I. In what ways do people from different races and backgrounds contribute to our society? Write a
short text (80 to 100 words) in which you answer this question.
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Melting pot or salad bowl?
The melting pot is at the origins of multiculturalism. It is considered to be the historic foundation of
American integration policy, and represents society as a giant pestle and mortar, where cultural origins and
differences were crushed and blended. Many saw the melting pot as the model to follow for all multi-ethnic
societies. But after a time, the blend started to go bad. This is when multiculturalism imposed itself as the new
recipe for western societies, looking for effective and painless solutions to get out of the cultural impasse
represented by the small-minded attitude to culture. The uniform dish has given way to a colourful mixed salad
where ingredients live together, each one keeping its own unique taste. §1
Multiculturalism is a political strategy for managing interethnic relations, based on the value and respect
of differences in customs, culture, religion or ethnicity. Multiculturalism came to the fore in the 1980s, and was
progressively implemented in the United States then in Europe, but its roots go back to the 1960s. At that time,
problems of ‘difference’ started to emerge in western societies, further propelled by the rejection in the late
sixties of traditional culture and consequences of decolonization. The escalating phenomena of migration and
globalisation put an end to the culture of the unique in favour of a real culture of differences. §2
For the American historian, Francis Fukuyama, ‘good multiculturalism’ is a kind of “corporate
multiculturalism”. It is based on spreading identical consumer habits across different lifestyles of various social,
ethnic and cultural groups. Italian political scientist, Giovanni Sartori, is not of this opinion. For him, by
definition multiculturalism is ‘bad’ as it builds a society based on separate identities, creating ghettos. Sartori
proposes the ‘European model of pluralism and tolerance’ as an alternative, presented as the ‘correct
management of diversity’. §3
The EU programme “integration of third country nationals” finances and promotes integration
initiatives targeting those who are not members of the EU25. This project aims to encourage dialogue in civil
society, develop integration models, and spread and highlight the best initiatives regarding integration. The EU
member states have contributed 5 million Euros for this project. At the same time, the EU has collated an
‘integration manual’ which explains government and public authority practices in Europe, in the areas of
training, political participation and inter-religious dialogue. The manual, presented at the end of 2004,
underlines the necessity to include unions, foreigner associations and employers. §4
Europe switches between two models, the French ‘assimilation’ model, and the Anglo-Saxon
‘multicultural’ one. Both are going through a crisis. The first one practices integration based on trade; there is an
exchange of citizenship for religious discretion (for example, in France, the Muslim veil is prohibited in
schools). British multicultural policy gives freedom to minorities in the form of ‘collective rights’ to allow a
harmonious coexistence between different ethnic and religious groups inside a liberal and tolerant political
society. §5
In France, many second and third generation French people refuse the old-style republican assimilation
method. This trend is proven, among other things, by the riots in French suburbs last November or the protests
against the 2004 law banning the Muslim veil. In Britain, many Muslim groups do not feel represented by state
laws, creating hostile and isolated minorities. British public opinion could be summed up by a phrase from the
chair of the Commission for Racial Equality, Trevor Philips, “multiculturalism does not mean that everyone can
do as they want in the name of their culture.” §6
II
A. Read the text and say which question belongs to which paragraph.
Questions
How have they failed?
What is the European Union doing to improve the integration of immigrants?
How was multiculturalism born?
How can you define it?
What is the main significance of the concept of multiculturalism in intellectual debate?
What are the European integration models?
1
2
3
4
5
6
Paragraph
B.1. Find evidence for the following sentences. Quote from the text.
1.1. It’s a way of ruling a community where the cultural backgrounds of the different peoples in this
community are dismantled to be remixed and become one.________________________________________
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1.2. When the melting pot theory failed, the western world turned to multiculturalism as away to solve the
race-related problems._____________________________________________________________________
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1.3. This way instead of losing the variety of cultures, people live together and have much to gain with what
they learn from their cultural differences.______________________________________________________
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B.2. Complete the following sentences according to the text. Use your own words as far as possible.
2.1. The EU member states have contributed 5 million Euros for a project _______________________________
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2.2. Both the French “assimilation” model_____________________________________________________
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2.3. The riots in French suburbs last November prove____________________________________________
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C.1 Reread paragraphs 1 and 2 and find synonyms/antonyms for the following words/expressions:
GIVEN WORD

shows

example

changing (adj.)

co-exist

similarities

growing (adj.)
SYNONYM
C.2 Find words/expressions in the text which these refer to.
1. “itself” §1
2. “where” §1
3. “him” §3
4. “Both” §5
ANTONYM
III
A. Complete the text with a word or expression from the box below:
Don’t repeat them!
priority
a two-bedroom apartment
left
what
enough minimum
only
homeless
so
before
cross
percent
Immigrants from Mexico (1)______________the border illegally with illusions of a better life. But
for many of them, the (2)_____________dream reached is setting foot on American soil, as they are
(3)______________with no other option but to live on the street, and send (4)_____________little money
they can to their families in their native countries. “(5)_______________I was homeless, I rented a real old
apartment (6)_____________I wouldn’t have to stay on the street. But the rent was much more than my pay.
My (7)______________was to send money home to my son and to eat,” said the (8)____________woman.
Between 16 and 20 (9)_____________of all homeless adults work. However, most do not make
(10)_____________to be able to rent an apartment since a person who makes (11)_____________wage,
would need to work 125 hours a week in order to rent (12)_____________________.
B.1. Choose the correct PREPOSITION and complete the text.
ON
–
WITH
-
FOR
–
FROM
–
IN
–
OF
–
BY
-
TO
There are 80 thousand homeless people (1)_______ Los Angeles County alone. Thirty percent
(2)_______ them are Hispanics, and, according to a report (3)_______ the Los Angeles Homeless Service
Authority, that figure is growing rapidly. Griselda Ramos, 33, came (4)_______ the United States
(5)_______ Mexico (6)_______ the dream of sending money home to care (7)_______ her son. Instead she
has been homeless for five years. “ When I got here, I didn’t speak the language, was without documents,
without work, and alone. All I could do was live (8)_______ the street,” said Ramos.
B.2. Complete each of the following sentences in such a way that it means the same as the sentence
printed before it.
1. Many young immigrants were involved in the riots in France last November. Their parents had all been
fired a couple of weeks before the incidents.
Many young immigrants __________________________________________________________________
2. Those who support particular cultural standards oppose the controversial theory of multiculturalism.
The controversial theory of multiculturalism___________________________________________________
3. Andrew Young : “I sometimes ask myself if the race-related problems will ever be solved”
Andrew________________________________________________________________________________
4. Most people don’t try to understand other people’s views on the world. That’s why there are so many
problems in society.
If_____________________________________________________________________________________
5. Canadian society is often depicted as being very progressive and multicultural. (not only...but also)
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III. A. Comment on the following picture/cartoon in 50 to 60 words.
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B. State your views on the following statement. Write an opinion text (150-180 words).
« At the heart of racism is the religious assertion that God made a creative mistake when He
brought some people into being »
Friedrich Otto Hertz
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