ⅠTrue or False
F1. Most Americans have an ambition to own their own house on a little piece of property, but it’s difficult for them to have that ambition materialized.
F2. After the arrival of the so-called post-industrial society, Americans started to move to the city.
F3. Most Americans live in mobile homes which function as prefabricated housing units in stationary settings.
F4. Many poor American families expect their children to find part-time jobs, especially as they enter their teens.
T5. Parties for children and for grown-ups are constantly occupying the leisure hours of Americans.
F6. In the United States, high-brow arts get most of the financial backing from the government.
T7. In the United States, popular culture outshines classical culture in audience size and in public influence.
F8. Today’s preeminent spectator game in America is baseball.
F9. American football was derived from the British game of soccer.
T10. Baseball is adapted by the Americans from the English cricket to their own tastes.
Ⅱ Multiple Choice
1. For most Americans, one of the first activities at home is to ________A_______.
A. watch TV
B. do repair work
C. surf on the Internet
D. drink coffee
2. The following are “chores” assigned to the children in American families EXCEPT _______D_________.
A. washing and waxing floors
B. mowing the lawn
C. keeping the car(s) clean
D. babysitting
3. The following are part-time jobs expected to be done by American children EXCEPT ____C_____.
A. mowing lawns
B. delivering newspapers
C. taxi driving
D. babysitting
4. The following are the leisure activities outside the home for American adults EXCEPT _____B______.
A. playing bowling
B. playing soccer
C. attending public service activities
D. attending church-related activities
5. The following are the leisure activities outside the home for American children
EXCEPT _____B___.
A. taking lessons
B. traveling overseas
C. horseback riding
D. swimming
6. One out of every ___A___ Americans donates some part of their time as volunteers.
A. 3
B. 4
C. 5
D. 6
7. The following belong to high-brow culture EXCEPT _____D______.
A. classical music
B. ballet
C. opera
D. movies
8. The following remain high on the domestic vocational destination list in the minds of most Americans EXCEPT _______B_________.
A. Walt Disney World
B. New York
C. the Yellowstone National Park
D. the Grand Canyon
9. The following are the “four major sports” in the United States EXCEPT ________D_______.
A. basketball
B. football
C. baseball
D. volleyball
10. The Super Bowl is a game for ____B___________.
A. basketball
B. football
C. baseball
D. volleyball
Ⅲ. Discussion
The American Dream consists of many elements, one of which is to own a house of one’s own. Discuss the significance of homeownership to Americans in a cultural context.
Homeownership is a measure of success in the middle-class-based society. Homeownership is a sign of independence.
Homeownership is a symbol of family happiness.
Homeownership is indicative of one’s responsibility to himself/herself and his/her family.
Homeownership assures one some degree of security in an otherwise insecure world.
