The United States of America Unit 11 American Way of Life:A Search for Credible Generalizations(美国人的生活方式：力求概括得更准确些) 一、本单元重点内容 L,Powverty in the US(美国的箕穷) 2.the three faiths'”(“三大亲教) 3.he“American Dream”(美国梦” 4.American optimism(美国人的乐观主义) 5.the US as a nation of immigrants(美国是个移民国家) 6.the"melting pot'“s American Mosic(“大挤炉”对“美国马赛克”) 7.WASP(盘格鲁数克进新教白人) 8.Franklin D.Ro0 sevelt and social justice(富兰克林·D·罗撕福和社会公正 9.America's changing national self-me(美国不断变化的自我形象) 10.“lad bow厂s America's n域ional self--ime(美国白喻为“沙拉磷) Il.he Internet and freedom of speech(互联网与言论自由) I2 the twin values of liberty andequal的y(自由与平等的双重价值观) 二、本单元重、难点辅导 L 5 Stereotypes about the USA "The word stereotype came imo use in English from French in the early 19t century,which imples ideas that appear always the same becaure they are not open to any questioning 1.AllAmericans are rick. Hollywood films give the wrong impression that all Americans are rich.But films do not show life as t线 Poverty in the US(美围的其穷)Over the la国40 years the percen6 ge officially classifie时as living in poverty has fluctuated between1I%ndI5%of the population在过去的40年间，由官方认定的赶围 人口一直在全第人口的il%与l5%之间上下浮动，Nonetheless,by gowernment definitions the poor in America have more goods than the poor in mamy other countries.It is considered normal that even the poorest will possess arefrigerator and a TV. 2.American society is violent Crime rates in the USA remain notably higher than in China (or in Europe)Crimes are associated with guns,which are more freely owned and used in the USA than elsewhere.The NRA (National Rifle Association国家步枪协会)demonstr稀d strongly against any laws that might restrict gun owners动ip 美.American families are in在a 1
The United States of America 1 Unit 11 American Way of Life: A Search for Credible Generalizations (美国人的生活方式: 力求概括得更准确些) 一、本单元重点内容 1. Poverty in the US (美国的贫穷) 2. “the three faiths”（“三大宗教”） 3. the “American Dream” (“美国梦”) 4. American optimism (美国人的乐观主义) 5. the US as a nation of immigrants（美国是个移民国家） 6. the “melting pot” vs. American Mosaic (“大熔炉”对“美国马赛克”) 7. WASP (盎格鲁撒克逊新教白人) 8. Franklin D. Roosevelt and social justice (富兰克林·Ｄ·罗斯福和社会公正) 9. America’s changing national self-image （美国不断变化的自我形象） 10. “salad bowl” as America’s national self-image（美国自喻为“沙拉碗”） 11. the Internet and freedom of speech (互联网与言论自由) 12. the twin values of liberty and equality （自由与平等的双重价值观） 二、本单元重、难点辅导 I. 5 Stereotypes about the USA *The word stereotype came into use in English from French in the early 19t century, which implies ideas that appear always the same because they are not open to any questioning. 1. All Americans are rich. Hollywood films give the wrong impression that all Americans are rich. But films do not show life as it is. Poverty in the US (美国的贫穷): Over the last 40 years the percentage officially classified as living in poverty has fluctuated between 11% and 15% of the population 在过去的 40 年间, 由官方认定的贫困 人口一直在全部人口的 11%与 15%之间上下浮动。Nonetheless, by government definitions the poor in America have more goods than the poor in many other countries. It is considered normal that even the poorest will possess a refrigerator and a TV. 2. American society is violent. Crime rates in the USA remain notably higher than in China (or in Europe). Crimes are associated with guns, which are more freely owned and used in the USA than elsewhere. The NRA (National Rifle Association 国家步枪协会) demonstrated strongly against any laws that might restrict gun ownership. 3. American families are in disarray
The United States ofAmerica Since the late970 s,the introduction of"no-fault''divorce laws(“无过错离婚”是指当事人双方无 领证明任何一方有过错，或出具任何证据证明对方的过错而实送的离婚)，the divorce rate has been about 50%.Somewhat less than half of American children todary are raised with and by their hirth-porents The effect of these shifting marriage patterns is to diminish the authority of parents in relation to their children.Youth culture flourishes and emertainment industries have gown up to cater young tastes pop music.text-messaging.keep-in-contact websites like Faoebook and Twitter.The long-term result of a flourishing youth is that traditional values do not transmit readily from one generation to the next 4Ai企Fand时gous For most Americans,the core idea of religion is exemplified in Judaism or Christianity or perhaps slam(they share similar monotheistic heritages都信奉一神论，The Confucian tradition approached the issue of moral behavior in a non-theological but inense中y social way镯家思想丰常注重人的道德行为， 但所采取的方式并非是宗教教义，相反却是一种极为社会化的方式来表达的， 美Americans are oprimistic American optimism(美国人的乐观主义)：An upbeat expectation of a brighter future has been part of the American heritage from the colonial beginnings that date back to the 17 century. the“American Dream'”广美国梦门：The traditional values of "life,berty and the pursuit of happiness” represent the core value of the mainstream socicty in the USA,which inspired so many immigrants:hard work with confidence of success,self-reliance paired with trust in God. Ⅱ.he“melting pot”(“大培炉”) 1.The US is a n属tion of immigrants(美国是个移民国家)，“The melting po”is a metaphor that is cated with life in America It first surfaced in the late 18 cemtury,but gained new currency in the 20 century when in 1905 a popular play by that name was first produced by a Jewish playwright named Israel Zangwill.The melting pot metaphor implied that,in the New World,all differences would be melted away to form a radically new mixture.But it was wrongly embraced by the WASPs (White Anglo-Saoon Protestants登格鲁量克进新教白人)which remained dominant until around the middle of the20炉century. After WWll.the Anglophile WASPs gradually lost their privileged position.With all these changes.the melting pot metaphor was doomed to lost its credibility because its anglophillic (values no longer held for the majority of the American people 2"the three faiths”(“三大宗教") Protestants.Catholics and Jews 3.Franklin D.Roosevelt and social justice(富兰克林·D·罗斯相和社会公正：Franklin D. Roosevelt was particularly active in emphasizing soclcefor all citizenss an implementation of the principle of eqlry. I11.America's changing national self-image 1 alad bow"西America's national self-image(美国自喻为“物拉南”) 2
The United States of America 2 Since the late 1970s, the introduction of "no-fault" divorce laws（“无过错离婚”是指当事人双方无 须证明任何一方有过错，或出具任何证据证明对方的过错而实现的离婚）, the divorce rate has been about 50%. Somewhat less than half of American children today are raised with and by their birth-parents. The effect of these shifting marriage patterns is to diminish the authority of parents in relation to their children. Youth culture flourishes and entertainment industries have grown up to cater young tastes: pop music, text-messaging, keep-in-contact websites like Facebook and Twitter. The long-term result of a flourishing youth is that traditional values do not transmit readily from one generation to the next. 4. Americans are all religious For most Americans, the core idea of religion is exemplified in Judaism or Christianity or perhaps Islam (they share similar monotheistic heritages 都信奉一神论)。The Confucian tradition approached the issue of moral behavior in a non-theological but intensely social way 儒家思想非常注重人的道德行为， 但所采取的方式并非是宗教教义，相反却是一种极为社会化的方式来表达的。 5. Americans are optimistic American optimism (美国人的乐观主义)：An upbeat expectation of a brighter future has been part of the American heritage from the colonial beginnings that date back to the 17th century. the “American Dream” (“美国梦”): The traditional values of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” represent the core value of the mainstream society in the USA, which inspired so many immigrants: hard work with confidence of success, self-reliance paired with trust in God. II. the “melting pot” (“大熔炉”) 1. The US is a nation of immigrants（美国是个移民国家）. “The melting pot” is a metaphor that is associated with life in America. It first surfaced in the late 18th century, but gained new currency in the 20th century when in 1905 a popular play by that name was first produced by a Jewish playwright named Israel Zangwill. The melting pot metaphor implied that, in the New World, all differences would be melted away to form a radically new mixture. But it was wrongly embraced by the WASPs (White Anglo-Saxon Protestants 盎格鲁撒克逊新教白人) which remained dominant until around the middle of the 20th century. After WWII, the Anglophile WASPs gradually lost their privileged position. With all these changes, the melting pot metaphor was doomed to lost its credibility because its anglophilic（亲英的）values no longer held for the majority of the American people. 2. “the three faiths”（“三大宗教”） Protestants, Catholics and Jews. 3. Franklin D. Roosevelt and social justice (富兰克林·Ｄ·罗斯福和社会公正): Franklin D. Roosevelt was particularly active in emphasizing social justice for all citizens as an implementation of the principle of equality. III. America’s changing national self-image 1. “salad bowl” as America’s national self-image （美国自喻为“沙拉碗”）
The United States of America 2.American Mosaicl“美国马赛克”) 3.Kaleidoscope(万花筒) 4.the Internet and freedom of speech(互联网与言论自由) The Internet has several characteristics that reflect life in the USA tody: No one is reliably in charge. ·The WWW has no center; Each individuall is responsible for what he or she takes seriously. IV.the twin values of liberty and equality USA attaches great importance to liberty and equafity.but they are not always compatible Once we turn to specific issues,the principle of hbertyfiredow may casily conflict with that of egsalitysocal fsice.In practical matters,one person's eqmmlic-sociml fosice may prove to limit another person's Mberty-firedow and vice versa
The United States of America 3 2. American Mosaic(“美国马赛克”) 3. Kaleidoscope （万花筒） 4. the Internet and freedom of speech (互联网与言论自由) The Internet has several characteristics that reflect life in the USA today: ⚫ No one is reliably in charge; ⚫ The WWW has no center; ⚫ Each individual is responsible for what he or she takes seriously. IV. the twin values of liberty and equality USA attaches great importance to liberty and equality, but they are not always compatible. Once we turn to specific issues, the principle of liberty-freedom may easily conflict with that of equality-social justice. In practical matters, one person’s equality-social justice may prove to limit another person’s liberty-freedom and vice versa