Social Science, Unit 3, Lesson 1 - Defining Culture

Directions: Read the sentences from the text. Then choose the correct answer to the question that follows.

“Ethnic groups are made up of people who have come from the same place. For example, ethnic groups like the Irish, Germans, and Slavs came to North America from Europe. Ethnic groups like Koreans, Chinese, and Hmong came from Asia. Ethnic groups often share a language, history, and other aspects of culture. People who belong to the same ethnic group have the same ethnicity.”

Using context clues, what does the term ethnic group mean?

• a group of people who travel from place to place

• a group of people who live in different countries

• a group of people who start a new community

• a group of people who share the same home country

Directions: Indicate whether the statement is true or false. People can belong to one or to several cultures.

• True

• False

Two ways that culture is expressed, according to the text, are:

• through art and storytelling

• through weather and climate

• through technology and science

• through geography and resources

A religion is an organized set of beliefs held by a group of people, which usually includes the worship of a higher being like a god or gods. The United States has laws to protect the right to practice these beliefs.

• True

• False

Which of the following best explains how schools play an important role in sharing a group’s culture and traditions?

• Students attend classes in large buildings or small schoolhouses.

• Schools use modern computers and other technology.

• Students ride on bicycles, buses, or trains to get to school.

• Schools pass on knowledge and values that are important to a culture.