Rice Farming and Culture
Hard work and Systems
Rhetorical
Comprehension questions
100

This type of agriculture, practiced in Western cultures, is "mechanically oriented," unlike Eastern agriculture, which is "?" oriented.

Skill

100

According to Gladwell, this cultural thing can be as important as IQ in determining success.

Work ethic

100

“As the anthropologist Francesca Bray puts it, rice agriculture is ‘skill oriented’: it requires the farmer to be awake, constantly attentive, and thinking about how to best manage the field.”

Ethos 

By referencing Bray, Gladwell uses an expert in anthropology to strengthen his evidence and provide a trusted source for his claims about the skill of nature of rice farming.

100

According to Gladwell, what cultural practice in Asian countries contributes to a strong work ethic in students?

Gladwell suggests that the laboring nature of rice farming in Asian cultures teaches patience, persistence, and long-term effort, which are values that students carry into their academic lives.

200

A system of trade where rice is the ? , and chickens and ducks are the products.

Currency

200

"No one who can rise before dawn three hundred sixty days a year fails to make his family rich." This quote emphasizes the importance of what?

dedication

200

“Western agriculture is mechanically oriented. A farmer in the Midwest can plant and harvest hundreds of acres with the help of a tractor. But rice agriculture is ‘skill’ oriented.”

Logos

By contrasting Western and Eastern farming methods, Gladwell provides a logical foundation for why Eastern farming cultures developed different attitudes toward labor and persistence.

200

What is one key difference between Western and Eastern education systems, according to Gladwell?

According to Gladwell, the key difference is that Eastern education systems emphasize hard work, effort, and persistence, while Western systems often focus more on talent and the ability to succeed with less effort.

300

According to Gladwell, rice farming teaches these two qualities that influence attitudes toward learning and work.

patience and persistence

300

Chinese rulers only take a certain set amount of the rice crops, which means any extra work goes back to the farmers, promoting them to work even harder

What type of system is this?

Feudal system

300

“No one who can rise before dawn three hundred sixty days a year fails to make his family rich.”

Pathos

This quote, shared by Gladwell, appeals to readers emotions by illustrating the values of resilience and consistency in Eastern farming cultures, admiration for those who embrace discipline.

300

How does the structure of the Chinese language influence mathematical thinking?

The Chinese language has a more logical and concise number system compared to many Western languages. This makes it easier to memorize numbers and perform calculations mentally. The brevity of Chinese number words allows for faster processing of numerical information.

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