As we know, there are differences between western culture and Chinese culture. We can see differences when we pay attention to the way words are used. Let's look at the words about animals and plants. Most expressions in Chinese about the dog, for example, “a homeless dog”, “a mad dog”, “a running dog” and “a dog catching a mouse”, have negative(消极的)meanings. But in western countries, dogs are thought to be honest and good friends of people. In English, people use the dog to describe positive(积极的)actions. For example, “you are a lucky dog” means you are a lucky person. And “every dog has its day” means each person has good 1uck one day. To describe a person's serious illness, they say “sick as a dog”. The word “dog-tired” means very tired. However, Chinese love cats very much. But in western culture, “cat” is often used to describe a woman who is cruel(冷酷的). There are many other examples of how “cat” is used differently as well.
The rose(玫瑰)is thought of as a symbol of love in both China and some western countries. People think the rose stands for(代表)love, peace, courage and friendship. And the rose is the national flower of England, America and many other countries.
The words about plants and animals are used in positive or negative ways in different cultures. We can learn about many differences in cultures by comparing(比较)how some words are used.

    Can you speak English? Maybe you know a lot of English words. You can read, speak and understand English, but there is another kind of language—the language of the body. All over the world, people "talk" with their hands，their heads and their eyes. When Japanese people meet, they bow. When Indians meet, they put their hands together. When British and American people meet someone for the first time, they shake hands. They do not usually shake hands with their friends. Women sometimes kiss their women friends, and men kiss women friends on the cheek(脸颊). When a man meets a man friend, he just smiles, and says "hello". Men do not kiss each other, or hold hands. Even fathers and sons do not often kiss each other.

    A city without cars would be very strange, right? The European city Venice is such one.

    Venice is in the northeast of Italy. It wasn't built on land, but on more than 110 islands. Seawater is everywhere all around the city.

    Even so, travel isn't difficult. The water ways have always been the best way to get around. There are 117 waterways and more than 400 bridges that can lead you where you want to go. People in Venice move from place to place by boat. They like to enjoy the scenery(风光) and cool summer nights while taking boat trips.

    Venice grew out of small islands in saltwater lakes when some Italians escaped from a war 1,500 years ago and built their homes there.

    Water makes the city beautiful and special, but it is also a big problem. Sometimes tourists will have such strange experiences. One moment they walk across the bridge, and there's nothing special. But when they come back to the bridge an hour later, it's underwater and everyone has to wear rain boots to cross.

    People used too much underground water, which made the city get lower little by little. Now the city is down by 23 centimeters. Another problem is the rising seawater. The rising temperature(温度)makes the ice of the Arctic Ocean(北冰洋)melt(融化). Every year, high water hits the city in autumn and winter. When the water comes, more than half of the city is underwater.