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What Are Americans Like?
The United States
is always compared with a 'melting pot' as people of different
nations have immigrated to the USA. In 2000, white Americans
were about 75% of the population, blacks or African Americans —
about 12% of the population, Asians and Pacific Islanders —
nearly 4 %, and American Indians and Alaska Natives — about 1%.
About 8% were of mixed race and other races. Between 1492 and
1880 many immigrants came from Britain, Ireland, and Northern
Europe. In the 19th and early 20th century European immigration
to the USA increased massively, and another era of heavy
immigration is occurring right now. The USA still accepts more
immigrants each year than any other country in the world. People
come to the USA as they all see this country as a land of hope
and opportunity. The term 'melting pot' implies that all
immigrants have become alike and have adapted to their new
homeland.
In the USA the
aim of upbringing is to raise a responsible, self-reliant
individual. At the age of 18 young people usually move out of
their parents' house and live independently. A grown-up person
who is still living with his or her parents may be considered
'immature', or 'tied to the mother's apron strings'.
Americans believe
that all men are created equal. It means that one tends to treat
other people as peers, and that everyone expects to have equal
opportunities to achieve his or her goals of life. As a result
Americans are quite informal in their general behavior and in
their relationships with other people. People of high standing
can be seen in public wearing jeans, sandals, or other informal
clothes. Americans call each other by their first names
irrespective of a person's social position or age. When people
talk, they usually smile a lot and use a lot of jargon and
slang. Americans always feel uncomfortable with silence. They
prefer to talk in order to fill the pause.
Working hard is
greatly valued in the United States. Americans respect doers,
problem solvers and achievers. Great importance is attached to
such qualities as efficiency, punctuality and practicality.
Self-improvement is very important to any American. Idleness is
considered to be shameful. Americans can't afford to waste time,
to daydream, or to do nothing. There are many workaholics and
people who are addicted to their work in the USA. Such people
think constantly about their job and feel frustrated if they are
kept from it, even during weekends and holidays. Americans see
as heroes those people who have overcome a great number of
obstacles in order to succeeded in life.
In the USA the
words 'This is a self-made man' are the best praise. People are
placed in the stratification structure based on their individual
merits or achievements. Americans are individualists. They
consider themselves as separate individuals who are responsible
for their own lives. Americans value privacy and personal space.
Americans seem to
be constantly in a hurry. They are extremely punctual and
well-organized and hate to be late for meetings. Americans often
say that 'time is money'. They become quite irritated if they
have to wait more than 15 minutes beyond the scheduled time for
appointments.
Americans like to
be open and honest. They ask direct questions and expect
'straight' answers. But at the same time, they are reluctant to
discuss financial and health matters or to talk about their
private life. Americans hate to argue or to refuse point-blank.
Instead of saying 'no' directly, an American will say something
like 'it is not convenient now'.
Many Americans
know very little about other cultures and the world beyond the
borders of the USA. They are sure that their country is
superior, probably the 'greatest' country in the world.
Americans don't like foreigners and they tend to think that
people born in other countries are not so lucky as they are.
Most Americans are proud of their political system and they
believe that it has advantages which other political systems
lack. Democracy has become a synonym for the American way of
life.
1. Read the following sentences and circle TRUE or FALSE:
1) In 2000, white Americans were about 45% of the
population. T|F|
2) In the 19th and early 20th century European immigration to
the USA increased massively. T|F|
3) At the age of 21 young people usually move out of their
parents' house and live independently. T|F|
4) Americans believe that all men are created equal. T|F|
5) Americans are very formal in their general behavior and in
their relationships with other people. T|F|
6) Self-improvement is considered to be shameful in the United
States. T|F|
7) Americans see as heroes those people who lead a modest life.
T|F|
8) Americans ask direct questions and expect 'straight' answers.
T|F|
9) Americans usually say 'no' directly. T|F|
10) Americans are sure that their country is superior, probably
the 'greatest' country in the world. T|F|
2. Complete each sentence (A—J) with one of the endings
(1-10):
1. Between 1492 and 1880
2. The USA still accepts
3. The term 'melting pot' implies that
4. A grown-up person who is still living with his or her parents
may be considered
5. Americans call each other by their first names irrespective
of
6. When people talk, they usually
7. Great importance is attached to such qualities as
8. Americans can't afford to
9. People are placed in the stratification structure based on
their
10. Americans are reluctant to discuss
A. individual merits or achievements.
B. 'immature', or 'tied to the mother's apron strings'.
C. efficiency, punctuality and practicality.
D. more immigrants each year than any other country in the
world.
E. financial and health matters.
F. all immigrants have become alike and have adapted to their
new homeland.
G. waste time, to daydream, or to do nothing.
H. a person's social position or age.
I. many immigrants came from Britain, Ireland, and Northern
Europe.
J. smile a lot and use a lot of jargon and slang.
3. Answer the questions
1) Why is the United States compared with a 'melting pot'?
2) Why do many immigrants come to the USA?
3) What is the main aim of upbringing in the USA?
4) What do Americans think of people's equality?
5) What do you know about Americans' behaviour in public?
6) What kind of person is respected by Americans? Why?
7) How can you describe a typical American workaholic?
8) What is the best praise in the USA? Why?
9) What do Americans think about other countries?
10) What are Americans especially proud of? Why?
4. Summarize all the information you have learnt and make up
a short description of a typical American (10-12 sentences)
5. Read what other people think about Americans and comment on
their opinions. Are there any statements you can't agree with?
Americans are so dedicated to their jobs.' (Jamelia)
'Too many of us look upon Americans as dollar chasers. This is a
cruel libel, even if it is reiterated thoughtlessly by the
Americans themselves.' (Albert Einstein)
'Americans are very friendly and very suspicious, that is what
Americans are and that is what always upsets the foreigner, who
deals with them, they are so friendly how can they be so
suspicious they are so suspicious how can they be so friendly
but they just are.' (Gertrude Stein)
Americans love to fight. All real Americans love the sting of
battle.' (George S. Patton)
Americans are so enamored of equality that they would rather be
equal in slavery than unequal in freedom.' (Alexis de
Tocqueville)
'As one digs deeper into the national character of the
Americans, one sees that they have sought the value of
everything in this world only in the answer to this single
question: how much money will it bring in?' (Alexis de
Tocqueville)
'I think the American Dream says that anything can happen if you
work hard enough at it and are persistent, and have some
ability. The sky is the limit to what you can build, and what
can happen to you and your family.' (Sanford I. Weill)
Read the information about some famous Americans and say who
they are. Choose any well-known person from the list and prepare
a report about him.
(1930—) A former American astronaut, test pilot, university
professor, and United States Naval Aviator. He was the first
person to set foot on the Moon in 1969. As he did so, he said,
That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.'
(1917—1963) The 35th President of the United States, serving
from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. He was assassinated
on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas. He was an extremely
popular president as he was young, attractive, and good at
speaking in public. He was known to have had affairs with
several women, including Marilyn Monroe.
(1862—1910). A US writer of short stories, whose real name was
William Sydney Porter. His stories are known for treating the
everyday life of working people. They are full of humour,
wordplay, warm characterization and clever twist endings.
(1915-1998) An American singer and actor. He became successful
in the 1940-s, and is known especially for the song My Way. He
was a member of the Rat Pack and fraternized with celebrities
and presidents. He was also a dramatic actor and performed in
From Here to Eternity and The Man with the Golden Arm. He also
starred in such musicals as High Society, Pal Joey, Guys and
Dolls and On the Town.
(1954—) An American actor, dancer, singer, producer and writer,
best known for his leading roles in films such as Saturday Night
Fever (1977), Grease (1978), Pulp Fiction (1994) and Primary
Colors (1997).
(1879-1955) A US physicist and mathematician who was born in
Germany. He is best known for his theory of relativity and
specifically mass-energy equivalence, expressed by the equation
E = mc2. He received the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics for his
services to Theoretical Physics, and especially for his
discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect.
(1899—1961) An American writer and journalist. His novels
include A Farewell to Arms, For Whom the Bell Tolls and others.
He received the Pulitzer Prize in 1953 for The Old Man and the
Sea, and the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954. Many of his
works are now considered classics of American literature.
(1963—) A retired American professional basketball player and
active businessman. He was considered to be the best player of
the 1980s and 1990s, helping his Chicago Bulls team win five NBA
Championships. In 1997 he appeared in the film Space Jam.
A. What is a typical American like? Describe him using some
adjectives from the table if you find them suitable.
responsible, self-reliant, independent, hard-working,
ambitious, informal, punctual, friendly, efficient, practical,
persistent, well-organized, open, honest, patriotic, diligent,
active, pushy, realistic, egocentric, self-confident
B. Read the text 'What Are Americans Like?' What is the main
difference between Americans and other nations?
Из учебного пособия
"Открывая
мир с английским языком. Современные темы для обсуждения.
Готовимся к ЕГЭ" Юнёва С.А. 2012г.
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