跟读练习: British Customs & Culture | England - 通过视频学习英语口语

Bowler hats, pointy umbrellas, Sunday roasts,  cups of tea, football (NOT soccer!), quaint houses in sleepy villages, the Royal Family…Brits,  they’re more than just good old fish n chips!

Rain or shine, and let’s be honest, it’s mostly  rain…the Brits are famous for their obsession with the weather. It is almost always the first  topic of conversation once the awkward daily greetings are done. It’s either too cold or too  hot, too wet, too windy, too foggy. They famously take their holidays in the sunny Mediterranean  only to a) complain about the heat, sweat and sunburn and b) constantly check in on how the  weather is back home; there’s no pleasing them!

It is a myth, though, that they always  carry an umbrella with them. In reality, it is usual for a household to  own a cupboard full of umbrellas, but often risk a trip out without one,  as it’s annoying to carry or store! (A cupboard full of shopping bags is also  a very British tradition by the way).

Tea is considered the best drink of the day  in Great Britain. Like coffee in the US, it kick starts the morning for most people and  it is not unusual to consume between 2 and 5 cups (or ‘cuppas’, as they’re affectionately  known here) per day - in times of fatigue, comfort, stress or celebration, you will  hear the flick of the kettle go. In fact, 100 million cups of tea are drunk per day in the  UK, that’s around 36 billion cups per year. And don’t be surprised to see biscuits being dunked  in the tea, that’s another very British custom.

With pubs and beer houses being  such a huge part of British life, it goes without saying that beer is the  number one alcoholic drink of choice.

A perfectly poured pint of beer is the  highlight of most working men’s weekends (statistics show British women prefer wine  or cocktails) and is usually enjoyed with one of the following popular British dishes -  roast beef, bangers & mash (that’s sausage and mashed potato) or fish & chips. Gravy sauce  is almost always offered with every dish!

Again, it is a myth that most households  cook a Sunday roast every single weekend or enjoy afternoon tea most days. Once in a while,  maybe…but just like sushi in Japan, it happens less than you would imagine. Turkey at Christmas  though, that is completely non-negotiable!

Queuing is also a very British way of life.  Despite their constant whining about being stuck in line (whether it be in traffic or in  person), the Brits are famous for waiting their turn and are huge advocates for the ‘First  come, first served’ motto. Just try pushing in one of these lines though and you will  quickly learn the wrath of your typical Brit!

To back this up, approximately 250,000 people  and, at its longest, a queuing time of over 24hrs to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II after her  passing. Admittedly, a historical moment, but this just goes to show how determined the population  is when it’s something they care deeply about.

The Royal Family - a national treasure or a  financial burden? Well, it depends who you ask, but the monarchy is over 1000 years old  and therefore, steeped in history. Around 50% of Brits are proud of the Royal Family and  feel patriotic whenever they are mentioned or displayed. Of course, that also means 50% are not  so keen, and there is often talk of abolishing the monarchy. For now, King Charles III plays his part  and holds the flag high whilst he represents his people. He is also a big tea lover apparently, so  get that kettle on then, Camilla! Rule Britannia….