Foreign languages Institute -FBU Reading 3 Assignment
__________________________________________________________________________________
READING PASSAGE 1
Read the following passage and do exercises.
TRAVELING TO EGYPT
Courtesy and hospitality are important when doing business in Egypt. The host of
a business meeting will usually offer tea or a small snack before commencing. It’s polite
to refuse the first offer, but once the host insists, the guest should then accept.
Alcohol is legal, but should be avoided until visitors know their Egyptian
colleague’s attitude towards drinking, and, if acceptable, should be drunk in moderation.
It is not considered suitable for women to over-indulge in alcohol. If invited to a business
lunch, expect food to be lavish and plentiful.
Throughout the Arab world, it is considered bad manners either to display anger or
to openly criticize another person in public. Tact and diplomacy are always required. In
social life, punctuality is almost laughable. For business, visitors should be on time but
expect locals to be often late, and do not take offence. Men should not offer to shake a
woman’s hand, and vice versa, unless clearly invited to do so. Men and women should
dress smartly for business meetings – suits and tie for men; suit for women or smart
trousers/skirt/jacket – and always dress modestly. Shoulders and knees should never be
shown.
Economy:
On taking power in 1970, Anwar al-Sadat introduced a policy
of infitah (openness) towards investment. Egypt’s economy underwent rapid growth
during the 1970s with the quick expansion of the oil industry, tourism and the Suez Canal,
and it has continued to expand in subsequent decades.
The tourist sector is expanding rapidly, particularly along the Red Sea and
Mediterranean coasts, despite sporadic terrorist activities of Islamic fundamentalists.
Agriculture, which relies on irrigation from the Nile, employs one-third of the working
Foreign languages Institute -FBU Reading 3 Assignment
__________________________________________________________________________________
population. Foreign aid, especially from the USA, is an important source of government
funds.
Internet:
There are internet cafés in the main cities, including Cairo, Alexandria, Dahab
and Luxor. Even small, more remote towns including Siwa will have at least one venue,
usually in the market area. Connection is usually reliable. Tourists can also access the
Internet in hotels, with in-room Wi-Fi available, though often at a costly price.
Media:
The Egyptian press is one of the most influential and widely read in the region,
while Egyptian TV and the film industry supplies much of the Arab-speaking world with
shows from its Media Production City. Press freedom is encouraged. Press laws which
allow prison sentences for libel have encouraged self-censorship on sensitive issues.
Exercise 1: Answer the following questions
1. What is a typical way to show hospitality during a business meeting in Egypt?
………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………
2. What should visitors be cautious about regarding alcohol in business contexts in
Egypt?
………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………
3. What economic strategy did Anwar al-Sadat implement when he came to power in
1970?
………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………
4. Which industries helped drive Egypt's economic growth during the 1970s?
………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………
Foreign languages Institute -FBU Reading 3 Assignment
__________________________________________________________________________________
5. How significant is foreign aid to the financial support of the Egyptian government?
………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………
6. Where can tourists usually find internet access while in Egypt?
………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………
7. What is the reputation of the Egyptian press within the region?
………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………
Exercise 2: Decide the following sentenses True (T) or False (F)
1. Guests should refuse the first offer of food or drink from the host.
2. It is not considered suitable for women to over-indulge in alcohol in business settings.
3. Punctuality is almost laughable in social contexts, but visitors should be on time for
business.
4. Men are expected to wear suits and ties for business meetings in Egypt.
5. The tourism sector in Egypt is expanding despite security concerns.
6. Foreign aid plays an important role in supporting the Egyptian government’s finances.
7. Tourists can access the Internet primarily in large cities and hotels in Egypt.
8. Press laws have encouraged self-censorship on sensitive issues, affecting freedom of
expression.
Your answers:
1. ………………. 2………………. 3………………. 4……………….
5 ….…………….. 6.………………. 7………………. 8……………….
Exercise 3: Summarize the paragraphs:
Paragraph 2:
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
Foreign languages Institute -FBU Reading 3 Assignment
__________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 3:
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
Paragraph 6 :
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
Paragraph 7:
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
USEFUL LANGUAGE
I. List new words in the reading, guess and explain them:
New words Definition or explanation
1……………………….... …………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………
2……………………….... …………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………
3……………………….... …………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………
4……………………….... …………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………
Foreign languages Institute -FBU Reading 3 Assignment
__________________________________________________________________________________
5……………………….... …………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………
6……………………….... …………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………
7……………………….... …………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………
8……………………….... …………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………
9……………………….... …………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………
10………………………... …………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………
11………………………... …………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………
12………………………... …………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………
13………………………... …………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………
14………………………... …………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………
15………………………... …………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………
II. List 5 words in the reading passage and find synonyms:
Words Synonym(s)
1. ………………………………… …………………………………………
2. ………………………………… …………………………………………
3. ………………………………… …………………………………………
4. ………………………………… …………………………………………
5. ………………………………… …………………………………………
Foreign languages Institute -FBU Reading 3 Assignment
__________________________________________________________________________________
