INTRODUCTION: UNDERSTANDING THE CULTURE

OF THE UNITED STATES

Culture hides much more than it reveals, and strangely enough what it hides, it hides
most effectively from its own participants. Years of study have convinced me that the real
job is not to understand foreign culture but to understand our own.
Edward T. Hall ( 1914-2009)
How can you define the culture of a diverse country like the United States, and what
does it mean to be an American?

Introduction: Understanding the Culture of the United States *

 BEFORE YOU READ
Preview Vocabulary
A. Every chapter of American Ways contains many words from the Academic
Word List (AWL).* Notice the AWL words in italics as you work with a
partner to discuss the following questions.
1. If a country has great ethnic diversity, would you expect to find many people
who speak different languages and have different customs?
2. Could planning a visit to another country motivate someone to learn a
foreign language?
3. Should immigrants be required to learn the language of their new country
before they become citizens?
4. How could you learn about the customs' and traditions for a holiday in
another country?
5. If there are more people in the United States who speak English than
Spanish, which is the dominant l~nguage in the United States?
6. Is the climate of a country a significant factor in the daily lives of the people?
Why?
B. There are five AWL words in the quotation by Edward T. Hall at the beginning
of the chapter. Read the quotation and find the words with the following
meanings. Write each word next to its meaning.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1. made someone think that something is true

________ 2. shows something that was hidden

________ 3. ideas, beliefs, and customs

________ 4. work

________ 5. people who are taking part in an activity

*See page 306 for an explanation of the AWL and how to use it. Sqme of these words are key to
understanding the chapter reading.

2 * Chapter 1
Preview Content
A. Before you read the chapter, think about what you know about the "culture"
of a country. Work with a partner and answer the questions.
1. What is the culture of a country? If someone asked you to describe your
country's culture, which of these would you mention?
beliefs government
cities history
climate holidays
customs houses
dance literature
food music
geography

Anything else? _ _ _ _ _ _ __

2. Do you agree with the quotation by Edward T. Hall? Do people really not
understand their own culture? What aspects of a country's culture are the
hardest to understand?

B. Look at the pictures, charts, and graphs in this chapter, and read the headings.
Then predict three topics you think this chapter will discuss.

1. ----------------------------------------------------------

2. ----------------------------------------------------------

3. ----------------------------------------------------------

Introduction: Understanding the Culture of the United States *:: 3

- - - - - - - - - -- -- -- - -
LIFE IN THE UNITED STATES .
1 People are naturally curious about each on the North American continent when
other, and when we meet people from the first European settlers arrived, all
different countries, we want to know Americans came from other countries-or
many things: their ancestors did. (Incidentally, 1 some
• What is life like in their country? Native Americans are still members of
• What kind of houses do they live in? separate and distinct Indian nations, each
with its own language, culture, traditions,
• What kind of food do they eat?
and even government.) In the 1500s,
• What are their eustoms?
Spain established settlements in Florida,
2 If we visit another country, we can observe California, and the Southwest, and France
the people and how they live, and we can claimed large territories in the center of
answer some of these questions. But the the North American continent. But from
most interesting questions are often the the 1600s to the birth of the United States
hardest to answer: in 1776, most immigrants to the colonies
• What do the people believe in? that would form the United States were
• What do they value most? from northern Europe, and the majority
were from England. It was these people
• What motivates them?
who shaped the values and traditions that
· Why do they behave the way they do? became the dominant, traditional culture
3 In trying to answer these questions about of the United States.
Americans, we must remember two
things: (1) the immense size of the United A Nation of Immigrants
States and (2) its great ethnic diversity. It 5 In 1815, the population of the United
is difficult to comprehend the size of the States was 8.4 million. Over the next 100
country until you try to travel from one years, the country took in about 35 million
city to another. If you got in a car in New immigrants, with the greatest numbers
York and drove to Los Angeles, stopping coming in the late 1800s and the early
only to get gas, eat, and sleep, it would take 1900s. Many of these new immigrants
you four or five days. It takes two full days were not from northern Europe. In 1882,
to drive from New York to Florida. On a 40,000 Chinese arrived, and between 1900
typical winter day, it might be raining in and 1907 there were more than 30,000
Washington, D.C., and snowing in New Japanese immigrants. But by far the largest
York and Chicago, while in Los Angeles numbers of the new immigrants were
and Miami it is warm enough to swim. It from central, eastern, and southern Europe.
is not difficult to imagine how different The new immigrants brought different
daily life might be in such different languages and different cultures to the,
climates, or how lifestyles could vary in United States, but gradually most of them
cities and towns so far apart. assimilated2 to the dominant American
4 The other significant factor influencing culture they found here.
American life-ethnic diversity-is 6 In 1908, a year when a million new
probably even more important. Aside from immigrants arrived in the United States,
the Native Americans who were living Israel Zangwill wrote in a play,
1
incidentally: by the way
2
assimilated: became part of a county or group and were accepted by other people in it

4 * Chapter 1
 I

America is God's Crucible, 3 the great 9 Immigration laws began to change in

Melting-Pot where all the races of Europe 1965 and the yearly totals began to rise
are melting and re-forming . ... Germans again-from about 300,000 per year in
and Frenchmen, Irishmen and Englishmen, the 1960s to more than one million per
jews and Russians- into the Crucible with year in the 1990s. By the end of the
you all! God is making the American!
century, the United States was admitting
7 Since Zangwill first used the term melting more immigrants than all the other
pot to describe the United States, the industrialized countries combined. In
concept has been debated. In Chapter 8 we J
addition ~o legal immigration, estimates
consider this issue in more detail, and trace were that illegal immigration was adding
the history of African Americans as well. more than half a million more people
Two things are certain: The dominant per year. Changes in the laws that were
American culture has survived, and it has intended to help family reunifications 4
more or less successfully absorbed vast resulted in large numbers of non-
numbers of immigrants at various points Europeans arriving, thus creating another
in its history. It has also been changed over group of new immigrants. By··the late
time by all the immigrant groups who 1900s, 90 percent of all immigrants
have settled .here. were coming from Latin America, the
Caribbean, and Asia.
8 If we look at.the immigration patterns
of the 1900s, we see that the greatest 10 In the twenty-first century, the numbers of
numbers came at the beginning and at new immigrants have begun to approach
the end of the century. During the first the percentages of the early twentieth
two decades of the twentieth century, century. Between 1990 and 2010, the
there were as many as one million new number of foreign-born living in the
immigrants per year, so that by the 1910 United States almost doubled from 20
census, almost 15 percent of all Americans million to 40 million, with about one-
had been born in another country. In third arriving since 2000. These new
1921, however, the country began to limit immigrants accounted for about one-third
immigration, and the Immigration Act of the total growth in population and have
of 1924 virtually closed the door. The had an enormous impact on our country.
total number of immigrants admitted By the year 2010, about 13 percent of all
per year dropped from as many as one Americans were foreign born. Twelve
million to only 150,000. A quota system states and the nation's capital had even
was established that specified the number higher percentages of foreign-born
of immigrants that could come from each residents:
country. It heavily favored immigrants . California, 2 7 percent
from northern and western Europe and . New York and New Jersey, each over
severely limited everyone else. This system 21 percent
remained in effect until 1965, with several
exceptions allowing groups of refugees
. Florida and Nevada, each over 19
percent
from countries such as Hungary, Cuba,
Vietnam, and Cambodia into the United
. Hawaii and Texas, each over 16 percent
States.

3
crucible: a container in which substances are heated to a very high level
4
reunifications: the joining of the parts ofsomething together again

Introduction : Understanding the Culture of the United States *: 5

 FOREIGN-BORN POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES
(PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL POPULATION}

I 14.8%

I 13.6% 13.2%
11 .6%
12.9%

I
11.1%

7.9%

II 6.9%
6.2%

II II
5.4%
4.7%

I,I
1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
I (10.4) (13.6) (14.0) (14.3) (11. 7) (10.4) (9.7) (9.6) (14.1) (19.8) (31.1) (39.9)

I millions
PERCENTAGE OF FOREIGN-BORN BY REGION OF BIRTH

I
1900 2010
Europe 84.9% Latin America 53.1%
Latin America 1.3% Asia 28.2%

II Asia
All other
1.2%
12.6%
Europe
All other

Note: The regional categories shown above encompass many ethnicities In 1990 for
12.1%
6.6%

I
example, more than 80 ethnic divisions comprise "Europe." · '
Source: U.S. census data.

• Arizona, Illinois, Massachusetts, particularly in California, Florida, Texas,

Connecticut, Maryland, and the District Arizona, and other southwestern states.
of Columbia, each over 13 percent Hispanics now represent the largest
minority in the United States (16%), larger
11 The twenty-first-century immigration
than the number of African Americans
patterns are continuing to change the
(13%). With their growth in numbers has
color and the ethnic mix of the American
come a growth in political and economic
population. First, the percentage of
influence. Presidential candidates now
white Americans of European descent5
consider how to win Hispanic votes, and
continues to decrease. Few Europeans are
there are more than 6,000 elected Hispanic
immigrating to the United States ~ow,
leaders nationwide. There has been a rise in
and many of those who came in the early
Hispanic-owned businesses and Spanish-
1900s have died. Their descendants have
language media. Perhaps the largest impact
married Americans with ancestors from
is in the schools, where more than 20% of
other countries, and many of these second-
the children are Hispanic.
and third-generation immigrants no longer
think of themselves as Irish or German or 13 The numbers of Hispanic-Americans
English. will probably continue to grow because
many of them are young adults or
12 Second, in the early 2000s, more than half
children. However, the number of new
of all new immigrants were from Latin
Hispanic immigrants has declined. In
America, resulting in large concentrations
2000, they made up more than 50% of all
of Spanish speakers around the country,
new immigrants, but the number fell to

5
descent: family origins, especially in relation to the country where one's family came from

6 * Chapter 1
 FOREIGN-BORN POPULATION AS PERCENT OF STATE POPULATION : 2010

20.0 or higher
15.0 to 19.9
10.0 to 14.9
5.0 to 9.9
Less than 5.0

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Survey. 2010.

about 30% in 2010. Because of the poor "majority minority." This means niore than
economy, a number of immigrant residents half of the population are members of
returned to their home countries in Latin minority groups.
America. Due to tighter border restrictions,
the number of illegal immigrants fell, and Cultural Pluralism in the United States
the total population of Hispanics living 15 One of the critical questions facing the
in the United States may have actually United States today is what role new
declined. immigrants will play in their new country.
14 The immigrants from Asian countries are To what degree will they choose to take
also contributing to the new American on the traditional American values and
mix. According to the 2010 census, for culture? How much will they try to
the first time there were more Asian maintain their own language and cultural
immigrants than Hispanic. Today, more traditions? Will they create an entirely
than 35 percent of all first-generation new culture based on some combination
immigrants are from Asia, and they now of their values and those of the traditional
make up about 6 percent of the total American culture?
population of the United States. If this 16 Historically, although the children of
trend continues, Asian immigrants will immigrants may have grown up bilingual
have an increasing impact on the American and bicultural, for a number of reasons
culture. As the minority non-white many did not pass on their language and
population of the United States continues culture. Thus, many grandchildren of
to grow, the white majority grows smaller. immigrants do not speak the language of
In 2011, for the first time, there were more the old country and are simply American
minority babies born than white majority by culture. However, in parts of the
babies. The white majority will probably country with established communities
fall below 50 percent sometime between that share a common language or culture,
2040 and 2050. Already, several states bilingualism6 and biculturalism continue.
and many of the nation's largest cities are
6
bilingualism: the ability to speak two languages equally well

Introduction : Understanding the Culture of the United States *7

 This is particularly true in communities systems have bilingual programs and
where new immigrants are still arriving. multicultural curricula.
In California, for example, the test for a
17 The census of 2010 recognized the
driver's license is given in more than thirty
increase in the diversity of the American
different languages. In general, cultural
population. There were many racial and
pluralism7 is more accepted in the United
ethnic categories to choose from, and
States today than it was in the first half
it was possible to select more than one
of the twentieth century, and some school
category.*

CENSUS 2010 SUMMARY: DIVERSITY OF THE AMERICAN POPULATION

SUBJECT NUMBER PERCENT
RACE
Total population 308,745,538 100.0
One race 299,736,465 97.1
White 223,553,265 72.4
Black or African American 38,929,319 12.6
American Indian and Alaska Native 2,932,248 0.9
American Indian, specified [1] 1,985,245 0.6
Alaska Native, specified [1] 100,522 0.0
Both American Indian and Alaska Native, specified [1] 869 0.0
American Indian or Alaska Native, not specified 845,612 0.3
Asian 14,674,252 4.8
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 540,013 0.2
Some Other Race 19,107,368 6.2
Two or More Races 9,009,073 2.9
Two races with Some Other Race 2,464,690 0.8
Two races without Some Other Race 5,800,628 1.9
Three or more races with Some Other Race 176,026 0.1
Three or more races without Some Other Race 567,729 0.2
HISPANIC OR LATINO
Total population 308,745,538 100.0
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 50,477,594 16.3
Mexican 31,798,258 10.3
Puerto Rican 4,623,716 1.5
Cuban 1,785,547 0.6
Other Hispanic or Latino [2] 12,270,073 4.0
Not Hispanic or Latino 258,267,944 83.7
RACE AND HISPANIC OR LATINO
Total population 308,745,538 100.0
One race 299,736,465 97.1
Hispanic or Latino 47,435,002 15.4
Not Hispanic or Latino 252,301,463 81.7
Two or More Races 9,009,073 2.9
Hispanic or Latino 3,042,592 1.0
Not Hispanic or Latino 5,966,481 1.9

7
cultural pluralism: the principle that people of different races, religions, and political beliefs can live together
peacefully in the same society
*For the 2010 census, people were allowed to check as many ethnic and racial categories as they wished. This chart
is the U.S. government's presentation of the very complicated census information that resulted. The chart reflects the
difficulties in determining ethnic and racial identities ofAmericans. For further information, visit the government
website www.census.gov.

8 * Chapter 1
18 On the one hand, many Americans try to brown, as a result of the mixing of races
maintain their ethnic heritage and their and ethnic groups.
cultural traditions. On the other hand,
19 In the United States, most people are
the number of interracial marriages is
very sensitive to the language used to
increasing, and the majority of young
describe racial and ethnic groups, and
people believe it does not matter which
they try to be politically correct, or "P.C."
race or ethnic group they marry into.
For example, some black Americans
Evidence of this racial acceptance was the
prefer the term African-American instead
2008 election of Barack Obama, the first
of black to identify with their African
African-American president. President
heritage. The terms Native American and
Obama is actually bi-racial, the son of a
American Indian are used interchangeably
white mother and a black father, a native
by those native to the North American
of Kenya. His ethnic heritage 8 includes an
continent, while some self-identify by
Irish great, great, great grandfather who
tribe (Navajo, Hopi, and so forth). Some
immigrated to the United States in 1850.
Spanish speakers prefer to be called
More and more children are born of mixed
Latinos (referring to Latin America)
race or ethnicity. By the middle of the
instead of Hispanics (referring to Spain),
century, the nation will probably no longer
while others prefer to be identified by
have a white majority; some say the color
their country of origin (Cuban-American
of most Americans will be beige, or light
or Cuban, Mexican-American, Chicano,

President Barack Obama and his family

s heritage: that which belongs to you because ofyour birth

Introduction: Understanding the Culture of the United States *9

 or Mexican, etc.). Since the census uses a must be cautious about generalizations.
variety of terms, we will also use the terms As we talk about basic American beliefs,
white, Native American or American we must remember that not all Americans
Indian, black or African-American, and hold these beliefs, nor do all Americans
Hispanic or Latino. believe these things to the same degree.
The ways in which some Americans
20 In spite of all this diversity, there is still
practice their beliefs may also differ,
a tie that binds Americans together. That
resulting in a great variety of lifestyles.
tie is a sense of national identity-of
What we attempt to do is to define and
being an American. Incidentally, when
explain the traditional, dominant cultural
citizens of the United States refer to
values that have for so many years
themselves as Americans, they have
attracted immigrants to the United States.
no intention of excluding people from
Canada or Latin American countries as 22 It is important to know that today there
residents of the American continents. is much talk about American values
There is no term such as United Statesians and what they really are. Much of the
in the English language, so people call debate is over moral, or religious values.
themselves Americans. Thus, what is In this book we are not discussing moral
really a language problem has sometimes values. Instead, we are describing cultural
caused misunderstandings. Although values-the cultural engine of the country.
citizens of Latin American countries These cultural values have defined the
may call the people in the United States United States and caused people from
North Americans, to many people in the all over the world to embrace the way
United States this makes no sense either, of life here and eventually to identify
because the term North American refers to themselves as "Americans." Indeed, by the
Canadians and Mexicans as well as citizens third generation here, most immigrants
of the United States. (NAFTA-the have lost the language and culture of their
North American Free Trade Agreement, grandparents and they think of themselves
for example, ~s a trade agreement among as just plain "Americans."
Canada, the United States,
Immigrants being sworn in as new American citizens
and Mexico.) The word
American, then, is used in
this text as the nationality of
the people who live in the
United States of America.

Making Generalizations
About American Beliefs
21 What, then, can we say
about Americans? What
holds them together and
makes them feel American?
Is it possible to make
generalizations about what
they believe? It is, but we

10 * Chapter 1
23 Throughout this book we will be drawing produced a society of people with unique
on the wisdom of a famous observer of values. The character traits Tocqueville
the American scene, Alexis de Tocqueville. describes are the same ones that many
Tocqueville came to the United States as Americans still take pride in today. He,
a young Frenchman in 1831 to study the however, was a neutral observer and saw
American form of democracy and what both the good and the bad sides of these
it might mean to the rest of the world. qualities.
After a visit of only nine months, he
25 This is a book about those traditional basic
wrote a remarkable book called Democracy
American beliefs, values, and character
in America, which is a classic study.of
traits. It. is not a book of cold facts about
the American way of life. Tocqueville
American behavior or institutions, 9 but
had unusual powers of observation. He
rather it is about the motivating forces
described not only the democratic system
behind the people and their institutions. It
of government and how it operated, but
is about how these traditional basic beliefs
also its effect on how Americans think,
and values affect important aspects of
feel, and act. Many scholars believe that he
American life: religion, business, work and
had a deeper understanding of traditional
play, politics, the family, and education.
American beliefs and values than anyone
else who has written about the United 26 We invite you to participate in this book.
States. What is so remarkable is that many We will describe what many Americans
of these traits of the American character, think and believe, but you will have an
which he observed nearly 200 years ago, opportunity to test these descriptions by
are still visible and meaningful today. making your own observations. As you
read about these traditional basic values,
24 Another reason why Tocqueville's
think of them as working hypotheses 10
observations of the American character
which you can test on Americans, on
are important is the time when he visited
people of other nations, and on people of
the United States. He came in the 1830s,
your nationality. Compare them with your
before America was industrialized. This
own values and beliefs and with what is
was the era of the small farmer, the
most important in your life. Through this
small businessman, and the settling of
process, you should emerge with a better
the western frontier. It was the period of
understanding not only of Americans, but
history when the traditional values of the
also of your own culture and yourself. It
new country were being established. In
is by studying others that we learn about
just a generation, some forty years since
ourselves.
the adoption of the US. Constitution, the
new form of government had already

9
institutions: large organizations, especially ones dedicated to public service
10
hypotheses: ideas that are suggested as an explanation for something but that have not yet been proven to be true

Introduction : Understanding the Culture of the United States * 11

 AFTER YOU READ
Understand Main Ideas
Academic English organizes information into main (or most important) ideas and
supporting details. That is, there are usually three or four major points presented, and
the rest of the information serves to explain or support these main.ideas:
• First main idea
Supporting details
• Second main idea
Supporting details
• Third main idea
Supporting details

When reading academic English or listening to a lecture, it is important to recognize the

main points. The introduction focuses your attention on the topic. Then the main points
are presented, and the conclusion reminds you ofone or more central ideas. Noticing the
headings in a text will help you figure out the main points the writer is presenting.

Check the predictions that you made on page 3. Did the chapter include any
of the informatiOn you predicted? Then work with a partner and answer these
questions about the main ideas.
1. What are two important factors that affect life in the United States?
2. What is the heading for the section that discusses the history of immigration
in the United States?
3. What is cultural pluralism?
4. What is the main idea of the section headed Making Generalizations About
American Beliefs?
5. What relationship is there between the quotation at the beginning of
the chapter, the introduction (first two paragraphs), and the conclusion
(paragraphs 25 and 26) of the reading?

Understand Details
Write T if the statement is true and F if it is false according to the information in
the chapter.

1. One factor affecting lifestyles in the United States is the variety of

climates.

2. American Indians all speak the same language.

3. The dominant American culture was established by immigrants who

came from southern Europe.

_ _ 4. For the first time, in the 2010 census, there were more Asian than
Hispanic immigrants.

12 * Chapter 1
I 5. Zangwill believed that immigrants would lose their native cultures
and become something different when they came to the United
States.

'~ 6. Immigrants change American culture and are changed by it.

7. U.S. immigration policy has stayed the same for the last 100 years.

r 8. The English language has no adjective for United States and therefore
r uses the term American to refer to its people.

9. It is not possible to make generalizations about what Americans

I
believe because they are so different.

_ _ 10. Many of the characteristics of Americans that Alexis de Tocqueville

t observed in the 1830s are still true ~oday.
~
I

i Talk About It
~ Work in small groups and choose one or more of the following questions to
discuss.
1. How would you compare the size and ethnic diversity of your country with
that of the United States? What are some of the challenges that size (large or
small) and diversity (great or limited) present to a country?
2. Should a country have immigration quotas based on country of origin?
Should immigrants become citizens? Should countries allow "guest workers"
(people who work there temporarily) to come? Should they allow them to
become citizens?
3. How would you describe the average person in your country and what he or
she believes?
4. Do you think people all over the world are basically the same or basically
very different?

SKILL BUILDING
Improve Your Reading Skills: Scanning

In order to become a good reader in English, your reading speed and techniques should
vary according to your purpose. For example, you may look down a page (or over several
pages) to find a particular piece of information-a number, a date, a place, or the time a_
movie begins. This type ofreading for a specific fact is called scanning.

Read the questions below. Scan the reading to find the specific information you
need to answer each question.

1. Which states have the largest numbers of immigrants?

Introduction : Understanding the Culture of the United States * 13

 2. In what year did Alexis de Tocqueville come to visit the United States?

3. In 1910, what percentage of the U.S. population was foreign born?

4. What was the total U.S. population according to the 2010 census?

5. In what year did Israel Zangwill write a play in which he used the term

melting pot?

6. What is Obama's family tie to Ireland?

Develop Your Critical Thinking Skills

Analyzing Polls

Conducting opinion polls is very popular in the United States. A newspaper, a magazine,
a TV station, or a professional polling organization asks a representative group of
Americans several questions to determine their opinions about topics such as politics,
religion, or social issues. The pollsters usually choose men and women ofdifferent
ages, occupations, and races in the same proportion that these groups are found in the
population. Sometimes, however, a random sample is taken which selects people by
chance.

There are three well-known polling organizations that measure public opinion on a
variety of topics: Louis Harris and Associates, Gallup International Research Institutes,
and the Pew Research Center. Pew also studies aspects ofAmerican life. For example,
the Pew Hispanic Center recently published a report on Hispanics in the United States
and how they identify themselves. As mentioned in the chapter, the terms Hispanic and
Latino are generally used in the media interchangeably. In this poll, Pew found that only
24% ofall Hispanics self-identify as Hispanic or Latino. When they do use these terms,
33% of them choose "Hispanic" and 14% prefer "Latino." •

Read the poll and answer the questions that follow.

14 * Chapter l
 WHEN LABELS DON'T FIT: HISPANICS AND THEIR VIEWS OF IDENTITY
WHICH TERM Do YOU USE TO
DESCRIBE YOURSELF MOST OFTEN?
Fa mily's Hispanid
Cou ntry of Origin Latino American
All 24%
Hispanics

Hispanics by Generation

First ;

Second

Third or '
Higher

Source: Pew Research

1. What does the phrase "country of origin" mean? What percent of all
Hispanics identify themselves by their country of origin? Give some
examples of these countries of origin.
2. What does "generation" mean? What do the terms "first, second, or third
generation" Hispanic mean? Why did the researchers divide the group this
way?
3. Who are more likely to identify with the family's country of origin- new
immigrants or those who were born in the United States?
4. What percent refer to themselves as just "American?" Who are more likely to
self-identify as American than by any other term-new immigrants or those
born in the United States?
5. What change happens to the identity of the grandchildren of Hispanic
immigrants? Why do you think this happel)s?

Build Your Vocabulary

Use Context Clues

There are several types ofcontext clues that will help you guess the meaning ofwords you do
not know. By looking at the words around an unfamiliar word, you may be able to figure
out its meaning. See the four kinds ofcontext clues below. In the examples, the vocabulary
words are boldfaced. The context clues are in italics.

1. The word may be defined in the sentence. Sometimes the definition is set off
by commas or dashes. Other times it is not.
ExAMPLE: There is stil l a tie that binds Americans together. That tie is a sense of national
identity- of being an American.
EXAMPLE: A quota system was established that specified the number of immigrants that
could come from each country.
2. There maybe a synonym used in the same sentence.
EXAMPLE: Native Ameri cans belong to separate and distinct Indian nations, each with its
own language, culture, and even government.
Introduction: Understanding the Culture of the United States * 15
 3. There may be a comparison or contrast with a word (or a phrase) more
familiar to you.
EXAMPLE: As the minority non-white population of the United States continues to grow,
the white majority grows smaller.
4. The sentence may give an example that helps you figure out the meaning.
EXAMPLE: Tocqueville, however, was a neutral observer and saw both the good and bad
sides of these qualities.

A. Use the context clues to figure out the meaning of the boldfaced words in the
sentences above. Then write the correct word next to its definition.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1. a limit on the number allowed

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2. a group of people whose race is different from that of

most people in a country

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 3. someone who makes decisions based on facts, not

personal feelings

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 4. the qualities that a group of people have that make

them different from other people

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 5. clearly different or separate

Now fill in the blanks with some of the boldfaced words above to complete
the paragraph.

What qualities give people a national _ _ _---::------? Do they have to

have characteristics that are ------:=----_from those of other countries?

2

The people who are part of a------=----- group may feel they have a
3

set of characteristics that differ from those of the majority in their country.

B. Test your knowledge of these AWL words by matching them with their
definitions.

____d._ 1. aspect a. large organization, especially one dedicated to

.public service

2. category b. to start something that will continue

3. concept c. to be different

4. debate d. one part of an idea that has many parts

5. establish e. to continue in spite of difficulties

6. estimate f. group of things that all have the same qualities

16 * Chapter 1
 7. hypothesis g. to judge by calculating and guessing

8. incidentally h. one of a kind

9. institution i. anidea

_ _ 10. survive j. an explanation that is not yet proven

_ _ 11. unique k. a discussion of different opinions

_ _ 12. vary l. bytheway

Understand Prefixes

Recognizing the meaning ofa prefix, a group of letters added to the beginning ofa word
(or its root), will also help you guess the meaning ofa new word. For example, the prefix
mis- means "wrong," so misunderstand means "not understand correctly."

Each of the boldfaced words in the sentences below has a prefix. Identify the
prefix and write its meaning. Use a dictionary, if necessary.
Example: Before the 1960s, the majority of immigrants to the United States were
Europeans, but changes in immigration laws resulted in large numbers of
non-Europeans.
Prefix: non Meaning: not

1. Estimates were that, in addition to legal immigration, illegal immigration

was adding more than half a million more people per year.
Prefix: _ _ __ Meaning: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

2. In some parts of the country with established communities that share a

common language or culture, bilingualism and biculturalism continue.
Cultural pluralism is more accepted now than it was in the first half of the
twentieth century, and many school systems have developed bilingual
programs and multicultural curricula.
Prefix: _ _ __ Meaning: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
Prefix: _ _ __ Meaning:--------------

3. People may migrate to another location in order to find work. While many
people immigrate to the United States each year, very few Americans
choose to emigrate to another country to live.
Prefix: _ _ __ Meaning:--------------
Prefix: _ _ __ Meaning: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

4. In the census of 2010, there were nineteen racial categories to choose from.
The number of interracial marriages is increasing .... and the majority of
young people believe it does not matter which race they marry.
Prefix: _ _ __ Meaning:--------------

Introduction : Understanding the Culture of the United States * 17

 Word Partners

Certain words and phrases tend to go together in English, for example, "ethnic diversity"
or "traditional values." This is called collocation. Learning these word partners will
increase your ability to use new words correctly and help you express yourself as native
speqkers do.

First read the sentences below. Then find the collocations to complete these
sentences by matching the adjectives on the left with their noun partners on the
right. Use the collocations to complete _the sentences.

_ c_ 1. established a. immigrants

2. significant b. culture

3. neutral c. communities

4. industrialized d. pluralism

5. legal e. hypotheses

6. dominant f. countries

7. cultural g. factor

8. working h. observer

1. In parts of the country with established communities that share a

common language, bilingualism continues.

2. Tocqueville was a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ who saw both the good and bad

sides of the American character traits.

3. Ethnic diversity is a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ affecting American life.

4. Think of the traditional values in this book as _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ that

you can test against your own observations.

5. The United States now takes in more _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ each year than

all other _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ combined.

6. When several cultures exist together successfully in a society, there is

7. The _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ in the United States is becoming less white in

the twenty-first century.

18 * Chapter 1
r EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE
Ask Americans
Interview several Americans of different ages (if possible) and ask them to
complete the following statements. If there are no Americans to interview, you
can ask other international students or your classmates about their view of
Americans.

1. Americans are _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

2. They l i k e - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
3. They don't really like _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

I
4. Theyact ___________________________
~ S. Most Americans believe in _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

6. The United States is a country where ________________

7. The average American is _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

8. Americans today are worried about _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

9. The most important thing in life to most Americans is _ _ _ _ _ _ __

Ask Yourself
Using the statements above as examples, complete the following statements
about people from your own country.

1. People from my country a r e - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

2. People from my country believe in _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

3. My country is a place w h e r e - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

4. The average person from my country is _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

S. People from my country are worried about _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

6. The most important thing in life to most people from my country is

Introduction : Understanding the Culture of the United States *: 19

 Think, Pair, Share
Think about the following questions and write down your answers. Then discuss
your answers with a partner and share your answers with another pair of
students.
1. How would you define culture? Look at several dictionaries to find definitions
and read the first paragraph of the introduction to this book.
2. What do you think are the most important aspects of your native culture?

People Watching

Different countries have different rules for personal space, that is, when people touch,
how close they stand when they are speaking to one another, how close they sit, how
they behave on elevatqrs, etc. The rules for personal space sometimes differ according
to how well people know each other. People are usually not consciously aware of these
rules, but they may become very uncomfortable if the rules are broken and their space is
entered without permission. You can discover the rules by observing people interacting
and also by testing or breaking the rules to see how other people respond.

Conduct two experiments about personal space. Follow these steps.

1. Read the rules for personal space below.
2. Make your own observations of people. Write your observations in a journal.
It_may be helpful to work in pairs: One person tests the rules while the other
observes and records what happens.
3. Experiment with the rules. Write the responses you receive.
4. If you are not in the United States, and if you do not have an opportunity to
observe Americans, you may still learn from these experiments by watching
people iri your own country or by observing Americans in movies or TV
shows.

People in line try to avoid touching each other.

First Rule: When they are in a crowd, Americans have a bubble of space around
their bodies which is about an inch thick. This bubble of space must not be broken
by a stranger. If American strangers touch each other accidentally, they mutter an
apology such as "Pardon me," "Excuse me," "Oh, I'm sorry," or just "Sorry."

20 * Chapter 1
Observation: Watch people in a crowd, standing in line, waiting in a group,
or passing on a street or in a hallway. Who is touching whom? What does their
relationship appear to be? What happens when people touch accidentally? How
does the person touched respond? What does the one who has broken the other's·
bubble do? Record gestures, facial expressions, emotional responses, and words
exchanged.
Experiment: See how close you can stand to someone in a crowd without touching
him or her. Try breaking someone's bubble of space with a very light touch of your
elbow or arm. What is the person's response? (Warning: This may provoke an angry
response!)

Second Rule: When standing in elevators, Americans usually

face the door, speak quietly, and try to avoid touching one
another. If a stranger enters an elevator where there is only
one other person, he or she will stand on the opposite side of
the elevator. As more people get on the elevator, they occupy
the corners first and then try to disperse themselves evenly
throughout the available space.
Observation: Observe people in elevators. Which direction
are they facing? If you are alone in an elevator and someone
comes in, where does that person stand? As more people enter
the elevator, where do they stand? Do the people talk to one
another? How loudly do they speak? Do strangers touch? What
happens in a crowded elevator when someone in the back has
to get off?
Experiment: Get on an elevator where there is only one
person and stand next to that individual. What is the person's
reaction? In an elevator where there are a number of people,
turn and face the group with your back to the door. How do the
people react? Have a conversation with someone in a crowded
elevator and don't lower your voice. How do you think people
feel about this? Note their facial expressions.
People in an elevator avoid eye contact.

Use the Internet

Although polls are usually scientific, polling organizations also conduct informal
polls online. These informal polls only reflect the views of the people who
happen to visit their website and answer the poll questions. Some poll sites have
interactive pc;tges or allow you to participate in online polls. Visit these websites
and compare the topics they are polling now:

www.harrisinteractive.com

www:gallup.com

www.pewresearch.org

Introduction : Understanding the Culture of the United States * 21

 WRITE ABOUT IT
Choose one of the following topics. Then write a short" composition about it.
1. Write a short essay describing three places in your country that you would
want to take someone visiting from another country. Use a graphic organizer
to organize your thoughts before you write. Make notes about the names
of the places, their locations, any special features, and your reasons for
choosing the places.

First Place Second Place Third Place

2. Write a report about your country. Read the following information on

regions and population growth in the United States to get ideas for your
report.

The United States can be divided into different regions with different
characteristics. There are a number of ways to divide and name the different
regions; the map below shows the regions the U.S. Census Bureau uses. Each
region contains different divisions. Notice the Mountain Division of the West
Region. This is where the Rocky Mountains are located.

CENSUS REGIONS AND DIVISIONS OF THE UNITED STATES

WEST MIDWEST
NORTHEAST

PACIFIC
,o

SOUTH

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau.

·22 * Chapter 1
Compare this area with the second U.S. Census map. This map shows the
population density of the United States. Notice the areas that are the most highly
populated in the country. Notice that the area where the mountains are has a low
population density.

POPULATION DENSITY BY STATE: 2010

Population per square mile

1,000 +
500-1,000
20Q-500
100-200
50-100
20-50
0-20

~ Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010.

In 1981, Jack Garreau wrote a book entitled The Nine Nations ofNorth America
describing nine diverse regions of the North American continent. The book he
wrote is no longer in print, but his map is of lasting interest. (It is discussed on
Wikipedia and available as a Google image.) Garreau believed that the.North
American continent is made up of nine regions so different that each might be
thought of as a separate nation. Each unation" has a different culture, economy,
political concern, and set of values:

The Empty Quarter The Islands

Ecotopia Mex.America

New England The Breadbasket

The Foundry Quebec

Dixie

Introduction: Understanding the Culture of the United States * 23

 Locate Garreau's nine unations" on the U.S. Census map of regions and
divisions. The Mountain Division has very low population density, so Garreau
calls it uThe Empty Quarter." uEcotopia" is the area along the west coast from
Alaska to Los Angeles, an area where people are particularly concerned about
environmental issues. uNew England" includes the northeastern coastal strip
of Canada. uThe Foundry" is the original industrial/manufacturing area from
the Middle Atlantic through the East North Central Great Lakes region. uDixie"
is the old South that tried to leave the United States during the Civil War,
including the South Atlantic (except for Kentucky, Maryland, and Delaware)
and East South Central Divisions, and the eastern part of Texas. uThe Islands"
include south Florida, Puerto Rico, and the other islands of the Caribbean.
uMexAmerica" includes southern California and the other states that border
Mexico. uThe Breadbasket" is made up of the West North Central Great Plains
states and stretches from up in Canada to northern Texas. It is where much of
the nation's food is grown. Quebec is the home of most French Canadians.

-
Write a report about the regions of your country. Where are the most populated
areas? What are the major geographic regions? As you prepare your report,
include some information on geographical features, natural resources, major cities,
and special characteristics of each region. Use a graphic organizer to organize
your ideas.

major regions/ most populated areas/

special characteristics major cities
of each region

interesting
natural
geographical - - - - - - 4 Regions of my country
resources
features

location of my home, or
favorite area

24 * Chapter 1
lr--- - - - - - - -
EXPLORE ON YOUR OWN
Books to Read

. Sherwood Anderson, Winesburg, Ohio-Published in 1919, this literary masterpiece

explores the hidden passions of ordinary lives in a small American town.

Richard Paul Evans, The Road to Grace-An advertising executive walks across the
country from Seattle, Washington, to Key West, Florida.

John F. Kennedy, A Nation ofImmigrants-President Kennedy, himself the

grandson of Irish immigrants, discusses how old immigrant traditions mix with
the new experiences of immigrants starting life over in America.

Barack Obama, Dreams ofMy Father-In this "Story of Race and Inheritance,"
President Obama reflects on his life from his birth in Hawaii to a father from Kenya
and a mother from Kansas, to his enrollment in Harvard Law School.

Marco Rubio, An Americ.an Son- This book is a memoir by the Cuban-American

U.S. Senator from Florida.

Movies to See

La Bamba-Ritchie Val ens, a young 1950s rock and roll singer, rose to fame from
poverty and brought the Latin American influence to his hit songs.

Last of the Mohicans- This film tells the story of Native Americans' life in 1757 and
how they interacted with the British.

Sweet Land-A young woman comes to Minnesota from Norway to marry a man
she has never met and faces many difficulties.

The Terminal-An eastern European immigrant who is not permitted to enter the
United States decides to take up temporary residence at a]FK airport terminal.

Under the Same Moon-A young Mexican boy travels to the United States to find his
mother after his grandmother passes away.

Introduction : Understanding the Culture of the United States * 25

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