1.
Culture of the
United States of
America
Multicultural
The United States is a multicultural nation, home to a wide variety of ethnic groups, traditions, and
values. Aside from the now small Native American and Native Hawaiian populations, nearly all Americans
or their ancestors immigrated within the past five centuries.
Immigration
Mainstream American culture is a Western culture largely derived from the traditions of European
immigrants with influences from many other sources, such as traditions brought by slaves from Africa.
More recent immigration from Asia and especially Latin America has added to a cultural mix that has
been described as both a homogenizing melting pot, and a heterogeneous salad bowl in which
immigrants and their descendants retain distinctive cultural characteristics.
Society
American culture is considered the most individualistic in the world. The American Dream, or the
perception that Americans enjoy high social mobility, plays a key role in attracting immigrants. The
American middle and professional class has initiated many contemporary social trends such as modern
feminism, environmentalism, and multiculturalism. Americans' self-images, social viewpoints, and
cultural expectations are associated with their occupations to an unusually close degree. While
Americans tend greatly to value socioeconomic achievement, being ordinary or average is generally seen
as a positive attribute
Religion
The United States is officially a secular nation; the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees
the free exercise of religion and forbids the establishment of any religious governance. However,
christianity plays an important role in the life of many Americans.
Language
English is the de facto national language. Although there is no official language at the federal level,
some laws—such as U.S. naturalization requirements—standardize English. In 2007, about 226 million, or
80% of the population aged five years and older, spoke only English at home. Spanish, spoken by 12% of
the population at home, is the second most common language and the most widely taught 2nd language.
Food
Characteristic dishes such as apple pie, fried chicken, pizza, hamburgers, and hot dogs derive from the
recipes of various immigrants. French fries, Mexican dishes such as burritos and tacos, and pasta dishes
freely adapted from Italian sources are widely consumed. Americans generally prefer coffee to tea.
Marketing by U.S. industries is largely responsible for making orange juice and milk ubiquitous breakfast
beverages
Literature
Eleven U.S. citizens have won the Nobel Prize in Literature, including John Steinbeck, William Faulkner,
Eugene O'Neil, Pearl S. Buck, T.S. Eliot and Sinclair Lewis. Ernest Hemingway, the 1954 Nobel laureate, is
often named as one of the most influential writers of the twentieth century.
1.USA Culture questions
QUESTIONS ANSWERS
1. Name the indigenous people of the USA
2. Where does American culture originate from?
3. Why does America attract so many immigrants?
4. How do Americans see being ordinary or average?
5. What part does religion play in American society?
6. What are the main languages in the USA?
7. Where do the most recognizable American dishes come from?
8. Why are orange juice and milk popular breakfast drinks?
9. Which American writer is known as one of the giants of American
literature?
3. U.S.A General knowledge
quiz
ANSWERS ANSWERS
1. 7.
2. 8.
3. 9.
4. 10.
5. 11.
6.
Born down in a 1.---------man's town
The first kick I 2.------- was -------- I hit the ground
You end up like a dog that's been beat too 3.------------
Till you 4.------ half your ------------- just covering up
Born in the USA
I was born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
Got in a little 5.--------------- jam
So they put a 6.------------ in my hand
Sent me off to a 7.----------- land
To go and kill the 8.----------- man
Born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
Born in the USA.
9.-------------- back ------------- to the refinery
Hiring man says "Son if it was up to me"
Went down to see my V.A. man
He said "Son, don't you 10.-------------------"
I had a 11.----------- at Khe Sahn -------------- off the Viet Cong
They're still there, he's all 12.-------------------
He had a 13.--------------- he ------------- in Saigon
I got 14.------------------- of him in her arms now
Down in the 15.-------------- of the penitentiary
Out by the 16.------------------ of the refinery
I'm ten years 17.------------ down the ----------- Nowhere to run
nowhere to run, ain't got nowhere to go
Born in the U.S.A.
Born in the USA. Born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A. Born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A. I'm a cool 19. -----------Daddy in the USA.
I'm a long gone 18.------------- in the U.S.A.
