PASAGE 38

SOCIALNORMS

Social order is contingent upon most individuals doing what is expected of them by
others. Yet we are generally fascinated by the people who do not comply with the rules.
Generally we call these people deviants. By definition, deviants are people who violate group
norms and we tend most often to think of criminals as the mentally ill people. But deviance
can also describe acts that are more industrious, more ambitious or more honest than that
generally expected within the social system.

I. VOCABULARY
Order: Harmony To be contingent upon: To be dependent upon
To fascinate: To charm To comply with: To obey
Deviant: Abnormal, unusual To violate: To break
To tend: To be inclined Mentally: Psychologically
Industrious: Hardworking Ambitious: Determined
II. EXERCISES: Complete the sentences with a suitable, form of the .words defined
above
1. Waiting in one area is .... activity in others.
2. I ensured that Construction work .... the relevant building regulations.
3. In other words, for an action to be .... it has to cause some form of critical
reaction and disapproval from others in the particular society.
4. The islanders are ....; they are either out at work or working at home.
5. They tend to be young, energetic, and ...., but so they are likely to realize their
goals.
III. READING COMPREHENSION
1. The writer points out that social order cannot be maintained if individuals
.............
A. depend on others in the society.
B. do what most people do.
C. do not conform to generally accepted rules.
D. expect others to do what they do. E) are not fascinated by those breaking the
rules.
2. People who commit crimes are.............
A. not certainly deviants.
B. generally expected to be honest.
C. in agreement with group norms.
D. not really mentally ill.
E. thought to be suffering an illness of the mind.
3. We can infer that the word "deviance"...
A. is only associated with evil things.
B. is exclusively used for ambitious people
C. means people rejected by the social system.
D. does not only Bring bad qualities to mind.
E. has no other meaning but honest.