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Text 9. American Values and Beliefs
Vocabulary
| to spot , toughness , value and believe to rely self-reliance , trait obligatory to designate pull yourself up by the bootstraps to account for confident unaffected , equal fortune , industry | overall failure incapable material wealth reward to go along with self-improvement from rags to riches , to attract humor counterbalance dash and roar whirring snarl , frayed tempers |
You can easily spot Americans abroad by their toughness. It comes from their sense of individual freedom their first value and belief. Americans realize, however, that individuals must rely on themselves; otherwise they risk losing their freedom. They must come to both financial and emotional independence from their parents as early as possible, usually by age of 18 or 21. So, self-reliance usually is the second trait and moral value supposed to be obligatory to a true American.
It designates the ability of succeeding on one's own. "Pull yourself up by the bootstraps" is their saying as well as " Life is what you make it" and "Actions speak louder than words".
The third national value accounts for their confident and unaffected manners. It's an old belief that everyone in America has equal opportunity to succeed and equal chance for success. This value was particularly true at the times of settlers' moving west to make a new beginning. The differences in wealth were little at that time, so their fortune depended only on their industry. But if everybody had chance to better his living conditions, then.cry body's duty was to try, which led to the overall competition with one another. And up to now people who compete successfully are honored and called "winners". Those who do not like to compete and are failures arc dishonored and called "losers".
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Here we come to the fourth American value competition. Sixty per cent of the Americans believe that competition and desire to win is healthy and desirable. So you can hardly see a person wishing to look incapable or "a loser".
The fifth national value is material wealth. Most Americans believe wealth is a reward for hard work and that is possible to have a good standard of living if a person works hard. But gaining wealth goes along with self-improvement of a person. "God helps those who help themselves," says the proverb. As for the American Dream. "from rag to riches", it is still alive! And it goes on attracting immigrants from all over the world.
The sense of humor is highly valued in America. Humor is the great reliever of tension, the counterbalance to the dash and roar of our industrialized life with its whirring machines, traffic snare and frayed tempers. American humor confirms the importance of mating and the family, the high status of women and children, the pace and tension of life.
Americans love children, animals, gadgets, mother, work, excitement, noise, nature, television, shows, comedy, installment buying, fast motion sports, the flag, Christ, jazz, shapely women and muscular men, crowds, beefsteak, coffee, ice cream, do-it yourself.
Answer the following questions:
1. What are the main traits of character of a true American? 2. What is the sense of individual freedom for Americans? 3. How old are usually Americans when they come to financial and emotional independence? 4. What value accounts for their confident and unaffected manners? 5. Do Americans like to compete? Why? 6. Is the American Dream "from rags to riches" still alive? 7. What is humor for Americans? 8. What does American humor confirm? 9. What do Americans love?
Text 10. American People
Vocabulary
confident
tough , ,
self-reliant
open-hearted ,
straightforward , ,
cheerful
relaxed
persistent ,
trait
wealth ,
reward
from rags to riches ,
to succeed ,
to take for granted
America is a friendly country. People easily start talking with each other. When Americans meet people for the first time, they usually shake hands. When they meet friends or relatives they haven't seen for a long time, they usually kiss them. You can easily spot Americans abroad by their confident manners which come from their sense of individual freedom their first value and belief.
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America is a nation of risk-takers. The first Americans left the known of the Old World for the unknown of the New. They lived a hard life, and they had to be tough and self-reliant. So, self-reliance is usually the second national trait and moral value.
The first immigrants often faced difficult problems which needed new solutions. So they soon learned to experiment that led to another American trait, a sense of optimism. Most Americans are sure that every problem has a solution: a difficult problem can be solved at once; an impossible one may take a little longer.
The third national value is material wealth. Most Americans believe that wealth is a reward for hard work. And of course, they believe in the American Dream "from rags to riches". Americans are optimistic and persistent. "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again" is their favorite saying.
Americans are always on the move. Moving about from place to place is such a common practice that most Americans take it for granted that they may live in four or five cities during their lifetime American people love speed. They like to cook in microwave ovens, they prefer making phone calls to writing letters, and they like to travel by air rather than bus or train.
Americans are patriots. They are proud of their flag and display it in many places. National holidays such as Thanksgiving and Independence Day greatly contribute to this feeling. There is, of course, no typical American, but a certain stereotype does exist. In my opinion, Americans are open-hearted, straightforward, cheerful, relaxed and tough.
Answer the following questions:
1. Can you prove that America is a friendly country? 2. What is the first American value and belief? Why? 3. What is the second national trait? 4. What is the American Dream? 5. American people love speed, don't they? Can you prove that? 6. Are Americans patriots? Why do you think so? 7. How can you characterize American people using 3 adjectives? 8. Can you compare the Russian and American people?
Informal letter writing
Task 1. You have received a letter from your English-speaking pen friend who writes:
and I really admire my elder brother. What about you? Is there a person in your family who you admire? What is he or she like? Why do you look up to him or her?
Guess what? I got a new mobile for my birthday!
Write a letter to Pamela.
In your letter:
- answer 3 questions
- ask 3 questions about her new mobile.
Write 100-140 words.
Task 2. Read the sample letter. Study the layout of an informal letter.
Moscow, Russia
23.03.2016
Dear Pamela,
Thank you for your letter. It was nice to hear from you again. Sorry for not writing, I was busy with my project.
As for the person in my family who I admire, I think it is my Dad. Unfortunately, he is always busy, but when he has some free time I like to talk with him and discuss different problems. He is very intelligent and smart and that is why I like to spend time with him talking. I admire him because he is rather a positive and optimistic person.
By the way, what about your new mobile? Is it a new smart phone? Can you use the Internet and different apps now? Do you use it to listen to music?
Thats all for now. Ive got to go.
Write back soon.
Best wishes,
Semyon
Task 3. Look at the layout of an informal letter and indicate parts:
Salutation, address, date, main body (answering the question), thanking for the previous letter, main body (asking the question), signing off, signature, reference to the previous contact, ending the letter.
Task 4. Opening and closing. Match the way we open letters (1-4) to the way we end them (A-D):
| 1. Dear Sarah 2. Dear Mr. Brown 3. Dear Mum and Dad 4. Dear Sir | A. Yours sincerely B. Yours faithfully C. Best wishes D. Lots of love |
Task 5. Look at the expressions (A-K) and match them with the purposes (1-11)
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| A. By the way, B. Im really sorry I C. Id better finish now. D. It was nice to hear from you again. E. Im glad to hear that F. Write back soon. G. Many thanks for your letter. H. Please let me know I. As for your questions J. I think you should K. Best wishes, | 1. To finish the letter 2. To ask for information 3. To comment on good news 4. To change the subject 5. To answer the questions. 6. To give advice 7. To ask for reply 8. To apologize 9. To thank them for writing 10. To wish all the best 11. To refer to the previous letter. |
Expressing ideas
