Задание 20. The US and American Culture in Brief

1. What is the official name of the country?

The official name of the country is the United States of America. The other names are the United States, America, the USA or US.

2. Where is the country situated?

USA is situated on the continent of North America. It is the 4^th largest country in the world (over 2 million km²). It is bordered by Canada on the north, by the Atlantic Ocean on the east, by the Gulf of Mexico and Mexico on the south, and by the Pacific Ocean on the west.

The Great Lakes containing about half of the world’s total supply of fresh water (Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Eries, Lake Ontario) are on the north border.

3. What is the climate of the country?

The climate in the US is mostly temperate, but varies from tropical (Hawaii) to arctic (Alaska). There are four time zones.

4. What are the parts of the country?

America consists of 50 states (48 states located in the central portion of North America, plus states of Alaska and Hawaii).

The largest state is Alaska and the smallest is Rhode Island.

Hawaii was the last to get «state» status.

5. What are national symbols?

The national flag known as «Stars and Stripes», «Old Glory», «Star-spangled Banner», consists of 13 horisontal stripes and 50 Stars. Stripes represent 13 original states (former British colonies) and stars represent 50 current states. It has three colours red (symbolizing courage), white (liberty), blue (justice).

The Statue of Liberty or the Lady is the symbol of freedom, opportunity and international friendship. It is a gift from France. It is the first sight of America as it is situated on Ellis Island near New York City. There is a torch of liberty in the right hand and a tablet with the day July 4^th 1776 (the date of signing the Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom) in the left hand.

Liberty Bell is the symbol of freedom. It is placed in Independence Hall (Philadelphia). It first rang on July 4, 1776 for the first reading of the Declaration of Independence.

The national anthem is “the Star-Spangled Banner”.

The national personification of the US and the American Government is Uncle Sam. He is depicted as an elderly white man with a beard and a top hat dressed in clothing that recalls the US flag.

The modern national motto is “In God We Trust” (1956) (the earlier – “E Pluribus Unum” (Latin for” One from many”). The national bird and the US symbol is the Bald Eagle.

6. What is the capital of the country?

The capital of the United States is Washington D.C. (the District of Columbia – a federal territory). It is the seat of Federal Administration. The city is called in the name of the first President – George Washington. The district is called in the name of Christopher Columbus - a discoverer. It is built on the Potomac River. Every state has its own capital.

7. What is the population of the country?

The population of the USA is 265 million people. The United States is a land of ethnic diversity as immigrant from many countries come to the US. Among them are European Americans, Afro-Americans, Latin American (Hispanics), Asian Americans and Native Americans (American Indians).

Moderns Americans value their ethnic and cultural identity. Before the late 1960s the idea of the melting pot prevailed. According to it immigrants were discouraged from keeping their own language, cultural traditions in order to to become typical members of a mixed American society. Nowadays the idea of ethnic pride dominates.