Rice Farming and Culture
This type of agriculture, practiced in Western cultures, is "mechanically oriented," unlike Eastern agriculture, which is "?" oriented.
Skill
According to Gladwell, this cultural factor can be as important as IQ in determining success.
work ethic
“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 credibility and provide a trusted source for his claims about the skill-intensive nature of rice farming.
According to Gladwell, what cultural practice in Asian countries contributes to a strong work ethic in students?
Gladwell suggests that the labor-intensive nature of rice farming in Asian cultures teaches patience, precision, and long-term effort, which are values that students carry into their academic lives.
A system of trade where rice is the ? , and chickens and ducks are the products.
currency
"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 (or hard work)?
“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.
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 innate talent and the ability to succeed with less effort.
According to Gladwell, rice farming teaches these two qualities that influence attitudes toward learning and work.
patience and persistence
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
“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, evoking admiration for those who embrace such discipline.
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.