UNIT 31.What is an American?He is either a European, or the descendant of a European, hence that strange mixture of blood, which you will find in no other country. He is an American, who leaving behind h im all his ancient prejudices and manners, receives new ones from the new mode of life h e has embraced, the new government he obeys, and the new rank he holds. ... Here indi viduals of all nations are melted into a new race of men, whose labors and posterity will o ne day cause great changes in the world. ... The American is a new man, who acts new p rinciples; he must therefore entertain new ideas, and form new opinions.CommentI agree with him, His opinion of the United States is quite high, In explaining his love for America, and what he feels it means to be "an American".Americans are eager to learn new knowledge and try new things. They don’t hold old principles and have independent thinking, opinions and values. They just be themselves and do the things they like without much consideration. They are adaptable, efficient and creative.4 . In what way did Puritanism influence American culture?A. Today, Puritans are no longer in existence. But their legacies are still felt in American society and culture. For example, the Puritans hoped to build "a city upon hill" an ideal co mmunity. Since that time, Americans have viewed their country as a great experiment, a worthy model for other nations. This sense of mission has been very strong in the minds of many Americans.B. The Puritans also have left rich cultural heritage to future Americans. The American va lues such as individualism, hard work, respect of education owe very much to the Puritan beliefs.Unit43. What are some of the major powers of each of the three branches of the U.S. gov ernment? How are the three branches supposed to check and balance each other?A 1.--the legislative branch is made up of elected representatives from all of the states and is t he only branch that can make federal laws, levy federal taxes and declare war or put forei gn treaties into effect. It consists of a Congress that is divided into the House of Represe ntative and the Senate. The House of Representatives has 435 members who serve two-year terms. The Senate comprises 100 lawmakers who serve six-year terms. Each state, regardless of population, has two senators.2.--- the executive branch is the president, who is elected to a four-year term. A president can be elected to only two terms according to an amendment pass ed in 1951. The president can appoint federal judges as vacancies occur. He is the com mander in chief of the armed forces. The president has other broad authorities in running the government departments and handling foreign relations.3.---the judicial branch is headed by the Supreme Court with a chief justice and 8 associate j ustices. The Federal courts have jurisdiction over cases arising out of the Constitution an d other cases which do not arise out of individual states. The Supreme Court has the judicial review power, the power determining whether congressional legislation or executive action violates the Constitution.B. 1.If Congress proposes a law that the president thinks is unwise, the president can ve to it.2. If Congress passes a law which is then challenged in the courts as unconstitutional, the Supreme Court has the power to declare the law unconstitutional and therefore no long er in effect.3. The president has the power to make treaties with other nations and to make all appoi ntments to federal positions, including the position of Supreme Court justice. The Senate, however, must approve all treaties and confirm all appointments before they become offi cial. In this way the Congress can prevent the president from making unwise appointment s.3. What are some of the major powers of each of the three branches of the U.S. gov ernment? How are the three branches supposed to check and balance each other? If Congress proposes a law that the president thinks is unwise, the president can veto it. That means the proposal does not become law. Congress can enact the law despite the president's views only if two-thirds of the members of both houses vote in favor of it. If Congress passes a law which i sthen challenged in the courts as unconstitutional, the Supreme Court has the power to d eclare the law unconstitutional and therefore no longer in effect.The president has the power to make treaties with other nations and to make all appoint ments to federal positions, including the position of Supreme Court justice. The Senate, h owever, must approve all treaties and confirm all appointments before they become offici al. In this way the Congress can prevent the president from making unwise appointments 4．What is the Bill of Rights? Do you think that it was necessary to write the Bill o f Rights explicitly into the U.S. Constitution?The Bill of Rights: the first 10 amendments, collectively known as the Bill of Rights, were added within two years of the adoption of the U.S. Constitution. These amendments rem ain intact today, as they were written two centuries ago. The first guarantees freedom of worship, speech and press,the right of peaceful assembly, and the right to petition the go vernment to correct wrongs. The Bill of Rights and subsequent constitutional amendment s guarantee the American people the fullest possible opportunity to enjoy fundamental hu man rights.5 What are the two political parties in the United States? Do you think they are fun damentally different?the United States has two major political parties. One is the Democratic Party, which evol ved out of Thomas Jefferson's party, formed before 1800. The symbol of the party is the donkey. The other is the Republican Party, which was formed in the 1850s, by people in t he states of the North and West, such as Abraham Lincoln, who wanted the government t o prevent the expansion of slavery into new states then being admitted to the union. The symbol of the Republican Party is the elephant.UNIT 51. Do you agree that cultivators of the earth are most valuable citizen?Yes, I do agree the point that ―cultivators of the earth are the most valuable citizens‖. M y reasons for my agreement can be illustrated as follows:Firstly, though outward forms have changed, the vital importance of agriculture has not. A griculture provides the sustenance that meets people‘s most basic needs. Agriculture and its related industres serve as the foundation of American economic life, accounting for a l arger portion of the UnitedStates‘ GNP than any other endeavor. Besides, agriculture rep resents a bond of continuity between present and past. Therefore, cultivators of the earth who contribute a lot to agriculture are important and valuable. Secondly, cultivators of th e earth are the most vigorous, the most independent, the most virtuous. They have show n a spirit of individualism and egalitarianism that the rest of society has admired. To a lar ge extent, agricultural values have been adopted and celebrated by the society as a whol e.Thirdly, American agriculture is big business. It provides the rest world with lots of food. S o as the main body of agriculture, cultivators of the earth contributes a lot to American‘s e conomic.3. Give examples of industries which are declining, and industries which are fast d eveloping in theUS.Generally speaking, declining industries would be industries where labor cost is high and its growth potential is limited. The Auto industry is in a declining state but of course if they reinvent their automobiles things could pick up for them. Developing industries would be the hi tech sector. Especially in companies that are developing new types of technology t o help our environment by developing new types of technology in many areas. Especially energy conservation technology and new types of alternative energies. Also, new types of technology where we would be using fewer resources for our daily usage.From 1922 to 1929, the economic of America is prosperous, the car industry, the electric al industry and construction, developing rapidly and become a national industry. In 1920s the economic boomed and wealth is just possessed by a few people, the gap between ri ch and poor continued to expand. At first, the construction industry became in recession, and then the steel industry and the automobile get into trouble.Roosevelt defeated Hoover in the 1932 election. during the march of the president of the United States, the "new policy" is carried on, the intervention of the state finance, agricult ure, industry and social relief, the project and financial aspects became more and more, which made the United States government undertake to ensure economic stability and de velopment of responsibility. Social security system is established initially.After World War II, the US economy enters a period of rapid growth. On the one hand, th e United States began to develop world's advanced scientific and technological achievem ents. It caused a new industrial technology revolution, with the atom, computers and the extensive application of space technology for the main, involving information technology, new energy technology, new materials technology, biotechnology and space technology and the marine technology. The tertiary industry is booming .UNIT 61. In what way do you think that religious freedom was a historical necessity in the United States?1.By the middle of the 18th century, many different kinds of Protestants lived in America.2.. The Great Awakening of the 1740s, a "revival" movement that sought to breathe new f eeling and strength into religion, cut across the lines of Protestant religious groups, or de nominations.3.A few Americans were so influenced by the new science and new ideas of the Enlighte nment in Europe that they became deists, believing that reason teaches that God exists b ut leaves man free to settle his own affairs.4.The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States forbade the new federal g overnment to give special favors to any religion or to hinder the free practice, or exercise, of religion.UNIT 81. What is the goal of education in the United States? Discuss the similarities and differences in Great Britain, the United States and China concerning the goals of e ducation.The goal is—and has been since the early decades of the republic—to achieve universal literacy and to provide individuals with the knowledge and skills nece ssary to promote both their own individual welfare as well as that of the general public. T hough this goal has not yet been fully achieved, it remains an ideal toward which the Am erican educational system is directed. The progress which has been made is notable bot h for its scope and for the educational methods which have been developed in the proces s of achieving it.2. How did American education begin to develop?In 1634, they opened a ―lateen grammar school, a school for those who wanted to prep are for college.In 1636, Harvard College was founded for the training of religious ministers.In 1634 and 1638, the Puritans passed laws declaring that all property could be taxed for the common good, which included the support of school.In 1642 and 1647, the Bay Colony passed laws requiring all parents to provide reading e ducating for their children.At the end of the 18th century, elementary education throughout the United States was in local hands.3. What are the major characteristics of education in America?(1)Different education laws for different states.(2)Several levels of schooling：Elementary Schooling，Secondary Schooling and High Sch ooling.(3)curricula for students: there is no national curriculum in the United States. (3)Compuls ory education for all students.(4)Equal education opportunities for minority groups. (5)Strong demand for higher educat ion. (6)The complex system of higher education.Some states play a strong role in the selection of learning material for their students. Sch ools were asked not only to teach this new information, but to help students ask their own questions about it. The inquiry method of learning , focusing on solving problems rather t han memorizing facts, became popular.3.What are the major characteristics of education in America?1. About 85% of American students attend public schools (schools supported by America n taxpayers). The other 15% attend private schools, for which their families choose to pa y special attendance fees. Four out of five private schools in the United States are run by churches, synagogues or other religious groups. In such schools, religious teachings area part of the curriculum.2. Each of the 50 states in the United States has its own laws regulating education. From state to state, some laws are similar; others are not. Education in the United States was t o remain in the hands of state and local governments.3. Americans have a strong tendency to educate their children about major public concer ns—problems such as environmental pollution, nuclear issues, neighborhood crime and drugs.Unit 101.The author says that the United State was founded on the principle of humanequality, but in practice the nation has fallen far short of that ideal. Illustrate this point with what you have learned from this text.1.American society is a stratified one, in which power, wealth, and prestige areunequally distributed among the population.2.The inequality is a matter of distinction between gender and social classes, classdivisions often parallel racial divisions.3.The blacks have long suffered from sustained oppression, discrimination, and denialof basic civil rights and liberties.4.Many states passed segregation laws to keep the races apart in schools, housing,restaurants, and other public facilities.Unit13What role does technology play in our lives?Does it only provide new conveniences or does it sometimes change our life style?Give examples from the text to illustrate your ideas.1 A technology is a system of practices,often involving a physical device,that accomplishes some result desired by some influential part of society.2 It’s high technology and productive world power in the late 20th century.3 It makes history more vivid and more easily remembered.rains4 It greatly improved our life,with the use of air-conditioner,electricity and transportation styles.5 It has innovated a lot of inventors to make contributions to the science,such as Thomas Alva Edison,Frederick Winslow Taylor.6 The newspapers and telegram and cellphone enlarge the communication of the people all over the world.7 Manned spacecraft and satellite,especially for atomic bomb,which is a big symbol of a nation.8 Renewable energy technology can produce a changeable way of the pollution,which can develop a more better environment for us.Techology plays important roles in our lives. It not only provides new conveniences but also sometimes change our life style. And it can also damage human beings’treasure and lives.1、Provide new conveniences: ①In 1920, the first commercial radio station began brodcasting, radio became an important locas of advertisements for the products to feed a growing consumerism in America. And many comedians became famous for their radio shows. Sports heroes emerged mainly due to the exciting and colorful descriptoins broadcast by sports announcers. ②Inventoins of household appliances, such as refrigerators, home oil furnaces, electric blenders have led to an easier life for the homemaker. Men no longer chop wood or shovel coal for burning. Men and children no longer wash dishes. ③The Internet emerged in 1968, after that, many educational, private and commercial net works joined eful tools were invented such as the e-mail. The Internet has changed people’s life in unimaginable way.2、Change our life style:①The moving of the wealthy middle class from dirty and crowded cities to the suburbs was facilitiated by the availability of the inexpensive automobile, made possible by Ford’s assembly line technology.②Adults who spend too much time watching TV are turning into coach potatoes ( a nickname for TV fans ), much to he alarm of health officials.3、Damage human beings’treasure and lives:①The 1979 Three Mile Island accident exposed the risk of devasting accidents and led people’s deaths.。