contactusa

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The United States. What is your first thought when you hear

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these words? Is it an image of something typically American?* Per-

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haps you think of hamburgers and fast-food restaurants. Or per-

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haps you have an image of a product, such as an American car or

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Coca-Cola®. Some people immediately think of American universi-

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ties. Others think of American companies. Many Americans think

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of the red, white, and blue flag when they think of the United States.

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There are many images associated with the name of a country.

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There are also many ideas or concepts associated with the

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words United States. Some people think of a positive concept, such

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as freedom, when they think of the United States. Other people

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think of a negative concept, such as American involvement in other

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countries. Many Americans have both positive and negative ideas

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about their country. When they think of the lifestyle or the scenery

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(landscapes such as mountains or beaches at the ocean), they feel

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very positive and proud of their country. But sometimes, when they

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think about the government, they think about nuclear war and in-

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ternational problems. Then they have negative feelings about the

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country.

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These images and ideas are all impressions of a country, the

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United States. People form these impressions in many different

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ways. They see American products and advertisements. They read

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newspapers and hear people talk about the United States. They

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probably see American movies and television shows. These impres-

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sions are always changing. As people receive more information, they

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adjust their images and concepts of a country.

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Knowledge of a country includes many things. Typical prod-

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ucts and actions by governments are part of this knowledge. But

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the most important thing in learning about a country is knowledge

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of the people o_f that country. What are their customs and lifestyles?

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How do they raise their children? What are their values and beliefs?

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How do they feel about work and entertainment, about time, about

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friendships?

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In this book you will read about many aspects of the United

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States. You will read about lifestyles, institutions, values, and is-

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sues which are all part of American life and culture. Before you be-

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gin each chapter, think of your own impressions of the subject,

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American women, American cities, American families. Use your own

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impressions to compare with and question the impressions of the

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authors. Contact the U.S.A.

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Example: car

4

automobile

similar

first

l

last

different

A First Look

5

4. According to the author, Americans

have negative thoughts about their

country.

a. always

b. never

с

sometimes

5. The author thinks that you, the reader, have

the United States already.

a. no knowledge of

b. many impressions

с

negative ideas about

of

6. In paragraph 5, the author gives the idea that your ideas will

a. always be the same

b. be wrong

с

sometimes be differ-

as the author's ideas

ent from the

author's ideas

7. People probably have

impressions of American involvement in other coun­

tries.

a. positive

b. negative

с

no

8. Foreign business people probably think of an American

when they hear the

words United States.

a. product

b. landscape

с

institution

9. The term American is used because

a. North American is

b. people in the United

с

the book is about

too long

States use it

Canada

10. People's impressions

when they learn more about a country.

a. are negative

b. are never different

с

change

A First Look

7

DIRECTIONS: Circle the letter of the choice

that best completes each sentence.

1.

I want to know more about the

of the people: what they do every day and

how they spend their free time.

a. work

b. lifestyle

с

products

2.

My mother and my father work;

of my parents work.

a. friendships

b. some

с

both

3.

I am wearing a suit today because I want to make a good

a. involvement

b. custom

с

impression

4.

Some people are happy about the changes, but

are unhappy.

a. institutions

b. personals

с

others

5.

On the train I looked out the window at the

a. scenery

b. products

с

customs

6.

There are many different

to the problem. It is not easy to understand.

a. images

b. aspects

с

people

7.

Schools and churches are

a. lifestyles

b. institutions

с

landscapes

8.

My parents are very

of me when I make good grades at school.

a. positive

b. concept

с

proud