A look at work in america

The United States of America has 50 states. It is about as big as all of Europe. Forty-eight of its states are bounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, Canada, Mexico, and the Gulf of Mexico. Northward on the Pacific Ocean is the state of Alaska, while 2500 miles westward in the Pacific Ocean lie the islands of the state of Hawaii. Together the 50 states of the country contain ever three and a half million square miles of land.

People work in different jobs. They live in cities, in towns and on farms. They work in the mountains, in the fields, in factories and offices, and on the roads. Many people live near the sea and earn their living from it.

The United States is a great industrial nation. It leads the world in manufacturing, automobiles, machinery, chemicals, steel, and textiles. USA's chief manufacturing regions are in the northeastern and central parts of the United States. Some of the big industrial cities are New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, and Pittsburg.

Farming is an important occupation. Farm products are raised almost everywhere in the U.S. Where the land is dry, water is brought in to irrigate it. Irrigation, watering the land, helps to make things grow. In southern California, for example, we have oranges and grapes growing where there once was a desert.

In the southern states they grow cotton and tobacco. Florida, a southern state, grows oranges. In the northwestern states we grow apples. The state of Washington is well known for its apples. Idaho is well known for its potatoes. Maine, a north-eastern state, is also known for its potatoes. The richest farming region is in the central part of the U.S. This farming area is in the "Great Central Plains". The Mississippi River, longer than any other river in Europe, flows through the central part of our country. This rich farm land grows enough corn and wheat to feed all America as well as many other countries. They owe their high standard of living chiefly to their farms and factories.

The southwestern part of the United States is a cattle-raising region. Most of their meat comes from this area. On many large western ranches and farms horses and sheep are also raised. All through the United States many people earn their living by raising hogs and poultry. Thousands of dairy farms are in the eastern and north-central regions. They depend upon these farms for their dairy products: milk, butter and cheese.

Mining is another important industry. There are large deposits of coal, iron ore, copper, and other metals beneath their soil; Many Americans work in the iron ore, copper, lead, and coal mines. Oil is a resource that comes from the ground. Texas and Oklahoma are famous for their oil wells. Oil refineries prepare the crude oil for use in their homes, factories, and automobiles.

Many workers earn their living in stores, markets, restaurants, laundries, barber shops, repair shops, and beauty parlors. These are known as service trades.

Some people work in offices. Others are in professions such as teaching, nursing, medicine, law, and engineering. Some people work in radio, television, and movies.

There are many opportunities for everyone to work and earn a living.