After You Read

Knowledge Focus

1．Write T if the statement is true and F if it is false according to the cultural knowledge presented above.

1)The United States has traditionally been known as a melting pot, but nowadays people prefer to call the nation a salad bowl.____

2)The strongest influences on American culture came from Southern European cultures.____

3)There are great regional and subcultural differences, making American culture mostly homogeneous.____

4)American people value family or group interests more than anything else.____

5)To American people, “face”is more important than honesty.____

6)Americans are often competitive, and they do not have a good sense of teamwork.____

2．Pair work:work with your partner and consider the following questions.

1)What might be the charms of America that attract immigrants from different parts of the world?

2)What could the U.S.gain from its immigrants?

3)How do you understand“individuality”? Is this value acceptable to you?

4)What is your definition of success? Share your ideas with your partner.

Language Focus

1．Build your vocabulary.

A.Write the correct word next to its definition.

____to measure oneself against others

____conspicuous in position or importance

____make into a whole

____be preoccupied with something

____continual and persistent demands

____a collection containing different sorts of things

____to increase gradually in quantity or number

____consisting of elements that are not of the same kind or nature

B.Use the proper forms of the words to complete the sentences.

1)The fear of death____ her throughout her old age.

2)By investing wisely she____ a fortune.

3)His lecture ranged over a____ of topics.

4)Things have changed.What's the point of____ on the rotten rules?

5)A popular culture is a large____ group, often highly individualistic and constantly changing.

6)He is a____ scholar in the field of linguistics.

7)Our school____ against many other schools in baseball.

8)This is an important measure to____ science and technology with economy.

2．Fill in the blanks with the proper forms of the words.

1)The oldest son will____ (inheritance)the title.

2)When boundaries between countries are not clearly____ (definition), there is usually trouble.

3)Nobody can entirely keep away from this ____(compete)world.

4)I may say in all sincerity that you have been my most____ (loyalty)friend.

5)We should get a thorough understanding about the cultural____ (diverse)of the United States.

6)A____ (frankness)discussion can help to clear the air.

7)Ambition is a____ (character)of all successful businessmen.

8)A good salesman must be____ (aggress)if he wants to succeed.

3．Fill in each blank with a suitable preposition or adverb.

1)The society or culture of the United States has been developing since long____ the United States became a country with its own unique characteristics.

2)American culture also has shared influence____ the cultures of its neighbors in the New World.

3)Due____ the extent of American culture there are many integrated but unique subcultures within the United States.

4)Americans come____ all different colorsand nationalities.

5)Important differences exist____ geographical regions， ____rural and urban areas, and____ social classes.

6)Millions of immigrants came to the United States from all corners of the world____ their own culture and values.

7)Although Americans do not always agree____ each other, they are united by a very special thing.

8)Probably____ everything else, Americans consider themselves individuals.

9)There are strong family ties and strong loyalties____ groups, but individuality and individual rights are most important.

10)Individuality also leads Americans to an honest respect____ other individuals and an insistence____ human equality.

11)Americans place a high value____ achievement and this leads them to constantly compete____ each other.

12)Americans can also be obsessed____ records of achievement in sports, in business, or even in more mundane things.

13)Americans also have a good sense of teamwork and of cooperating____ others to achieve a specific goal.

14)Americans are often accused____ being materialistic and driven to succeed.

15)Many Americans, however, do not agree____ this definition of success.

ComprehensiveWork

Talk about the differences between American culture and Chinese culture.

1)Have you detected any major differences between the American and the Chinese? You may make reference to the following pictures and talk about the differences with your partners.

2)Can you think of any other cultural differences between the American and the Chinese besides the differences illustrated above?

3)What do you think is the right attitude towards cultural differences?

2．Essay Writing

Do you know any American friends or any teachers or any persons from the United States? How do they impress you? Write about the most impressive and share your writing with your classmates.