《走遍美国》USA文化背景

《走遍美国》USA文化背景1-1ThepopulationoftheUnitedStatesisover250millionpeople.Americanfamilynames–Adams,Barbarino,Chan,Gomez,Kim,Kessler,Yamada–showthatitspeople,ortheirparentsorgrandparents,comefromcountriesallovertheworld.ManypeoplesaythatAmericaislikea''vegetablesoup''.Eachnationalgroupisimportantandaddstothe''flavor''ofAmerica.AlexandraislivingwithaHispanicfamily.Hispanic-AmericanscomefromplacessuchasMexico,PuertoRico,Cuba,CentralAmerica,andSouthAmerica.Hispanics,Greek-Americans,Chinese-Americans,andotherpeoplefromaroundtheworldareproudtoremembertheirculturesandtraditions.Theyoftenspeaktheirnativelanguagesandfollowmanyoftheiroldcustomsathome.Atschooloratwork,andonnationalholidayslikeThanksgiving,however,everyoneis''anAmerican''.1-2WhenRichardStewartintroducedhisfamilytoAlexandraPappas,hesaid,''ThisismywifeMarilyn…Andthisismymother,EllenStewart…andmyfather,Dr.PhilipStewart.''Americansusuallymakeintroductionswithfirstnamesandlastnames.Theyusuallydon'tuseMr.,Mrs.,Ms.,orMissinanintroductionbecausetheyfeelthatthesetitlesareveryformal.Infact,ifsomeonecallsanAmericanMr.,Mrs.,Ms.,orMiss,heorsheusuallysays,''PleasecallmeDave[orJaneorSandra]''.Americansusuallycallyoubyyourfirstnamerightaway,too.Whentheyusefirstnames,theyarebeingfriendly,notimpolite.Butifyouarenotcomfortablewithcallingsomeonebyhisorherfirstname,especiallyanolderperson,don't!Alexandrasays,''Thanks,Mrs.Stewart.''Medicaldoctors,judges,collegeofficials,militaryofficers,andclergyareusuallyaddressedwithanoccupationaltitle,however.ExamplesofoccupationaltitlesareDr.Stewart,JudgeBrown,DeanRafer,CaptainSnyder,andFatherO'Hara.OfcourseyoucanalwaysbeverypoliteandcallamanSirorawomanMa'amifyouarenotsureofhisorhername.1-3MostAmericansarehappytogivedirectionsonthestreet.WhenHarryaskedfordirection,hestartedwith''Excuseme''.Thisistheusualwaytobeginaconversationwithastrangerortoaskforinformation.Whenaskingfordirections,itoftenhelpstoaddalittleexplanation,suchas''I'mnewhere''or''I'mafraidI'mlost''.Youcanalsostartwithaquestion,suchas''Doyouknowthisarea?''or''Canyoutellmehowtogetto…?''Alwaysrepeatthedirectionsafteryouhearthem.Repeatingwillhelpyouremember,anditshowsthepersonhelpingyouthatyouunderstand.1-4HarryandSusanwentonablinddate.Theydidn'tknoweachotherbefore.BlinddatesarecommonintheUnitedStates.Afamilymemberoffriendmayknowamanandawomanwhohavealotincommon–whosharethesameinterestsorbackground.Sothefriendorfamilymemberwillarrangeablinddateforthemanandwomantomeet.Somepeopleenjoyblinddatesverymuch.Theylikemeetingandfindingoutaboutsomeonenew.Otherpeoplegetverynervousattheideaofmeetingandspendingtimewithsomeonetheydon'tknow.Singlepeoplecanalsomeeteachotherthroughclubsandorganizations,suchaschurchorpoliticalgroups,orthroughdatingservices.1-5MostAmericansretireaftertheageofsixty.Theusualageofretirementis65,althoughsomepeopleretireat55oryounger.OtherAmericansdonotretireat55oryounger.OtherAmericansdonotretireuntiltheyareintheirseventies.Thistypeof''lateretirement''ismorefrequentnowaspopulationgrowthintheUnitedStatesslowsdown,andtheaverageageofthecitizensincreases.Mostseniorcitizenswanttoremainactiveaftertheyretire.Formany,retirementisanopportunitytopursuelifelonghobbiesorinterests.Americansusuallymakeplansfortheirretirementwellinadvance.Theirincomeafterretirementmayincludeinterestonbanksavingsandacompanypension.AmericansalsoreceiveSocialSecuritypaymentsfromthefederalgovernment.Manyretireesmovetowarmpartsofthecountry.TheSunbelt[thesouthernstates]hasmanyretirementcommunities.InsometowninFlorida,forexample,mostofthecitizensareretiredperson.1-6IntheU.S.,seniorcitizensoftenhavetomakedecisionssimilartothosethatGrandpamustmake.Forexample,willtheylivepermanentlywiththeirfamily?Oraretheytooindependent?Willtheyprefertolivealone?ManyolderAmericansmustfacethesechoicesafterthedeathofalifelongmate,oriftheyhavehealthproblemsoftheirown.SeniorcitizensintheU.S.usuallyliketobeactive.Retiredworkerssometimesjoinserviceorganizations.Forexample,retiredbusinesspeoplemaybecomemembersofagroupthatgivesadvicetonewbusinesses.Otherretiredpersonsmayvolunteertoworkatlibraries,schools,museums,orhospitals.2-1Thesedays,Americasarepayingattentiontotheirhealth.Theyareeatingrightandexercisingtostayinshape.AerobicsisapopularformofexerciseintheUnitedStates.Thistypeofexercisehelpsbreathingandbuildsastrongheart.Jogging,swimming,andbicycleridingarejustthreekindsofaerobicexercise.Americansarealsowatchingtheirdiet.ManypeopleintheU.S.areeatingfoodwithlessfat,salt,andsugar.Productswithoutcholesterol,suchasoatbran,arebecomingverypopularwithAmericans.2-2ManyAmericansseetheirdoctoronceayearforacompletephysical,orcheckup.Duringacompletephysicalexamination,thedoctorchecksthepatient'spulseandbloodpressure.Inaddition,hemayorderbloodtestsandachestX-ray.Whentheresultsofthesetestsarecompleted,thedoctorgivespatientareportonhisorhergeneralhealth.Thedoctormayalsorecommendafitnessprogram[adietorexercise]forgoodhealth.2-3Morethanfiftyyearsago,attheNewYorkWorld'sFair,theforecastforAmericanlifewassomethinglikethis:''Inthefuture,technologywillbringahigherstandardofliving.Labor-savingmachineswillgiveAmericansmorefreetime.''Butthisforecastwasonlypartlytrue.Modernmachines,likeRobbie'shomecomputer,makeworksimper,butlifeisalsomorecomplicated.InmanyAmericanfamilies,boththehusbandandwifehavejobs.Thisgivesthemlessfreetime.LikePhilip,manyAmericanshavetroublefindingtimeforpersonalactivitiessuchasfishing.ButmostAmericansareabletoenjoysomeleisuretime.Becausetheyaresobusy,manyAmericansneedtoplantheirleisuretimecarefully.2-4MostAmericansprobablydon'tbelievetheactionslikeGrandpa's''fisherman'smagic''willaffectlives.GrandpatellsRobbiethattocatchafish,heshouldsay,''Fish,fish,sendmeafish.''Thisisasuperstition,abeliefthatsomethingbringsgoodorbadluck–withoutascientificreasontothinkso.ButtherearesometraditionalsignsofgoodluckandbadluckintheU.S.,andAmericansdopayattentiontothemsometimes.Peoplesometimessaythatthefollowingactionsbringgoodluck:knockingonwood,findingafour-leafclover,carryingarabbit'sfoot,hangingahorseshoeeveryourdoor.Somepeoplebelievethateventscausebadluck:walkingunderaladder,breakingamirror,seeingablackcatcrossinfrontofyou.Althoughpeoplemaysaythattheydon'tbelieveinthesesuperstitions,theyoftentrytoavoidthesignsofbadluckandarehappytohaveasignofgoodluck.2-5AmericansofallreligionscelebrateThanksgiving,ahappyholidayonthefourthThursdayofeachNovember.ThisholidaybeganwiththePilgrims.ThePilgrimscelebratedthefirstThanksgivinginPlymouth,Massachusetts,in1621.Americansstillgettogetheronthisdaytorememberthereasonstobethankful.Familiesandfriendscelebratethisholidaywithbigdinnersofturkey,turkeydressing,yamsandothervegetables,andpumpkinpie.ParadesarealsoapartoftheThanksgivingholiday.Eachyear,Marcy's,thelargeststoreintheworld,organizestheThanksgivingDayparadeinNewYorkCity.ParadesarealsoabigpartofotherAmericanholidays.SomeofthelargestparadesoccuronColumbusDay[thesecondMondayinOctober],VeteransDay[November11],IndependenceDay[July4],andLaborDay[thefirstMondayinSeptember].2-6WatchingcollegefootballgamesontelevisionisatypicalThanksgivingDayactivity.InAmericanfootball,theplayersuseanoblongballonarectangularplayingfield.Therearetwoteams,andeachteamhas11men.Theobjectofthegameistomovetheballacrosstheopposingteam'sgoalline.Theopposingteamtriedtostopthisactionbyknockingtheballcarrierdown,ortacklinghim.Iftheballcarriercancrossthegoallinewiththeball,orifhecatchesathrownball[apass]andrunsacrossthegoalline,theteamscoresatouchdown.Ifaplayerkickstheballthroughtheuprightgoalposts,itiscalledafieldgoal.Americanfootballisanextremelyroughsport.Theplayerswearequipmenttoprotectthemselves,butinjuriesarecommon.InEngland,thewordfootballdescribesadifferenttypeofgamewitharoundball.IntheU.S.,thisgameiscalledsoccer.3-1SomepeoplesaythatthetypicalAmericanteenagerlikesloudmusic,computergames,andjunkfood.Teenagersmayownastereosystemforlisteningtomusicathomeandawalkmanforlisteningtomusiconthestreets.Teenagersalsoliketogotovideoarcades,andtoplaygamesoncomputers.Butteenagersalsohaveaserious,responsibleside,sincemillionsofthementercollegeeachyear.3-2IntheUnitedStates,dogownersmustregistertheirpetswithananimalcontrolagencyoperatedbythecityorcountygovernment.Theownerpaysanannualfeeforthisregistration.Thedogmustwearacollarthatusuallyhasthenameofthedog,theregistrationnumber,andtheaddressandtelephonenumberofthedog'sowner.Thisidentificationmakesiteasiertofindtheownerofalostdog.Animalcontrolagenciesalsocheckthatadoghashadthepropervaccinationsagainstdisease.Mostcitiesandcountiesdonotpermitdogstowanderfreelywithouttheirowners.Theymustbekeptinsideaclosedarea.Inpublicareas,theownermustkeepthedogonaleash.Lostanimalswithnoregistrationarepickedupandheldbyanimalshelters.Ifnoownerisfound,orifnooneadoptsthedog,theanimalmaybedestroyed.3-3IntheUnitedStates,healthcareis,forthemostpart,aprivateenterprise.Health-careproviders–doctorsandhospitals–chargepatientsafeeforthetreatmenttheygive.MostAmericans,however,havesomeformofprivatehealthinsurance.Thismeansthattheinsurancecompanyreimburses,orpaysback,apatientforthemoneyspentonmedicalbills.Forpatientsovertheageof65orforpatientswithalowincomethestateorfederalgovernmentpayspartorallofthemedicalcosts.3-4CollegeisoneofseveraloptionsforAmericanstudentsaftertheygraduatefromhighschool.Theymayalsolearnatradeortechnicalskillatavocationalortechnicalschool.Therecoursesteachvaluableskillsinthebuildingtrades,electronics,computers,graphicdesign,drafting,applianceinstallationandrepair,andhealthcare,amongothers.MilitaryserviceisnolongernecessaryintheUnitedstates,buthigh-schoolgraduatesmaydecidetoenlistinoneofthebranchesofthearmedservices,ortogoabroadasavolunteerinagovernmentprogramtohelpdevelopingcountries.3-5TherearetwotypesofcollegesanduniversitiesintheUnitedStates:privateandpublic.Privateschoolsdonotreceivemoneyfromthegovernment.Sincepublicschoolsdoreceivemoneyfromgovernment,theyarelessexpensivetoattendthanareprivateschools.Publicschoolsareintendedforstudentswholiveinthesamestateastheschool.IfRobbie,wholiveinNewYork,decidestoattendtheUniversityofMichigan,hewillhavetopaymorethanastudentwholivesinMichiganwillhavetopay.3-6Allcollegesanduniversitiesofferscholarshipstostudentswithveryhighacademicrecordsandabilities.Ifastudentreceivesascholarship,heorshedoesnothavetopaypartorallofthetuitiontoattendtheschool.Studentswhocannotaffordtopaytuitiondohavewaystoattendschool.Suchastudentcanasktheschoolorstategovernmentforagrant,whichismoneythatheorshedoesnothavetopayback.Orthestudentcanaskthefederalgovernmentforastudentloan,whichismoneythatheorshemustbegintopaybackaftergraduationfromcollege.4-1In1920,womenwontherighttovote.DuringWorldWarII,manywomenjoinedtheworkforceastheirhusbandswentawaytofight.In1986,awoman,GeraldineFerraro,wasnominatedtorunforVice-PresidentoftheUnitedstated.MoreandmoreAmericanwomentodayarefindinghigh-payingjobsinbusinessandingovernment.Formanywomen,however,thestruggletodayistogetequalpayforequalwork–tobepaidthesameamountasamandoingthesametypeofjob.4-2CentralParkinthecenterofManhattanisoneoftheoldestandlargesturbanparksinUnitedStates.Theparkcontains843acres.ItextendsfromCentralParkSouth[59thstreet]toCentralParkNorth[110thStreet],andfromFifthAvenuetoCentralParkWest[EighthAvenue].ThecityofNewYorkboughtthelandfortheparkin1853.In1858,aplanfortheparkwasadopted.Itcreatedflowersbeds,lawns,woodedareas,lakes,andmilesofbicycleandhorse-drawncarriagepaths.Later,CentralParkgotsportsfields,tenniscourts,atheater,azoo,andaniceskatingrink.4-3RichardandMarilynwanttobuyahouse.Whentheymoveintoit,itwillbecometheirhome.AnimportantgoalofmostyoungcouplesonAmericaisowningtheirownhome.Homeownershipispartof''theAmericanDream.''AlotofchildrenwereborninAmericabetween1947and1963.Asthisbaby-boomgenerationhasgrownup,morepeoplethannormalarelookingforhousing,andhousepriceshaveincreased.LikeRichardandMarilyn,manyyoungandmiddle-agedcoupleshaveadifficulttimebuyingtheirfirsthouse.Atthepresenttime,onlyaboutone-thirdoftheworkingpopulationoftheUnitedStatescanaffordanaverage-pricedhome.4-4ThefloorplanofatypicalAmericanhometellsalotaboutthewayAmericanslive.ThekitchenisusuallylargeenoughtofitinadinningtablebecausenotallAmericanhomeshaveaformaldiningroom,andbecausethekitchenisalsoaplacetoreceiveneighborsoninformalvisits.Manyeveningshavebeenspentwithfamilyorfriendsaroundalargekitchentable,talking,playingcards,orplanningvacationandtrips.Bathrooms–themorethebetter–areanimportantfeature,too.PerhapstheyreflectmodernAmericans'desireforconvenienceandprivacy.Lastbutnotleast,alargetwo-orthree-cargarageisamustfortheall-importantAmericanautomobile.4-5IntheUnitedStates,apersonmusthaveenoughincomeanda20%downpaymenttobuyahouse.Inaddition,heorshemusthavegoodcredit.Creditisaperson'sfinancialhistory.Itisarecordofallthedebtsthepersonhashadandwhetherornotthesedebtswerepaidbackontime.Theinformationiskeptbyaprivatecompany,TRW,Inc.Theinformationisprivateandwecannotgetcreditinformationaboutapersonwithouthisorherpermission.Banks,departmentstores,employers,andlandlordsusuallyaskforthecredithistoryofpeoplewhowishtogetloan,acreditcard,ajob,oranapartmentforrent.4-6InhisinterviewwithMr.Marchetta,Grandpaemphasizeshison-the-jobtrainingratherthanhisengineeringdegrees.Americansplacegreatimportanceonpracticalexperienceasthebestteacher.On-the-jobtrainingissometimescalledtheschoolofhardknocks[learningthroughmistakes].Nevertheless,productsandprocessesinbusiness,industry,andcommunicationsarechangingveryfast.Itisoftennecessaryforworkersandprofessionalstogobacktotheclassroomforrefreshercoursesorretrainingprogramstokeepupwiththelatestdevelopmentsintheirfields.5-1Americansgivegiftsonmanyoccasions.Themostcommonarebirthdays,weddings,weddinganniversaries,housewarmings[whensomeonemovesintoanewhome],graduations,Mother'sDay[thefirstSundayinMay],Father'sDay[thesecondSundayinJune],andChristmas.Weddingsandthebirthofafirstchildareoftenoccasionsforgivingfamilyheirlooms[pronouncedAIR-looms],whicharespecialfamilypossessionsthatarepassedonfromgenerationtogeneration.Heirloomsincludesilverware,jewelry,or,inGrandpa'scase,evenanoldbaseballglove!Itisnotnecessarytosendagiftonalloccasions.Agreetingcardwilldo.Americansalsosendsympathycardstorelativesofapersonwhohasdied.Getwellcardsaresenttopersonswhoareillorrecoveringfromanillness.5-2PeopleintheUnitedStatesmayliveinoneofthreeareas:thecity,thesuburbsorthecountry–areasfarfromthecity.Intheearlytwentiethcentury,manypeoplelefttheirfarmingjobsinthecountrytofindhigher-payingjobsinthecities.AfterWorldWarII,peoplebeganmovingoutthecitiestosurroundingareas,calledsuburbs,whereandprivateautomobiles–madethispossible.Today,mostcityworkerslikeHarryliveinthesuburbs.Theycommuteintothecityeverymorningandoutofthecityeveryafternoon.Inthe1980s,somepeoplebeganmovingbacktothecountry,becausetheycouldcommunicateelectronicallyfromcomputersintheirhomestobusinessesinthecity.5-3LikeSusan,manyAmericanwomenarechoosingsinglelifeorgettingmarriedlaterinlife.Theyaremoreindependentthanwomenusedtobe.And,likeHarry,manyAmericansaregettingmarriedmorethanonceintheirlives.AlthoughHarryisawidower[hisfirstwifedied],anotherreasonforsecondmarriagesisthehighrateofdivorce.Manymarriages,especiallythoseofyoungeradults,donotsurvivethepressuresofmodernlife.Americansarealsohavingsmallerfamilies–oneortwochildrenatmost–andmanyarewaitinguntilafterseveralyearsofmarriagetohavechildren.UnlikeSusan,mostwomendon'tfeeltheyneedanyone'spermissiontomarrytomarry.Marriagesarenotarrangedbyparents.Whenapersonhasreachedtheageof18,heorsheisfreetoenterintoamarriagecontractwithouthisorherparents'consent.5-4MarriedcouplesintheUnitedStatedoftentakea''secondhoneymoon''aftertheyhavebeenmarriedforseveralyears.Aninninthecountry,atriptoNiagaraFalls,NewYork,oratriptoFloridaorHawaiiarecommonhoneymoonvacations.Afifthweddinganniversaryisoftentheoccasionforsuchavacation.Othermilestonesinmarriedlifearethe25thweddinganniversary,calledthesilveranniversary,andthe50thorgoldenanniversary.Theseanniversariesareoftencelebratedbytheentirefamilyofthemarriedcouple.6-1ClassreunionsarecommonintheU.S.A.TheyareusuallyheldinJune,orontheanniversaryofhighschoolandcollegegraduations.Startingatfiveortenyearsaftergraduation,classreunionsaresometimesheldeveryfiveyears.Manypeopleenjoygettingtogetherforaneveningwiththeirformerclassmatestorenewoldfriendshipsandtoreminisce–talkaboutoldtimes.Othersavoidthesemeetingsbecausetheymayfeeluncomfortablewithpeopletheyhavenotseenforyears.6-2AtonetimeinAmerica,themajorityofthepopulationlivedonfarms.In1900,thepopulationwasaboutevenlydividedbetweencityandfarmworkers.Onefarmworkerproducedenoughfoodtosupporthimselfandonecityworker.Sincethattime,thefarmpopulationhasdramaticallydecreased.Today,ofatotalpopulationofover250millionpeople,fewerthanonemillionAmericansarefull-timefarmers.However,onefarmerisnowabletoproduceenoughfoodtosupporteightycitydwellers.Itisdifficultforthesmallfarmertosurvive.Manyfamilieswhohavebeeninfarmingforgenerationsmanagetokeeptheirfarmsbystartingothertypesofbusinesses–''ontheside''–inadditiontotheirfarming.Althoughmanywouldliketo,fewretiredpeoplecanaffordtobuyafarmastheirretirementresidence,asPeteWatersdid.6-3Aperformanceisanymusical,film,television,ortheatricalpresentationgivenforanaudience.Theaudiencemaybelive[attheconcerthall,stage,studio,ortheater]orhome[listeningtoorwatchingaperformanceonradioorTV].Performingartscenterslikethosementionedinthisepisodereceivefinancialaidfrompatronsandfromvariousgovernmentagencies.OneofthemostimportantoftheseistheNationalEndowmentforthearts,whichisfundedbytheU.S.government.6-4StreetperformancehasalwaysbeenanimportantpartofthepopularcultureinAmerica.Amateurmusicians,dancers,andmimeartistscanbefoundinlargecitiesandsmalltownsacrosstheUnitedStates,fromVeniceBeachinLosAngelestoTimesSquareinNewYorkCity.Theseperformersusuallyhaveahatoranopenmusiccasenearbyfortheaudiencetoputmoneyin.Streetperformersoftenarestudentswhoattendactingormusicalacademieswhoareanxioustoperformforaliveaudience.Somestreetperformanceformscamefromethnicandminoritygroups.TapdancingandbreakdancingareproductsofAfrican-Americanculture.Manycitieshavelawsagainststreetperformance.Unlessperformancesareextremelydisruptive,however,theselawsarenotusuallyenforced.6-5Forthepurposesofpubliceducation,eachstateintheUnitedStateisdividedintoschooldistricts,areaswhichusuallyincludeacityoracounty.Eachschooldistrictisrunbyagroupofelectedofficialscalledtheschoolboard.Themoneytooperatepublicschoolsisraisedthroughpropertytaxescollectedbythecounty.Sometimesadditionalmoneymaycomefromastate'sgeneralfund,fromastatelottery,orfromthefederalgovernment.Schoolboardsmustthendecidehowtospendthemoneytheyreceive.Manyagenciesinfluencethedecisionsoftheschoolboard.ThePTA[Parents'andTeachers'Association]andothercitizenorganizationsgivetheboardtheiropinions.Laborunions,churchgroups,andgovernmentagenciesareveryinfluential.TheUnitedStatesSupremeCourtensuresthatlocalschoolsarerunwithintheguidelinesoftheUnitedStateConstitution.6-6Allcitizens18yearsorolderareeligibletovoteintheUnitedStates,buttheymustfirstregister–signupwiththeboardofelectionsintheirarea.Thereisnopolltax[freepaidtovote].ElectionsareheldonthefirstTuesdayinNovember.Everyneighborhoodhasapollingplace,astationwheretheregisteredvotersofthatneighborhoodgotocasttheirballots.Thepollsopenat6A.M.andcloseat8P.M.onelectionday.Newsorganizationsoftentrytoproject[forecast]thewinnerofanelectionbeforeallofthevotesarecounted,buttheyarenotpermittedbylawtoreportthisprojectionbeforethepollshaveclosed.Thepercentageofpeopleeligibletovotewhoactuallygoandcasttheirballothasdeclinedinrecentyears.7-1Onthedayofawedding,itisconsideredbadluckforthegroom[themangettingmarried]toseethebride[hiswife-to-be]beforetheweddingceremonybegins.Thebestman,afriendorrelativeofthegroom,holdsontotheweddingringsandhelpsthegroomgetready.Oneofhisimportantjobsiskeepthegroomfromgettingnervous!Themenintheweddingpartyarethegroomandhisfather,thebestman,andtheushers[thosewhowelcometheguestsandseatthemattheceremony].Eachmanintheweddingpartyusuallydressesformally–inatuxedo.7-2Abridetraditionallywearsawhiteweddinggown.Informalweddingsthebridealsowearsaveil.Thebridechoosesaclosefriendorrelativetobehermaidofhonor,ormatronofhonorifthewomanismarried.Duringth