美国文化总结

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1、Unit 11 Vacationing in the U.S.When do most American families go away on vacation?The most popular vacation periods are during the summer and during the 2-week school break surrounding the Christmas and New Year hsolidays. These periods are also the most crowded and the most expensive time to travel

2、.TransportationThe automobile is the least expensive way to travel, especially for families. Its fast and convenient. The excellent interstate highway system connects nation s major cities.3. What s a theme park? What are some different types of theme parks?(1).Theme park are a variation on the outd

3、oor entertainment complexes called amusement parks.Like amusement park, theme parks have carnival games, rides, shows, displays, shops that sell souvenirs, restaurants and food stores. But theme parks tend to be much larger and more high-tech than the older amusement parks. And they are developed ar

4、ound a theme or idea, such as American, water sports or regional history. Many are very educational as well as entertaining.(2) such as American, water sports or regional history4. four major theme parks in walt Disney world?It includes four major theme parks, Magic Kingdom(similar to Disneyland, me

5、chanical figures that appear in many exhibits) Epcot Center(technologies of the future; architecture, crafts,food and entertainment of 11 nations), Disney-MGM Studios(has Hollywood movie-making as its theme) and Animal Kingdom (1000animals including rare and endangered animals) plus several minor on

6、es.5. what to see in manhattan?They visit skyscrapers, especially the empire state building, one of the tallest.They visit museums and art galleries, shops in the citystoresasnd espaerctimaletyntshops, and dine in elegant restaurants.Other attractions are united nations building, the new York stock

7、exchange, rockefeller center, and the metropolitan opera.6. what to see in washinton DC?The nation s capital, visitors cantcwhacongress in action in the capitol, attend a session of the supreme court, and tour the white house, the home of the president. The Smithsonian institution, with its many mus

8、eums and art galleries, offers much ofhistorical interest. It exhibits gowns of the first ladies and the wright brothers. There are also magnificent monuments to see, memorials honoring presidents washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt.7. What are some structures of historical interest in the

9、East?In Washington DC, The nation csapital, visitors can watch congress in action in the capitol, attend a session of the supreme court, and tour the white house, the home of the president. The Smithsonian institution, with its many museums and art galleries, offers much of historical interest. It e

10、xhibits gowns of the first ladies and the wright brothers. There are also magnificent monuments to see, memorials honoring presidents washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt.Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the site of the building where the us constitution was signed in 1787. Boston , Massachuse

11、tts has many colonial landmarks. Virginia, colonial Williamsburg old buildi ngs8. Name three very large structures mentioned in this section.The most famous skyscraper is Sears Tower, the tallest building in the US.(other attractions in Chicago, are the museums of science and industry, with its exhi

12、bits showing applications of science to industry) buckingham fountain, the world slargest lighted fountain which is a beautiful multicolored sight on a summer evening)and Gateway Arch(in st Louis)9. What are four famous tourist sites in Florida?Walt Disney World, Everglades(one of the largest and mo

13、st interesting swamp areas in the world with many unusual plants and birds ), the John F. Kennedy Space Center and St. Augustine(the oldest permanent European settlement)10. Compare the climates in Alaska and Hawaii.In Alaska, the wi nter temperature can go dow n as low as -62 C .In the n orther nm

14、ost part of Alaska, the sun doesn0t sdeatyfsoirn8the summer; and for 50 days in the winter. InHawaii, the climate is much comfortable. It is made up of 20 tropical islands.11. what to see in the west?Rocky mountain-draw skiers and snowmobilers.Casinos and nightclubs in las vegas, Nevada attract vaca

15、tioners who enjoy gambling and big-name entertainment.National parks- who interested in beautiful scenery, natural wonders, and wildlife.Grand canyon- huge colorful rock formations.Yellow stones-the world s greatest geyser area, as weplleacstascular waterfalls.Los angeles- Hollywood- the home of the

16、 American movie industry. See the fabulous homes of movie stars, shopping in elegant shops.San Francisco- hilliest and most metropolitan of American sites. Famous for bridges, cable cars, breathtaking scenery, and fine dining(seafood and asian cuisine)Vocabularyamuseme nt:消遣，娱乐architecture:建筑； 建筑学de

17、stination: 目的地，终点gambling: 赌博；投机glacier: 冰河，冰川monument: 纪念碑passport:护照sculpture:.雕塑；雕刻souvenir: 纪念品spectacular:壮观的：惊人的statue: 雕像，塑像surrounding: 周围的，附近的theme:主题tourist: 游客volcano: 火山capitol :一般的立法机关Capitol ：美国国会大厦(专指在华盛顿那家)Capital ：首都Expressionsas well as:也； 和 一样big-name:大名鼎鼎的cha nge of sce ne 换个环境Fi

18、rst Lady: 总统妻子get an earful: 听了一大堆话，听得叫人厌烦show off:炫耀time off: 休假；请假word of mouth: 口头宣传；口头传达的unit 12 Leisure-Time Activitiess the difference be1. What are the three most popular team sports in the U.S.? WhatBowl games and the Super Bowl.(1) Baseball(national pastime), football(knocking down a player

19、 who is trying to carry the ball down the field) and basketball(most popular indoor sport).(2) At the end of the college football season, the best teams compete in Bowl games. Theprofessional football season ends with the Super Bowl, the game between the country s two teams. It s the most watched tv

20、 show in the world2. What are some important differences between golf and tennis?Golf can be played from about age 10 to 110. It ssafe, tame and not strenuous. It is played all year except snow. It is recommended for mild exercise.Tennis requires speed and great endurance. It is played all year indo

21、ors or out, and provides a very vigorous workout.(2-singles 4-doubles) Skiing-individuals and families( artificial snow or real mountains)Ice-skating- indoors and ourdoorsHockey- for boys figure skating- for girls (doing various difficult maneuvers)What are some activities to get exercise and enjoy

22、the outdoors at the same time?Motorcycling, snowmobiling, riding a wave-runner, walking, running, jogging,.Get back to nature, go hiking, camping, boating, fishing, hunting and taking care of the lawns and gardens.4. Name some places where people can go to see animals in action.Zoos, aquarium circus

23、 travels, rodeos(cowboys demonstrate their skills by climbing atop wild horses and bulls for very short rides) and racetrack赛马场).s good about it?blood tube5. What are some problems with American TV? In your opinion, whatMost viewers watch too much, and the quality (especially in the free station) is

24、 often poor. Tv of the future will be more interactive and better technical quality will encourage viewers to watch even more, less physically fit and more overweight. Many shows are silly, trite, in poor taste or extremely violent. Insulting nickname“idiotbox ”.自己的意见6. What evidence is there that A

25、mericans still read a lot?The us has about 1800daily newspapers with a total circulation of about 60 millition.The country has also produces thousands of magazines and journals-weeklies, monthlies and quarterlies.Bookstores are thriving too, is much more than just a place to buy books, but coffee, w

26、orkshop and lecturesLibraries are also very busy because they offer a great deal to keep users from coming back. Americans visits libraries about three times as often as they go to movies.Vocabularyamateur:业余爱好者athletics:体育运动compete比匕赛；竞争equipme nt:装备fan:粉丝hobby: 爱好individual: 个人的；单独的leisure:空闲；闲暇ne

27、twork:网络；广播网 netsworks：广播公司spectator 观众stadium:体育场statio n:站stren uous紧张的；费力的subscripti on:订阅team:团队的Chapter 13The Constitution and the Federal Systemwhat is constitutionit is the basic law from which the us government gets all its power. It is the law that protects those who live in the usa from un

28、reasonable actions by the national government or any state government.2. What is the job of each branch of government? What is the Presidents cabinet?The Constitution defines three branches of government.They are the legislative branch, which enacts laws;(congress-the senate and the hose of represen

29、tatives-to pass laws, bill must by approved by a majority of each house of congress and by the president-if vetoes a bill, it can still be a law if a at least2/3 override the veto by voting for it.)The executive branch, which enforces those laws; (president is the chief executive, see all national l

30、aws are carried out and make decisions with foreign policy, also appoints ambassadors and other consular heads, judges of the federal courts)The judicial branch, which interprets them(decides what they mean-declare legislation unconstitutional)The most important group of advisers is called the cabin

31、et. The cabinet consists of the heads of the 14 departments of the executive branch, such as the Secretaries of Education, Defense, and Agriculture. Cabinet members are chosen by the president with the approval of the senate.3. Name some of the most important rights granted in the Bill of Rights.Why

32、 is the fourteenth Amendment so important?Freedom of religion, speech, and the press and the right to complain to and about the government. Speech is protected no matter how unpopular or repulsive so long as it does not create an immediate or danger to life or property. Free speech means that the go

33、vernment vcannot prevent people from saying or writing whatever they want, nor can it punish people for expressing ideas that criticize the government.( heart of democracy). Freedom of religion means people can belong to any religions group , can follow religions teaching as long as it do not seriou

34、sly interfere with the rights of others. Government cannot encourage or prevent the practice of religion.(separation between church and state).Protection of all US residents. Protect people suspected or accused of crimes(4568). The right to keep and bear arms(2).It grew out of the civil war to prote

35、ct former slaves from state laws that discriminated against them. But its effect has been much broader than that. It gives full federal and state citizenship to all people born in the US or naturalized there. It prohibits states from violating the rights of American citizens. The most important thin

36、g is that all persons have equal legal rights and that their rights or possessions cannot be taken without a proper trial.Chapter 14Choosing the Nations President1.What are the three major jobs of a national political convention?(1) .Delegates select the people who will be candidates for president a

37、nd vice president.(2) .The creation and acceptance of the partys platform.(3) .The nomination of prospective presidential candidates.2.What are the two major political parties in the U.S.? What are some differences between them?The two major parties are the Democratic Party and the Republican Party

38、.Most democrats are moderates or liberals. Most republicans are moderates or conservatives. Democrats tend to favor more spending for social programs to help poorer people and less spending for military programs. Republicans goals tend to be the opposite. Traditionally, Democrats have also favored a

39、 stronger federal government while Republicans have emphasized states rights. The Democratic Party is generally considered more supportive of the poor and the middle-class worker. Republican policies generally support big business and the rich.Democratssymbol is a donkey(stubbornness), republican sy

40、mbol is an elephant(have a long memory).3: Whats the difference between the popular votes and electoral votes? Which type of votes elect a president?Popular vote is voted by all people while electoral vote is voted by the electoral college. The number of electors for each state is equal to the total

41、 number of representatives and senators who represent that state in congress. States with larger population have more electoral votes.The president is chosen by electoral vote.单词： amendment n. 修正案；改善；改正 federal adj. 联邦的；同盟的 representative adj. 典型的，有代表性的；代议制的 n. 代表；典型；众议员 cabinet n. 内阁；橱柜；展览艺术品的小陈列室

42、adj. 内阁的；私下的，秘密的 impeachment n. 弹劾；控告；怀疑；指摘senator n. 参议员congress n. 国会；代表大会；会议；社交 interpret vt. 说明；口译 vi. 解释；翻译 unconstitutional adj. 违反宪法的con stituti on n.宪法judicial adj. 司法的；法庭的；公正的veto n.否决权executive n.总经理；行政部门legislative adj. 立法的void adj. 空的；空虚的 campaign n. 运动；竞选运动；战役 demonstration n. 证明；论证；示范；

43、表示 nominate v. 提名为候选人；任命；挑选 candidate n. 候选人in auguration n.就职；就职典礼；开始 opp onent n对手；反对者 con servative n.保守的incumbent adj. 在职的；义不容辞的con ve ntion n.会议；惯例；规矩 issue n. 问题 platform n. 平台；纲领 delegate n代表，代表团成员 liberal n. 自由主义者；开明的 primary adj 首要的；主要的；最早的Chapter 15Q1: Name five requirements a permanent re

44、sident must fulfill in order to become an American citizen?The person must wait five continuous years after becoming a permanent resident. No trips outside the U.S for more than six continuous months are permitted. He must have lived at least three months in the state in which the application is mad

45、e. The applicant have to show an understanding of the English language and of the history principles, and form of government of the U.S, and demonstrate good moral character and a belief in the principles of the U.S Constitution, such as representative government and free speech.Q2: What are four wa

46、ys that citizens can communicate their ideas to their representatives in government?Voters can communicate with representatives by mail, phone, or e-mail or by attending town hall meetings.Q3: What are four different taxes that most U.S. residents pay?The employees tax, the federal income tax, Socia

47、l Security and Medicare taxes and state income taxes.(federal income tax-money used for operating the government itself, defense, education, foreign aid, aid to the poor, and countless other services)Q4:responsibilities of citizens?Participate in government:(1).vote (2)communicating with their repre

48、sentativesProtest government action, petition the government, to express opinions freely about the governments policies. Peaceful protests outside government buildings are common. Groups march with signs, singing and chanting. People must respect rights of others to express opposing views.Military s

49、ervicesServe on a jury-listen to evidence presented in court. The jury is basic to the American system of justice.Q5: national bird- bald eagleOne of the largest and most powerful of birds. This high-flying bird has long been a symbol of freedom and courage. Americans hope and believe they will alwa

50、ys have the courage and strength to protect the freedoms that their government provides.Vocabulary:Advantage 优点Alien 不一样的Bill 账单Compulsory 强制的Controversy 争议Eligible 合格的，适任的Entitle 赋予Jury 陪审团Naturalize 自然化Neutral 中性的Obligation 义务Oppose 反对Pending 悬而未决的，即将到来的Refund 退款Resistance 阻力To stay in office: to

51、be reelected to a political jobUncle Sam: a symbol of the American governmentGross domestic product: the value of all goods and services produced in the U.S. in a particular year.And the like: and similar servicesSocial security: a pension provided by the governmentChapter 16Q1: What are three chara

52、cteristics of capitalism?(1) .Businesses are privately owned and operated, the governments role is limited and to protect each part of the economy.(2) .Prices vary with changes in supply and demand, and the cost of producing them.(3) .A free economy is good for everyone, people can choose their care

53、er.(4) Competition is an essential element, people can receive high-quality merchandise at the lowest possible prices.Q2: Who benefits from tariffs?The American workers. Since tariffs prevent them from losing jobs caused by competition.Multinational companiesQ3: What is the difference between stocks

54、 and bonds?Stockholders purchase shares of a business. The share in the profits of the company by receiving dividends. People who purchase bonds lend their money to a business in exchange for a fixed rate of return, known as interest.Q4: Where are stocks and bonds traded?Stocks and bonds are traded

55、on national exchanges, like the New York Stock Exchange.Q5: Why is the U.S. called a cashless society?American people often do not pay for their purchases with cash. They use checks and credit cards and debit cards.(obtaining loans)Q6: What is one advantage and one disadvantage of buying on credit?T

56、he easy availability of credit has given American consumers tremendous purchasing power. But it has also led to a huge amount of debt.Q7: Name three recent developments in small-business ownership.Computer are used by more and more companies. Mass-produced programs have been developed that can keep

57、track of inventory and sales.Increasing numbers of Americans go into small business for themselves. (some purchases franchise, to operate similar business under the same name. they have the right to use the franchise name and ideas and franchisor assists its franchises. It s thleeast risky way to go

58、 into business for oneself. Its national reputation, advertising, training program and business experience give the franchisee a big advantage over independent businesses.) There is a growing trend toward business ownership by women and minorities. (the influence of civil war and women s movement)Ho

59、me-based business (by the expanded use of personal computers and their ability to connect with other computers to obtain information and relay data to a central business.)VocabularyAsset 资产Bankruptcy 破产Bond 债券Capitalism 资本主义Credit 信用Debt 债务Economy 经济Goods 货物Interest 利息Investor 投资者Monopoly 垄断Profit 利

60、润Service 服务Share 份额Stock 股票Change hands: transfer from one owner to anotherCut off: prevent access to somethingEarn a living: make enough money to pay one s expensesFace value: original price of a bond when issuedLaid off: terminated, sometimes temporarilyOut of business: a company has been permanen

61、tly closedSettle for: accept less than you wanted or expectedShut down: closed, usually temporarilySupply and demand: how much of a product is available compared to the amount consumers want to buyWall Street: where stocks and bonds are soldChapter 17词汇：abuse 滥用、虐待 eligible 有资格参加 / 被选择 retire 退休auto

62、mati on n egotiate 谈 半 U security 安全 性 ben efit 使受益， 对有益optional 可选择的 strike 罢工 deduct 减少， 扣除 picket 警戒哨、 纠察队 union 联 盟 dues promotion 职位升迁 volunteer 志愿者List at least five ways in which unions have helped workers.Help employees getting greater job security, higher wages, a shorter workweek, extra pa

63、y for overtime work, paid vacations, sick leave, health insurance, pension plans, and safe, sanitary working conditions. Many laws have been passed that protect and help workers, prohibit employees from discriminating against workers because of race, religion, sex, age or physical disability. Most w

64、orkers must be paid at least the federal minimum hourly wage. Federal law also requires most employers to pay employees at least time-and-a-half when they word overtime. Unions have also fought to protect children in the workforce.What different groups are eligible to receive money for social security? Employees and self-employed persons, workers families. A worker contributes to the fund for a specified length of time in order to be eligible for social security benefits.What are two ways that workers can protect their paycheck?If workers are laid off through no