KEYS - READING Comprehension - American Culture 1

American Culture 1
Reading Comprehension
Find information from the text that provides details with regard to the given aspects of American
culture. Note that the information cannot be found in order as presented in the text! As always, be
sure to paraphrase and use your own words.
History
 a nation of immigrants, particularly the English who began colonizing the land in the early
1600s
 represented by the cultures of Native Americans, Latin Americans, Africans and Asians
Language(s)
 most Americans (90%) speak and understand English
 No official language
 Spanish, Chinese, French and German are TOP-four most frequently spoken non-English
languages
 more than 300 languages are in use
Demographics
 population of over 320 million
 a nation recognized for its extensive cultural variety
Religions
 almost every world’s religion is practiced there
 About 83 percent of Americans refer themselves as Christians
 Judaism ranks as the second most commonly identified religion
Cuisine
 Under a huge influence of Europeans and Native Americans in ancient times
 hamburgers, hot dogs, potato chips, macaroni and cheese, and meat loaf
 styles of cooking and types of foods that characterize a region
 Southern-style cooking
 Tex-Mex, Jerky and more
Holidays
 Independence Day, July 4: commemorate their separation from Britain
 Memorial Day, celebrated on the last Monday in May: pay tribute to those who have lost
their lives in wars
 Labor Day, on the first Monday in September, recognizes the nation's labor force
 Thanksgiving, a uniquely American holiday, is observed on the fourth Thursday in
November and originates from colonial times to give thanks for the harvest
Reading Strategy: Paraphrasing
1. In the text, there is the sentence: “While almost every language in the world is spoken in
the United States, Spanish, Chinese, French and German are among the most frequently
spoken non-English languages”. Which paraphrased version below is correct? Only the
discourse marker has been changed.
a. Although the United States has speakers of nearly every language, Spanish, Chinese,
French, and German are commonly spoken non-English languages.
Let’s practice more: For the sentence, “Describe the United States as a "melting pot"
to reveal that different cultures have contributed their own distinct "flavors" to
American culture” which paraphrased version below is correct? Only the discourse
marker has been changed.
a Describe the United States as a "melting pot" in case others do not see that different
cultures have contributed their own distinct "flavors" to American culture. ( OR Describe
the United States as a "melting pot". Others could/might not see that…- PARAPHRASED
VERSION Describe the United States as a "melting pot" in case others do not see that)
Focus on Vocabulary
Find the corresponding word from the text based on the definitions provided.
1. A governmental institution responsible for determining demographics in the US. (the U.S.
Census Bureau)
2. Most clearly (most notably)
3. To take control of another country by going to live there or sending people to live there
(colonize)
4. To give goods, money, time, effort or intangible things to achieve something (contribute)
5. To approximate, guess (estimate)
6. Almost (Nearly)
7. Someone who answers a survey or question (respondent)
8. A profession (occupation)
9. Shoes generally used for sports or exercise (sneakers)
10. A product or group of products that has its own name is made by one particular company
(brand)
11. A type of food made from a mixture of small pieces of meat, bread and eggs, baked in a bread
pan. (meat loaf)
12. To celebrate / celebrated (observed on the 1st Monday in September)
13. To pay respect to (honor)
14. Easily recognizable because of its distinguishable features (distinctive)
15. A connection with a political party or religion, or with a larger organization (affiliation)
Paraphrasing Review: Using New Word Forms

1. Different cultures have made a contribution with their own distinct “flavors” to American
culture, described as a so-called “melting pot”.
2. According to an ABC poll, 13 percent of the respondents replied that they had no religious
beliefs at all.
3. In another 2012 poll, only 0.6 percent responded that they are Muslim.
4. American fashion is under the wide influence of celebrities and the media, and fashion sales
equal around $200 billion per year.
5. In the U.S., there are also some styles of cooking and types of foods that are specifically
regional.
Paraphrasing Review: Using Synonyms
1. Ninety percent of the U.S. population speaks and understands at least some English, and public /
governmental business is performed / executed in English.
2. According to The U.S. Census Bureau, in the US, more than 300 languages are in use.
3. Almost every known religion can be found in the United States, which was established on the
basis of religious freedom.
4. Clothing styles of Americans are also diverse depending on social status, region, profession and
even weather conditions.
5. Tex-Mex is a mixture of Spanish and Mexican cooking styles and combines items such as chili
and burritos, and shredded cheese and beans as the key ingredients. / T-M combines elements of
both Spanish and Mexican culinary/cuisine traditions, featuring chili and burritos with shredded
cheese and beans playing a significant role.

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American Culture 1

Paraphrasing Review: Using New Word Forms

Paraphrasing Review: Using Synonyms

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