世纪商务英语unit 1.doc

Unit 1 美国人的生活方式 Background knowledge Why American Culture is Unique American culture is unique because it is nurtured, formed and developed under certain conditions, which are characteristically American. The major factors contributing to the making of this new nation and the forming of a new culture are the hard environment, ethnic diversity (多民族) and plural religion, which is quite different from other nations in the world. What is more, these elements are still influencing the American culture. 1. Rough Environment The early immigrants who were English Puritans settled down in northeast part of American. The environment there was very rough but they believed the poor land could purify their mind so they chose the place along the coast. From 1607 to 1892, frontiers were pushed further west. The American frontier consisted of the relatively unsettled regions of the United States, usually found in the western part of the country. The frontiersmen looked for a land of rich resources and a land of promise, opportunity and freedom. Actually they looked for a better life. So individualism, self-reliance, and equality of opportunity have perhaps been the values most closely associated with the frontier heritage of American. 2. Ethnic Diversity The population of the United States includes a large variety of ethnic groups coming from many races, nationalities, and religions. People refer to the United States as melting pot and the dominant people are British. American is made up of WASP+MM, that is, White, Anglo Saxon, Protestants plus Middle Class and Male. In history, people from different countries in the world rushed to American three times. They brought their own culture to America and later on different cultures were mixed together. Thus the unique American culture is formed, a common cultural life with commonly shared values. 3. Plural Religion The fundamental American belief in individual freedom and the right of individuals to practice their own religion is at