Self-Неlp Concept

Time and Its Control

Change

Personal Control over the Environment

IV. Read the article about the Values Americans Live By

Answer the questions

Vocabulary

to represent - представлять

background - фон

anthem - гимн

eagle - орел

olive branch – оливковая веточка

to arrive - прибывать

torch - факел

1. How do people often call American flag?

2. What are the colors of the American flag?

3. How many stripes does the flag have?

4. What is the national emblem?

5. Where is the statue of Liberty placed?

6. What country did gift to the USA?

Most Americans wouldhave а difficult time telling you, specifically, values which Americans live by. A foreign anthropologist could observe Americans and produce а list of common values, which would fit most Americans. The list of typically American values would stand in sharp contrast to the values of people in many other countries.

Americans nо longer believe in the power of Fate. Inthe United States people consider that Man should control Nature, rather than the other way around. More specifically, people believe every single individual should have control over whatever in the environment might potentially affect him or her.

In the American mind change means development, improvement, progress, and growth. Many older, more traditional cultures consider change as а disruptive, destructive force, to be avoided if at all possible.

Time is, for the average American, of utmost importance. To the foreign visitor, Americans seem to be more concerned with getting things accomplished on time. Schedules forthe American are meant to be planned and then followed in the smallest detail. Americans' language is filled with references to time, giving а clearindication of how much it is valued. For example: To be on time, to use time, to waste time, to spend time, to give time and so on. It is considered very rude to be late — even by 10 minutes — for an appointment in the United States.

4. Equality/Еgalitarianism

Equality for Americans is one of their most cherished values. This concept is very important forAmericans. Most Americans believe that God views all humans alike without regard to intelligence, physical condition or economic status. In secular terms this belief is translated into the assertion that all people have an equal opportunity to succeed in life.

In the United States, а person can take credit only for what he or she has accomplished by himself orherse1f. Americans get no credit for having been born into а richfamily. In the United States, that wou1d be considered "an accident of birth." The American social system has made it possible for Americans to move, relatively easily, up the social ladder.

Дата добавления: 2014-11-25