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Текст 3. The American character. The American dream. Typical American behaviour and Values. . Where the car is King.
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Текст 3
THE AMERICAN CHARACTER
What are Americans like? What do Americans like? “But wait, ” some readers say. “In this huge nation of people from everywhere, is there really a national character? ”
The most important characteristic of the U. S. A. can be stated in one world: diversity. Most Americans take pride in the great variety found in the country’s geography and population. Covering 9, 590, 000 square kilometers, the U. S. is the fourth-largest nation in the world (after Russian, China, and Canada). Within this vast country are tall mountains and flat fields, deserts and tropical regions, prairies and forests… The climate, too, covers all extremes. In southern Florida, visitors come to swim and sunbathe in December. In northern Alaska, winter temperatures may drop to -24°C.
With more than 275 million people, the U. S. is the third-largest nation in population after China and India. About 90% of the people now living in the U. S were born there. Still, the U. S. has one of the world’s most varied populations. It’s about 82% white, 13% black, 12% Hispanic, 4% Asian, and 1% Native Americans. Some newcomers to the U. S. may be surprised by the varieties of shin colour they see, but Americans take it for granted. Racism and prejudice are still serious problems in the U. S.; however, most Americans believe in the ideals of equality and mutual respect.
Regional variations also add diversity to the American character. Travel around the country and you’ll notice differences in language, cooking styles, recreation, and even character.
The American Dream.
To start with nothing, to work hard, and then to make a fortune – this is the American dream. People in the U. S. A. want more than anything else to be successful. And when they’ve made their money, they like to show it off by driving expensive cars and buying beautiful furniture for their homes.
One bad result of this is that people never seem to stop working. Some even hold two full-time jobs at the same time. This means that there is not much time for the good things in life, such as hours spent with one’s family. Few families play games together, go for walks together, or even sit down every evening around the family table for a home-cooked meal.
The good result, though, is the confidence that many Americans have in themselves. They seem to feel that they can do anything, and get whatever they want if they try hard enough. It may take a lot of hard work to do well in America, but it’s certainly exciting.
“Try it – you’ll like it”
The great American novelist and humorist Mark Twain described the typical Englishman or –woman as a “person who does things because they have been done before” and the typical American as “a person who does things because they haven’t been done before”. Americans love to try something new out of curiosity and a belief that newer may be better.
As a nation of immigrants, the U. S. has had a continual influx of people with a pioneering spirit. In the nineteenth century, this spirit led American settlers to make the long, difficult, and dangerous journey westward in search of gold or free land. The desire to make a fresh start in a new place is still noticeable throughout the nation. About 42 million Americans change residences every year. Some people move because they change jobs or go off to college. Others move to find adventure or a more pleasant climate.
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The pioneering spirit of Americans can be seen in the working world, too. Employees change jobs and even careers as opportunities change.
Americans love science and technology because these fields involve new discoveries.
Typical American Behaviour and Values.
Watching Americans in action, foreigners sometimes see behaviour that seems rude or just plain silly. Among them are the following traits.
Hurry, Hurry, Hurry. Almost every American wears a watch, and, in nearly every room in an American home, there’s a clock. “Be on time”. “Don’t waste tome”. “Time is money”. “Time waits for no one”. All these familiar sayings reflect the American obsession with promptness and efficiency. Students displease their teachers and employees displease their bosses when they arrive late.
Where the car is king.
Ask an American man to choose between losing his house and losing his car, and he might easily choose to keep his car. A car, after all, gives you freedom, and freedom is what Americans want most of all.
The car is such an important part of American life that for many people it would be impossible to manage without it. A home-maker living in a suburb, for example, probably has a twenty-minute drive to take her children to school. She then turns the car around and drives for half an hour in another direction to get to her job in an office. To do her shopping, she has another long drive, so she plans carefully and buys food for two weeks in one trip.
The problem is, of course, that everyone else is driving to school or work at the same time. This results in serious traffic jams in all American cities at rush hour. In Los Angeles, which has almost no public transport, traffic can be a nightmare.
Today, only really poor families and those old to drive do not own car. And their freedom is limited. But for the 87 percent who do have cars, there is hardly any need to use their legs. There are banks, fast-food restaurants, and movie theaters where you can withdraw money, eat a meal, or see a film without ever getting out of your car. There are even drive-in churches. It’s surprising that some people remember how to walk at all.
Ответьте на вопросы:
1. What is the most important characteristic of the USA?
2. What climatic extremes can be found in America?
3. Is the population of the USA varied?
4. What is the American dream?
5. What is the reason for changing residences in America every year?
6. The car is an important part of American life, isn’t it? Prove your opinion.
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