英美文化基础教程 笔记总结(美国部分)

1.A tlantic to Pacific 1.the diversity of the physical conditions in the United States in its vast area, the United stated comprehends most of the physical conditions know to men: heat and cold, forest and desert, tropical swamp and Arctic waste, mountains and endless plains, empty spaces and megalopolis, and the world`s largest river system. 2.the diversity of the people in the United States Diversity of the people themselves is immense: people come from the different country, and their origins and ethnic backgrounds are different. Differences between the first generation of immigrants and the long established Americans, as well as the differences between different generation immigrants. And even they differ according to the degree of intermarriage. 3.How has the Republic of the United States grown in terms of area since the time of its foundation in the 1780s? The original Union consisted of 13 states ↓ 1792 Kentucky 1796 Tennessee were add ↓ 1830 Ohio was added ↓ 1912 Arizona was added -----the last one 4.What are some if the characteristics of the uniformity in American culture? What contributed to the uniformity? a.The lack of cultural difference among the regions, because all these varied peoples are scattered everywhere, with only minor local ethnic concentrations b.The lack of real regional or class variety in speech or usage is one of the characteristics of uniformity .The English Language is virtually universal in its American form. Regional variations of accent are slight. c.Another instance of uniformity is in habits and ways of living. They share the same ideas, ideals and objectives. d.The fact that the United States has always been a single unit, with no tariffs to restrict trade, has contributed to uniformity. 5.New England a.New England refers to the north-eastern six states: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, an area running from Canadian shore o New York b.This area resembles old England in many ways, and the southern section is the most English. c.Some of the earliest settlement in American history was in this area. This part of the county is small-scale, long-established and urban. 6.New York city a.It is the commercial capital of the United States b.It is at the southernmost tip of the New York State c.It is composed of five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Richmond and Queen`s, with Manhattan Island as its center. d.It is well-known for such places as Wall Street, the Empire State Building, Harlem and Central Park 7.the Mid-Atlantic area generally located between New England and the South Atlantic States. The region often includes Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., New York, Virginia, and West Virginia. North Carolina is sometimes also included. 8.the South a.it refers to the area across the Potomac River and southwards down the Atlantic coast b.this was slave-owning area before the Civil War and mainly produced tobacco and cotton c.Economically these states are notoriously backward, but more recently there has been an industrial development, helped by federal plans and hydro-electric power 9.the middle West a.it described the north-eastern part of the central plain, or the north-eastern quarter of the United States except for the states close to the Atlantic b.in terms of political geography, it refers to these states: Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin and Ohio and so on c.first developed for farming, these states include huge, sparsely-populated open spaces d.Chicago and Detroit are two of the big industrial cities in this area. 10.the Great Plain states a.characteristics: empty, featureless, monotonous and vast b.Location: run from the Gulf of Mexico in the south up to the Canadian border and the beyond. c.Containing: North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas * Detroit, Michigan, home of the great American goal, Ford, General Motors and Chrysler 11.the state of Texas a.the third most populated state in the United States b.well-known for its cowboys and cattle c.famous for the millionaires, the brashness and the violence 12.the Mississippi River a.the biggest river system in the US b.it flows down to the New Orleans and the Gulf of Mexico c.Ohio and Missouri Rivers are branches of the Mississippi. 13.the Western states Refers to the states of Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada * The most significant representation of the modern American is the Pacific coast especially the southern part. 14.the characteristic of California it is at the southern part of the Pacific coast ;it has the biggest population in the US; it has the world-famous Hollywood 15.the search for California dream a.California is blessed with attractive scenery and mild climate b.It has the fertile land for the growing of oranges and grapes c.And more important still are the electronics industry, aeroplane factories, defence plants of many kind , and a whole new industrial complex in this area d.Therefore, California is regarded as the promised land by many people to fulfill their goals 16. Washington, D.C. The capital of the United States, on the Potomac between Maryland and Virginia: coextensive with the District of Columbia.