6. It is interesting to know that…

Three quarters of all movies are made in Hollywood

the USA accounts for 25% of world output

It is the world’s richest economy with a gross domestic product (GDP) of approximately 5,500 billion dollars (Bangladesh has a GDP of nearly 25 billion, Indonesia 110 billion, Japan nearly 3,500 billion dollars)

57% own a car (as opposed to 37% in Germany, for example)

There are 1,700 national newspapers (China has 1,775)

Cable TV is available in 60% of homes (70% in Switzerland)

The US spends 277,2 billion dollars on its armed forces (Russia spends almost 30 billion, China nearly 7 billion and the UK just over 40 billion dollars)

DISCUSSION AND ACTIVITIES

7. What, in your opinion, has made American culture so successful?

8. How popular is American culture in Russia? Do you think it has a good or bad influence?

9. How else does the United States dominate the world, for instance in politics, business or technology? Give examples.

10. What can other countries learn from America? What can they learn from Russia?

11. Group-work. Work together in groups of four or five. Look back at the 20^th century and decide …

Who was the greatest musician? What was the best song?

The greatest artist? The most important invention?

The greatest writer?

The greatest politician?

The greatest sportsman?

Be ready to prove your answer. How many on your list are American? Compare your list with that of another group – are they similar or very different?

12. Role-Play

Take part in the discussion “American culture: Good or Evil?” Several points of view are represented there.

A teenager: “American culture is bright and unique because it is always open to new things and it reflects democratic values. I consider that it should be widely spread all over the world (in our books, in computer games for children, on TV and etc.).”

The boy’s granny: “American culture poisons the world. It serves political goals. It is outrageous and unacceptable for our children. We shouldn’t consume American culture mindlessly.”

A teacher: “I have been working with children for 20 years. I consider that our English textbooks are full of very interesting facts about customs, traditions, famous people, mentality and etc. Different cultures form American culture and it should be represented with all its values.”

An American reporter: “You can see blaring advertisements of American films everywhere (in the street, in a bus, in a subway, in stores and etc.). American films are worth seeing. They can be seen in all parts of the world. American culture provides global unification of all cultures. It’s one of the ways of finding mutual understanding between different nations.”

WRITING

13. What other countries are becoming increasingly powerful? What factors contribute to it? Write an essay about it.

14. Imagine you are a teacher. What problems of the lesson would you like to discuss with a group of senior pupils?