Deck 3: C: Culture

Question 1

What makes Canadians and Americans different?

Answer 1

Canadians and Americans are different due to a variety of factors, including historical, cultural, political, and social differences. Here are some key distinctions:

1. **Historical Foundations**: Canada and the United States have different colonial histories. Canada was primarily colonized by the French and the British, which has influenced its language and culture. The United States was mainly colonized by the British but declared independence earlier and developed a distinct revolutionary spirit.

2. **Political Systems**: Canada is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy, recognizing the British monarch as the head of state. The United States is a federal republic with a presidential system, where the President is both the head of state and government.

3. **Healthcare Systems**: Canada has a publicly funded healthcare system, known as Medicare, which provides coverage to all Canadian citizens and permanent residents. In contrast, the United States has a primarily private healthcare system with a greater role for insurance companies, although there are government-funded programs like Medicare and Medicaid for specific groups.

4. **Cultural Diversity**: Both countries are culturally diverse, but Canada officially embraces bilingualism (English and French) and multiculturalism as a part of its national policy. The United States has no official language at the federal level, although English is the de facto language, and it has a strong emphasis on the "melting pot" concept.

5. **Geographical Size and Population**: Canada is geographically larger than the United States but has a much smaller population. This leads to differences in population density, urbanization, and development.

6. **Legal Systems**: Canada's legal system is based on the British common law tradition (except for Quebec, which uses a civil law system for private law). The U.S. legal system is also based on common law but has evolved differently, with a strong emphasis on the Constitution and the rights it enshrines.

7. **Foreign Policy**: Canada is often seen as more neutral or conciliatory in its foreign policy, whereas the United States has historically taken on a more assertive or interventionist role on the global stage.

8. **Social Attitudes**: Canadians are sometimes stereotyped as being more polite, modest, and community-oriented, while Americans are often viewed as more individualistic, entrepreneurial, and assertive. These are broad generalizations and there is considerable diversity within each country.

9. **Sports and Recreation**: While both countries enjoy sports, Canada is particularly known for its passion for hockey, which is considered the national winter sport. The United States has a strong culture around sports like American football, baseball, and basketball.

10. **Climate and Environment**: Both countries have diverse climates and landscapes, but Canada generally has a colder climate due to its more northerly latitude.

It's important to note that these differences are generalizations and there is a great deal of overlap and shared cultural values between Canadians and Americans. Additionally, within each country, there is significant regional variation that contributes to the diversity of experiences and perspectives.

Question 2

Culture refers to values,beliefs,behavior,and material things that form a way of life.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

George Murdock pointed to many cultural universals.Which of the following is NOT an example of a cultural universal?

A)belief in a heavenly afterlife
B)funeral rites
C)the family
D)telling jokes

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Key values of Canadian culture:

A)always fit together easily.
B)change quickly,even from year to year.
C)are shared by absolutely everyone in a society
D)are sometimes in conflict with one another

Question 5

Among all forms of life,humans stand out as the only species that:

A)relies on culture to ensure survival.
B)has patterned ways of living.
C)has biological instincts.
D)makes use of tools.

Question 6

_____________ described the difference between folkways and mores.

A)Emile Durkheim
B)William Graham Sumner
C)Harriett Martineau
D)George Herbert Mead

Question 7

Canada is the most _______ of all countries.

A)multicultural
B)culturally uniform
C)slowly changing
D)nonmaterial

Question 8

Other than English,which is the most widely-spoken language in Canada?

A)French
B)Ukrainian
C)German
D)Chinese

Question 9

The term Homo sapiens,the name of our species,comes from Latin meaning:

A)"person of culture."
B)"thinking person."
C)"one who walks upright."
D)"person who evolves."

Question 10

An example of nonmaterial culture would be the types of vehicles people use to get around.