2. The Usa - Revision.docx

THE USA: ‘CIVILIZATION’ : Questions you must know how to answer 1.What continent are the USA situated on? 2.What’s the population of the USA? 3.What oceans is it washed by? 4.Does it have several climatic regions? What mountains are there? 5. What is also an important part of American geography? 6. Name some big cities in the USA 7. What’s the capital of the USA?

North America 320 million people The Atlantic and the Pacific oceans Yes, the coldest region in the north and subtropical region in the south. The Rocky Mountains, The Cordillera and the Sierra Nevada The lakes and rivers: the state of Minnesota, for instance has 10 000 lakes. The longest rivers are the Mississippi, the Missouri and the Rio Grande. New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Philadelphia, Boston, Houston, San Francisco Washinton DC

8. How would you characterize the people who live in the USA? Smile

Eye contact How are you?

Patriotism

Tolerance

Is it name or surname?

Names and surnames

Religion and marriage

Food culture Work Obsessions Reference! a Melting pot of cultures___

1) To begin with - that smile. You’re walking down the street, and you catch the eye of a complete stranger who will throw you a beaming smile. Smiling, even at strangers, is just considered to be a basic signal of politeness in the States. 2) Along with the American smile, eye contact is compulsory in America. If you don’t look at someone in the eye whilst making conversation it is just seen as rude. 3) American asks you “How are you?” they are not expecting you to give them a detailed analysis on your wellbeing - a quick “fine” in response is sufficient. Nevertheless, Americans can be more sensitive on subjects such as politics and religion than Europeans, refrain from openly bringing up these topics at social events. 4) Americans put much more emphasis on patriotism than Europeans. Being a patriot is a way of life in the USA. The term is rarely used in Europe. Few Europeans would mind rational critics of their country's government, while a good deal of Americans find them offensive or disrespectful (especially from non-Americans). Some Americans go as far as regarding criticism of their government as a personal attack. Europeans are only too happy to hear other people criticising their own politicians or their country's problems. 5) Due to their great ethnic and religious diversity, Americans have developed a more acute sense of political correctness, in an attempt to soothe frictions between the various groups. Europeans still associate very much with their place of birth with their ethnicity, language and culture. In fact, until recently, adjectives for language, ethnic group and nationality would often. In the US (almost) everybody has the same nationality and language, and it is ethnicities and religions that differentiate people first, hence the greater importance for respect toward other ethnicities and religions in the USA. 6) Americans like politically correct language: black people are called ‘African Americans’, red skinned people are called American Indians, you can’t say Yankee, say north American, you can’t say Redneck, say Southerner disabled people are called ‘physically challenged’, deaf people – ‘hearing impaired’, retarded are called ‘people with mental disabilities’, housewives are called ‘full-time mothers’, waitresses, actresses and stewardesses – waiter, actor, flight attendant, the list goes on. 8) Americans are possibly the only people in the world who have taken the habit to use surnames as given names, and this trend is getting increasingly popular. These are names like Jackson, Cooper, Harrison, Mason, Jenson, Austin, Sheldon, Tyler, Riley, Dylan, Bradley, Roy... They are mostly boy names, but girls aren't immune either. Taylor, Cameron, Mckenzie, Addison and Maddison are just a few examples. 9) While marriage is increasingly seen as a completely optional "folkloric tradition" in Europe, it is still quite important in the USA (probably because religion is also more important there). Statistically Americans marry much more than Europeans, but also divorce more. Gay marriage, now legal in several EU countries and hardly an issue for debate in Europe (because of the little importance of marriage in Europe nowadays), is still opposed by a big part of the US population. 4) Americans eat out a lot, and in addition portion sizes tend to be very large, so it’s considered normal to take home the leftovers from a restaurant for tomorrow’s lunch. 5) Americans are hard working people and always plan their weekends in advance. 5) Despite their obsessive behaviour with regards to hair, anti-ageing, fad diets and blindingly white teeth - America is a melting pot of cultures, and with such a diverse mix of countries morphed into one, it’s not really justifiable to paint all Americans with the same brush. America most definitely has its good points, it is generally made up of a very friendly, outgoing and hard working people Quality: Wall Street Journal ; Washington Post; US Today ; National Geographic (magazine) (they report national and international news, focusing on

9. What kind of newspapers are there in the USA? 10. What are the 5 major sports in the USA? Which originated in the USA? Do Americans like individual or team sports more?

events, politics, business, science, technology, books, arts) Popular:

People Magazine ; Cosmopolitan magazine (they publish articles dealing with the private life of celebrities, their photos and intend to shock the reader) 1) 5 major American sports are hockey, baseball, American football, volleyball and basketball. The last three were invented in the USA. Other sport that is really popular here is baseball. . 2)There is a large choice of sports in the USA and in can be explained by the size and variey of the country. American people love competition and enjoy sport ativities involving teams of players. Thus, traditionally they have done well in many kinds of sports. 3)Many colleges and universities are famous for their sports clubs. 4) Other popular sports include auto-racing, soccer, boxing, golf, track and field, tennis, swimming, horse-riding, bowling

11. Is there a common curriculum in American schools?

1)There isn’t a common curriculum, each state has its own system.

How is the ‘gradinita de copii’ / ‘детсад’ called?

2) Children attend the nursery school from the age of 3 to the age of 5

At what age do American children start school? How is ‘scoala primara’/ ‘начальная школа’ called? Do you have an exam at the end?

3) They start Elementary school at the age of 6. Admission to High School is automatic if you completed the Elementary school course.

How is ‘средняя школа’/’studii medii’ called?

Are there any exams equivalent to our ‘bacalaureat’ at the end of High School? 12. What institutions of higher education are there? How long is the main ‘Bachelor’ course and where do you do it? What are the names of the further 2 courses at university? Why is studying at university important (besides from a better chance to get quality education and further find a well-paid job)?

13. If you were offered 3 days to travel to the USA, where would you go? Why?

4) At 14 they go to Junior High 5) At 16 they may stay on and continue studying in Senior High school. In Senior High students can choose some additional subjects depending on what university they choose to apply for in future. In case this university id within the same state – there is no admission examination. 1)Colleges OR 2) Universities OR

(After Senior High School) 2-3 years Undergraduate (Bachelor in Arts/Sciences course) 3 years Undergraduate (Bachelor in Arts/Sciences course) ; 2 years Graduate Studies (Master’s Degree) 3< years Doctor’s Degree (Ph.D) 3) Vocational schools 6 months – 2 years. It has only job training in electronics, carpentry, sewing , haircutting, etc. It has no academic program. 4) University life is considered ‘an experience’ as many students live far from home. The exams are competitive and the life in a new environment teaches students to socialize. Universities and colleges are also associated with clubs, parties and concerts.

America is some faraway land we’ve seen in movies: iconic landscape, breathtaking views, dazzling nightlife and an ultimate vibe of a very special culture – American culture formed in a melting pot of dozens of cultures which once met on this continent. New York I’d roam the labyrinth ine corridors of the colossal Metropolitan Museum of Art I’d go along Times Square, the most frenetic part of New York City, a cacophony of flashing lights and shoulder-to-shoulder crowds that many New Yorkers studiously avoid. However it’s a landmark, so I can’t miss it! I’d see the Empire State Building, an Art Deco monument to progress, a symbol for New York City, and a star in some great romantic scenes, onand off-screen. I’d go over the One of New York's noblest and most recognized landmarks, the Brooklyn Bridge that stretches over the East River, connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn. I’d look at the Statue of Liberty, a towering, stately colossus that immigrants to the USA first saw. I’d also bring some flowers Honolulu, Hawaii

1) I’d see Pearl Harbour and USS Arizona Memorial

San Francisco, California Boston, Massachussets

If you made a report about American presidents, who would you write about?

What makes America unique?

2) I’d visit Wikiki Beach. This area is known for its large crescent shaped beach, where visitors come to lie out in the sun, swim, and learn to surf. I’d also go snorkeling and scuba diving. Stores, restaurants, and hotels line the oceanfront street backing Waikiki Beach. 3) I’d also go to The Lyon Arboretum botanical garden in a rainforest, featuring a collection of over 5,000 tropical plants from Hawaii and Polynesia. I’d go over the Golden Gate Bridge I’d go gold mining in Sacramento river This is one of the oldest cities in the USA where Harvard University is located. Everything here breathes with history.

Abrham Lincoln. 1)He is the presentation of ‘American dream’ – he rose from the lowest and reached the highest position in the society and land. 2) He addressed the problem of slavery and was very determined about putting an end to it. Although he knew it would mean economical collapse for the Southern states that used slaves in cotton-growing industry, he was sure he was doing the right thing and humanity should be the major concern. 3) Becoming a president he knew such a decision would cause trouble and it did – a Civil war between the South and the North started and the North won. That’s when slavery was finally abolished. 1) Music culture evolved from blues to jazz to rock to pop music and influenced all the modern music 2) The language spoken by more than 1 billion people in the world besides the native speakers 3) Sport is more developed than in any other country 4) Constitution has never changed 5) It has 10 nature zones: arctic desert, tundrz, boreal forest, steppes, deserts, mingled wood, savanna, evergreen forests, temperate rain forest, … 6) America has found a solution to the problem of religious and ethnic conflict that continues to divide and terrorize much of the world. Visitors to places like New York are amazed to see the way in which Serbs and Croatians, Sikhs and Hindus, Irish Catholics and Irish Protestants, Jews and Palestinians, all seem to work and live together in harmony. 7) Excellent Education and research facilities allowing the Silicone Valley to evolve and create the latest and the best technology in the world.