策，完成了自治大业，这个故事后来被改编成电影《勇敢的心》，该片曾摘取了五项奥斯卡奖。
这座城堡之所以名闻遐迩，却是因为曾经的两位主人——苏格兰国王麦克白与幼年时的伊丽莎白女王。如今这里最相看无厌的客人当数传说中挥之不去的幽灵，这些传说即使不是源于世代相传的民间故事，也大有借鉴化用的嫌疑。苏格兰人似乎生来就笃信超自然的力量，因此才有了这些传说。
这里游人如织的另一个原因则是尼斯湖的怪兽。真假姑且不论，这个昵称Nessie的怪兽在过去的半个世纪中已经吸引了三千余名游客。如今它头上有五十万英镑的悬赏，使得学术界的争论日益激烈，或许也会令游人的好奇日盛吧。
苏格兰格子呢是苏格兰真正的旗帜。它显着的花格子图案曾经是区分不同宗族的标志。在过去几十年里，格子呢在苏格兰再度流行，如今则已在日常生活中不可或缺。
苏格兰传统的褶裙按照礼节是应该在演奏高地风笛时穿的，尤其是列队前进的时候。
高地风笛与利尔舞揭开了高地运动盛会的序幕。运动会的比赛项目规则奇特，与其说是田径比赛，不如说是大力士的较量。
British Pub Etiquette
Amazingly for the British，who love queues，there is no formal lineup-the bar staff are skilled at knowing whose turn it is. You are permitted to try to attract attention，but there are rules about how to do this. Do not call out tap coins on the counter，snap your finger or wave like a drowning swimmer. Do not scowlscowl vi.皱眉头，怒目而视 vt.板着脸表示or sigh or roll your eyes. And whatever you do，do not ring the bell hanging behind the counter-this is used by the landlord to signal closing time. The key thing is to catch the bar worker，s eyes. You could also hold an empty glass or some money，but do not wave them about. Do adopt an expectant，hopeful，even slightlyslightly adv.些微地，苗条地anxious facial expression. If you 1ook too contented and complacent，the bar staff may assume you are already being served.
Always say “please” and try to remember some of the British bar staffs pet hates. They do not like people to keep others waiting while they make up their minds. They don，t like people standing idlyidly adv.懒惰地，空闲地against the bar when there are a lot of customers wanting for service. And they do not like people who wait until the end of the order before asking for such drinks as Guinness stout which take considerably longer to pour than other drinks.
One Dutch tourist who spent six months visiting 800 of Britain，s 61，000 pubs and interviewing 50 publicans and bar workers and more than 1，000 customers said ：“ I cannot understand how the British ever manage to buy themselves a drink.” But they do，and if you follow these tips you should be able to do so，too.
Speaking of tips，you should never offer the bar staff a cash gratuitygratuity n.赠物，贺仪，赏钱. The correct behaviour is to offer them a drink. Pubs pride themselves on their egalitarianegalitarian adj.平等主义的 n.平等主义 atmosphere. A tip in cash would be a reminder of their service role，whereas the offer of a drink is a friendly gesture.
英国酒吧的礼仪
就爱排队的英国人而言，酒吧里看不到正式的排队，这令人感到惊讶。酒保有本领知道该轮到谁了。你可以做些动作引起酒保的注意，但有规可循。不要大声嚷嚷，不要在吧台面上敲击钱币，不要叭叭地弹手指，不要像快淹死的人那样挥动手臂，不要绷着脸，不要唉声叹气，不要翻动眼珠。在不该干的事当中还绝对不要摇晃挂在吧台后面的铃，那是酒吧老板用的，表示关门时间到了。关键是你要让酒保看见你。你可以举起空杯子或钱，可不要摇晃。你脸上可以流露等待、期望，甚至略带焦急的表情。你如果显得太心满意足的样子，酒保会认为他们已经为你提供服务了。
要把“请”字挂在嘴边，要尽量记住一些英国酒保最厌恶的事。他们不喜欢酒客拿不定主意而让他们等着；不喜欢好多客人等着买酒而有人却靠着吧台站着；也不喜欢有人等到最后才说要喝像爱尔兰烈性黑啤酒那样的酒，因为比起别的酒来，准备这种酒的时间要长得多。
一个曾花了半年时间，去了英国61000家酒吧中的800个，访谈50位酒吧老板和酒保以及1000多个酒客的荷兰旅游者说：“我不明白英国人是怎么给自已买到酒的。”可事实上他们就能。如果你按着本文所说的忠告去做，你也能如愿以偿地买到酒。
说到“小费”，你可千万别给酒保现金以表示谢意。正确的做法是请酒保喝一盅。酒吧为自己的平等气氛感到自豪。现金小费会使人想到酒保是伺候人的，而请喝一杯则是友好的表示。
United States ：a Melting Pot
A look at the history of the United States indicatesindicate vt.指出，显示，象征，预示，需要，简要地说明that this country has often been called “a melting pot”，where various immigrantimmigrant adj.(从外国)移来的，移民的，移居的 n.移民，侨民and ethnicethnic adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的groups have learned to work together to build a unique nation. Even those “original” Americans，the Indians，probably walked a land bridge from Asia to North America some thousands of years ago. So，who are the real Americans？ The answer is that any and all of them are！ And you，no matter where you come from，could also become an American should you want to. Then you would become another addition to America，s wonderfully rich “nation of immigrants”.
The United States is currently shifting from being a nation of immigrants of mainly European descentdescent n.降下，降落，世系，血统，侵袭to one of immigrants from other parts of the world，such as Asia and Latin America. The number of recent immigrants has skyrocketed. They desire to escape economic hardship and political oppressionoppression n.压迫，镇压，压抑，苦恼 in their native countries as well as the desire to seek a better education and a more prosperous life in America，“the land of opportunity”. Although there are frequent conflicts between the cultures they have brought with them from the “old country” and those found in America，most immigrants learn to adjust to and love their adopted land.
Americans have also learned much from the customs and ideas of the immigrants and are often influenced by them in subtle and interesting ways. Immigrants bring their native cultural，political，and social patterns and attitudes，varied academic and religious backgrounds，as well as their ethnic arts，sports，holidays，festivals，and foods. They have greatly enriched American life.