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FOREWORD

 

Cultural Studies is the insight into human beings and their world through language. It is not primarily learning and memorizing events, facts and dates, but analyzing and arranging specific data into meaningful patterns.

This manual is designed for the first year students of the English department in full accordance with the requirements of the existing syllabus and curriculum for foreign languages departments. The students get acquainted with the United States of America. The focus of the American Cultural Studies is a small portion of the realias which constitute the background knowledge of every American person.

The main purpose is to give practical advice on how to organize the learning of the realias effectively; it will guide the students in their study of the subject.

The tasks and texts marked ® suggest listening comprehension. The tasks marked ☼ focus attention on the development of creative skills and stimulation of the comparative and intercultural perspectives.

In addition, at every stage of the course the students are encouraged to use their own knowledge, ideas and experience to the work in hand, and to discuss them with each other and the tutor.

GOOD LUCK!

TOPIC 1: INTRODUCING THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

I. ® Citizenship test. To become an American citizen, a person must have an interview to find out how much he/she knows about the United States. Listen to some of the easiest questions and choose the correct answer.

1. 13              10                       25

2. the states     the original colonies the regions

3. A. Lincoln     Lewis and Clark     Ch. Columbus

4. American       the end of the          the Constitution

    independence Civil War

5. 50              13                       52

6. New York       Boston                     Washington, D.C.

7. A. Lincoln     G. Washington     Th. Jefferson

8. 21              16                       18

9. a mayor     a judge                     a governor

10. a mayor     a representative     a senator

 

II. Find the following facts about the country . Then make up short dialogues according to the model:

Model:  - What is official name of the country?

- It's the United States of America.

- You are right.

Official name, date of establishment, status, land area, location, head of state and government, natural resources, the longest river, the capital city, main cities, official language, number of people, density, currency, symbols, historic Americans.

III. Say if you know the following American realias. Use the dictionary if you are not sure.

Academy Awards, Airbus, Christina Aguilera, Alcatraz, American Dream, Apple, Back to the Future, Barbie doll, Batman.

V. Listen to the text “Coast to Coast” and read it aloud. Copy out all the underlined geographical realia with a short explanation.

® COAST to COAST

· The United States is so big that there are four standard time zones: Eastern, Central, Mountain and Pacific.

· If it’s 2 p.m. Eastern Standard Time in New York, it’s 1 p.m. in Dallas (Central), noon in Denver (Mountain), and 11 a.m. in Los Angeles (Pacific).

· If you want to phone from Washington D.C. to Hawaii or central Alaska, there is a six-hour time difference. Don’t call at 9 a.m., you’ll wake someone up, because it is the middle of the night!

· The southernmost point of mainland USA is Key West, in the Florida Keys.

· The Keys are a group of islands south of Florida.

· The Great Lakes, on the border between the United States and Canada, form one of the largest freshwater systems in the world.

· There are five lakes: Superior , Huron, Michigan, Erie, and Ontario. The largest is Superior.

· At Niagara Falls, one of the largest waterfalls in the world, water from Lake Erie falls almost 200 feet (60 meters) into Lake Ontario.

· The Great Plains extend from Canada, through the Midwest, and south to the Rio Grande on the United States-Mexico border.

· West of the Rocky Mountains is the Sierra Nevada in California. Yosemite National Park, in the Sierra Nevada, has giant redwood trees – one is 2,700 years old.

· Mount Whitney, America’s second highest mountain, after Mount McKinley in Alaska, is also in the Sierra Nevada.

 

DIALOGUE 3. RIVERS.

TEACHER:    Do you know anything about the rivers of the USA?

STUDENT:    No, I don't think I know much about them.

TEACHER:    Well, what are the largest rivers in the USA?

STUDENT:     Everyone knows that, I'm sure! They are the Mississippi River, the Missouri and the Ohio.

TEACHER:     Did you know that the Mississippi and the Missouri form the largest river in the world?

STUDENT:    No, I didn't. What about the largest rivers in the west?

TEACHER:     The largest rivers in the west are the Columbia River and the Colorado River.

STUDENT:    Do they run into the Pacific Ocean?

TEACHER:     They do. And where are the St.Lawrence River and the Hudson River?

STUDENT:    I think those two rivers are in the east.

TEACHER:     Yes, those two rivers are in the east. And what is the name of the longest river in Alaska?

STUDENT:    In Alaska? Just a moment. It's on the tip of my tongue.

TEACHER:    Let me help you. It's the Yukon!

DIALOGUE 4. CLIMATE.

A.: As far as I know, the climate is different in each part of the USA. Am I not right?

B.: You are quite right. The coldest climate is in the north, of course.

A.: Do they have much snow in the north?

B.: They do. They have quite a lot of snow in winter, and the temperature is very low at times.

A.: Very low, you say? How low can it be?

B.: It can be as low as -45°C.

A.: Terrible. What about Alaska? It must be extremely cold up there.

B.: Right. In the district of the Yukon the climate is arctic.

A.: But the climate is hot and dry in the south-east of the USA, isn't it?

B.: Yes, in the south-east it is hot and dry. In the central part of the country it is continental, though.

A.: What about the climate in the region of the Great Lakes?

B.: There the climate is very changeable, you know.

XI. Prepare a report on one of the American National Parks using the official website www.nps.gov Present your report in a form of an advertisement.

XII. Give the idea of the following text in Russian:

The Western Mountain System has a harsh, continental type of climate, cold winters with snowfalls and hot, dry summers. Certain areas, especially in the southern parts, are dry all the year round; the high plateaus of Arizona and New Mexico and southern parts of Nevada are arid.

The Pacific coast has a milder climate than the Atlantic coast, owing to winds blowing eastwards from the Pacific Ocean. The coastal currents being cool, extreme summer heat is rare except in the interior valleys. Along the coast of San Francisco the weather resembles that of western Europe.

 

REVISION

I. Name:

- 5 Great Lakes                     - mountain ranges and peaks

- 7 geographical regions            - the biggest rivers

- 4 time zones                            - famous waterfalls

- some cities                               - the southernmost point

- some states                              - some national parks

 

II. Give the English equivalent for the following:

1. Территория США составляет почти 10 миллионов квадратных километров. 2. США – страна контрастов, страна разнообразного рельефа. Там вы найдете пустыни и прерии, тропические леса и горы. 3. Гавайские острова стали штатом США в 1959 году. 4. Полуостров Флорида выступает в море как большой палец руки. Земля там болотистая, чуть выше уровня моря. 5. Из скольких штатов состоят США? 6. В какой части США самый холодный климат? 7. Что Вы можете сказать о климате в юго-восточной части США? 8. В какой части страны климат континентальный? 9. Климат в районе Великих озёр очень неустойчивый, не так ли? 10. Какая самая длинная река США?

INTERESTING FACTS

 

· The White Mountains got their name from the grayish white appearance of the higher peaks.

· Death Valley is now a resort. It was called so in 1849 by Gold Rush pioneers when part of them died there.

· The Grand Canyon is 1,6 km deep.

· Besides the Grand Canyon you can see the Painted Desert in Arizona where red, orange and white layers make a superb mozaic.

· The Mississippi is called «the father of waters».

· The General Sherman is a giant sequoia tree located in the Giant Forest of Sequoia National Park in Tulare County, California. By volume, it is the largest known living single stem tree on Earth.

· There are more than 28,000,000 cats in the USA.

· The side-winder snake of the USA travels in a strange, looping motion to prevent its skin from getting burnt by the hot desert sands.

· Lake Superior is almost twice the size of Switzerland.

 

TOPIC 2: A BIT OF HISTORY

More than two-hundred-year-old history of the United States is rich in excitement and drama: the transformation of an untamed land into a mighty industrial power; the growth of a basically English colony into a complex multiethnic society. There have been moments of truimph and sadness, but throughout there also has been remarkable faithfulness to the democratic ideals proclaimed at the moments of the nation's birth.

 

COMING TO THE NEW WORLD

From settlement to nation

More and more Europeans came to America. By the mid-eighteenth century, settlers had also come from Sweden, the Netherlands, and Germany. There were also millions of slaves who were brought from Africa to work for the colonists.

By 1750, there were 13 British colonies. However, the colonies disagreed with the British government over how they should be governed and how much tax they should pay. They wanted to be independent and have a government of their own. Boston Tea Party was one of the protest acts.

On July 4, 1776, the colonists declared their independence from Britain. Led by Thomas Jefferson, representatives of all thirteen colonies met in Philadelphia to sign the Declaration of Independence. After that the colonies fought against Britain in the American Revolution or the War of Independence (1775-1783), until they finally won independence under the command of George Washington, who later became the first President of the United States of America.

A new country

After the War of Independence all the territory north of Florida, south of Canada and east of the Mississippi River formed the United States of America. The 13 colonies were free and independent.

In 1787 the American Constitution was drawn up in Philadelphia which with its 26 amendments is in force at the present time. George Washington was elected the first President of the United States. In 1800 the US Federal Government moved from Philadelphia to Washington to establish a new capital on the banks of the Potomac River.

The United States of America having won independence began to develop rapidly. The great mass of the population lived on farms and plantations or in small villages. There were only 5 cities of considerable size.

Industry too was making progress. In Massachusetts and Rhode Island the textile industry began to develop. Connecticut began to produce clocks and metallic goods, the Middle States paper, glass, and iron. The shipping industry developed. The Industrial Revolution had reached America.

Over a million of immigrants from Europe and Asia began to arrive in America every year. Immigrants often stayed on Ellis Island in New York Harbor before they could enter the United States. The Statue of Liberty was one of the first things many of them saw when they arrived. The French government gave it to the USA in 1886 as a symbol of liberty.

 

Cultural Background

Jamestown (Джеймстаун) – the first English settlements in the New World. In 1606 a group of London merchants formed a joint-stock company known as the Virginia Company of London. They asked King James of England to allow them to plant a colony in Virginia. The king gave them a charter for a settlement in the New World. The colonists called the settlement Jamestown, in honour of their king.

The Pilgrim Fathers (пилигримы) – were Separatists in England, or members of the Puritan movement. They wished to purify the Church of England by making religious services simpler and discipline stricter. That is why they were called Puritans. They were persecuted by English officials, and many of the Puritans fled to Holland. Several years later they moved to America.

Plymouth Colony (Плимутская колония) – the first colony established by the Pilgrim Fathers at Plymouth in 1620, later part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony (1628-30) in what became known as “New England”.

Maryland (Мэриленд) – the second plantation colony successfully planted by the English in the New World. It was founded by Cecilius Calvert, Lord Baltimore in 1634. The new English colony in America was called Maryland after Queen Henrietta Maria, the wife of King Charles I. It was a success from the very beginning, as it had a religious toleration. This first settlement in Maryland was named St. Marys.

New Amsterdam (г. Новый Амстердам) – a Dutch colony established on Manhattan Island by Henry Hudson in 1609. The are was bought from Indian chiefs in 1626. Later Charles II, the king of Britain, granted the area to his brother, the Duke of York, who seized the Dutch colony in 1664. The town was renamed New York in honour of the Duke of York.

The Quartering Act («Четвертичный закон») – an act issued by the British government which forced the American colonies to house and feed British soldiers.

Boston Tea Party («Бостонское чаепитие») – on December 16, 1773, about 50 Boston working men disguised as Indians threw the contents of 342 chests of tea, belonging to the East India Company into the water of Boston harbor. It was a protest against British taxes on tea and against the monopoly granted the East India Company.

The Declaration of Independence (Декларация независимости) – a historical document compiled by Thomas Jefferson, adopted at the Continental Congress in Philadelphia in July 4, 1776. The document proclaimed independence of the 13 North American colonies from Britain and the creation of the United States of America. The document contains the phrase: “All men are created equal … they have certain inalienable rights to … life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness).

The Founding Fathers («отцы-основатели») – in the broad sense: the participants in the process of the US foundation; in the narrow sense – the authors of the Declaration of Independence.

A new frontier

In the 19^th century the country expanded to the west. Some of the land was won in battles, some bought, some presented to the United States.

Having gained control of the continent, the Americans began to expand across it, pushing westwards, forming new farmsteads, villages and towns in the wilds, and displacing and dispossessing the Native Americans in the process.

When Thomas Jefferson became the third president of the United States in 1801, the country still consisted of the original thirteen colonies. The new president wanted to expand the country. On April 30, 1803, he bought 828,000 square miles of French land west of the Mississippi – the present day states of Louisiana , Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and North and South Dakota. This became known as the Louisiana Purchase.

In 1804, President Jefferson sent Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to explore and map the territory, and to find a water route for boats from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean. Sacagawea, a Native American woman guide, went with them. The explorers travelled by boat and on horseback from the Mississippi River westward to Oregon and the Pacific Ocean. Their journey to the west and back took almost two and a half years, but they did not find one continuous river route.

Between 1840 and 1870, half a million pioneers set out west to cross treeless prairie, the Rocky Mountains, deserts, and rivers to settle in the territory of Oregon. This route was called the Oregon Trail.

By the end of the century this form of continuous colonizing had led to the settlement of the entire United States from the east coast to the west. For most of the pioneers, life was a constant struggle against the Indians and the land itself, which had to be laboriously cleared before it could be planted.

The Gold Rush

In January 1848, gold was discovered near Sacramento, California. 100,000 people – mostly unmarried men from the East – crossed the continent to look for gold. They were called the Forty-Niners. Thousands of them died because of difficult living conditions and illness.

People from all over the world travelled to California in search of gold. During the first five years of the Gold Rush, more than 285 million dollars’ worth of gold was found in California. Gold and silver were also discovered in Colorado and Nevada. The Gold Rush led to an intensive colonization of the west.

The Wild West

An American West is both a place and an idea. In people's minds, it was a place that promised something better, and was exciting because it was new and unknown. One reason Westerns are popular movies is that they show somethingof this hard but exciting life, although they sometimes they tend to glamorize outlaws of the period like Jesse James and Billy the Kid.

Besides farms, there were many cattle ranches out West. Beef from the cattle that roamed the vast plains of Texas and other western states became a major source of food for eastern and northern cities.

Western ranches usually hired cattle drivers called cowboys to drive the cattle north. Some cattle were transported by train to northern cities like Chicago, a major meat processing centre.

NATION DIVIDES AND REUNITES

The Civil War

To work the new land, slaves were captured in Africa and brought to America. By 1800, there were almost 900 thousand slaves, most of them in the South. Some northern states had abolished slavery. Even so, escaped slaves from the South could be legally recaptured in these states and returned to their masters.

By 1860, the North and South of the United States had very different economic and social aims. The North with the population of 22 million, had many factories and railroads. In the South, there were large cotton and tobacco plantations, and almost half of the nine million people living there were slaves.

Eleven southern states formed the Confederate States of America. The remained states were known as the Union. In April 1861, the Civil War broke out; it lasted until 1965 when the North won. Most of the fighting took place in the Confederate States, and the Confederates won many of the early battles. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln freed all slaves. After the Battle of Gettysburgh in the same year, the North began to win more battles. The South surrendered in April 1865.

Honest Abe

Although President Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) was president of the United States for only four years, he is one of the most famous presidents in American history. He led the country through the terrible Civil War and preserved the Union of the states. More than 600,000 soldiers died in that war, the most to die in in any war in the history of the United States.

Abraham Lincoln, nicknamed «Honest Abe», is respected for his ideals. In his most famous speech, the Gettysburg Address of 1863, he spoke of his commitment to the unity of the United States and his belief in democracy and freedom: «Now we are engaged in a great Civil War, testing whether that nation can long endure …». His idea of government was one «of the people, by the people, for the people.»

Lincoln was the first president to be assassinated; he was shot by John Wilkes Booth, who was angry that the South had lost the war.

 

Cultural Background

Ku Klux Klan (Ку-клукс-клан) – a secret society started in Tennessee in 1866. Members wore hooks. They beat and killed blacks, they burnt schools and churches. They frightened people to try to keep them from voting or holding office. The Klan officially broke up in 1871.

Abolitionism (аболиционизм) – a movement against slavery. Abolitionists held large meetings to win support for their cause. They sent papers to the South saying that that slavery was evil. They asked Congress to do away with slavery, without payment to owners. Abolitionism was one of the major factors leading to the Civil war.

The Spanish-American War (испано-американская война) – started in Cuba in1898. The American ship “Maine” was blown up in the harbor of Havana. The Americans blamed Spain for the tragedy. As a result of the war, the USA gained new land in the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.

Two World Wars

The United States is considered a world power because of its military strength. In the twentieth century it was involved in a number of wars, all outside the United States. When World War I started in Europe in 1914, the United States remained neutral. Americans felt safe on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, but American ships taking supplies to Britain and France were attacked by German U-boats (submarines). In 1917, President Wilson decided to enter the war against Germany. Two million American soldiers went to war, and 125,000 died. In 1918, Germany was defeated by the United States and its allies, Italy, France, and Great Britain.

In 1939, another world war started in Europe. President Franklin D. Roosevelt tried to keep the United States neutral, but finally declared war on Japan after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor , Hawaii , on December 7, 1941. Three days later, Germany and Italy declared war on the United States. Millions of Americans became soldiers, and 250,000 were killed. World War II ended in 1945.

The Cold War

    After World War II, international relations were dominated by two power blocks, headed by the United States and the communist Soviet Union. In this “Cold War” America and the Soviet Union did not fight each other; instead they tried to limit each other’s influence around the world. Both countries also kept large stocks of nuclear weapons.

In 1962, the Soviet Union sent nuclear missiles to Cuba. President John F. Kennedy demanded that the Soviets removed them. For ten days, the world waited until the Soviets agreed to take the missiles away.

When communist North Korea invaded South Korea in 1950, Americans were sent to South Korea as United Nations soldiers. Fifty thousand of them died before an armistice was signed in 1953. From 1965 to 1974, the US fought against communist North Vietnam’s attempt to take over South Vietnam. At first, most Americans supported this, but later many began to demonstrate against the war as more and more American soldiers were killed. Sixty thousand US troops died, but the United States could not defeat the guerilla forces of North Vietnam.

The end of the Cold War came when the Americans and the Soviets signed arms-control treaties in the late 1980s, and the Soviet Union broke up in 1991.

Neighbors

There are 35 countries in the modern Americas: 22 in mainland North, Central, and South America, and 13 Caribbean States.

The economic and military power of the United States means that it has a lot of influence over its neighbors. It has aided several Central American governments in fighting against radical anti-government factions, and secretly gave arms to the Contra guerrillas to fight against the Sandinista government in Nicaragua. Since the 1980s, US soldiers have invaded for a short time the Caribbean states of Grenada (1983), Panama (1989), and Haiti (1994), to change the government or the head of state.

Cultural Background

The Great Depression (Великая депрессия) – the crisis of 1929-1932, which came as a result of a long period of over-production by the nation’s factories and farms, and speculative mania among the middle and wealthy classes.

The New Deal («Новый курс») – the introduction of the government planning into the economy (1933-1938) set by the administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Peace Corps («Корпус мира») – a government program started by President John F. Kennedy. This program has sent thousands of Americans to many developing countries to help build schools, hospitals and roads, plant better crops, teach at schools, train doctors and nurses.

Civil Rights Movement (Движение за гражданские права) – the national campaign by Africal Americans for equal rights, especially in the 1950s and 1960s. The campaign included boycotts, the actions of freedom riders, and in 1963 a march to Washington led by Martin Luther King.

Martin Luther King, Jr. (Мартин Лютер Кинг младший) (1929-1968) – the most important leader of the US civil rights movement. In 1963, he led abour 250000 people on a protest march to Washington D.C., where he made his famous «I have a dream» speech at the Lincoln Memorial. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for peace in 1964. He was murdered four years later in Memphis, Tennessee. His birthday, 15 January, is an official holiday. One famous excerpt from the speech goes: «I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed. We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal.»

Watergate Crisis («Уотергейтский кризис») – a scandal which led to President Nixon’s resignation in 1974. it started during the 1972 election campaign. Some Republicans formed a committee called the Committee to Reelect the President. This committee hired burglars to steal secret information from the Democratic campaign headquarters in a building complex called Watergate in Washington, D.C. The burglars were caught.

REVISION

AMERICAN FLAG ETIQUETTE

Federal law stipulates many aspects of flag etiquette. The section of law dealing with American Flag etiquette is generally referred to as the Flag Code. Some general guidelines from the Flag Code answer many of the most common questions:

• The flag should be lighted at all times, either by sunlight or by an appropriate light source.
• The flag should be flown in fair weather, unless the flag is designed for inclement weather use.
• The flag should never be dipped to any person or thing. It is flown upside down only as a distress signal.
• The flag should not be used for any decoration in general. Bunting of blue, white and red stripes is available for these purposes. The blue stripe of the bunting should be on the top.
• The flag should never be used for any advertising purpose. It should not be embroidered, printed or otherwise impressed on such articles as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes, or anything intended to be discarded after temporary use. Advertising signs should not be attached to the staff or halyard.
• The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except that a flag patch may be used on the uniform of military personnel, fireman, policeman and members of patriotic organizations.
• The flag should never have any mark, insignia, letter, word, number, figure, or drawing of any kind placed on it, or attached to it.
• The flag should never be used for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.
• When the flag is lowered, no part of it should touch the ground or any other object; it should be received by waiting hands and arms. To store the flag it should be folded neatly and ceremoniously.
• The flag should be cleaned and mended when necessary.
• When a flag is so worn it is no longer fit to serve as a symbol of our country, it should be destroyed by burning in a dignified manner.

UNCLE SAM

There are several stories about the beginning of Uncle Sam, but the one Congress officially recognized in 1961 is the story that follows.

Samuel Wilson was born in Arlington, Massachusetts in 1766.He fought in the Revolutionary War with his father and brothers. When the war was over, he moved to Troy, New York. He started a meatpacking business and was well-respected in his community.

During the war of 1812, Sam Wilson supplied meat to the U.S. Army in barrels marked U.S. When asked what the U.S. stood for, one of Wilson’s workers said, Uncle Sam Wilson, the meatpacker. This story gained popularity when it was printed in a New York City Newspaper. Soon many things labeled U.S. were being called Uncle Sam’s, not just meat!

After the war, Uncle Sam became the symbol of the nation. People drew him and dressed up like him. Uncle Sam is a United States’ symbol that is middle recognized throughout the world. He has appeared in magazines, newspapers, and on posters for the last 150 years.

 

The LIBERTY BELL

On July 8, 1776, a bell rang out to announce the first reading of The Declaration of Independence to the people of Philadelphia. It became then, and still is, a symbol of American Independence.

The people of Pennsylvania sent an order to England in 1751 for the making of a “bell of about two thousand pounds weight” to be used in the State House in Philadelphia. They asked that this inscription be cast around the bell’s crown: “Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof”.

Soon after the bell’s arrived to America in 1752, it cracked the first time it rang. It was then recast in Philadelphia and began its ringing for freedom. The Old State House Bell, as it was called, was beginning to live up to the words “Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof” that were inscribed on it, even before the people of the New World knew that it was complete liberty they wanted. This historic bell rang to proclaim liberty until 1855, when it cracked.

The Bell was known by several names besides the Old State House Bell. It was called the Bell of the Revolution and Old Independence. But it was not until 1839 that it was called the Liberty Bell. The Liberty Bell became a symbol of freedom, even though it could not be heard. It began to tour the country by train, visiting such places as New Orleans, Chicago, Charleston, Boston, Atlanta, St Louis, and San Francisco. Since 1915, the Liberty Bell has been on permanent display in a glass-enclosed building in Philadelphia.

The Liberty Bell continues to “proclaim liberty throughout all land” and to people throughout the world.

The BALD EAGLE

This magnificent bird can be found on many things in the United States. Since ancient times, eagles have been a sign of power. Eagles have great size and strength, and because of this, many have claimed this bird as their emblem and symbol. When it came to choosing a national bird for America after the Revolutionary War, many wanted this bird to be chosen. It was a great and powerful bird, just as the nation was great and powerful.

But, not all in Congress wanted this bird as their. Benjamin Franklin proposed that the turkey be national bird, because it was a true native of the country. It was finally decided that the bald eagle, which was unique to North America, be the choice. In 1782, the bald eagle was finally adopted as the national bird for the country.

The bald eagle is not really bald. The head of the adult bird is white, and was called “bald” by the people from England who first settled in America. To them, “bald” meant “white” or “white-streaked”, not hairless! This bird also has white tail feathers.

The bald eagle still serves as the American national bird, a symbol of the size and strength of the nation.

The GREAT SEAL of the USA

On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress appointed a committee consisting of Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson “to bring in a device for a seal of the United States of America”. After many delays, a verbal description of a design was finally approved by Congress on June 20, 1782. The seal shows an American bald eagle with a ribbon in its mouth bearing the device E pluribus unum (One out of many). In its talons are the arrows of war and an olive branch of peace. On the reverse side it shows an unfinished pyramid with an eye (the eye of Providence) above it.

 

The NATIONAL MOTTO

In God We Trust, designed as the U.S. National Motto by Congress in 1956, originated during the Civil War as an inscription for U.S. coins, although it was used by Francis Scott Key in a slightly different form when he wrote The Star Spangled Banner in 1814. It first appeared on some U.S. coins in 1864, disappeared and reappeared on various coins until 1955, when Congress ordered it placed on all paper money and coins.

 

The STATUE of LIBERTY

To many people, the Statue of Liberty is one of America’s most cherished symbols. It is the symbol of freedom, a freedom that millions of people have come to America to find.

Since 1886, the Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World has stood in New York harbor. It also commemorates American friendship for it was given by the people of France, designed by Frederic August Bartholdi (1834-1909). A $ 2.5 million building housing the American Museum of Immigration was opened by President Nixon in 1972, at the base of the statue. It houses a permanent exhibition of photos, posters, and artifacts tracing the history of American immigration.

The people of France had long admired the liberty enjoyed by the people who lived in the United States. In 1865, Edouard de Laboulaye, French historian and admirer of American political institutions, suggested that the French present a monument to the United States that would be a tribute to this liberty as well as a symbol of the friendship between the two countries. This idea became a reality when a sculptor named Frederic August Bartholdi sailed to the United States to find support and a location for France’s gift.

On Washington’s birthday, February 22, 1877, Congress approved the use of the site on Beadloe’s Island suggested by Bartholdi. This island of 12 acres had been owned in the 17^th century by a Walloon, named Isaac Beadloe. It was called Beadloe’s until August 3, 1956, when President Eisenhower approved a resolution of Congress changing the name to Liberty Island. The sculptor sailed home to begin work on the monument.

Bartholdi decided to create a huge statue of a robed woman with her right arm holding a torch high above her head. He modelled her face after the strong features of his own mother’s face. Construction began on “Lady Liberty” in a Paris workshop in 1875. Funds for the statue were raised by the French people. By July 4, 1876, Bartholdi had completed the right hand and torch and sent it to the United States to display for their centennial celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. At home, the sculptor continued to work on the rest of the statue.

The complete statue was officially presented to the United States in Paris, France on July 4, 1884. It was then carefully taken apart and shipped to America. The statue arrived in 1885 and the pedestal was completed in April of 1886. The statue was made from copper sheets and it is hollow inside. Inside there is a circular stairway from the base to the crown. There is also a lift in it.

The figure shows a young woman. She holds a torch in her right hand above her head and her left hand is a tablet with the date “July 4^th, 1776” on it, which symbolizes the Declaration of Independence. The torch light up at night.

Here are some interesting statistics about the statue:

- pedestal height: 47 meters                - statue height: 46.05 meters         

- statue weight: 204 metric tons         - torch arm: 13 meters

- face: 3 meters from ear to ear          - across each eye: 8 meters

- combined height: 92.9 meters from base of the pedestal to the top of the torch.

Over the years, Liberty Enlightening the World had commonly been called The Statue of Liberty. It became a Symbol of hope for the millions of immigration who came by it on their way to settle in America. American poet Emma Lazarus wrote a poem which was placed on a plaque in the pedestal in 1903. The words gave, and continue to give, a message of hope to all who wish to settle in the land of liberty.

“Give me your tired, your poor,

The PLEDGE of ALLEGIANCE

In 1890 James Upham, a man who lived in Boston, felt people were not respectful of the flag. He asked schoolchildren all over our country to earn money to buy a flag to fly over their school. The children worked hard at their task. Within a year 30,000 schools in America had “Old Glory” on display!

When the USA announced that they would observed the 400^th anniversary of the discovery of America, Mr. Upham felt the Americans should have a special pledge to their nation and flag honoring the occasion. He hoped it would last longer than just the day of the celebration.

He went to his friend Francis Bellamy and asked him to help write a pledge. After working for a long time the two men completed the pledge in August of 1892. They waited until Columbus Day of that year to recite it in public. Everyone liked it!

Fifty years later, in 1942, when America was at war, it was adopted by Congress as the official pledge. At that time they also adopted the proper courtesy toward the flag; standing respectfully with the right hand over the heart while repeating the pledge:

“I pledge alligiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

The pledge means: “I promise to be true to the Flag of my country and the great nation for which it stands; one country under the protection of God, free and strong, with freedom and fairness for all.”

AMERICAN PATRIOTIC SONGS

America the Beautiful

                                                   By Katherine Lee Bates (1893)

O beautiful for spacious skies,

For amber waves of grain,

For purple mountain majesties

Above the fruited plain!

America! America!

God shed his grace on thee

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea!

Oh, beautiful for pilgrim feet,

Whose stern, impassioned stress

A thoroughfare for freedom beat

Across the wilderness!

America! America!

God mend thine every flaw,

Confirm thy soul in self-control,

Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes prov’d

In liberating strife,

Who more than self their country lov’d

And mercy more than life.

America! America!

May God thy gold refine

Till all success be nobleness

And ev’ry gain divine.

O beautiful for patriot dream

That sees beyond the years

Thine alabaster cities gleam

Undimmed by human tears!

America! America!

God shed his light on thee

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea!

America

The lyrics for “America” (or “My Country ‘Tis of Thee”) were written by Reverend Samuel F. Smith (1808 – 1895) to the music of the English national anthem. Smith wrote the lyrics in Amherst, Massachusetts, in February 1832, and the song was first sung at a patriotic celebration on July 4^th, 1832, at the Park Street Church in Boston.

 

My country ‘tis on thee                       Let music swell the breeze

Sweet land of liberty;                And ring from all the trees

Of thee I sing.                            Sweet freedom song

Land where my fathers died      Let all that breathe partake

Land of the pilgrims’ pride       Let mortal tongues awake

From every mountain side         Let rocks their silence break

Let freedom ring.                           The sound prolong.

 

My native country – thee           Our fathers’ God, to thee

Land of the noble free               Author of liberty

Thy name I love;                        To thee we sing

I love thy rocks and rills            Long may our land be bright

Thy woods and templed hills              With freedom’s holy light

My heart with rapture thrills     Protects us by thy might

Like that above.                         Great God, our King.

The United States

by Susan H. Nipp

The United States, the United States,

I love my country, the United States.

There’s Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas,

California, Colorado, Connecticut and Delaware,

Florida, Georgia, Hawaii and Idaho,

Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Kansas,

Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts,

Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana,

Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire,

New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North ’n’ South Carolina,

North Dakota, South Dakota, Ohio, Oklahom’,

Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee,

Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia,

West Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

 

The United States, the United States,

I love my country, the United States.

God Bless America

by Irving Berlin

God bless America,              To the oceans,

Land that I love.                        White with foam.

Stand beside her                   God bless America,     

And guide her                            My home sweet home.

Through the night                      God bless America,

With a light from above.      My home sweet home!

From the mountains,

To the prairies,

 

Home on the Range

Traitional

Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam,

Where the deer and the antilope play,

Where seldom is heard a discouraging word

And the skies are not cloudy all day.

Home, home on the range,

Where the deer and the antilope play,

Where seldom is heard a discouraging word

And the skies are not cloudy all day.

How often at night when the heavens are bright

With the light from the glittering stars,

Have i stood there amazed and asked as i gazed

If their glory exceeds that of ours.

Home, home on the range,

Where the deer and the antilope play,

Where seldom is heard a discouraging word

And the skies are not cloudy all day.

TASKS

INTERESTING FACTS

• The Donkey and the Elephant first appeared in political cartoons as symbols of the two main political parties in the US - the Democrats and the Republicans.

• Rose is the national flower of the United States of America.
• George Washington, the first president of the USA, carried a portable sundial to tell him the time.
• The 20^th president of the USA, James A. Garfield, could write in Latin with one hand and simultaneously write in Greek with the other.
• The Turks call the turkey ‘an American bird’.

TOPIC 4: ACROSS THE STATES

 

The USA is divided into 50 states and the District of Columbia (the territory under capital Washington), the seat of the national government.

 

 

The 50 American States

State	Russian equivalent	Abbreviation	Capital city	Popular name
1.Alabama [                  ]	Алабама	Ala.	Montgomery [                  ]	The Heart of Dixie; Camellia State
2.Alaska [                     ]	Аляска	Al. or AK.	Juneau [                  ]	The Last Frontier; Land of the Midnight Sun
3.Arizona [                  ]	Аризона	Ariz.	Phoenix [                  ]	Grand Canyon State
4.Arkansas [                  ]	Арканзас	Ark.	Little Rock [                  ]	Land of Opportunity
5.California [                  ]	Калифорния	Calif.	Sacramento [                  ]	Golden State
6.Colorado [                  ]	Колорадо	Colo.	Denver [                  ]	Centennial State
7.Connecticut [                  ]	Коннектикут	Conn.	Hartford [                  ]	Nutmeg State; Constitution State
8.Delaware [                  ]	Делавэр	Del.	Dover [                  ]	Diamond State; First State
9.Florida [                  ]	Флорида	Fla.	Tallahassee [                  ]	Sunshine State
10.Georgia [                  ]	Джорджия	Ga.	Atlanta [                  ]	Peach State; Empire State of the South
11.Hawaii [                  ]	Гавайи	HI.	Honolulu [                  ]	Aloha State
12.Idaho [                  ]	Айдахо	Id. or Ida.	Boise [                  ]	Gem State; Spud State; Panhandle State
13.Illinois [                  ]	Иллинойс	Ill.	Springfield [                  ]	Prairie State
14.Indiana  [                  ]	Индиана	Ind.	Idianapolis [                  ]	Hoosier State
15.Iowa	Айова	Ia.	Des Moines [                  ]	Hawkeye State
16.Kansas [                    ]	Канзас	Kan. or Kans.	Topeka [                  ]	Sunflower State; Sayhawk State
17.Kentucky [                  ]	Кентукки	Ky. or Ken.	Frankfort [                  ]	Bluegrass State
18.Louisiana [                  ]	Луизиана	La.	Baton Rouge [                  ]	Pelican State; Sportsman’s Para-dise; Creole State; Sugar State
19.Maine [                  ]	Мэн	Me.	Augusta [                  ]	Pine Tree State
20.Maryland [                  ]	Мэриленд	Md.	Annapolis [                  ]	Free State; Old Line State
21.Massachusetts [                  ]	Массачусетс	Mass.	Boston [                  ]	Bay State; Old Colony State
22.Michigan [                  ]	Мичиган	Mich.	Lansing [                  ]	Wolverine State
23.Minnesota [                  ]	Миннесота	Minn.	St.Paul [                  ]	North Star State; Gopher State; Land of 10,000 Lakes
24.Mississippi [                  ]	Миссисипи	Miss.	Jackson [                   ]	Magnolia State
25.Missouri [                  ]	Миссури	Mo.	Jefferson City [                  ]	Show Me State
26.Montana [                  ]	Монтана	Mont.	Helena [                  ]	Treasure State
27.Nebraska [                       ]	Небраска	Nebr. or Neb.	Lincoln [                  ]	Cornhusker State; Beef State; Tree Planters State
28.Nevada [                  ]	Невада	Nev.	Carson City [                  ]	Sagebrush State; Silver State; Battleborn State
29.New Hampshire [                  ]	Нью-Гемпшир	N. H.	Concord [                  ]	Granite State
30.New Jersey [                  ]	Нью-Джерси	N. J.	Trenton [                  ]	Garden State
31.New Mexico [                  ]	Нью-Мексико	N. Mex. or N. M.	Santa Fe [                  ]	Land of Enchantment; Sunshine State
32.New York [                  ]	Нью-Йорк	N. Y.	Albany [                  ]	Empire State
33.North Carolina [                  ]	Северная Каролина	N. C.	Raleigh [                  ]	Tar Tree State
34.North Dakota [                  ]	Северная Дакота	N. Dak.	Bismark [                  ]	Peace Garden State
35.Ohio [                  ]	Огайо	O.	Columbus [                  ]	Buckeye State
36.Oklahoma [                  ]	Оклахома	Okla.	Oklahoma City [                  ]	Sooner State
37.Oregon [                  ]	Орегон	Oreg. or Ore.	Salem [                  ]	Beaver State
38.Pennsylvania [                  ]	Пенсильвания	Pa., Penn. or Penna.	Harrisburgh [                  ]	Keystone State
39.Rhode Island [                  ]	Род-Айленд	R. I.	Providence [                  ]	Ocean State
40.South Carolina [                  ]	Южная Каролина	S. C.	Columbia [                  ]	Palmetto State
41.South Dakota [                  ]	Южная Дакота	S. Dak.	Pierre [                  ]	Sunshine State; Coyote State
42.Tennessee [                  ]	Теннесси	Tenn.	Nashville [                  ]	Volunteer State
43.Texas [                  ]	Техас	Tex.	Austin [                  ]	Lone Star State
44.Utah [                  ]	Юта	Ut.	Salt Lake City [                  ]	Vermont State
45.Vermont [                  ]	Вермонт	Vt.	Montpelier [                  ]	Green Mountain State
46.Virginia [                  ]	Вергиния	Va.	Richmond [                  ]	The Old Dominion
47.Washington [                  ]	Вашингтон	Wash.	Olympia [                  ]	Evergreen State
48.West Virginia [                  ]	Западная Вергиния	W. Va.	Charleston [                  ]	Mountain State
49.Wisconsin [                  ]	Висконсин	Wis. or Wisc.	Madison [                  ]	Badger State
50.Wyoming [                  ]	Вайоминг	Wyo. or Wy.	Cheyenne [                  ]	Equality State

The Names of the States

Г.Д. Томахин в книге «Америка через американизмы» разделил по этимологическому признаку названия штатов на 4 группы:

А) Названия, возникшие на основе существовавших уже ранее географических названий, перенесенных из стран Старого Света на Североамериканский Континент:

Maine – по имени французской провинции, принадлежавшей королеве Генриетте-Марии, жене Карла I, короля Англии)

New Hampshire – от названия графства в Англии

New York – от названия города в Англии

New Jersey – от названия острова у берегов Англии

New Mexico – от названия страны

Б) Названия, образованные на основе европейских языков:

California – исп. «жаркая, как печь»

Colorado – исп. «цветная страна»

Montana – исп. «горная страна»

Nevada – исп. «покрытая снегом»

Rhode Island – голл. «красный остров»

Vermont – фр. «зеленые горы

Indiana – «страна индейцев»

Florida – исп. «цветущая»

В) Названия-посвящения – в честь исторических личностей:

Columbia – в честь Колумба

Delaware – от имени лорда De La Warr – губернатора Виргинии в начале 17века

Georgia – в честь английского короля Георга II

Louisiana – в честь короля Франции Людовига XIV

Carolina – по имени короля Англии Карла I

Maryland – в честь королевы Генриетты-Марии, жены Карла I, короля Англии

Pennsylvania – «лесная страна Пена»

Virginia – в честь королевы Англии Елизаветы I

Washington – в честь Джорджа Вашингтона

Г) Названия, заимствованные из индейских языков:

Alabama – по названию индейского племени «расчищаю заросли»

Alaska – «большая земля»

Arizona – «маленький ручей»

Arkansas – название индейского племени квопо

Connecticut – «река сосен»

Idaho – «свет на горе»

Illinois – «река людей»

Iowa – по названию индейского племени «спящие, сонливые»

Kansas – по названию индейского племени «люди южного ветра»

Kentucky – «земля завтрашнего дня»

Massachusetts – «маленькое место на большом холме»

Michigan – по названию индейского племени «большая вода»

Minnesota – «небесно-голубая вода»

Mississippi – «рыбная река»

Missouri – по названию индейского племени группы сиу

Nebraska – «широкая река»

Dakota – «союз»

Oklahoma – «красные люди»

Oregon – «шалфей»

Tennessee – название реки

Texas – «союзники», употреблялось как приветствие

Utah – по названию индейского племени

Wisconsin – «слияние рек»

Wyoming – «горы и долины»

The Nicknames of the States

 Каждый штат имеет одно официальное название, которое приводится в справочниках, вместе с официальным девизом штата, его флагом, птицей, животным и растением. Наряду с официальными, каждый штат имеет еще несколько названий, отражающих его своеобразие. Г.Д. Томахин в книге «Америка через американизмы» приводит классификацию прозвищ штатов:

1) Прозвища штатов, отражающие особенности природно-географической среды (местоположение штата, конфигурация, размеры, рельеф, гидронимы, климатические условия, растения, животные), например:

The Border State – «пограничный штат». Штат Мэн, расположенный на крайнем северо-востоке Новой Англии, граничит с Канадой.

The Crossroads of America – «перекресток Америки». Официальное прозвище штата Индиана.

The Heart of Dixie – «сердце Дикси», «сердце старого юга» - штат Алабама. Словом Dixie в США называют южные (бывшие рабовладельческие) штаты, оно вошло в обиход во время Гражданской войны как название военной песни южан, затем стало употребляться для обозначения всего относящегося к южным штатам.

The Panhandle State – «штат – ручка сковороды». Штат Западная Виргиния напоминает по форме сковороду с ручкой. Прозвище, однако, несколько пренебрежительно, т.к. прозвище жителей штата – Panhandleites может ассоциироваться с to panhandle – разг. амер. «просить милостыню, попрошайничать».

The Jumbo State – «огромный штат», «огромный, как слон Джамбо» (Техас). До принятия Аляски в состав США Техас был самым большим по площади. Слово Jumbo используется в разговорном языке в значении «крупный, очень большой».

The Empire State – «имперский штат» (Нью-Йорк). Хотя в последнее время штат Нью-Йорк уступил первое место по количеству населения Калифорнии, он в течение долгого времени был самым крупным штатом по численности населения и по стоимости производимой продукции, а город Нью-Йорк всегда был и остается крупнейшим городом США, морскими и воздушными воротами страны. The Empire State – прозвище штата – перешло на название крупнейшего до недавнего времени небоскреба в Нью-Йорке – the Empire State Building.

The Diamond State – «штат-бриллиант». Делавэр получил это прозвище потому, что, будучи маленьким по размерам, играет очень большую роль в экономике страны.

Uncle Sam ’ s Handkerchief – «носовой платок дяди Сэма». Пренебрежительное прозвище штата Делавэр. Его маленькие размеры послужили основой для такого шутливо-иронического прозвища.

Uncle Sam ’ s Attic – «чердак дяди Сэма». Пренебрежительное прозвище штата Аляска, который рассматривается как задворки США.

The Gateway to the West – «ворота Запада». Рекламное прозвище штата Миссури. В городе Индепенденс берут свое начало две основные дороги на Запад.

The Grand Canyon State – «штат Большого Каньона». Прозвище штата Аризона, где на реке Колорадо находится крупнейший в мире каньон (глубиной около 1 мили и длиной около 200 миль.

The Prairie State – «штат прерий». Большую часть штата Иллинойс занимают прерии.

The Gulf State – «штат у Мексиканского залива». Западная часть полуострова Флорида омывается Мексиканским заливом.

The Lake State – «озерный штат». Штат Мичиган почти полностью окружен четырьмя из пяти Великих Озер.

The Sunshine State – «солнечный штат» (Флорида). Это прозвище появилось на номерных знаках автомашин, зарегистрированных в штате Флорида, вытеснив все другие, оно стало официальным прозвищем штата.

The Cyclone State – «штат циклонов» .Канзас находится в центре зоны циклонов США.

The Palmetto State – «штат пальметты». Низкорослая пальма (palmetto) произрастает по всей территории штата Южная Каролина, и это дерево изображено на гербе штата.

The Bluegrass State – «штат голубой травы». Кентукки является центром так называемого bluegrass region – «голуботравья», покрывающие богатые известняком почвы этого штата.

The Evergreen State – «вечнозеленый штат». Это прозвище штата Вашингтон основывается на том, что хвойные леса, занимающие большую часть штата, и зеленая трава, не вянущая даже зимой (из-за мягкого влажного климата), создают впечатление вечнозеленого покрова.

The Coyote State – «штат койотов». Официальное название штата южная Дакота. Койоты (степные волки) встречались довольно часто в прериях Южной Дакоты.

The Gopher State – «штат сусликов». Это презрительное прозвище штат Миннесота получил из-за того, что в степных сельскохозяйственных районах штата суслик был настолько распространен, что был подлинным бедствием для фермеров.

2) Прозвища штатов, отражающие некоторые особенности их хозяйственно-экономического развития (особенности промышленности, сельского хозяйства, рыболовства, туризма), например:

The Golden State – «золотой штат». Официальное прозвище штата Калифорния. Жителей штата называют Gold Diggers, Gold Hunters в память о так называемых Forty-niners – участниках «золотой лихорадки» 1849 г. Это прозвище ассоциируется и с Golden Gate Bridge (мост «Золотые ворота» в г. Сан-Франциско) – самым высоким мостом в США (64 м) и с солнечными долинами Калифорнии, а главное – с ее ролью в жизни страны как крупнейшего по численности населения, ведущего штата в отношении новейших отраслей промышленности.

The Silver State – «серебряный штат». Официальное прозвище штата Невада, в котором открытие Комстокского месторождения серебра и золота породило «золотую лихорадку» 1859 года.  

The Gem State – «штат-самоцвет». Официальное прозвище штата Айдахо. Idaho в переводе с языка индейцев означает Gem of the Mountains – горный самоцвет, драгоценный камень.

The Breadbasket of the Nation – «житница страны». Рекламное название штата Канзас, который занимает ведущее место в производстве пшеницы.

America ’ s Dairyland – «край молочного животноводства», «молочная ферма Америки». Молочное животноводство является ведущей отраслью сельского хозяйства штата.

The Cornhusker State – «штат кукурузников». Неофициальное название штата Небраска. Во время уборки урожая кукурузы раньше широко были распространены так называемые huskings (husking-bees) – сборы соседей и друзей у фермера, чтобы помочь ему в очистке кукурузы.

The Sugar State – «сахарный штат» (Луизиана). Многочисленные плантации сахарного тростника и заводы по его переработке послужили основой для такого прозвища штата.

The Vacation State – «штат отдыха». Рекламное прозвище штата Невада, значительное место в экономике которого занимает обслуживание богатых туристов (игорные дома в Лас-Вегасе и Рино).

The Sportsman ’ s Paradise – «рай для спортсменов» - рекламное прозвище штата Луизиана, вынесенное на номерные знаки машин.

The Land of Enchantment – «страна очарования». Официальное прозвище штата Нью-Мексико, которое дано ему в целях рекламы для привлечения туристов в этот штат, славящийся своими пустынными ландшафтами.

3) Названия штатов, отражающие особенности их истории (политика, исторические личности, нравы и обычаи, этнический состав населения, связанные с девизами, гербами и флагами), например:

The Old Dominion – «старый доминион». Официальное название штата Виргиния, на территории которого возникла первая английская колония на Североамериканском континенте – Джеймстаун.

The Puritan State – «пуританский штат». Штат Массачусетс находится на месте колоний, основанных в 1620 г. пуританами, выходцами из Англии.

The Centennial State – «штат столетия». Официальное прозвище штата Колорадо, который был принят в состав США в 1876 г., когда отмечалось столетие США.

The Sooner State – «штат землезахватчиков», букв. «штат досрочников» (людей, захвативших земельные участки до официального открытия территории Оклахомы). Утратив негативные оттенки, это название превратилось в официальное прозвище штата.

The Constitution State – «штат конституции2 (Коннектикут), где в 1639 г., впервые среди североамериканских колоний, были приняты так называемые «Fundamental Orders», послужившие в дальнейшем основой для конституции США.

The Nutmeg State – «штат мускатного ореха». Шутливое прозвище Коннектикута и его жителей (Nutmeggers, Nutmeg Yankees), которые настолько поднаторели в изготовлении и продаже на сторону всяких нужных в хозяйстве вещей, что изготовляли из дерева мускатные орехи и сбывали их как настоящие.

The Tarheel State – «штат чернопяточников», «штат мажущих пятки смолой». Шутливое прозвище штата Северное Каролина и его жителей – Tarheels. Возникло как презрительное прозвище во время гражданской войны, когда бригада северокаролинцев не смогла удержать позицию и обратилась в бегство. Занимавшие оборону рядом с ними миссисипцы высмеяли горе-вояк, объясняя их бегство тем, что северокаролинцы забыли в этот день смазать, как обычно, пятки смолой.

Show - me State – «недоверчивый штат», «штат скептиков» (букв. «докажи мне»). Официальное прозвище штата Миссури. Выражение show me в атрибутивном употреблении, в значении «требующий подтверждений», ассоциируется со штатом Миссури.

The Lone Star State – «штат одинокой звезды». Официальное прозвище штата Техас, на флаге которого изображена одна звезда.

The Beehive State – «штат пчелиного улья». На гербе штата Юта изображен пчелиный улей, символизирующий трудолюбие жителей штата, основанного мормонами в пустыне на берегу Соленого озера.

The NORTHEAST

The Northeast Corridor

The Northeast Corridor is the most densely populated region of the United States. It stretches from Washington, D.C., up to the Canadian border and includes the states of Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhide Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.

Although there is heavy industry in some areas of the Northeast Corridor, the natural beauty of the northern part attracts many tourists. The interior of New England is mountanous and covered with forests. In the fall, thousands of people visit New England to see the spectacular colors of the changing leaves. Tourists also come to ski, especially in Vermont, the Green Mountain State, which has over thirty different skiing areas.

Whale-watching has become an attraction along the coast. Specially designed boats take people to areas where humpback and fin whales gather to feed. The Atlantic Ocean off Cape Cod in Massachusetts is a popular place for whale-watching. New England is famous for seafood, especially lobster.

Landmarks for Independence

Boston, the state capital of Massachusetts, was the center of the struggle for independence during American Revolutionary War.

The Boston Tea Party in 1773 was a protest by some colonists. They protested against the high taxes the British were charging for tea for taking the tea from three British ships and throwing it into Boston Harbor. In April 1775, Paul Revere, a silversmith who had taken part in the protest, made a famous midnight horseback ride to warn everyone of a British attack. Two months later, the colonists fought against the British in the Battle of Bunker Hill.

There are many colleges and universities in the Boston area. Harvard, in the nearby city of Cambridge, is the most famous of several elite universities in the Northeast known as Ivy League schools. The name comes from the ivy that grows on some of the their old buildings. Other Ivy League schools are: Yale (Connecticut), Princeton (New Jersey), and Columbia (New York City).

State of freedom

The state of Pennsylvania was originally a Quaker colony founded in the 1680s by William Penn, a wealthy English Quaker. The Quaker settlers believed in religious tolerance, so Pennsylvania became a refuge for people escaping from religious persecution. Quakers were also against slavery, so many blacks settled in Pennsylvania during the late 1600s and later on.

The state capital is Harrisburg, but the largest city in Pennsylvania is Philadelphia. This city is associated with the Declaration of Independence, which was signed and approved there on July 4, 1776. Today, visitors can see the Liberty Bell, which was rung for the first time on July 8, 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was read out in public. Later, the first Constitution of the United States was written in Philadelphia.

A world apart

In Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, there is a community of people who arrived more than two hundred years ago to escape religious persecution. They are Amish, also known as the Pennsylvania Dutch – from the Americanized version of the word Deutsch, which means «German».

The Amish still live as they did two centuries ago. The people ride in horse-drawn buggies instead of cars and build their houses using traditional methods.

They prefer to live in their own communities. The children go to Amish schools in the villages. After eight years of studying reading, writing, arithmetic, and the Bible, children go to work on their family farms.

The MIDWEST

The Industrial Midwest

The area around the Great Lakes of Lake Erie and Lake Michigan is well-known for producing steel, cars, and other industrial products. In the 1970s and 1980s demand for these products fell, and many plants downsized. The name «Rust Belt» began to be used to describe the area. Hundreds of thousands of people moved away in search of new jobs.

A quarter of American steel is produced in Chicago , Illinois, and Gary, Indiana. A third of US automobiles is assembled in factories in and around Detroit, Michigan. One out of five workers in Michigan is employed in the automobile industry.

Today, the so-called Rust Belt is making effort to develop new industries. More people work in the service sector, for example, in computer and technology companies. The unemployment rate is now the lowest in the country. The downtown areas of big cities are being renewed. In places like Cleveland , Ohio, there are now new restaurants and stores downtown.

The Dairy Belt

Millions of cows graze in the pastures of the Great Lakes region, and this area is called the nation's Dairy Belt. The state of Wisconsin is the leader in dairy farming and is famous for its production of cheese. Milk from 25,000 farms goes to Wisconsin's 142 cheese-making plants to produce one-third of all the cheese made in the United States.

More than 300 kinds of cheese is made in Wisconsin. Many were brought by immigrants from different countries. Two local cheeses are Brick, which is shaped like a brick, and Colby, originally made in the town of Colby. The most popular cheeses are Cheddar, Mozzarella, and Swiss cheese. Butter, yogurt, sour cream, and ice cream are other dairy products produced in this region.

Across the Plains

Huge farms on the Great Plains – from the Great Lakes to the Rocky Mountains – and the central states down through Texas produce wheat, corn, and soybeans for the nation and for export abroad.

The farmers in this area have often had to struggle very hard in the past. In the 1930s, part of the Great Plains and the Midwest became known as the Dust Bowl. The rains stopped and crops failed, then the soil blew away in great dust storms. Thousands of farmers lost their farms and moved west to California to start a new life. These farmers were often called the Okies (from Oklahoma), although they also came from Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, and Kansas.

Since 1930s, different farming methods have been used to prevent the erosion of soil. Farmers grow wheat for three years, then alternate with grass for another three years.

The SOUTHEAST

The New South

The original states that formed the South were Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North and South Carolina, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and Texas.

The financial and transportation center of the modern South is Atlanta, the state capital of Georgia. Its airport is one of the busiest in the world, and many multinational companies have their headquarters there.

For many years cotton was the most important agricultural product in the South; it grew well in the region’s hot climate. Now major cotton-growing areas, such as Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia, produce peanuts, soybeans, and tobacco. The large cotton plantations that were worked by slaves before the Civil War are gone.

 

The Big Muddy

The Mississippi is the longest river in the United States. It flows from Minnesota down to the Gulf of Mexico at New Orleans, passing through the river ports of St.Louis, Missouri, and Memphis, Tennessee, on the way. The Mississippi carries so much soil and rocks along with it that its nickname is the Big Muddy.

As a river, the Mississippi also has more romantic associations. 19^th century novelist Mark Twain made the river famous when he wrote “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”. The book tells the adventures of a boy, Huckleberry Finn, and a runaway slave, Jim, as they travel down the river.

The Sunshine State

Florida, the Sunshine State, was bought from the Spanish in 1819. It is the southernmost state on the mainland and has a long coastline on the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Oranges grow all year round even in winter, when the weather is very cold further north.

The warm climate has made Florida an important vacation resort. More than 8 million visitors come to Miami Beach every year. There are also many theme parks. The state capital is Tallahassee, but the biggest city is Miami, which has a large Hispanic community. Over half of the people who live there speak Spanish as their first language.

At the southern tip of Florida are the Everglades, where a shallow fresh water river moves slowly toward the sea. It is the home of alligators, crocodiles, many different kinds of birds, and the manatee or sea cow.

 

The WEST

National parks

The United States has some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. The most spectacular places are reserved in America's 38 national parks.

Yellowstone Park became America's first national park in 1872. It covers over 3,472 square miles, mostly in the northwestern corner of Wyoming but also extending into Idaho and Montana. The park is in the Rocky Mountains and has an incredible diversity of natural features – waterfalls, plateaus, canyons, and more than 3,000 hot springs and geyses.

There is also a wide variety of wildlife. Bears, antilope, elk, and even wolves wander throughout the park, and eagles build their nests in the forests. Camping and backpacking are encouraged at Yellowstone, but visitors must be careful. A few careless or unlucky people have been killed by angry bears.

The Southwest is full of dramatic landscapes with deep canyons and high plateaus. Both New Mexico and Arizona have very dry climates. Every year, four million visitors come to marvek at the Grand Canyon. The canoyn began to form nearly two million years ago.

In the north of Arizona are the Painted Desert and Monument Valley. The valley is full of sandstone buttes that rise high above the ground.

Bucking broncos

When people think of the West today, the first thing that often comes to mind is cowboys riding bucking broncos at the rodeo. Bronco is a nickname for a wild horse. When a bronco bucks, it kicks its back legs in the air to try and throw the rider off.

The first rodeos started in mid-1800s, when cowboys showed all the skills they used for working cattle. Today, the rodeo is a professional sport where cowboys compete to stay on bucking broncos and bulls, and lasso or rope cattle as quickly as possible.

The rodeos in Wyoming and Colorado are considered the most exciting, because there are so many contests and events. While the rodeo is going on, there are square dances, fairs, and country and western music concerts.

The Lone Star State

Texas is known as the Lone Star State because of its history as an independent country. Mexican-Americans, also known as Chicanos, make up a large portion of the inhabitants of the Southwest – more than 25 per cent of the population of Texas and 37 per cent of the residents of New Mexico.

The influence of Mexican culture is present everywhere in this region. Tex-Mex food includes chili con carne, a spicy meat dish, and tamales, made with cornmeal and ground beef. Spanish style influences architecture and music. Spanish is also the second language of the region. Signs in Spanish and English can be found everywhere, and you can hear Spanish spoken in the street.

Black gold

Oil was first discovered in Texas in 1901. It has been very important to the Texan economy ever since, and the state is the largest producer of oil in the US.

Houston and Dallas are the centers of the state's oil industry. The headquarters of the leading oil companies in America are located in these cities, creating thousands of jobs and attracting people from all over the country.

Inland, there are oil wells throughout the state, especially along the southern coast. Offshore, platforms extract oil from under the sea in the Gulf of Mexico. Oil tankers travel inland along the Houston Ship Channel to the port of Houston to fill up with oil, which they transport to other parts of the country.

Besides, Houston is America's fourth largest city and the third largest port. The Mission Control Center at Houston monitors all NASA space flights.

The PACIFIC

Unspoilt landscapes

The states of Washington and Oregon in the Pacific Northwest have many unspoilt landscapes. The backbone of the Northwest is the Cascade Mountain Range, which is 100 miles long and has several volcanoes. Puget Sound, an inland waterway in Washington, is dotted with islands. The coastline is wild and beautiful.

Seattle (Washington) and Potrtland (Oregon) have become two of the most popular cities in America. Many people have moved to the area, especially from the congested cities of California. They are attracted by the natural beauty and more relaxed lifestyle. There are plenty of activities for those who live the outdoor life: hiking, skiing, mountain climbing, sailing, and fishing.

Both cities are cultural centers, with museums, ballet companies, and symphony orchestras. The region has also been called the New Silicon Valley, because of the recent growth of the computer industry. Seattle is a major center for manufacturing airplanes.

The great land

Alaska is the largest of the American states. Its name comes from the Aleut for “great land”. Life in Alaska has always been difficult, but the people learned to adapt to harsh climate. There are many places that cannot be reached by road, so people go by air. Planes are used to fly for food and other supplies. During the winter, there are only a few hours of sunlight, and children go to school in the dark.

For some Americans Alaska is the final frontier, because much of the state is still wild and unspoiled. The discovery of gold in 1896 in the Yukon Territory started a huge gold rush that brought thousands of settlers. They all hoped to strike it rich, but many died of cold and hunger on their way to the gold-fields. Later, people came to work in the logging and fishing industries. In the 1960s, oil was discovered in northern Alaska. It is now a major industry.

Tropical islands

Hawaii is made up of 132 tropical islands, but people only live on seven of them. In 1959, Hawaii became the fiftieth state of the United States. The largest island is called Hawaii, while the well-known tourist resort of Honolulu is on Oahu. Tourism is Hawaii’s biggest industry. People are attracted by its beautiful scenery and beaches. Surfers come to experience the high waves.

The people who originally inhabited Hawaii were Polynesians. They came form other islands far away in the Pacific before AD 1000. Later, many other Europeans and Americans came to grow pineapples and sugarcane on large plantations, and the plantation owners brought Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and Filipino workers to work for them.

Today, only 1 percent of Hawaii’s population is Polynesian. The rest of Hawaii’s citizens are from a variety of origins: about 40 percent are Japanese and Filipino, and about 30 percent are from mainland America.

TASKS

VIII. Jigsaw Activity.

Stage 1. Split up into five groups and study one American region. Together, fill in the table for your region only.

Region	States included	Main cities	Geographical phenomena	Industry	Other realias

 

Stage 2. Form new groups, so that there is a representative of one region in each group. Share the information about the regions and fill in the tables in your copy-books.

Stage 3. In the original groups, discuss which five places you would like to go in the USA. Why?

 

IX. Project.

Work in groups. Prepare a presentation of one American state. Speak about its geographical position, history, symbols, industry, the largest cities, etc. Look for some fascinating facts connected with the state.

INTERESTING FACTS

• The State flag of Alaska was designed by a teenager.
• In California people hold frog-jumping contests.
• Alabama has a statue in honor of a bug.
• Colorado is the highest state.
• Florida has many more lakes than any othe state.
• The world's longest bridge (38 km) is in Louisiana.
• Nebraska was once called the Great American Desert.
• Millions of people spend their vacation in Minnesota each year.
• Tennessee is the birthplace of much of America's music, and Nashville is the home.
• There are many old laws in the United States that can only be described as “wacky”. Though few people are ever arrested of any of the examples given below, they are still on the statute book.

California State Laws

- Animals are banned from mating publicly within 1,500 feet of a tavern, school, or place of worship.

- Women may not drive in a house coat.

- No vehicle without a driver may exceed 60 miles per hour.

In Hollywood

- It is illegal for a man to beat his wife with a strap wider than 2 inches without her consent.

- You cannot bathe two babies in the same tub at the same time.

- You may not hunt moths under a streetlight.

- It is illegal to cry at the witness stand.

- It is a crime for dogs to mate within 500 yards of a church. Breaking this law is punishable by a fine of $500 and / or six months in prison.

In San Francisco

- It is prohibited for elephants to stroll down Market Street unless they are on a leash.

- It is illegal to wipe one’s car with used underwear.

- Persons classified as “ugly” may not walk down any street.

- It is illegal to pile horse manure more than six feet high on a street corner.

TOPIC 5: CITY CENTERS

THE NATION’S CAPITAL

Washington, the capital of the United States, is in the District of Columbia (D.C.). This special district, named after Christopher Columbus, is not in any state, because it is the home of the federal government.

The city is divided into four sections: northeast (NE), northwest (NW), southeast (SE), and southwest (SW). In the center of the city there is the Capitol, where Congress meets. The President lives and works nearby in the White House. International organizations such as the Organization of American States and the World Bank are also based in Washington.

In and around Washington, D.C., there are many memorials to honor important people in American history like George Washington (Washington Monument), Thomas Jefferson (Jefferson Memorial), and Abraham Lincoln (Lincoln Memorial), and soldiers who have died in wars (Arlington National Cemetery). There are also many famous museums, including the National Air Museum and Space Museum, and the largest museum in the world – the Smithsonian Institution. It has 13 museums and galleries, as well as the National Zoo.

More than 18 million tourists from all over the world come to visit these places every year.

THE BIG APPLE

An ex-mayor of New York, Ed Koch, called New York City “The Big Apple” in a speech, and the name stuck. NYC is a financial and business center of the United States of America. It is the third largest city in the world and the largest American city. The Big Apple, as New York is often called, consists of five boroughs: Manhattan , the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn and Richmond. About 8 million people live there. New York is also called “the city that never sleeps”. During the day, the population grows to over 20 million, as workers commute to the city.

The city has been the gateway to the United States for many immigrants. Earlier, immigrants often stayed on Ellis Island before they could enter the USA. The Statue of Liberty was one of the first things they saw on arrival. Today, different nationalities live in Little Italy, Chinatown, and the Lower East Side, which was originally settled by Eastern European Jews.

When an American speaks of New York, he means Manhattan. Manhattan is an island. It is surrounded by the East River and the Hudson River. These two rivers are crossed by 50 bridges. The most famous of them are Brooklyn Bridge and George Washington Bridge. Manhattan is the heart of NYC. The streets of New York are crowded with cars and people all day long. One of the many skyscrapers is situated on the East River. It belongs to the United Nations Organization. Broadway is the best-known of New York streets. It is also the longest street in the world. In its center there is Times Square. If you look at it at night, you will understand why the Americans call it the Great White Way. The financial district of NYC is Wall Street. It is the home of the New York Stock Exchange.

The most visited New York sites include Central Park, which contain lakes, a castle and the Central Park Zoo; the Empire State Building – the tallest skyscraper in New York City – which has 102 floors, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Met is one of the largest museums in the world with nearly 2 million works of art spanning more than 5,000 years.

The CITY of ANGELS

Los Angeles is America’s second largest city. Its name comes from the Spanish for the “City of Angels”, because the land was originally claimed for Spain by missionaries in 1781. It became an American city in 1850 when California became part of the United States after the Mexican-American War.

Approximately 3.5 million people live in Los Angeles. It is a popular place because of its pleasant semi-tropical climate and beautiful Pacific coast. Almost everyone drives to work on the miles of freeways that connect the different areas of this sprawling city. There are about 4 million private cars in L.A., often backed up in long traffic jams. The level of air pollution is one of the highest in the country.

Suburbs like Hollywood, the centre of the movie industry, and Beverly Hills, where famous actors and celebrities live, have also made Los Angeles a tourist attraction.

The WINDY CITY

The third largest city in the United States, Chicago, is on the shore of Lake Michigan. Two rivers, the Chicago and the Calumet, run through the city, and canals link them with the Mississippi River, which flows down to the Gulf of Mexico. Ships can also sail from Chicago through the Great Lakes and along the Saint Lawrence Seaway to the Atlantic Ocean. Chicago is called the Windy City because of the strong winds that blow through it.

The city is famous for its dramatic skyline crowded with skyscrapers. The tallest skyscraper in the world, the Sears Tower, is here. It is 1,453 feet high.

Chicago is an industrial center. The city has always had attracted a diverse population of Americans and new immigrants in search of jobs. Its steel mills are the most productive in the world. Cattle from all over America are transported to Chicago to be turned into hamburgers and steaks. Chicago is also a railroad and trucking hub. Its airport, O’Hare International, is the busiest in the world.

Here is the verse from the poem “Chicago” by Carl Sandburg:

Hog Butcher for the World

Tool Maker, Stacker of Wheat

Player with Railroads and the Nation’s Freight Handler;

Stormy, husky, brawling,

City of the Big Shoulders.

TASKS

DIALOGUE 2. NEW YORK CITY

A: You are well acquainted with New York City, aren’t you?

B.: More or less. I’ve been to the city several times.

A: New York is the world’s largest city, isn’t it?

B.: I’m afraid, you are wrong. New York is the third largest city. But it comes first in the United States. It comprises five boroughs: Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, and Richmond.

A: Manhattan is the heart of the city, isn’t it?

B.: It is. Do you know Manhattan is an island?

A: Oh, is it?

B.: It is. And quite a large one. It’s about 12½ miles long and 2½ miles wide.

A: Twelve and a half miles is about twenty kilometers.

B.: True. On the west Manhattan is bounded by the Hudson River and on the East by the East River. Manhattan is linked to all the other boroughs by bridges, tunnels and ferries.

A: I’ve read that the Manhattan Indians sold the island to the Dutch way back in 1626.

B.: Correct. But do you know how much the Indians were paid for the island?

A: No, I’m afraid not. How much?

B.: They received trinkets worth 24 dollars.

A: Really?

B.: Yes, and a settlement was built there and named New Amsterdam. But after the British seized the colony, they renamed it New York, for the Duke of York.

A: Amazing!

DIALOGUE 3. AMERICAN CITIES

TEACHER:    Can you name the most important cities in the USA?

STUDENT:    I think I can, but you’ll have to help me a bit.

TEACHER:    Oh, I’m sure you are able to do so without my help. Well, go ahead!

STUDENT:    The capital of the USA, Washington, D.C. should be mentioned first.

TEACHER:    Right. It’s good that you started with the capital.

STUDENT:     Then comes New York, which is the largest city and seaport in the USA.

TEACHER:    What about Chicago?

STUDENT:     Chicago is the second largest city in the U.S. It is an important center of heavy industry.

TEACHER:    Do you happen to know what Chicago produces?

STUDENT:    It produces different electrical and agricultural machines.

TEACHER:    It’s also famous for its tinned meat industry, isn’t it?

STUDENT:     It is, yes. And after Chicago comes Detroit, a large city in SE Michigan. Detroit is one of the biggest producers of in the motor-car industry.

TEACHER:     You’re right! Detroit produces millions of cars. Now say a few words about Baltimore, will you?

STUDENT:     Baltimore is a large city in northern Maryland and a ship-building center.

TEACHER:   And it is also a big center of the aircraft, electronics, chemical, electrical and food industries.

STUDENT:   I think we should also mention Boston, which is a large seaport and a ship-building center.

TEACHER:   Boston also produces aeroplanes, chemical, electronic and othe machines.

STUDENT:   Another ship-building and machine building center of the USA is Philadelphia.

TEACHER:   Philadelphia is also famous for its agricultural and food industries.

STUDENT:   San Francisco is a large port and a ship-building center, the second largest city in California. Los Angeles is a port in southern California, the third largest city in the United States.

TEACHER:   What is L.A. famous for?

STUDENT:   It’s famous for Hollywood, the center of the motion-picture industry in the U.S.

 

IV. Work in pairs. Ask your partner if the facts are true to the following text:

 

Some American Proverbs

a) Better a dollar earned than ten inherited.

b) Idle hands are the devils workshop.

c) Pull yourself up by the bootstraps.

d) If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again.

e) Life is what you make it.

f) Every problem has a solution.

g) Time and tide wait for no man.

h) Time is money.

i) It’s every man for himself.

j) It’s a dog-eat-dog world.

k) The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.

l) Behind every successful man, there is a woman.

AMERICAN FOLKLORE HEROES

Legends constitute popular history, although they usually contain more fiction than fact. The most popular American legends are associated with the “lost Colony”, the Alamo, Custer’s Last Stand, the Oklahoma land rush in 1889, the Chicago fire, the San Francisco earthquake, the California Gold Rush in 1849.

Folklore heroes may be classified as patriotic figures, frontiersmen, badmen (desperadoes), supermen, occupational heroes and local characters.

Much of the work of building the nation has been done by anonymous laborers who have slightingly or humorously been represented by such typical figures as the Irish Paddy, Ching-Ching Chinaman, John Henry, Casey Jones, the forty-niners and the Okie. The frontier was difficult to explore, so many folklore characters come from it to show strength, will power and bravery. Some frontiersmen are Johnny Appleseed, Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett.

Crime has always attracted attention. On the frontier it was sometimes difficult to differentiate between outlaws and sheriffs; both had to be trigger-men. Stories of famous shootings occupy a prominent place in the American hero tradition. The famous outlaws were Billy the Kid and Jesse James

Representative figures from different regions serve as magnets for stories that show folk admiration or disapproval, e.g. the Yankee, the New England Puritan, the Pilgrim Father, the Connecticut Peddler, the Pike, the Hoosier, the Cracker, the Okies, the Arkies, the hillbillies, Father Knickerbocker, the Philadelphia Quaker are examples of symbolic characters used, like Uncle Sam, by cartoonists and editorial writers.

Many well-known, popular folk-like figures of today are to be found in newspaper comic strips, radio and TV programs, motion pictures. The motion picture cowboy, cattle rustler, sheriff and badman are examples.

Cultural Background

Johnny Appleseed – the popular name of John Chapman (1774-1845), an American pioneer, who walked around the eastern US planting apple trees, encouraging other people to plant them and spreading a type of evangelism. He is the subject of many legends and is celebrated in literature. In his journeys he carried in his bosom a few tattered books to stave off harm to him. Walking barefoot through forests abounding in venomous reptiles did not frighten him because of the holy books.

Billy the Kid – nickname of William H. Bonney (1859-1881), an American criminal who was pursued and finally shot. A desperado and symbol of the lawless West, Billy the Kid was one of the most notorious of the American Southwest. It was said that at the age of 12 he stabbed a man to death. By the time he was 18 he had a record of 12 supposed killings. Engaged extensively in cattle stealing, he was shot to death in New Mexico. Billy the Kid is the subject of many stories and films.

Daniel Boone (1735-1820) – an American pioneer who explored and settled Kentucky. He is usually pictured with a hat made of raccoon skin and is a popular hero.

Bill Buffalo – a nickname of William F. Cody (1846-1917), an American adventurer, hunter, scout, soldier and showman of the late 19^th and early 20^th century. He was involved in several military actions against Native Americans and later turned to entertainment, founding a celebrated “Wild West Show”, which was a major influence on the popular image of the romantic and exciting Old West. William Cody earned the name “Buffalo Bill” by supplying buffalo meat to the men building the Kansas-Pacific railway in 1867.

Paul Bunyan – according to old stories, a giant lumberjack from the north woods of the US and Canada who traveled with a blue ox named Babe. In American folklore, a mythical hero of superhuman size and strength. By dragging his pick he scooped out the Grand Canyon. Bunyan had a hot-cake griddle (flat pan) greased by servants who skated upon it with sides of bacon attached to their feet.

David (Davy) Crockett (1786-1836) – an American frontiersman and politician. In the popular imagination Davy Crockett wears a leather shirt and trousers and a hat made from animal skins, and carries a long gun for hunting in the forests. A well-known popular song describes him as “king of the wild frontier”.

Mike Fink (1770-1823) – a popular and admired man in the US who was famous for taking boats up and down the Mississippi River, for being a good shot and for his drinking and bragging. As a historical person, little is known of him; in the field of American legendry, he is the hero of many tall tales.

Wild Bill Hickok – a frontiersman and folk hero James Hickok (1837-1876) served as marshal in Abilene, Kansas, killing many desperatoes. In 1876, while he was engaged in a poker game, he was killed by a shot in the back. According to the reports, the hand he held when he was shot was two pairs, aces and eights. Since then this poker hand is known as “dead man’s hand”.

Jesse James (1847-1882), an outlaw. Jesse, his brother Frank and their gang committed daring robberies of banks and trains, especially in the 1880s. After a reward had been offered for James’s capture, one of his own gang shot him in the back and collected the money. Jesse James is the subject of many folk legends and songs. He became famous even in Britain, as an exciting character who is still written and sung about.

The Lone Ranger – a folklore hero and movie character always depicted riding on horseback and armed with a saddle gun and wearing a mask. Originally the word ranger was derived from the word range, which means “a wide open area over which cattle, sheep, etc. roam and graze.” In the period before the Civil War the Texas government established a semi-military organization of picked men who were used against Indians in the 1830s and against Mexicans in the 1840s. They were without uniform but always carried a six-shooter and a saddle gun. The rangers since then have gained popularity in Texas mostly through westerns. In World War II “ranger” meant a US soldier specially trained for making surprise raids and attacks in small groups. Also, people who work in US national park service are called “forest rangers”.

Bill Pecos – a hero of the cowboys, particularly those of the American Southwest. The legend is that he fell out of the wagon when his parents were moving west and was brought up by coyotes; but he discovered he was human because he had no tail, so he became a cow hand. Bill taught the broncos (small wild horses of the West) how to buck and the cowboys how to ride the broncos. He himself could ride anything (and did), from mountain lions to cyclones. According to the legend, Bill Pecos staked out New Mexico, dug the Rio Grande, invented the lasso, the six-shooter and skinned his buffaloes alive so that they could grow new hides.

Betsy Ross (1752-1836) – an American patriot, a seamstress who made flags in Philadelphia during the Revolutionary War. A widely accepted, but undocumented, story holds that she sewed the first American flag in the form of Stars and Stripes.

John Smith (1580-1631) – an English adventurer, one of the first English colonists in North America. As a promoter of the Virginia Company in London, he was among the first colonists to settle Jamestown (1607). Taken prisoner by the Indians he was condemned to death, but escaped and told the story of his rescue by the Indian princess, Pocahontas, daughter of the local chieftain.

NURSERY RHYMES

Old McDonald Had a Farm

Old McDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O,

And on this farm he had some chicks, E-I-E-I-O.

With a chick, chick here and a chick, chick there,

Here a chick, there a chick, everywhere a chick, chick.

Old McDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O.

Old McDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O,

And on this farm he had some dogs, E-I-E-I-O.

With a bow-wow here and a bow-wow there,

Here a bow, there a wow, everywhere a bow-wow;

Chick, chick here and a chick, chick there,

Here a chick, there a chick, everywhere a chick, chick.

Old McDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O.    

Old McDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O.

And on this farm he had some cows, E-I-E-I-O.

With a moo, moo here and a moo, moo there,

Here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo, moo;

Bow-wow here and a bow-wow there;

Here a bow, there a wow, everywhere a bow-wow;

Chick, chick here and a chick, chick there,

Here a chick, there a chick, everywhere a chick, chick.

Old McDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O.    

Old McDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O.

There's a Hole in my Bucket

There's a hole in my bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza,

There's a hole in my bucket, dear Liza, a hole.

Well, then, fix it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,

Well, then, fix it, dear Henry, dear Henry, fix it.

With what shall I fix it, dear Liza, dear Liza,

With what shall I fix it, dear Liza, with what?

With a straw, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,

With a straw, dear Henry, dear Henry, with a straw.

But the straw is too long, dear Liza, dear Liza,

But the straw is too long, dear Liza, too long.

Then cut it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,

Then cut it, dear Henry, dear Henry, cut it.

With what shall I cut it, dear Liza, dear Liza,

With what shall I cut it, dear Liza, with what?

With a knife, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,

With a knife, dear Henry, dear Henry, a knife.

But the knife is too dull, dear Liza, dear Liza,

But the knife is too dull, dear Liza, too dull.

Then sharpen it, dear Henry, dear Henry,

Then sharpen it, dear Henry, sharpen it.

With what shall I sharpen it, dear Liza, dear Liza,

With what shall I sharpen it, dear Liza, with what?

With a stone, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,

With a stone, dear Henry, dear Henry, a stone.

But the stone is too dry, dear Liza, dear Liza,

But the stone is too dry, dear Liza, too dry.

Then wet it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,

Then wet it, dear Henry, dear Henry, wet it.

With what shall I wet it, dear Liza, dear Liza,

With what shall I wet it, dear Liza, with what?

With water, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,

With water, dear Henry, dear Henry, water.

But there's a hole in my bucket, dear Henry, dear Henry,

There's a hole in my bucket, dear Liza, a hole!

Hush, Little Baby

Hush, little baby, don't say a word,

Papa's gonna buy you a mokingbird.

If that mockingbird don't sing,

Papa's gonna buy you a diamond ring.

If that diamond ring turns brass,

Papa's gonna buy you a looking glass.

If that looking glass should crack,

Papa's gonna buy you a jumping jack.

If that jumping jack won't hop,

Papa's gonna buy you a lollipop.

If that lollupop is gone,

Papa's goona buy you a real pup.

If that real pup won't bark,

Papa's gonna buy you a horse and a cart.

If that horse and cart fall down,

You'll still be the sweetest baby in town.

 

She'll Be Coming

She'll be coming around the mountains

When she comes.

She'll be driving six white horses

When she comes.

Oh, we'll all go out to meet her

When she comes.

Then we'll all have chicken and dumplings

When she comes.

The Farmer in the Dell

The farmer in the dell. The farmer in the dell,

Heigh-ho the derry O, the farmer in the dell.

the farmer takes a wife, the farmer takes a wife,

Heigh-ho the derry O, the farmer takes a wife.

The wife takes a child, the wife takes a child,

Heigh-ho the derry O, the wife takes a child.

The child takes a nurse, the child takes a nurse,

Heigh-ho the derry O, the child takes a nurse.

The nurse takes a dog, the nurse takes a dog,

Heigh-ho the derry O, the nurse takes a dog.

The dog takes a cat, the dog takes a cat,

Heigh-ho the derry O, the dog takes a cat.

The cat takes a rat, the cat takes a rat,

Heigh-ho the derry O, the cat takes a rat.

The rat takes the cheese, the rat takes the cheese,

Heigh-ho the derry O, the rat takes the cheese.

The cheese stands alone, the cheese stands alone,

Heigh-ho the derry O, the cheese stands alone.

Green Grass

There was a tree (2) in the middle of the woods (2),

The prettiest tree (2) that you ever did see (2),

And the green grass grew all round and round,

And the green grass grew all round.

And on this tree (2), there was a branch (2),

The prettiest branch (2) that you ever did see (2).

Well, the branch on the tree, and the tree in the woods,

And the green grass grew all round and round,

And the green grass grew all round.

And on this branch (2), there was a twig (2),

The prettiest twig (2) that you ever did see (2).

Well, the twig on the branch, and the branch on the tree,

And the tree in the woods,

And the green grass grew all round and round,

And the green grass grew all round.

And on this twig (2), there was a nest (2),

The prettiest nest (2) that you ever did see (2).

Well, the nest on the twig, and the twig on the branch,

And the branch on the tree, and the tree in the woods,

And the green grass grew all round and round,

And the green grass grew all round.

And in this nest (2), there was an egg (2),

The prettiest egg (2) that you ever did see (2).

Well, the egg in the nest, and the nest on the twig,

And the twig on the branch, and the branch on the tree,

And the tree in the woods,

And the green grass grew all round and round,

And the green grass grew all round.

And in this egg (2), there was a bird (2),

The prettiest bird (2) that you ever did see (2).

Well, the bird in the egg, and the egg in the nest,

And the nest on the twig, and the twig on the branch,

And the branch on the tree, and the tree in the woods,

And the green grass grew all round and round,

And the green grass grew all round.

And on this bird (2), there was a wing (2),

The prettiest wing (2) that you ever did see (2).

Well, the wing on the bird, and the bird in the egg,

And the egg in the nest, and the nest on the twig,

And the twig on the branch, and the branch on the tree,

And the tree in the woods,

And the green grass grew all round and round,

And the green grass grew all round.

 

Little Red Caboose

Little red caboose (2), little red caboose behind the train,

Smokestack on its back, coming down the track,

Little red caboose behind the train.

Little red caboose (2), little red caboose behind the train,

Coming round the bend, hanging on the end,

Little red caboose behind the train.

 

There Was an Old Lady

There was an old lady who swallowed a fly,

I don’t know why she swallowed a fly,

Perhaps she’ll die.

There was an old lady who swallowed a spider,

Who wiggled and wiggled and jiggled inside her.

She swallowed the spider to catch the fly,

I don’t know why she swallowed a fly,

Perhaps she’ll die.

There was an old lady who swallowed a bird,

How absurd to swallow a bird!

She swallowed the bird to catch the spider

Who wiggled and wiggled and jiggled inside her.

She swallowed the spider to catch the fly,

I don’t know why she swallowed a fly,

Perhaps she’ll die.

There was an old lady who swallowed a cat,

Imagine that, she swallowed a cat!

She swallowed the cat to catch the bird,

She swallowed the bird to catch the spider

Who wiggled and wiggled and jiggled inside her.

She swallowed the spider to catch the fly,

I don’t know why she swallowed a fly,

Perhaps she’ll die.

There was an old lady who swallowed a dog,

What a hog, to swallow a dog!

She swallowed the dog to catch the cat,

She swallowed the cat to catch the bird,

She swallowed the bird to catch the spider

Who wiggled and wiggled and jiggled inside her.

She swallowed the spider to catch the fly,

I don’t know why she swallowed a fly,

Perhaps she’ll die.

There was an old lady who swallowed a cow,

I don’t know why she swallowed a cow.

She swallowed the cow to catch the dog,

She swallowed the dog to catch the cat,

She swallowed the cat to catch the bird,

She swallowed the bird to catch the spider

Who wiggled and wiggled and jiggled inside her.

She swallowed the spider to catch the fly,

I don’t know why she swallowed a fly,

Perhaps she’ll die.

There was an old lady who swallowed a horse,

She’s dead, of course!

Jennie Jenkins

Will you wear white, oh, my dear, oh, my dear?

Will you wear white, Jennie Jenkins?

No, I won't wear white for the color's too bright,

I'll buy me a fol-de-roy-dy, til-de-tol-dy, seek-a-double,

Use-a-cause-a, roll-a-find-me, roll, Jennie Jenkins, roll.

Will you wear blue, oh, my dear, oh, my dear?

Will you wear blue, Jennie Jenkins?

No, I won't wear blue, 'cause blue won't do,

I'll buy me a fol-de-roy-dy, til-de-tol-dy, seek-a-double,

Use-a-cause-a, roll-a-find-me, roll, Jennie Jenkins, roll.

Will you wear red, oh, my dear, oh, my dear?

Will you wear red, Jennie Jenkins?

No, I won't wear red, it's a color of my head,

I'll buy me a fol-de-roy-dy, til-de-tol-dy, seek-a-double,

Use-a-cause-a, roll-a-find-me, roll, Jennie Jenkins, roll.

Will you wear pink, oh, my dear, oh, my dear?

Will you wear pink, Jennie Jenkins?

No, I won't wear pink, I'd rather drink ink,

I'll buy me a fol-de-roy-dy, til-de-tol-dy, seek-a-double,

Use-a-cause-a, roll-a-find-me, roll, Jennie Jenkins, roll.

Billy Boy

- Oh, where have you been, Billy Boy, Billy Boy?

Oh, where have you been, charming Billy?

- I have been to see my wife, she's a joy of my life!

She's a young thing and cannot leave her mother.

- Did she ask you to come in, Billy Boy, Billy Boy?

Did she ask you to come in, charming Billy?

- Yes, she asked me to come in, there’s a dimple in her chin!

She's a young thing and cannot leave her mother.

- Can she make a cherry pie, Billy Boy, Billy Boy?

Can she make a cherry pie, charming Billy?

- She can make a cherry pie quick, as a cat can wink an eye! 

She's a young thing and cannot leave her mother.

- Can she make a feather bed, Billy Boy, Billy Boy?

Can she make a feather bed, charming Billy?

- She can make a feather bed quick, as you can nod a head! 

She's a young thing and cannot leave her mother.

- How old is she, Billy Boy, Billy Boy? How old is she, charming Billy?

- Three times six and four times seven, twenty-eight and eleven - 

She's a young thing and cannot leave her mother!

 

She Waded in the Water

She waded in the water and she got her feet all wet (3 times),

But she didn’t get her wet yet.

Chorus: Glory, glory, Hullelujah (3 times),

But she didn’t get her wet yet.

She waded in the water and she got her ankles wet (3 times),

But she didn’t get her wet yet.

Chorus: Glory, glory, Hullelujah (3 times),

But she didn’t get her wet yet.

She waded in the water and she got her knees all wet (3 times),

But she didn’t get her wet yet.

Chorus: Glory, glory, Hullelujah (3 times),

But she didn’t get her wet yet.

She waded in the water and she got her thighs all wet (3 times),

But she didn’t get her wet yet.

Chorus: Glory, glory, Hullelujah (3 times),

But she didn’t get her wet yet.

She waded in the water and finally got it wet (3 times),

She finally got her bathing suit wet!

Clementine

In the cavern, in a canyon,

Excavating for a mine,

Dwelt a miner, forty-niner,

And his daughter Clementine.

Chorus: Oh, my darling, oh, my darling,

Oh, my darling Clementine,

You are lost and gone forever,

Dreadful sorry, Clementine.

Light she was, and like a fairy,

And her shoes were number nine,

Herring boxes without topses

Sandals were for Clementine.

Chorus.

Drove she ducklings to the water

Every morning just at nine,

Hit her foot against a splinter,

Fell into the foaming brine.

Chorus.

Ruby lips above the water,

Blowing bubbles soft and fine,

But, alas, I was no swimmer,

So, I lost my Clementine.

Chorus.

How I missed her! How I missed her!

How I missed my Clementine!

Then I kissed her little sister,

And forgot my Clementine.

Chorus.

COUNTING RHYMES

My Mother and Your Mother

My mother and your mother live across the way,

Two-fourteen East Broadway.

Every night they have a fight

And this is what they say:

Acka backa soda cracka,

Acka backa boo.

If your father chews tobacka,

OUT goes Y-O-U!

A Swarm of Bees

A swarm of bees in May

Is worth a load of hay.

A swarm of bees in June

Is worth a silver moon.

A swarm of bees in July

Is not worth a fly.

LEGENDS

Cherokee Bear Legend

In the long ago time, there was a Cherokee Clan called the Ani-Tsa-gu-hi (Ahnee-Jah-goo-hee), and in one family of this clan was a boy who used to leave home and be gone all day in the mountains. After a while he went oftener and stayed longer, until at last he would not eat in the house at all, but started off at daybreak and did not come back until night. His parents scolded, but that did no good, and the boy still went every day until they noticed that long brown hair was beginning to grow out all over his body. Then they wondered and asked him why it was that he wanted to be so much in the woods that he would not even eat at home. Said the boy, "I find plenty to eat there, and it is better than the corn and beans we have in the settlements, and pretty soon I am going into the woods to say all the time." His parents were worried and begged him not leave them, but he said, "It is better there than here, and you see I am beginning to be different already, so that I can not live here any longer. If you will come with me, there is plenty for all of us and you will never have to work for it; but if you want to come, you must first fast seven days." The father and mother talked it over and then told the headmen of the clan. They held a council about the matter and after everything had been said they decided: "Here we must work hard and have not always enough. There he says is always plenty without work. We will go with him." So they fasted seven days, and on the seventh morning al the Ani-Tsa-gu-hi left the settlement and started for the mountains as the boy led the way.

When the people of the other towns heard of it they were very sorry and sent their headmen to persuade the Ani Tsaguhi to stay at home and not go into the woods to live. The messengers found them already on the way, and were surprised to notice that their bodies were beginning to be covered with hair like that of animals, because for seven days they had not taken human food and their nature was changing. The Ani Tsaguhi would not come back, but said, "We are going where there is always plenty to eat. Hereafter we shall be called Yonv(a) (bears), and when you yourselves are hungry come into the woods and call us and we shall shall come to give you our own flesh. You need not be afraid to kill us, for we shall live always." Then they taught the messengers the songs with which to call them and bear hunters have these songs still. When they had finished the songs, the Ani Tsaguhi started on again and the messengers turned back to the settlements, but after going a little way they looked back and saw a drove of bears going into the woods.

Aho! We are all Related!

The Pleiades

A long time ago a party of Indians went through the woods toward a good hunting-ground, which they had long known. They traveled several days through a very wild country, going on leisurely and camping by the way.

At last they reached Kan-ya-ti-yo, "the beautiful lake," where the gray rocks were crowned with great forest trees. Fish swarmed in the waters, and at every jutting point the deer came down from the hills around to bathe or drink of the lake. On the hills and in the valleys were huge beech and chestnut trees, where squirrels chattered, and bears came to take their morning and evening meals.

The chief of the band was Hah-yah-no, "Tracks in the water," and he halted his party on the lake shore that he might return thanks to the Great Spirit for their safe arrival at this good hunting-ground. "Here will we build our lodges for the winter, and may the Great Spirit, who has prospered us on our way, send us plenty of game, and health and peace." The Indian is always thankful.

The pleasant autumn days passed on. The lodges had been built, and hunting had prospered, when the children took a fancy to dance for their own amusement. They were getting lonesome, having little to do, and so they met daily in a quiet spot by the lake to have what they called their jolly dance. They had done this a long time, when one day a very old man came to them. They had seen no one like him before. He was dressed in white feathers, and his white hair shone like silver. If his appearance was strange, his words were unpleasant as well. He told them they must stop their dancing, or evil would happen to them. Little did the children heed, for they were intent on their sport, and again and again the old man appeared, repeating his warning.

The mere dances did not afford all the enjoyment the children wished, and a little boy, who liked a good dinner, suggested a feast the next time they met. The food must come from their parents, and all these were asked when they returned home. "You will waste and spoil good victuals," said one. "You can eat at home as you should," said another, and so they got nothing at all. Sorry as they were for this, they met and danced as before. A little to eat after each dance would have made them happy indeed. Empty stomachs cause no joy.

One day, as they danced, they found themselves rising little by little into the air, their heads being light through hunger. How this happened they did not know, but one said, "Do not look back, for something strange is taking place." A woman, too, saw them rise, and called them back, but with no effect, for they still rose slowly above the earth. She ran to the camp, and all rushed out with food of every kind, but the children would not return, though their parents called piteously after them. But one would even look back, and he became a falling star. The others reached the sky, and are now what we call the Pleiades, and the Onondagas Oot-kwa-tah. Every falling or shooting star recalls the story, but the seven stars shine on continuously, a pretty band of dancing children.

 

TALL TALES

Johnny Appleseed

An Ohio Legend

Johnny Appleseed was a hermit and a wanderer who was welcomed wherever he went in the Ohio territory. Everyone loved him, in spite of his unkempt appearance. He always carried a sack full of apple seeds to plant, and walked barefoot all year round. He knew the frontier woods better than anyone. Even the Indians respected Johnny Appleseed for his courage.

When the War of 1812 began, many Indians allied themselves with the British, seeking to revenge injustices done to their people by the settlers. They attacked up and down the Ohio territory, but they left Johnny Appleseed alone. Taking advantage of his position, Johnny Appleseed became the Paul Revere of the Ohio territory, warning settlers of danger.

On one occasion, Johnny Appleseed learned that a band of Indians had laid siege on the town of Mansfield, Ohio. Johnny Appleseed ran twenty-six miles through the forest to Mt. Vernon to obtain help for the settlers. As he ran, he tried to warn other settlers along the path of the danger by blowing on an old powder horn. Aid reached the town within a day, and the settlers were spared, thanks to the bravery of Johnny Appleseed.

Pecos Bill Rides a Tornado

A Kansas Tall Tale

Now everyone in the West knows that Pecos Bill could ride anything. No bronco could throw him, no sir! Fact is, I only heard of Bill getting' throwed once in his whole career as a cowboy. Yep, it was that time he was up Kansas way and decided to ride him a tornado.

Now Bill wasn't gonna ride jest any tornado, no ma'am. He waited for the biggest gol-durned tornado you ever saw. It was turning the sky black and green, and roaring so loud it woke up the farmers away over in China. Well, Bill jest grabbed that there tornado, pushed it to the ground and jumped on its back. The tornado whipped and whirled and sidewinded and generally cussed its bad luck all the way down to Texas. Tied the rivers into knots, flattened all the forests so bad they had to rename one place the Staked Plains. But Bill jest rode along all calm-like, give it an occasional jab with his spurs.

Finally, that tornado decided it wasn't getting this cowboy off its back no-how. So it headed west to California and jest rained itself out. Made so much water it washed out the Grand Canyon. That tornado was down to practically nothing when Bill finally fell off. He hit the ground so hard it sank below sea level. Folks call the spot Death Valley.

Anyway, that's how rodeo got started. Though most cowboys stick to broncos these days.

Daniel Boone's Dear

A North Carolina Legend

Late one night, Daniel Boone and a friend went out fire hunting. Fire hunting involves the shining of the light from a fire pan (a pan full of blazing pine knots) into the woods. The light reflects in the eyes of the deer, which is too dazzled to run and the hunters can shoot it.

This night, as they neared a creek bed, Daniel Boone caught a glimpse of blue eyes shining in the darkness. He dismounted from his horse and aimed his rifle, but found himself unable to shoot. He had never seen a blue eyed deer. A rustle told him his prey had fled, and he followed it over a fence and into a meadow. The moonlight told him his "deer" had really been a young woman, and fate had kept him from shooting her. He followed her to the house, where he was met by her father, a close neighbor.

The father welcomed him in, and while they were still greeting one another, a young boy and girl burst into the room, babbling excitedly about their older sister's adventures. She appeared in the doorway, still flushed from her flight, the light shining on her gold hair. Daniel Boone was smitten. Her father introduced her as Rebecca. Being a determined sort of fellow, Daniel proceeded to woo Rebecca as doggedly as he once chased her across the fields, and did not give up until he had won the heart of the maid.

Paul Bunyan's Kitchen

Oregon Tall Tale

One winter, Paul Bunyan came to log along the Little Gimlet in Oregon. Ask any old timer who was logging that winter, and they'll tell you I ain't lying when I say his kitchen covered about ten miles of territory.

That stove, now, she were a grand one. An acre long, taller than a scrub pine, and when she was warm, she melted the snow for about twenty miles around. The men logging in the vicinity never had to put on their jackets 'til about noon on a day when Paul Bunyan wanted flapjacks.

It was quite a site to see, that cook of Paul Bunyan's making flapjacks. Cookie would send four of the boys up with a side of hog tied to each of their snowshoes, and they'd skate around up there keeping the griddle greased while Cookie and seven other men flipped flapjacks for Paul Bunyan. Took them about an hour to make enough flapjacks to fill him up. The rest of us had to wait our turn.

The table we had set up for the camp was about ten miles long. We rigged elevators to the table to bring the vittles to each end, and some of the younger lads in the camp rode bicycles down the path at the center, carrying cakes and such wherever they were called for.

We had one mishap that winter. Babe the Blue Ox accidentally knocked a bag of dried peas off the countertop when he swished his tail. Well, them peas flew so far and so fast out of the kitchen that they knocked over a dozen loggers coming home for lunch, clipped the tops off of several pine trees, and landed in the hot spring. We had pea soup to eat for the rest of the season, which was okay by me, but them boys whose Mama's insisted they bath more than once a year were pretty sore at losing their swimming hole.

Casey Jones

A Tennessee Legend

Casey Jones, that heroic railroad engineer of the Cannonball, was known as the man who always brought the train in on time. He would blow the whistle so it started off soft but would increase to a wail louder than a banshee before dying off. Got so as people would recognize that whistle and know when Casey was driving past.

April 29, 1900, Casey brought the Cannonball into Memphis dead on time. As he was leaving, he found out one of the other engineers was sick and unable to make his run. So Casey volunteered to help out his friend. He pulled the train out of the station about eleven p.m., an hour and thirty-five minutes late. Casey was determined to make up the time. As soon as he could, he highballed out of Memphis (highballing means to go very fast and take a lot of risks to get where your headed) and started making up for lost time.

About four a.m., when he had nearly made up all the time on the run, Casey rounded a corner near Vaughin, Mississippi and saw a stalled freight train on the track. He shouted for his fireman to jump. The fireman made it out alive, but Casey Jones died in the wreck, one hand on the brake and one on the whistle chord.

Jesse James and the Widow

A Missouri Folktale

One day, as Jesse James and his gang were riding through Missouri, they saw a farmhouse and stopped to ask for something to eat. A widow lived there with three small children. She didn't have much in the house, but shared with them what she had.

It was while they were eating lunch that Jesse James noticed that something was bothering this generous widow. He questioned her about it, and she broke down and told him her story. The mortgage was due on the house that very day, and since her husband had died, she did not have the money to pay it. Her landlord was not a generous man, and was sure to put her children and herself out on the street.

"How much money do you need to pay the mortgage?" Jesse asked the widow.

"Fifteen hundred dollars," the widow sobbed.

Jesse James took out his money bag, counted out $1500 dollars and presented it to the widow.

"I can't take this," she protested, but Jesse James insisted she use the money to pay off the mortgage.

"Just make sure you get a receipt," he warned her, and she promised that she would. Then he got a description of the man, and left with his gang.

Jesse James and his gang waited in the woods near the house until the man had collected his money from the widow. Then they rode out onto the road and stole their money back from the landlord.

AMERICAN TRADITIONAL SONGS

 

BIRTHDAY

Witches’ Brew

Dead leaves, seaweed, rotten eggs, too;

Stir them in my witches’ brew.

I got magic, ala-ka-zama-ka-zoo.

Spider web, mouldy bread, mucky mud, too;

Stir them in my witches’ brew.

I got magic, ala-ka-zama-ka-zoo.

Ooh, my witches’ brew,

Ooh, what’s it gonna do to you? Boo!

Floorwax, thumtacks, purple paint, too;

Stir them in my witches’ brew.

I got magic, ala-ka-zama-ka-zoo.

Fingernails, lunch pails, apple cores, too;

Stir them in my witches’ brew.

I got magic, ala-ka-zama-ka-zoo.

Ooh, my witches’ brew,

Ooh, what’s it gonna do to you? Boo!

Wrinkled prunes, mushrooms, motor oil, too;

Stir them in my witches’ brew.

I got magic, ala-ka-zama-ka-zoo.

Yeah, yeah, I got magic, ala-ka-zama-ka-zoo.

 

THANKSGIVING

Happy Thanksgiving to All

by Steve Millang

Chorus: Happy Thanksgiving, Happy Thanksgiving,

                       Happy Thanksgiving to all.

It’s time to show what we’re thankful for,

Our mothers, our fathers, our friends and much more.

The toys that we have

The things we hold dear to our hearts,

They’re part of this wonderful world,

The wonderful world that we share.

Let’s show that we care.

Repeat chorus twice

The table is set as we gather ‘round,

With family and friends we all sit down

To the feast that we’ve made

Let’s all lift our voices and say,

“We’re part of this wonderful world,

The wonderful world that we share.

Let’s show that we care.”

Repeat chorus

 

CHRISTMAS

Aura Lee

    This song was popular with the Confederate army during the Civil War. The tune was later used by Elvis Presley for his famous song “Love Me Tender”.

 

As the blackbird in the spring

‘Neath the willow tree

Sat and piped, I heard him sing,

Sing of Aura Lee.

              Chorus: Aura Lee, Aura Lee,

                                 Maid of golden hair.

                                 Sunshine came along with thee

                                 And swallows in the air.

 

On her cheek the rose was born.

‘Twas music when she spake.

In her eyes the rays of morn

With sudden splendor breaks.

              Chorus.

 

PRESIDENTS’ DAY

Yankee Doodle

Yankee Doodle went to town a-riding on a pony;

Stuck a feather in his cap and called it macaroni.

              Chorus: Yankee Doodle, keep it up,

Yankee Doodle Dandy;

Mind the music and the step,

And with the girls be handy.

Father and I went down to camp along with Captain Gooding,

And there we saw the men and boys as thick as hasty pudding.

              Chorus.

There was Captain Washington upon a slapping stallion,

A-giving orders to his men, I guess there was a million.

              Chorus.

 

ST. PATRICK’S DAY

The Pancake Song

Mix a pancake, stir a pancake,

Drop it in the pan.

Fry the pancake, toss the pancake,

Catch it if you can.

 

 

MEMORIAL DAY

John Brown’s Body

    During the Civil War, the song was popular with the Union soldiers.

 

John Brown’s body lies amouldrin’ in the grave (repeat 3 times),

But his soul goes marching on.

              Chorus: Glory, glory, Hallelujah!

(repeat 3 times),

His soul goes marching on!

He’s gone to be a soldier in the army of the Lord (repeat 3 times),

But his soul goes marching on.

              Chorus.

John Brown died that the slaves might be free (repeat 3 times),

But his soul goes marching on.

              Chorus.

 

TASKS

FESTIVALS AND FAIRS

Each year in the US there are festivals to celebrate almost everything you can think of. Some festivals are only for a day, while others last for a few months. Some are serious, and some are funny and noisy. Some attract thousands of people, and some just a few.

Festivals that many people enjoy are the state fairs. These are usually at the end of summer. Farmers enter their animals in competitions and hope to win a ribbon: blue or purple (first), red (second), or white (third). There are also prizes for the biggest and best crops and for homemade food, clothes, toys, etc. there are rodeos and square dances, and often famous entertainers.

Each part of the US has its own special festivals. When people from Europe, Europe, Asia, and Latin America came to live in different parts of the USA, they brought their celebrations with them. For example, there are Oktoberfests (German), Nordland festivals (Norwegian), Tulip Time (Dutch), Chinese New Year, and cherry blossom festivals (Japanese). These celebrations have their own special food, drink and entertainment.

One of the best known festivals in the world is “Mardi Gras”. It takes place early in the year in New Orleans, Louisiana. For two weeks there are big parades, parties, and dances. When the parades pass by, everyone shouts, “Throw me something, Mister!” and they fight to catch the small presents thrown to them. Mardi Gras brings many musicians from all over the world to New Orleans, the home of Jazz music.

Not all festivals are as famous as Mardi Gras. You can go to the National Hollering Festival, or the Missouri World Championship Goose Callin’ Contest or the Iowa Hobo Convention.

EVERYDAY LIFE

When Americans are introduced for the first time, they usually shake hands. When they meet friends or relatives they haven’t seen for a while, they sometimes kiss them on the cheek. It is common for two women or a man and a woman to kiss in this way, but men almost never kiss each other on the cheek.

America is a friendly country. In small towns people say “hello” to friends and strangers on the street. Even in cities, strangers may start up a conversation. Waiters in restaurants will often introduce themselves by name, and talk with customers as they serve them. When the customers leave, they will take them to “take care” or “have a nice day”. Sometimes foreigners feel Americans are too friendly. People you have just met may ask you personal questions or tell you all about themselves.

Many people take a bottle of wine or some flowers when they are invited to dinner at someone’s home. At a “pot luck” dinner, all the guests bring something to eat. You should ask your hosts what kind of food they would like you to bring. Usually it is a salad, vegetables, or a dessert. When you are invited to dinner, it is usual to arrive ten or fifteen minutes late. This gives the hosts time to finish their preparations.

Americans love to get together and to have parties. Traditional party occasions are a birthday, moving to a new house, a wedding, New Year’s Eve, and the Fourth of July. “Bridal showers” are for women who are getting married, and “baby showers” are for women who have just had a baby. All the guests bring a useful present for the new home or the new baby.

In the US there aren’t too many “rules” for different social occasions. Americans like to relax and enjoy themselves, and most social occasions are informal.

AMERICAN SOCIAL RELATIONS

• American society is much more informal than that of many other countries.
• When someone praises an American upon his achievement or upon his personal appearances, which is a very polite thing to do in America, the Americans turns it aside.
• Students do not rise when a teacher enters a room.
• A teacher though friendly, pleasant and informal in class, expects students to study hard, and he grades each student’s work critically and carefully. He also expects to be treated with respect.
• Americans are likely to admit and laugh at their own mistakes.
• Many adults and teenagers are involved in volunteer work and raise money for charitable purposes or work in hospitals.

AMERICAN SUPERSTITIONS

Good Luck

• To see a white cat on the road is lucky.
• When moving to a new home, put the cat in through the window, not the door, so that it will not leave.
• Mistletoe in the house protects it from thunder and lightning. It also cures many diseases, is an antidote to poison and brings good luck and fertility.
• Put salt on the doorstep of a new house and no evil can enter.
• Seeing a spider run down a web in the afternoon means you'll take a trip.
• If a black cat walks towards you, it brings good fortune, but if it walks away, it takes the good luck with it.
• A cat onboard a ship is considered to bring luck.
• For good luck throughout the year, wear new clothes on Easter.

Bad Luck

• It is bad luck to see a white cat at night.
• Never put your shoes on the bed, that means a death in your family.
• Do not give your partners the following items as gifts: shoes - encourages them to walk out of the relationship; perfumes - attracts a third party that can break up the relationship; bags – encourages them to pack and leave the relationship.
• If a bird flies into a house, it is a sign of death.
• It is a bad luck to walk under a ladder.
• It's bad luck to let milk boil over.
• If a mirror in the house falls and breaks by itself, someone in the house will die soon.
• It is bad luck to see an owl in the sunlight.
• If 3 people are photographed together, the one in the middle will die first.
• Dropping an umbrella on the floor means that there will be a murder in the house.
• It's bad luck to open an umbrella inside the house, especially if you put it over your head.
• Seeing an ambulance is very unlucky unless you pinch your nose or hold your breath until you see a black or a brown dog.
• If you say good-bye to a friend on a bridge, you will never see each other again.
• If someone is sweeping the floor and sweeps over your feet, you'll never get married.
• It is bad luck to light three cigarettes with the same match.
• It is bad luck to cut your fingernails on Friday or Sunday.
• It brings bad luck for a flag to touch the ground.
• It is bad luck to kill a ladybug.
• It will cause a quarrel if knives are crossed at the table.

AMERICAN GESTURES

Since gestures have different meanings in different parts of the world, they can also cause confusion. Here are five gestures common in the U.S.A. and the English-speaking portions of Canada which may confuse newcomers to North America.

The "come here" gesture: With the palm up, the forefinger wiggled at the person summoned. This gesture is rarely made to a superior, but is commonly used among peers, or in summoning service personnel (such as a waiter or porter). It is also sometimes used in sexual situations, when it is archaically referred to as a "come hither" gesture. It is confusing to some foreigners, since most of the world uses a full-hand scooping motion to summon a person.

The peace sign (also known as "V for victory"): With the palm out, forefinger and index fingers are pointed upwards and split into the shape of a "V." This sign achieved its greatest popularity in North America during the 1960s, when it came to signify "peace." Winston Churchill popularized it in the U.K. earlier, as the "V for victory" sign during the Second World War.

The meaning of this sign does not change in the U.S.A. if it is accidentally done backwards (with the palm in rather than out). However, it becomes an obscene gesture in the U.K. when reversed in this manner. English-speaking Canadians may also recognize this meaning. In a contemporary business setting, it is more likely to be used for its "V for victory" meaning.

Thumbs up: With an outstretched fist, the thumb is extended straight up. "Thumbs up" as a positive gesture quickly gained popularity in the U.S.A., especially as a visual signal in noisy environments. Pilots unable to shout "All's well!" or "Ready!" over the noise of their engines used it frequently. With a slight backwards tilt, this gesture is used for hitchhiking. However, in most of the Middle East and parts of Africa (notably Nigeria), this symbol can be obscene. It Japan, the thumb is considered the fifth digit; a raised thumb will order five of something!

The "A-OK" sign: With the palm out, the thumb and forefinger are curled into a circle, while the other fingers are extended upwards.

While this means "all's well" in North America, in France it signifies "zero" or "nothing," and in Denmark or Italy it can be taken as an insult. In Brazil, Guatemala and Paraguay, it is considered very obscene.

Pointing: A single outstretched finger (usually the index finger, sometimes the thumb) to designate an object or person.

Although "it's not polite to point," children - and many adults - frequently do. Pointing at objects is not considered rude, and useful for foreign nationals who don't know the name of something. Pointing at people is not polite, perhaps because of its use in court, to point out wrongdoers. In many cultures, pointing is done with a toss of the head, a thrust of the chin, or even a pursing of the lips. In Asia, the entire open hand is used, except in Malaysia, where the thumb is preferred.

CULTURAL PATTERNS

• Americans like to do one thing at a time.
• One-on-one conversation. It is rude to interrupt conversing people. Attention is exclusive, undivided.
• Americans concentrate on the job. They hate being interrupted.
• Americans take time commitments seriously. When the deadlines are fixed they should be observed. Everybody tries to meet the deadline. Schedules are also sacred.
• Americans are committed to the job. In everyday life it means that if a person says he has an 11 o’clock appointment nobody will detain him.
• Americans religiously adhere to plans. They always try not to change anything in their plans.
• Americans follow the rules of privacy. Interruptions in counseling, advising, conversations are rude.
• Americans seldom borrow or lend money from each other.
• Americans are believed to care more for things than people or relationships. They seem to place more emphasis on subjective and emotions decisions. Success is frequently measured with material things.
• American culture is heterogeneous, more diverse. Ethnic diversity is not limited by the territory. In the passport nationality is not shown. Formally there is only nationality: American.
• The message of an American is entirely in the words, there is no need to read between the lines.
• In the USA there is greater separation of business and friends/family; more isolated relationships, one set of acquaintances doesn’t know what the other set knows, or what you know.
• At meetings the Americans focus on the task. Speakers stick to the agenda.
• The Americans speak more directly, ready to say “no”.
• Business is not done off the job or after hours. Parties are for socializing. But on the other hand, there are business parties when participants discuss business things over lunch.

 

HOLIDAYS IN THE USA

People in every culture celebrate holidays. Although the word “holiday” literary means “holy day”, most American holidays are not religious, but commemorative in nature and origin. In the USA, the word “holiday” is synonymous with “celebration”!

In the strict sense, there are no national holidays in the United States. Each of the 50 states established its own legal holidays. The federal government, through the President and the Congress, can legally set holidays only for federal employees and for the District of Columbia. Most states, however, accept the federal legal holidays. Holidays for all federal offices, most states and local government offices, and many (but not all) businesses are:

New Year’s Day (January 1)

Martin Luther King Day (traditional – January 15; official – third Monday in January)

Presidents’ Day(third Monday in February)

Memorial Day (traditional – May 30; official – last Monday in May)

Independence Day (July 4)

Labor Day (first Monday in September)

Columbus Day (traditional – October 12; official – second Monday in October)

Veteran’s Day (traditional – November 11; official – second Monday in November)

Thanksgiving (fourth Thursday in November)

Christmas (December 25)

In the 1971, the dates of many federal holidays were officially moved to the nearest Monday by then – president Richard Nixon. But there are four holidays which are not necessarily celebrated on Mondays. When New Year’s Day, Independence Day, or Christmas falls on a Sunday, the next day is also a holiday. When one of these holidays falls on a Saturday, the previous day is also a holiday.

Federal government offices, including the post office, are always closed on all federal legal holidays. Schools and businesses close on major holidays like Independence Day and Christmas but many not always be closed, for example, on Veteran’s Day.

The many religious holidays such as Good Friday, Hanukkah, or Ramadan are observed, of course, by the religious, but they have no national, or official legal status. Rather, each state sets its own laws, and whether or not an employee is given time off also depends on labor agreements.

There are many traditional holidays, observed by a large number of Americans, which are also neither legal nor official. Among these are Groundhog Day, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Mother’s Day, and Halloween.

You can thumb through an ordinary calendar and discover many special days i.e. “minor holidays” which are observed by a relatively small number of people or by a particular interest group. For example, Girl Scouts’ Birthday (March 12), Citizenship Day (September 17), United Nations Day (October 24), would have limited observance.

Cultural Background

“Treat or Trick” («угощай, или мы тебя проучим») – a traditional cry of children who go round the neighborhood on Halloween.

Beggar’s Night («ночь попрошаек») – another name for Halloween.

Easter Parade (пасхальное шествие) – a parade on Easter Day during which women wear Easter bonnets (hats).

Washington ’s cherry tree (вишня Вашингтона) – according to the legend, little George Washington cut off a cherry tree and confessed in it. Washington cherry tree is associated with Washington ’s birthday (February 12).

Yule log (рождественское полено) – a big log burnt on Christmas Eve.

Forefathers’ Day (День предков) – the day of remembrance of the landing of the pilgrims in Plymouth in December 21, 1620. the day is celebrated in New England States.

Indian summer (бабье лето)

Black Monday (черный понедельник) – school slang – the first day at school after holidays.

Scavenger hunt (соревнование в поиске спрятанных предметов)

Inauguration Day (День инаугурации) – the official day of the beginning of a president’s term of office – January 20 – in a year following the leap year.

 

TASKS

 

II. Answer the questions.

1. What are state fairs?

2. When do these fairs take place?

3. Do farmers enter their animals in competitions?

4. What famous entertainers are there during the state fairs?

5. What other festivals are there in different parts of the US?

6. What is one of the best known festivals in the world?

7. How long does this festival last?

8. Can strangers start up a conversation even in cities?

9. What do foreigners feel sometimes?

 

III. ☼ Would you like to visit any festivals and fairs in the US? Why?

IV. Group work. Discuss American superstitions. Which of them are similar to the Russian ones? the British ones? Which of them surprised you most?

V. Study the American cultural patterns and say what misunderstandings with the Russians can emerge from the differences.

VI. Translate into English and comment on the following realias: День сурка, День благодарения, День поминовения погибших в войнах, День ветеранов, День предков, «ночь попрошаек».

 

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.

A: Can you name some of the main public holidays in the USA?

B: Do you mean those which are celebrated in all the states?

A: Yes, that's exactly what I mean.

B: Well, I'll try. Let's start with the first holiday in the year – New Year's Day.

A: I'm sure on this day all the banks, stores, factories and educational establishments are closed, aren't they?

B: They are. People do not go to bed until after midnight on December, 31^st.

A: Sure, people everywhere like to see the old year out and the new year in.

B: Such a holiday as Decoration Day or Memorial Day as it is also called, is observed in most states of the USA as a day of remembrance for all Americans killed in wars.

A: When is Decoration Day observed?

B: On the last Monday in May.

A: I hear that on this day patriotic songs are sung on the radio and TV.

B: That's true.

A: Which is the biggest holiday in the USA?

B: It is the Independence Day, or it is simply called The Fourth of July.

A: On the 4^th of July, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was signed and adopted, wasn't it?

B: You are right! That's when the event took place.

A: How is the holiday celebrated?

B: It is celebrated with firing of guns and fireworks, parades and patriotic speeches.

A: Veteran's Day is another public holiday which is celebrated throughout the United States, isn't it?

B: Right you are! They celebrate it by holding parades and ceremonies in honor of those who fell in the World Wars. The celebrations take place on second Monday in November.

A: I also hear of the holiday called «Thanksgiving Day»?

B: Yes, it is celebrated in November, too. Thanksgiving Day comes on the fourth Thursday in November.

A: Do you know how the holiday originated?

B: I do. The Pilgrims celebrated their first harvest festival in America way back 1621 and called it Thanksgiving Day.

A: Do you mean to say it has been celebrated since then?

B: That's exactly what I mean.

A: Christmas is the most widely celebrated Christian holiday, isn't it?

B: Yes, it is celebrated on December, 25^th. When Christmas comes, people usually wish one another a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

A: You haven't mentioned a few other holidays observed by the Americans.

B: No, I haven't. The thing is that they are not observed by the whole nation.

A: One of them is Martin Luther King's Day, isn't it?

B: It is. That holiday is observed on January 15^th.

A: In February they observe Lincoln's Birthday and Washington's Birthday, don't thy?

B: They do. Besides, on February,14th they observe Valentine's Day.

A: Then the Americans have an annual day of commemoration of mothers and fathers, I hear.

B: Right. Mother's Day is observed on the second Sunday in May.

A: And Father's Day falls on the third Sunday in June, if I'm not mistaken.

B: Here is another holiday – Labor Day. It is celebrated on the first Monday in September in honor of labor.

A: Yes, but in many countries May Day (May 1st) is the workingman's holiday.

B: The discovery of America is commemorated by a holiday in October called Columbus Day. But not all the 50 states observe that holiday.

A: Halloween is alsdo celebrated in October. The holiday falls on October 31 of each year. That's when children go in costumes from door to door begging treats or playing pranks.

B: Children like this holiday, don't they?

A: They love it.

 

XI. ☼ Which of the American holidays would you like to share with an American family? Explain your answer in detail.

 

XII. ☼ Work in groups.

What ideas do people in Russia sometimes have about Americans? Where do they get these ideas from? Do you think they are true? Write three stereotypes you have heard about Americans. Compare your ideas.

 

XI I I. ☼ Discussion.

There are a lot of good US made films. Name three American films that you particularly liked. Tell your friends what they are about (very briefly) and why you liked them. What peculiarities of the American way of life are shown in them?

 

XIV. ☼  Imagine:

-  you are a tourist coming to the travel agency. Tell the travel agent what place(s) in the US you would like to visit, and why.

- you are an American. Advertise your country for the tourists.

- you are going to talk to a group of Americans. What questions would you ask them?

- you are going to the trip in the USA. What ideas do you have about the Americans? What kind of people are they? Where do you get these ideas from?

 

XV. ☼  Discuss the elements of the American culture and lifestyle which we have got in Russia now.

TOPIC 8: AMERICAN MONEY AND MEASURES

The Government of the USA issues the following bills: bills for one dollar, five dollars, ten dollars, twenty dollars, fifty dollars, one hundred dollars, one thousand dollars, ten thousand dollars.

American metal money is made of the following metals: bronze, nickel and silver. A one cent coin is made of bronze, and is called a “penny”, a five cent coin is made of nickel and is called a “nickel”. Ten cents are called a “dime”. Ten dimes make a dollar. Twenty-five cents make a “quarter”, fifty cents make half a dollar. The dime, the quarter, the half dollar are of paper. One dollar is made either of silver or of paper.

one dollar (I) = 100c (100 cents).

a half dollars = 50 c

a quarter = 25 c

a dime = 10 c

a nickel = 5 c     

Quarter are twenty-five cents and are used in most pay telephones and coin-operated machines. They are often confused with nickels.

The origin of the dollar sign

The dollar has an interesting history, and also it has the $ generally used to represent it.

The word “dollar” comes from the Low German for Thaler, which is an abbreviation of Joachimsthaler.  Joachimsthaler (Joachim’s dale) is a little town in Bohemia near which, in the beginning of the 16^th century, a rich silver mine was discovered. The feudal lords of the town had coins made there, and they, because of their excellence, were soon used all over Europe. These and similar coins were called Joachimsthalers, or simply Thalers.

Coins of similar value were issued in Spain. They were called “pieces of eight”, because their value was divided into eight smaller coins. All these coins circulated freely in the colonies in both North and South America. In North America they were called “dollars”.

When the United States had been formed, the word “dollar” was adopted for its unit of coinage, but the sign of the new coin was that of the old Spanish pieces of eight. The sign showed a scroll, with the words Plus Ultra, waving between the Pillars of Hercules, the gateway between the Mediterranean and Atlantic. Thus the dollar sign has nothing to do with the letter S, nor was it, as some people believe, originally formed by placing a narrow U over an S to form the monogram of the United States.

 

RHYMES AND POEMS

American Coins

by Caroline Graham

Pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters,

Pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters,

How many pennies in a nickel? Five.

How many nickels in a dime? Two.

Pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters,

Pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters,

How many dimes in a dollar? Ten.

How many nickels in a dime? Two.

Pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters,

Pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters,

How many quarters in a dollar? Four.

How many nickels in a dime? Two.

When I was Little

When I was little and had no sense,

I bought me a fiddle for fifty cents.

But the only tune that I could play

Was “Yankee Doodle, get out of my way.”

I Had a Nickel

I had a nickel and I walked around the block.

I walked right into a baker shop.

I took two doughnuts out of the grease.

I handed the lady my five-cent piece.

She looked at the nickel and she lokked at me,

And said: «This money's no good to me.

There's a hole in the nickel and it goes right through.»

Said I, «There's a hole in the doughnut, too!»

The US Penny

The US Nickel

 

The US Dime

The US Quarter

One Dollar Bill

 

The front (obverse) of the one dollar bill is printed in black. It pictures George Washington, the first President of the United States of America. The words that appear on the front are, "FEDERAL RESERVE NOTE," THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "THIS NOTE IS LEGAL TENDER FOR ALL DEBTS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE," "Washington, D.C.," "Washington" (under Washington's portrait), "ONE DOLLAR," the name of the Federal Reserve Bank where the bill originated, and various serial numbers and marks. It is signed by the Treasurer of the United States and the Secretary of the Treasury.

 

The back (reverse) of the one dollar bill is printed in green (this is why the dollar bill is sometimes called a greenback). The pictures the word "ONE" flanked by two circles, picturing the front and back of the Great Seal of the United States of America. The circle on the left of the bill pictures an unfinished pyramid with 13 steps. There is an eye within a triangle above the pyramid; light radiates from the eye. The circle on the right pictures the front of the Great Seal of the United States of America. It shows a bald eagle holding olive branches and arrows in its talons. There is a banner in the eagle's bill reading, "E PLURIBUS UNUM" (meaning, "Out of many, one," referring to the union of the states). 13 stars are above the eagle and a shield with 13 stripes is in front of the eagle.

Other phrases that appear on the back are, "THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "IN GOD WE TRUST," "ONE," "ANNUIT COEPTIS" (meaning, "Providence favors our undertakings"), "MDCCLXXVI" (1776 in Roman numerals), "NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM" (meaning, "A new order of the ages"), "THE GREAT SEAL OF THE UNITED STATES," "ONE DOLLAR," and various serial numbers.

Banknotes

1 $ - George Washington (1^st President)

2$ - Thomas Jefferson (3^rd President)

5$ - Abraham Lincoln (16^th President)

10$ - Alexander Hamilton (a Founding Father)

20$ - Andrew Jackson (7^th President)

50$ - Ulysses Grant (18^th President)

100 $ - Benjamin Franklin (a Founding Father)

Half Dollar

50 cents = a half dollar depicts on the front John Kennedy; on the back – the President’s Seal.

 

One Dollar

One dollar – on the front – famous Americans; on the back – the Statue of Liberty.

 

THE AMERICAN MEASURES

In the USA, the length is measured by inches = in. (one inch is 2,5 cm), feet = ft. (one foot is 30,5 cm), yards = yd. (one yard is 91 cm) and miles = mi. (one mile is 1609 m). My height is _________________.

Weights measures are: an ounce = oz. (28 g), a pound = lb.(450 g), a hundredweight = cwt. (45 kg). My weight is ______________________.

Liquid measures are: a pint (470 ml), a quart (almost a liter), a gallon (a bit more than 3 liters) and a barrel (119 l).

In the USA the temperature is measured in Fahrenheit. The boiling point is 212°F, the freezing point is 32°F. The normal body temperature is 98.6°F.

 

TASKS

III. Match the columns:

An inch	91 centimeters
A mile	45 kilograms
A quart	2,5 centimeters
A pound	470 ml
A hundredweight	Almost a liter
A barrel	30,5 centimeters
A yard	1609 meters
An ounce	450 grams
A foot	A bit more than 3 liters
A gallon	28 grams
A pint	119 liters

 

IV. Answer the questions:

1. Which inscription appears on all the banknotes and coins?

2. What are the two nicknames of a U.S. dollar?

3. Whose face appears on a 1$ bill?

4. Whose face appears on a 2$ bill?

5. Whose face appears on a 5$ bill?

6. Which bill has got the face of Benjamin Franklin?

V. ☼ Prove that the American dollar is an important currency in the world.

INTERESTING FACTS

• The U.S. Department of the Treasury first issued paper U.S. currency in 1862 to make up for the shortage of coins and to finance the Civil War.
• The first paper notes were printed in denominations of 1 cent, 5 cents, 25 cents, and 50 cents.
• Coins are usually made of copper and another element, such as zinc or nickel. Currency paper is composed of 25 percent linen and 75 percent cotton.
• The nickname "greenback" originated as a name for Demand Notes, non-interest notes with green backs issued by the United States in 1861 to finance the Civil War.
• Martha Washington is the only woman whose portrait has appeared on U.S. paper currency. It appeared on $1 Silver Certificates, Series 1886, 1891, and 1896.
• «In God We Trust» inscription first appeared on U.S. coins in 1864. Almost a century later, Congress made it the official National Motto, and today its use is required by law on both U.S. coins and paper currency.
• The American nickel coin is made mostly from copper, not nickel.
• The US Mint once stamped some gold coins with the legend ‘In Gold We Trust’ instead of ‘In God We Trust’.
• The dollar sign - $ - is a modification of the figure 8 that

used to be stamped on the old Spanish coins called pieces of eight.

SUPPLEMENT

TEST REQUIREMENTS:

1. The completion of the portfolio.

2. Oral answer on one of the topics.

3. Commentary on the realias.

4. Operating the map of the USA.

 

PORTFOLIO

• The USA maps – a map of states and a geographical map;
• The USA flag;
• The American symbols;
• The USA historic dates;
• The list of the US Presidents;
• The list of the geographical realias with a short comment;
• The list of states with their capitals;
• A presentation of a region / a state;
• The list of measures;
• Some folklore examples and realias;
• The list of the US holidays;
• The final essay.

TOPICS for the ORAL ANSWER

1. The classification of the American realias.

2. The geographical regions of the USA.

3. The discovery and colonization of America.

4. The important wars in the American history.

5. The 19^th century expansion.

6. The American symbols.

7. The official names of the states and their nicknames.

8. The American system of money.

9. The American measures.

9. The American folklore.

10. The American way of life.

11. The American holidays.

12. The United States capital.

COMMENT on the REALIAS

The U.S. History

Native Americans; Leif Ericson Day; Santa Maria; Ch. Columbus; 1492; Indians; Columbia River; District of Columbia; CBS; Amerigo Vespucci; America; James River; Jamestown Settlement; Pilgrim Fathers; Mayflower; Plymouth Colony; 1620; 1606; Thanksgiving; Plymouth Colony; Plymouth Rock; America’s Hometown; 1750; 13 colonies; Vinland; Black Americans; Columbia Pictures; Boston Tea Party; Boston Tea Party, July 4, 1776; Philadelphia; the Declaration of Independence; the American Revolution=the War of Independence; the Constitution; the Potomac River; the Industrial Revolution; Ellis Island; the Founding Fathers (Thomas Jefferson; George Washington; Benjamin Franklin; James Madison; Alexander Hamilton; John Adams), We the People, The Louisiana Purchase, the Oregon Trail, the Gold Rush, the Forty-niners, the Confederate States of America, the Union, the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln, Abolitionism, Ku-Klux-Klan; The Spanish-American War, President Wilson, President Franklin Roosevelt, Great Depression, the New Deal, Pearl Harbor, Cold War, President Kennedy, Peace Corps, Watergate Crisis, Martin Luther King, the Civil Rights Movement, “I Have a Dream” speech.

 

 

The U.S. Geography

Eastern Standard Time, Central, Mountain, Pacific, New York, Denver, Los Angeles, Washington, Hawaii, Alaska, Key West, the Florida Keys, the Great Lakes, Superior, Huron, Ontario, Erie, Huron, Michigan, Niagara Falls, the Great Plains, the Midwest, the Rio Grande, the Sierra Nevada, Mount Whitney, Mount McKinley, the Cordillera Mountains, Cascade Range, the Rocky Mountains, the Appalachian Mountains, the Great Plains, the Great Valley, The Yukon, the Mississippi, the Ohio, the Missouri, the Columbia, the Colorado, New England States, Middle Atlantic States, Southeast, Southwest, Midwest, Mountain, Pacific, Death Valley National Park, Rocky Mountain NP, Grand Canyon NP, Yellowstone NP, Everglades NP, Sequoia NP, Glacier NP, Arches NP, Redwood NP, Yosemite NP.

 

The U.S. States

Alabama; Alaska; Arizona; Arkansas; California; Colorado; Connecticut; Delaware; Florida; Georgia; Hawaii; Idaho; Illinois; Indiana; Iowa; Kansas; Kentucky; Louisiana; Maine; Maryland; Massachusetts; Michigan; Minnesota; Mississippi; Missouri; Montana; Nebraska; Nevada; New Hampshire; New Jersey; New Mexico; New York; North Carolina; North Dakota; Ohio; Oklahoma; Oregon; Pennsylvania; Rhode Island; South Carolina; South Dakota; Tennessee; Texas; Utah; Vermont; Virginia; Washington; West Virginia; Wisconsin; Wyoming.

 

 

The U.S. Symbols

Star-Spangled Banner, Stars and Stripes; Old Glory; Starry Flag; Pledge of Allegiance; Uncle Sam, Liberty Bell, Bald Eagle, Great Seal, Motto, Statue of Liberty, Mount Rushmore, From sea to shining sea, America the Beautiful; “In God We Trust”, “One Out of Many”.

 

 

The U.S. Regions

The Rust Belt, the Dairy Belt, the Nation’s Breadbasket, the Amish, Bluegrass music, the Big Muddy, The America’s Vacationland, The Sunshine State, John Brown, Martin Luther King, Jr., The Mormon State, Houston, NASA, L.A., The Last Frontier, The Great Salt Lake, The Green Mountain State, Paul Revere, Civil Rights Movement, The Sunshine State, Walt Disney World, Cape Canaveral, Kennedy Space Center, Margaret Mitchell, “Gone with the Wind”.

Washington , D.C.

District of Columbia, the Capitol, the White House, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, the Smithsonian Institution, the National Zoo, the Library of Congress, the Potomac River.

 

New York City

NYC, the Big Apple, Broadway plays, the Great White Way, Wall Street, Empire State Building, the Met, Central Park, the Statue of Liberty, the WTC Memorial, Ellis Island, Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Brooklyn Bridge, George Washington Bridge, the Hudson River, the East River.

 

U.S. Money

A nickel, a dime, a penny, “In God We Trust”, “greenback”, $, a quarter, “bucks”.

 

The U.S. Measures

An inch, a foot, a yard, a mile, an ounce, a pound, a hundredweight, a pint, a quart, a gallon, a barrel, Fahrenheit.

 

The U.S. Folklore

The Cherokee Bear Legend, The Pleiades, Mother Goose Rhymes, Jack and the Beanstalk, Tyl Eulenspiegel, Paul Bunyan, the Tales of Brer Rabbit, tall tales, Pecos Bill Rides a Tornado, John Henry, Casey Jones, Johnny Appleseed, Daniel Boone, Davy Crocket, Billy the Kid, Jesse James; “Yankee Doodle”; “Old MacDonald”; “Home on the Range”; “God Bless America”’

 

The U.S. Holidays

New Year’s Day; Martin Luther King’s Day; President’s Day; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veteran’s Day; Thanksgiving Day; Christmas; St.Patrick’s Day; Mother’s Day; Good Friday; Easter; “Treat or Trick”; Beggar’s Night; Easter Parade; Washington’s Cherry Tree; Scavenger Hunt; Black Monday; Inauguration Day.

LIST OF REFERENCE BOOKS

1. Барановский Л.С., Козикис Д.Д. Здравствуй, Америка! - Минск, 1997.

2. Броу С. Тесты по английскому языку. – М.: Астрель, 2002.

3. Бурлак А.И. Знакомство с Америкой: Пособие по англ.яз. – М: ООО «Издательство Астрель», 2002.

4. Бурова И.И. Вехи американской истории. – СПб: Питер Пресс, 1997.

5. В США. = In the USA: на англ.яз. /Сост. Вохан-Рис и др. - Обнинск, 1997.

6. Знакомимся с Америкой. / автор-составитель М.Павлоцкий. - С.-Петербург, 1997.

7. Нестерчук Г.В., Иванова В.М. США и американцы. - Минск, 1998.

8. США: Лингвострановедческий словарь / сост. Г.Д. Томахин. – М.: Астрель, 2001.

9. Томахин Г.Д. Реалии - американизмы: Пособие по страноведению. - М., 1988.

10. Томахин Г.Д. Америка через американизмы. – М.: Высш. Школа, 1982.

11. Фролова А.Ю. Английский язык: Тесты. 10-11 кл.: Учебно-методическое пособие. – М.: Дрофа, 2001.

12. Халилова Л.А. США: История и современность. – М.: Рольф, 2001.

13. Ethel Tiersky, Martin Tiersky. The USA. Customs and Institutions. – Longman, 2001.

14. Milanda Broukal, Peter Murphy. Introducing the USA. – Longman, 1993.

15. Milanda Broukal, Peter Murphy. More About the USA. – Longman, 1995.

16. Milanda Broukal, Peter Murphy. All About the USA. – Longman, 1999.

 

 

CONTENTS

 

T O P I C S	page
Topic 1. Introducing the United States of America …………………	4
Topic 2. A Bit of History … ……………………………………………	1 5
Topic 3. American Symbols … ………………………………………..	3 5
Topic 4. Across the States … …………………………………………..	5 3
Topic 5. City Centers …………………………………………………..	79
Topic 6. American Folklore … ………………………………………...	90
Topic 7. American Way of Life … …………………………………….	124
Topic 8. American Money and Measures … ………………………….	14 0
Supplement ……………………………………………………………..	15 4
List of Reference Books … …………………………………………….	160

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FOREWORD

 

Cultural Studies is the insight into human beings and their world through language. It is not primarily learning and memorizing events, facts and dates, but analyzing and arranging specific data into meaningful patterns.

This manual is designed for the first year students of the English department in full accordance with the requirements of the existing syllabus and curriculum for foreign languages departments. The students get acquainted with the United States of America. The focus of the American Cultural Studies is a small portion of the realias which constitute the background knowledge of every American person.

The main purpose is to give practical advice on how to organize the learning of the realias effectively; it will guide the students in their study of the subject.

The tasks and texts marked ® suggest listening comprehension. The tasks marked ☼ focus attention on the development of creative skills and stimulation of the comparative and intercultural perspectives.

In addition, at every stage of the course the students are encouraged to use their own knowledge, ideas and experience to the work in hand, and to discuss them with each other and the tutor.

GOOD LUCK!

TOPIC 1: INTRODUCING THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

I. ® Citizenship test. To become an American citizen, a person must have an interview to find out how much he/she knows about the United States. Listen to some of the easiest questions and choose the correct answer.

1. 13              10                       25

2. the states     the original colonies the regions

3. A. Lincoln     Lewis and Clark     Ch. Columbus

4. American       the end of the          the Constitution

    independence Civil War

5. 50              13                       52

6. New York       Boston                     Washington, D.C.

7. A. Lincoln     G. Washington     Th. Jefferson

8. 21              16                       18

9. a mayor     a judge                     a governor

10. a mayor     a representative     a senator

 

II. Find the following facts about the country . Then make up short dialogues according to the model:

Model:  - What is official name of the country?

- It's the United States of America.

- You are right.

Official name, date of establishment, status, land area, location, head of state and government, natural resources, the longest river, the capital city, main cities, official language, number of people, density, currency, symbols, historic Americans.

III. Say if you know the following American realias. Use the dictionary if you are not sure.

Academy Awards, Airbus, Christina Aguilera, Alcatraz, American Dream, Apple, Back to the Future, Barbie doll, Batman.