Getting to Know the World

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1Summary 重點摘要

The Earth has seven continents; countries differ in capitals, languages and food — respect differences and be a little world citizen.

2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary

3Step by step Steps

1. Step 1: Know the seven continentsThe Earth has seven continents, and Asia is the largest of them all. On the globe, find Asia — our country, China, lies in the east of Asia; Africa has wide grasslands and wild animals, Europe has many old castles, North America and South America each sit on their own side, Oceania is surrounded by sea, and Antarctica is a world of ice and snow. Knowing the seven continents shows us how big and how wonderful the world is. A common mistake is thinking the world is only the city we live in; give the globe a spin and see how vast the world really is.
2. Step 2: Capitals and languagesEvery country has its own capital and main language. China's capital is Beijing, where people speak Chinese; Japan's capital is Tokyo, where people speak Japanese; France's capital is Paris, where people speak French; and Australia's capital is Canberra. Remembering capitals and languages makes it much easier to get to know a country. A common mistake is thinking the capital is always the biggest city; Australia's biggest city is Sydney, yet its capital is Canberra — so remember them clearly.
3. Step 3: Meet world landmarksThere are many famous landmarks around the world. The Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, stands tall like a giant made of iron; China's Great Wall winds this way and that, reaching far along the mountains; the pyramids of Egypt have stood for thousands of years; and the Statue of Liberty stands in the United States. Landmarks are like a country's name card — one look tells you which country it is. A common mistake is matching a landmark with the wrong country; some think the pyramids are in South America, but the most famous ones stand in Egypt in Africa — look at pictures with care.
4. Step 4: Taste foods of the worldDifferent countries have different foods, showing the life and customs of each place. Japanese sushi wraps fresh raw fish in vinegared rice; Italian pizza is covered with cheese and tomatoes; people in Mexico wrap fillings in corn tortillas; and Chinese dumplings look like little gold ingots, wrapped by the whole family at New Year. Tasting the foods of the world when you get the chance is like travelling around the globe. A common mistake is eating only the food you are used to; only by bravely trying new flavours can you feel the charm of other cultures.
5. Step 5: Find differences and samenessCultures around the world are different in many ways, yet they also have much in common. Languages and foods differ, and festivals are celebrated in different ways; but children everywhere love hide-and-seek, singing and dancing, and enjoy festivals with family and friends. Finding the differences and the sameness, we discover that everyone's love of life beats in the same way. A common mistake is calling a custom strange just because it differs from ours; understand first, then respect, and the world stays peaceful and loving.
6. Step 6: Be a world citizenThe world is like one big family, and we are all little citizens of the world. Be kind to classmates of other nationalities — a smile and a greeting are the best passport; learn to say Hello in English, and learn one or two greetings in other languages too, such as a Japanese hello. Friendship knows no borders, and it makes the world more beautiful. A common mistake is being too shy to speak to classmates from other countries; gather your courage, say one greeting, and a friendship begins right there.

4Diagrams Diagrams

5Worked example Example

6Common mistakes Mistakes

7Quick check Quick check

8Recap Recap

• The Earth has seven continents; China is in Asia.
• Every country has its own capital and language.
• Respect different foods and festivals around the world.
• A globe helps us know the world.
• Be a little world citizen who respects differences.