Unit 7.

Text A. American Values

Marian Beane, Director of the International Student Office, in Charlotte, USA, described the major American values in the following way:

Individuality: Americans are encouraged at an early age to be independent and to develop their own goals in life. They are encouraged to not depend too much on others including their friends, teachers and parents. They are rewarded when they try harder to reach their goals.

Privacy: Americans like their privacy and enjoy spending time alone. Foreign visitors will find American homes and offices open, but what is inside the American mind is considered to be private. To ask the question "What is on your mind?" may be considered by some to be rude.

Equality: Americans believe that everyone "is created equal" and has the same rights. This includes women as well as men of all ethnic and cultural groups living in the U.S. Managers, directors, presidents and even university instructors are often addressed by their first name.

Time: Americans try to make the best use of their time. In the business world, "time is money". Being "on time" for class, an appointment, or for dinner with your family is important.

Informality: The American lifestyle is generally casual. Students go to class in shorts and t-shirts. Professors seldom wear a tie and some may even wear blue jeans. Greetings and farewells are usually short, informal and friendly. Students may greet each other with "hi", "how are you?" and "what's up?".

Achievement and hard work: A competitive spirit is often the motivating factor to work harder. Americans often compete with themselves as well as others. Americans seem to always be "on the go", because sitting quietly doing nothing seems like a waste of time.

Direct and assertive: Americans try to discuss their differences face-to-face and without a mediator. They are encouraged to speak up and

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give their opinions. This manner of direct speaking is often interpreted by foreign visitors as rude.

1.Whose position is expressed in this Text?

2.What is said about individuality?

3.Is privacy important for Americans?

4.Who is addressed by their first names?

5.How do Americans dress, according to the Text?

6.Is sitting quietly and doing nothing something Americans

like?

7.What is "direct speaking", according to the Text?

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Exercise 56. Translate the following sentences into Russian.

1. Many scientists publish research about American values. Then they compare the results with their countries. 2. Americans try to make the best use of their time. Time is money not only in business but in everyday life. 3. Americans are encouraged at an early age to be independent and on time. 4. Hard work is also encouraged. 5. Americans discuss their problems and conflicts face-to face.

Exercise 57. Translate the sentences into English.

1.Самые важные черты характера американцев это индивидуальность, право на частную жизнь, равенство, неформальность отношений и трудолюбие.

2.С детства американцев поощряют быть независимыми и ставить себе цели в жизни.

3.Американских детей награждают, когда они достигают

своей цели.

4.Иностранцы видят, что американские дома и офисы открыты для всех.

5.Американцы верят в то, что все люди созданы равными.

6.К профессорам часто обращаются по имени.

7.Быть пунктуальным, не опаздывать считается очень важным качеством для каждого американца.

8.Неформальность — это одно из самых важных качеств американцев. Преподаватели редко надевают галстук и часто носят джинсы. Студенты часто обращаются к ним по имени.

Exercise 58.

A.Please, describe the following qualities:

a)individuality;

b)privacy;

c)equality;

d)informality;

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В. Think of a situation at the following places when these qualities could be seen:

•at a dinner table;

•in a restaurant;

•at a party;

•at a concert;

•at a press-conference.

Exercise 59. Choose one of the qualities that are described in the Text that you :

•like in people;

•don't like in people;

•would like to be your own trait of character;

•would not like to be your trait of character.

Text B. American Economy

The United States has a mixed economy because privately owned businesses and government both play important roles. Indeed, some of the most enduring debates of American economic history focus on the relative roles of the public and private sectors.

The American free enterprise system emphasizes private ownership. Private businesses produce most goods and services, and almost two-thirds of the nation's total commercial output goes to individuals for personal use (the remaining one-third is bought by government and business). The consumer role is so great, in fact, that the country is sometimes characterized as having a "consumer economy".

However, like in all modern economies, there are limits to free enterprise and private ownership. Americans generally agree that some services are better performed by public rather than private enterprise. For instance, in the United States, government is primarily responsible for the administration of justice, education (although there are many private schools and training centres), the road system, social statistical reporting, and national defence. In addition, government often is asked to intervene in

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the economy to correct situations in which the price system does not work. It regulates "natural monopolies" and it uses antitrust laws to control or break up other business combinations that become so powerful that they can surmount market forces.

Government also takes care of issues beyond the reach of market forces. It provides welfare and unemployment benefits to people who cannot or will not support themselves, either because they encounter problems in their personal lives or lose their jobs as a result of bad economy. Government pays much of the cost of medical care for the aged and those who live in poverty, it regulates private industry to limit air and water pollution, it provides low-cost loans to people who suffer losses as a result of natural disasters; and it has played the leading role in the exploration of space, which is too expensive for any private enterprise. All of this is paid for by a system of progressive taxation.

In this mixed economy, individuals can help guide the economy not only through the choices they make as consumers but through the votes they cast for officials who shape economic policy. In recent years, consumers have voiced concerns about product safety, environmental threats posed by certain industrial practices, and potential health risks citizens may face. The government has responded by creating agencies which aim to protect consumer interests and promote the general public welfare.

The US economy has changed in other ways as well. The population and the labour force have moved from farms to cities, from fields to factories, and, above all, to service industries. In today's economy, the providers of personal and public services far outnumber producers of agricultural and manufactured goods. As the economy has grown more complex, statistics also reveal over the last century a sharp long-term trend away from self-employment toward working for others.

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1.What kind of economy does the USA have?

2.What does American free enterprise system emphasize?

3.What is the role of consumer in the American economy?

4.What are the examples of services better performed by public

enterprises?

5.Why is the government often being asked to intervene in the

economy?

6.How does the government regulate the economy?

7.How does the government addresses issues beyond the reach of market forces?

8.Who pays for the cost of the medical care for the aged?

9.What concerns did consumers voice in recent years?

10.What were the changes in the US economy lately?

Exercise 60. Finish the sentences and translate them into Russian.

1.The most enduring debates of American economic history...

2.The US has a mixed economy because ...

3.Private businesses produce...

4.The consumer role is so great that...

5.In the US the government is primarily responsible for...

6.The Government often is asked to intervene in the economy to ...

7.The US government uses antitrust laws to...

8.The Government plays the leading role in the exploration of space, which is ...

9.Individuals can help guide the economy through

10.As the US economy grows statistics reveal that ...

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