1. Text Analysis

The Cooling of the South

Refer to the chart below and explain how air conditioning has affected the process of Americanization in the South.

ECONOMY

_A"

SENSE OF PLACE I

AIRCONDITIONING

ARCHITECTURE

RURAL & URBAN POPULATION

_V-

SOUTHERN WAY OF LIFE

2.Discussion

"Americanization"

In what areas do you find strong American

influences in your country?

How do you feel about these influences?

3. Comprehension

Southern Women —Still Ladies?

1. After reading the interview for the first time, answer the following questions:

1. Is the Southern lady a bygone figure of the past?

2. Describe the mother-daughter relationship.

3. How is a girl taught to be a lady?

4. What visible differences are there between a Southern girl and a Northern girl?

5. What is said about the political attitude of Southern girls?

2. Read the interview again and answer the following questions:

1. What does Cora McKinney mean when she says "the Southern woman is a kind of breed that hasn't died out"?

2. Name important preconditions for becoming a lady.

3. Why is it that a Southern lady today is not that different from a lady in the antebellum South?

4. Why is the book Party Manners and White Kid Gloves still popular in the South?

5. What is the significance of the balls at the end of the dancing lessons?

6. What does a Southern girl do to make herself look more feminine?

7. How do Northern girls differ from Southern girls in their attitudes towards controversies?

h) Why is it important for a Southern lady to join a sorority?

4. Discussion

Imagine you have applied for a student's exchange with one of the exchange organizations like American Field Service or Youth for Understanding.

When asked which region of the United States you would prefer to go to, how would you decide on the basis of the information about the different regions given in this unit?

REGIONALISM VS. AMERICANIZATION 57

Traits

1. competent

2. self-assured

3. materialistic

4. technologic

5. simplistic

6. functionalist

7. pecuniaristic

8. xenophobic

5. Comprehension

The Nation's Most Strongly Defined Region

Decide whether the following statements are true or false and correct the false statements:

1. New England, the Midwest and the South are all clearly defined regions of the United States.

2. Opinions differ as to the number of states that make up New England.

3. The people who live in New England use some special words which are not used in the rest of the country.

4. To a New Englander, "regular" means coffee, with cream.

5. Boston is the official capital of New England.

6. New Englanders have a reputation for being warm and friendly to visitors.

7. New England is known for its good weather.

8. Foreigners often expect all Americans to be like New Englanders because of the high profile of New England throughout the ages.

9. The immigrants who arrived in 1620 were known as Yankees.

10. John Winthrop was anxious that the New England settlers should set an example to the world.