1. The United States of America Survey of Major English-Speaking Countries

2. Getting Started  Many of you have already studied some about American culture, but we’ll review some basic information in the next few weeks.  As we get started, let’s take a short quiz about culture and find out if you know what to do in America…

3. Question 1: 1. You just found out that your mother is sick. You go to work, and an American co-worker asks you, “How are you?” What do you say? a) “Not good.” b) “Fine, how are you?” c) “I’m not doing too well—I just found out that my mother is sick.”

4. Question 2: 2. An American has invited you to their house for dinner. Should you bring anything? a) Yes. b) No. c) Only if they ask.

5. Question 3: 3. Two of your co-workers are talking, and you have to ask one of them a question about a project you’re working on. What should you do? a) Go back to your desk and wait until the conversation is over. b) Interrupt their conversation and ask the question. c) Stand there and watch them until the conversation is over.

6. Question 4: 4. You are invited to a wedding reception that is going to begin at 3:00 pm. What time should you arrive? a) Anytime—it doesn’t matter. b) At 3:00. c) Between 3:00 and 3:30.

7. Question 5: 5. You’ve been married for 10 years, but you’ve never worn a wedding band. Should you wear one in the United States? a) No. b) Only at formal events. c) Yes.

8. Question 6: 6. You and your neighbor get along very well, and they tell you, “Come over anytime.” What should you do? a) Do what they say—go to their house whenever you want. b) Never go to their house. c) Call before you go over.

9. Question 7: 7. You meet an American at a luncheon. They ask you what you do for a living, and after you tell them, you ask them: a) What they do and how much money they make. b) What they do. c) What they do and where they work.

10. Question 8: 8. You just started a new job, and you need to make a personal call. What should you do? a) Ask someone if it is okay to make a personal call. b) Make the call—it doesn’t matter, as long as you’re an employee. c) Don’t make the call until lunch time, and do it outside your workplace.

11. Question 9: 9. An American tells you that your shirt is nice. What do you say? a) "Thank you." b) "No, it's not that special." c) Don't say anything because the compliment wasn't sincere.

12. Question 1: 1. You just found out that your mother is sick. You go to work, and an American co-worker asks you, “How are you?” What do you say? a) “Not good.” b) “Fine, how are you?” c) “I’m not doing too well—I just found out that my mother is sick.”

13. Question 1: 1 – b “How are you?” is a common American greeting. Usually, when someone says that to you, they don’t really want to know a lot of information about how you are. However, you can tell a good friend how you really are.

14. Question 2: 2. An American has invited you to their house for dinner. Should you bring anything? a) Yes. b) No. c) Only if they ask.

15. Question 2: 2 – b Usually we do not bring a gift to someone’s house when we visit. If you really want to bring something, however, it’s okay, of course.

16. Question 3: 3. Two of your co-workers are talking, and you have to ask one of them a question about a project you’re working on. What should you do? a) Go back to your desk and wait until the conversation is over. b) Interrupt their conversation and ask the question. c) Stand there and watch them until the conversation is over.

17. Question 3: 3 – a Only interrupt the conversation if your question is urgent, or if there is some kind of crisis.

18. Question 4: 4. You are invited to a wedding reception that is going to begin at 3:00 pm. What time should you arrive? a) Anytime—it doesn’t matter. b) At 3:00. c) Between 3:00 and 3:30.

19. Question 4: 4 – b In general, it is important to be on time to events, especially formal ones, such as weddings.

20. Question 5: 5. You’ve been married for 10 years, but you’ve never worn a wedding band. Should you wear one in the United States? a) No. b) Only at formal events. c) Yes.

21. Question 5: 5 – c You should always wear a wedding ring to let other people know that you are married. Sometimes, if people are romantically interested in you, they will look at your finger to see if you’re wearing one.

22. Question 6: 6. You and your neighbor get along very well, and they tell you, “Come over anytime.” What should you do? a) Do what they say—go to their house whenever you want. b) Never go to their house. c) Call before you go over.

23. Question 6: 6 – c It is polite to call before going to someone’s house.

24. Question 7: 7. You meet an American at a luncheon. They ask you what you do for a living, and after you tell them, you ask them: a) What they do and how much money they make. b) What they do. c) What they do and where they work.

25. Question 7: 7 – b Some people don’t want to talk about where they work, for various reasons. If you want to know, it’s best to ask that question after you talk to the person for a while.

26. Question 8: 8. You just started a new job, and you need to make a personal call. What should you do? a) Ask someone if it is okay to make a personal call. b) Make the call—it doesn’t matter, as long as you’re an employee. c) Don’t make the call until lunch time, and do it outside your workplace.

27. Question 8: 8 – c Workplaces have different rules for personal phone calls, so play it safe until you find out. In some situations, "a" is acceptable. However, to avoid being seen as presumptuous, it is better to wait and see what the workplace is like.

28. Question 9: 9. An American tells you that your shirt is nice. What do you say? a) "Thank you." b) "No, it's not that special." c) Don't say anything because the compliment wasn't sincere.

29. Question 9: 9 – a If someone gives you a compliment on anything, say “thank you.” Otherwise, people will wonder if you have any self- confidence.

30. Basic Facts Population: 281.4 million Population: 281.4 million Borders: Canada (north), Atlantic Ocean (east), Mexico and Gulf of Mexico (south), Pacific Ocean (west) Borders: Canada (north), Atlantic Ocean (east), Mexico and Gulf of Mexico (south), Pacific Ocean (west) Currency: US Dollar (1 USD= about 6.2 RMB) Currency: US Dollar (1 USD= about 6.2 RMB)

31. Economy The United States has the world’s largest economy resources and leads the world in technological development. The United States has the world’s largest economy resources and leads the world in technological development. The United States has about 5% of the world’s population, but has produced about 21.5% of the global GDP (gross domestic product, the value of goods and services). The United States has about 5% of the world’s population, but has produced about 21.5% of the global GDP (gross domestic product, the value of goods and services).

32. Economy However, the American economy entered a period when it stopped its rapid growth in the early 21 st century, especially after the September 11 terrorist attack. In 2007, the housing and credit markets began to fail, and despite some government attempts, have remained very poor. The economy has refused to grow in many ways and the unemployment rate has been as high as 9.6% in 2010.

33. Economy Wealth distribution in the U.S. is unbalanced. The top 20% of the population controls more than 80% of the nation’s wealth, while the bottom 40% shares only 0.2% of the wealth. A 2005 survey shows that 12.7% of Americans fell below the national poverty line. The United States has some developed “social welfare” programs to help people out of economic difficulties. The programs are different in different states.

34. Education Pre-school Kindergarten Primary School/ Elementary School/ Grammar School/ Grade School Middle School/ Junior High School High School University/ College: Bachelor’s Degree- Master’s Degree- Doctorate

35. Families & Relationships Families and relationships in America have many similarities and differences with families and relationships around the world. These things are often complicated and are quickly changing with a modernizing society and world. Please think of at least two questions you’d like to ask about families and relationships in America (including dating, marriage, parent- child relationships, independence, homosexuality, etc.).

36. Five More Things 1) The individual is important. 2) Independence is strength. 3) Women are considered equal. 4) A multicultural society requires flexibility. 5) Respect people’s space.