美国文化与口语TChapter 1.doc

CHAPTER 1American GeographyPart A PreviewHeres the US Map! Please refer to the map above the reading passage for the location and name of each state.A Geography QuizKey:1. The correct answer is A.According to “List of countries and outlying territories by total area”, Wikipedia, the United States has a total area of 9,629,091 square kilometers. This includes the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The total area is listed as 9,826,630 km by the CIA World Factbook. The total area is listed as 9,522,055 km by the Encyclopedia Britannica. Note: From the initial publishing of the CIA World Factbook in 1989 through 1996, the total area of the US was listed as 9,372,610 km. The listed total area changed to 9,629,091 km in 1997, to 9,631,418 km in 2004, to 9,631,420 km in 2006, and to 9,826,630 km in 2007.2. The correct answer is C. (About 4,500 km.)A fast train, traveling 96 kilometers an hour, takes more than 48 hours to cross the country. A jet plane crosses the continental United States from east to west in about five hours.3. The correct order is: B, D, A, C. July 2007 estimate: New York8.2 million residents; Los Angeles3.8 million. 2006 estimate: Chicago2,833,321; Philadelphia1,448,394.4. The correct answer is C. The United States consists of 50 states and Washington D.C. The last to join were Alaska on the northwest tip of the continent and Hawaii in the central Pacific. Both joined in 1959, Alaska on January 3rd and Hawaii on August 21st. That was the last major change to the American flag.5. AlaskaRussia, LouisianaFrance, FloridaSpain Alaska was bought from Russia in 1867 for only 7.2 million dollars. Alaska is less than 3 miles from Russia!In the year 1803, the United States bought at $15,000,000 from France the greater part of America lying between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountainsnearly a million square miles. This “Louisiana Purchase” has been called an event “worthy to rank with the Declaration of Independence and the formation of the Constitution.” In 1819, by terms of the Adams-Ons Treaty, Spain ceded Florida to the United States in exchange for the American renunciation of any claims on Texas and $5 million. 6. 1) (Statue of Liberty) New York; 2) (Capitol Building) Washington D.C.; 3) (Golden Gate Bridge) San Francisco; 4) (Disneyland) Los Angeles; 5) (Lincoln Memorial) Washington D.C.; 6) (Liberty Bell) Philadelphia.7. The correct answer is C.The cultivated land in the US makes up 21% of the total land, but people who are engaged in farming make up only 2.7% of the total population. Yet the US grows nearly one fourth of the worlds grain and supplies a half of all the exports of grain in the world. It is the worlds leading exporter of agricultural products. The US produces nearly 50% of the corn in the world. The Corn Belt is in the Midwest. Iowa is the leading corn- producing state. The Wheat Belt is located near the Corn Belt in the Midwest. The Midwest is also the nations leading center of heavy industry. Texas is the countrys leading state in oil and natural gas deposits.8. The correct answer is A. Note: Disneyland is located in Los Angeles.9. The correct answer is C.New York City has more skyscrapers than any other city in the world. After New York, Chicago has the second largest number of skyscrapers. Until recently, it also had the tallest building in the world, the Sears Tower. It is four-hundred-forty-three meters tall. But Burj Dubai in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is currently the worlds tallest man-made structure. When completed, it is expected to rise over 818 m (2,684 ft).The first skyscrapers were built in Chicago in the 1880s. They were almost fifty-five meters tall. By the early 1900s, skyscrapers were rising in all large American cities, especially in New York. The worlds most famous skyscraper, the Empire State Building, was built in New York in 1931. It was the tallest building in the world for more than forty years.10. The correct answer is D. The four US Presidents carvedfrom left to rightare George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Located near Keystone, South Dakota, the monumental granite sculpture was completed in 1941. 11. The correct answer is B. Alaska is the largest state with an area of 1,530,700 sq. km. Texas, the second largest US state in both area and population, spans 268,820 square miles (696,200 square kilometers). California has an area of 410,000 sq. km and Montana 381,085 sq. km. Rhode Island is the smallest state, with a land area of 1,044.93 square miles.12. The correct answer is C.The longest rivers in the US include:Missouri: 2,540 miles;Mississippi: 2,340 miles;Yukon: 1,980 miles;Rio Grande: 1,900 miles;St. Lawrence: 1,900 miles;Arkansas: 1,460 miles.13. D. 14. B. 15. B.16. The correct answer is A.The Kingdom of Hawaii was established during the years 1795 to 1810. Through swift and bloody battles, led by a warrior chief later immortalized as Kamehameha the Great, the Kingdom of Hawaii was established with the help of British sailors and western weapons. The unification ended the feudal society of the Hawaiian Islands, transforming it into a constitutional monarchy designed in the European tradition of monarchies.The 1840 Constitution of Hawaii created a bicameral parliament in charge of legislation. The two houses of the legislature were the House of Representatives and the House of Nobles. The same constitution created a judiciary, charged with overseeing the courts and interpretation of laws. The Supreme Court was led by the Chief Justice, appointed by the monarch with the advice of the Cabinet.17. A.18. ND: North Dakota; MN: Minnesota; WI: Wisconsin; OK: Oklahoma; AR: Arkansas; LA: Louisiana; GA: Georgia; CO: Colorado; WM: WyomingPart B ViewingTapescript: Western Valleys and the Columbia PlateauIn addition to the Imperial Valley, the Pacific region is home to several other large and productive agricultural areas. The most important of these is the Central Valley of California, which lies between the Coastal Ranges and the high peaks of the Sierra Nevada. The Central Valley is the agriculture heartland of California, which is our nations leading producer of agricultural products. With its long growing season, moderate rainfall, and fertile soil, the Central Valley has the largest concentration of fruit orchards, nut orchards and vineyards in the United States. Cotton is raised here, too. And it is also a place where bright red tomatoes and many other types of vegetables are grown in huge quantities. In addition, extensive areas of the Central Valley are planted with rice and other greens. Large amounts of the Pacific regions valuable farmland lie to the north of California. One of these areas is the fertile Willamette Valley of Oregon. This is where the pioneers were headed when they crossed North America on the Oregon Trail back in the 1840s and 1850s. The Willamette Valley consists of rich, flat land that lies between the Cascades and much lower mountains of Oregons coast range. Western Oregon has a relatively mild climate, and receives abundant rainfall, so the areas farmers raise a wide variety of crops. The valley takes its name from the Willamette River, which flows through it before emptying into the Columbia River. The Columbia is the largest river in the Pacific region. Its water is used for irrigation and to generate one third of the nations hydroelectric power. A short distance east of Portland, Oregon, the Columbia cuts through the Cascade Mountains, creating a spectacular area known as the Columbia River Gorge. It is noted for its many towering waterfalls. A vast geographical feature known as the Columbia Plateau lies to the east of the Columbia River Gorge. The Columbia Plateau of eastern Washington and Oregon is another very productive agricultural area. The land here has an almost desert-like dryness, compared to the well-watered territory to the west of the Cascades. And its climate is much harsher, too. In this area, most of the farmland is devoted to growing wheat, but it is also an excellent place to raise grapes and other kinds of fruit. In fact, most of our nations apples are raised in the orchards of eastern Washington.Key to Exercise:Pacific region is home to large and productive agricultural areas. The Central Valley has a long growing season, moderate rainfall, and fertile soil. Among many other agricultural products, this area has lots of fruit orchards, nut orchards, vineyards, and many types of vegetables. Willamette Valley of Oregon produces a wide variety of crops because it has a rich, flat piece of land with a relatively mild climate, and abundant rainfall. The water of the Columbia River is used for irrigation and to generate hydroelectric power. The Columbia Plateau is very productive, but has much harsher climate and almost desert-like dryness. So the main agricultural products grown there are the wheat and fruit. Part C Reading for InformationKey: 13 DDA 46 CBA 78 CB 910 DBPart D Speaking Activities1A Travel PlanSampleCharacters: Travel agent, Yang (boy), Zhao (boy), Zhang (girl), Lin (girl)Setting: At the travel agencyTopic: A 10-day tour in the USAYang, Zhang, Zhao, Lin:Good Morning, sir!Travel agent: Good Morning. Take your seats, please.Yang, Zhang, Zhao, Lin:Thank you. Travel agent: What can I do for you?Yang: Well, weve come here to see where we can go for our 10-day tour in America next month. Would you please give us some suggestions?Travel agent: Sure, Id be happy to. Alright, have you ever been to America before? I mean, perhaps some of you may have traveled in America in the past.Zhang: None of us has ever been to America before; this is the first time for all of us.Travel agent: Alright, which would you prefer, a package tour or a self-planned one?Zhao: Wed like to have a good look at America and its people. So self-planned would be better. Its more flexible. However, after all, this is our first time. There are the flights, hotels, etc. to take care of.Travel agent: Sure, we will handle those things for you, and you dont need to worry about that. Do you want to go to as many places as possible or just concentrate on a few? Lin: What are the favorite places of new tourists to the US?Travel agent: Mostly CaliforniaLos Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Boston, Chicago. That could take you 12 days already. Lin: What would we be seeing in California? Travel agent: San Francisco, Universal Studio and Disneyland in Los Angeles. Lin: Ive read about the proximity of the bay and its beauty, rows of Victorian homes clinging to the hillsides, the sun setting behind the Golden Gate Bridge. Zhang: Guys, every tourist in America must see these places of great interest. We shouldnt miss these.Zhao: I love the NBA team of the Los Angeles Lakers, they are there, too. I wonder if I could see Kobe Bryant out there.Travel agent: You may not see Kobe, but of course you can visit their area, Staples Center in Los Angeles. Zhao: Wow! Awesome!Zhang: How long will our stay in California take?Travel agent: About three days, then you should move to the east coast.Zhang: New York and Washington?Travel agent: Yes, but more than that. We will firstly go to Richmond in Virginia, where you will learn much about the history of the Civil War there. The famous Virginia Capitol Building is there. It was designed by Thomas Jefferson and Charles- Louis Clrisseau.Lin: Thomas Jefferson? The 3rd president of the United States?Travel agent: Yes, after Virginia, you spend the rest of the days in Washington DC and New York City.Zhao: Thats really exciting!Lin: What about Niagara Falls? Cant you put that into our parcel?Travel agent: In that case you may choose the “Grand 12-Day East Coast Road Trip”, which includes Niagara Falls, New York City, Times Square (the citys favorite venue for New Years Eve, where a huge street party is highlighted by a glittering ball dropped from Times Square Tower), the Statue of Liberty, the majestic Empire State Building, Brooklyn Bridge (connecting the island of Manhattan to Brooklyn. After dark, the twin Gothic towers and strong steel cables make a striking silhouette against the night sky. Walking across the bridge is a huge thrill). Then in Washington D.C. youll see the White House, the Capitol Hill and the Washington Monument. Yang: I must see Harvard and MIT with my own eyes! Travel agent: They are both located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, not far from Boston. They can be packaged into either of the two travel itineraries. Yang: We should see as many places as we can. I cant wait to go!The others: Me too! Shall we take a vote as to the itinerary? Travel agent: We can book the tickets for you in advance once you decide your date and route.2. Immigrants in the USStep 2: Work in pairs to answer the following questions:1) In which year between 1820 and 2004 did the number of US immigrants reach a peak?The year 2001.2) During which decade did the number of US immigrants hit the lowest point?The decade of 19301940.3) Which foreign country has the largest number of immigrants in the US? China.4) What changes have taken place in the origin of immigrants in the past 50 years?In the past 50 years, the immigration patterns have shifted from the west to the east. The number of immigrants from Europe and Canada into the United States has sharply dropped, replaced by a great influx of migrants, immigrants, and refugees from Latin America (with Mexico being the main country of origin) and Asia (with China and India being the main countries of origin). For example, approximately 80% of immigrants to the US in 1990 were from Latin American and Pacific Asian countries as compared to less than 30% in the 1950s. 3. Chinese Immigrants in the USStep 2 1) What are the characteristics of the geographical distribution of Chinese immigrants in the US? What may have caused the differences in distribution?SampleA: Look at the map State Proportion of the Chinese Population in the United States. Really interesting, isnt it?B: Yeah, the proportions of Chinese immigrants along the west coast and east coast are especially high. Since Washington DC is the capital and New York City is the biggest city, it is not so strange that many Chinese immigrants would choose to work and live there. But how could the west coast, especially California and Seattle attract so many Chinese immigrants?A: In the 19th century, many people went to California to pan for gold. At that time, many Chinese rushed there to pursue their golden fortunes. Between 1865 and 1867, after the Gold Rush, the Central Pacific Railroad Company hired more than 10,000 Chinese to build the western half of the transcontinental railroad. After its completion in 1869, Chinese found work as common laborers and farmhands in California, Washington, and Oregon. In San Francisco and other western cities, the Chinese were especially important in the development of light manufacturing industries. They rolled cigars, sewed in garment shops, and made shoes and boots. A significant number of Chinese specialized in laundry businesses.B: But what about Hawaii?A: A small group of Chinese reached the Hawaiian Islands as early as 1789, about eleven years after Captain James Cook first landed there. Beginning in 1852, Chinese contract laborers were recruited to work on sugar plantations. Between 1852 and the end of the nineteenth century, about 50,000 Chinese landed in Hawaii. 2) What might have brought about the steady increase in Chinese immigration to the US? Among the people you know who have immigrated to the US, what do you think are reasons for their immigration? SampleA: You can clearly see the trend of the increase in Chinese immigration from Fig. B Percentage of Population of Chinese Origin in the US. What do you think has contributed to this trend?B: There is an annual quota that the US gives to each country in terms of immigration. And as far as I know, since we established diplomatic relations with the US in 1979, first we received a quota of 20,000 annually, then 25,620, not including Hong Kong and Taiwan. This directly contributed to the increase in the number of Chinese immigrants.A: People will also immigrate for a better life and better education. Some of the Chinese Americans also emigrated for economic reasons, I guess. B: Before 1980s, the Chinese population kept growing while economic development stagnated. Many Chinese tried to look for other chances in more economically developed countries. Many also tried to learn in those countries knowledge and skills which are more marketable in the contemporary world. A: My former classmate Li Na will emigrate to the United States because she is married to Mike, an American. Mike came to our university on an exchange program. They fell in love and got married. B: Yes, I also have a neighbor, a 60-year-old woman who is going to the United States to join her son and daughter-in-law. Her daughter-in-law is an American. The couple has just had a baby. My neighbor says she is going to help take care of the baby.A: But as China is going through dramatic economic development and making rapid transition to low fertility, the emigration trend might well reverse. China may progress through the migration “hump” or transition from emigration to immigration. A vibrant economy exists to which migrants and students can return. As China develops economically, perhaps it will lead to migration from other parts of the world as a result of an increasing competition for labor within the global system as it, too, must seek out workers for it