Unit 1 America 英美文化 教学课件.doc

America Unit 1: Natural Conditions and People 1.1 Introduction The full name of the United States of America (USA) is sometimes abbreviated to the United States (US) or simply to America. With the _____ largest territory in the world, the United States is the world’s largest economy. An important factor that contributes to America’s development is __________. Territory of United States: 9.4 million square kilometers，Including Mainland America, islands, overseas territories Position of Mainland America: Southern part of North America Neighbors: North: Canada; South: Mexico; West: Pacific Oceans; East: Atlantic Ocean Other Territories: Alaska, Bering Strait, Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico, Virgin Island 1.2 Landforms and Surface Region Rich land resources with varied geographical conditions have contributed to America’s economic development. Mainland America can be generally divided into three basic geographical areas or surface region: A) The Atlantic Seacoast and the Appalachian Mountains B) The Mississippi River Valley C) The Rockies and the Pacific Ocean 1.2.1 Atlantic Seacoast and Appalachian Mountains The Atlantic Seacoast is a strip of fairly level country between the Atlantic and the Appalachians. It is the country of the first European immigrants and the ___ original states. The coastal plain is mostly of low land, and a large part of the plain in Georgia and Florida consists of low-lying ________ land. To the west of the Coastal Plain lies a mountain chain known as Appalachians, the mountains are old and extend from southwest towards northwest, with an average elevation of about 800 meters. The numerous fertile valleys which wind among densely-wooded hills were the early established settlements by immigrants. 1.2.2 The Mississippi River Valley The Mississippi River Valley, also known as the Central Plain, consists of the large area between the Appalachian on the east and the _________________ on the West. The sediment of the rivers makes the soil