In the lunch line I met a new friend who wore a hijab (穆斯林女性戴的面纱) on her head，and though I am Jewish，we got along fine，and I was so relieved (如释重负的) when she said，“Sit with us，at our table.” She pointed to the one next to the door.In a society such as the United States or Canada，which has many national，religious，and cultural differences，people highly value individualism—the differences among people.Teachers place a lot of importance on the qualities that make each student special.The educational systems these countries show these values.Students do not memorize information.Instead，they work individually and find answers themeslves.There is often discussion in the classroom.At an early age，students learn to form their own ideas and opinions.
In most Asian societies，by contrast (对照)，the people have the same language，history，and culture.Perhaps for this reason，the educational system in much of the Orient reflects society’s belief in group goals and purposes rather than individualism.Children in China，Japan，and Korea often work together and help one another on assignments，in the classroom，the teaching methods are often very formal.The teacher lectures，and the students listen.There is not much discussion.Instead，the students recite rules or Information that they have memorized.
There are advantages (优点) and disadvantages to both of these systems of education.For example，one advantage to the system in Japan is that students there learn much more math and science than American students learn by the end of high school.They also study more hours each day and more days each year the North Americans do.The system is difficult，but it prepares students for a society that values discipline (纪律) and selfcontrol.There is，however，a disadvantage.Memorization is an important learning method in Japanese schools，yet many students say that after an exam，they forget much of the information that they have memorized.
The advantage of the educational system in North America，on the other hand，is that students learn to think for themselves.The system prepares them for a society that values creative ideas.There is，however，a disadvantage.When students graduate from high school，they haven’t memorized as many basic rules and facts as students in other countries.
| Students in the US and 31.__________ | Students in China，Japan and Korea | |
| What do they value？ | Individualism | 32.__________goals and purposes |
| 34.__________ | Listen to the teachers | |
| 33.__________of study or educational systems | Forming their own ideas and opinions | Memorizing rules or in formation |
| A lot of discussion in the classroom | Not much discussion | |
| Advantages | 35.______________________for themselves | Learning much more 36.______________________by the end of 37.__________ |
| Studying more hours each day and more days each year | ||
| Good for a sociey valuing 38.__________ | Good for a society valving 39.__________________________ | |
| 40.________ | Students haven’t memorized many basic rules and fact when they graduate. | Information is forgotten easily. |