American Culture and Customs

Source: rong-chang.com

1. America: Land of Opportunity 1:54
2. The Fourth of July 1:30
3. The U.S. Federal Government 1:49
4. Christmas - A holiday of Traditions 1:45
5. New Year's Day - A Holiday of New Beginnings 1:42
6. Martin Luther King Jr. Day - To Remember a Civil Rights Leader 1:41
7. Valentine's Day - A Holiday of Love and Friendship 1:50
8. St. Patrick's Day - A Holiday to Celebrate the Irish 1:49
9. Passover - A Jewish Holiday of Remembering 1:44
10. Easter - An Important Christian Holiday 1:58
11. Mother's Day - A Holiday to Honor Motherhood 1:50
12. Father's Day - A Holiday to Honor Fatherhood 1:32
13. Memorial Day - A Holiday to Remember Fallen Soldiers 1:59
14. Labor Day - A Holiday to Honor Workers 1:38
15. Columbus Day -A Holiday to Remember an Explorer 1:52
16. Halloween - A Holiday for Costumes and Candy 1:45
17. Veterans Day - A Holiday Honoring All Soldiers 1:40
18. Chanukah - A Holiday of Lights 1:50
19. Thanksgiving - Families Coming Together 1:56
20. Lottery - A Chance at Millions 1:48
21. One Country, Many Taxes 1:56
22. Medical Insurance - Making it Easier to Get Health Care 1:52
23. Immigration - A Broken System 1:40
24. Community Colleges (1) 1:44
25. Community College (2) 1:53
26. Elementary Schools in the U.S. 1:56
27. Middle Schools in the U.S. 1:42
28. High School in the U.S. 1:55
29. Homeschooling 1:49
30. Parent-Teacher Conferences 1:37
31. Private Schools - An Expensive Educational Alternative 1:44
32. The California College and University System 1:46
33. Driving in the United States 1:30
34. Pasadena Rose Parade 1:33
35. Selfies 1:38
36. Apartment Pets 1:50
37. Non-traditional Wakes 1:29
38. Homelessness in Los Angeles 1:48
39. Paramedics 1:46
40. September 11th 1:52
41. The California Redwoods and Giant Sequoias 1:54
42. The California Highway Patrol 1:47
43. The Golden Gate Bridge 1:38
44. The San Francisco Cable Cars 1:46
45. Car Chase Television 1:43
46. Los Angeles Coroner's Office 1:38
47. Museum Mile in New York City 1:49
48. A Building for the Empire State 1:39
49. The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World 1:29
50. Rockefeller Center - Top of the Rock 1:31
51. Manhattan, New York City 2:59
52. Las Vegas, Nevada 2:43
53. Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood 2:50
54. The Cinco de Mayo Celebration 3:02
55. The Attack on Pearl Harbor 2:17
56. Funeral Customs in the United States 2:29
57. The John F. Kennedy Assassination 2:29
58. Social Class in the United States 2:11
59. Rosa Parks and the Civil Rights Movement 2:23
60. Chicago - The Windy City 2:21
61. Boston - A Revolutionary City 2:29
62. A Nation Was Born 2:31
63. The American Civil War 2:32
64. Fires that Changed Cities 2:23
65. A Bewitched City 2:27
66. The United Nations in New York City 2:29
67. New York City - The Big Apple 2:22
68. The World Trade Center 2:27
69. Central Park 2:21
70. The Marlboro Man 2:32
71. The Beatles 2:29
72. The Griffith Observatory 2:44
73. One Country, Many Religions 2:30
74. Woodstock: Defining a Generation 2:45
75. The Veterans Administration 2:50
76. Married with Childre 2:28
77. Facebook 2:41
78. Don't be Tardy to the Party 2:12
79. A Bridal Shower 2:45
80. A Baby Shower 2:43
81. A Housewarming Party 2:30
82. The Wedding Reception (1) 2:36
83. The Wedding Reception (2) 2:19
84. Bride and Groom Traditions 2:15
85. Theme Parties 2:31
86. Helicopter versus Free-Range Moms 2:40
87. Attachment Parenting 2:50
88. A Kid's Party for Adults 2:47
89. When a Kid Becomes an Adult 2:42
90. Taking Care of Mom and Dad 2:53
91. Vacation Time 2:53
92. Camping 2:48
93. Renting an Apartment (1) 2:17
94. Renting an Apartment (2) 2:34
95. What is in a Lease (1) 2:25
96. What is in a Lease (2) 2:25
97. Public Housing 2:50
98. Applying for Public Housing 2:29
99. Section 8 2:45
100. Baseball: The National Pastime 3:08
101. Southern California Theme Parks 2:52
102. The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 3:02
103. The land of Mobile Dining 2:40
104. Venice Beach and Boardwalk 3:04
105. The La Brea Tar Pits 2:32
106. Space Shuttle Endeavour 2:35
107. The Demolition Derby 2:49
108. California's Earthquakes 2:42
109. Free Summer Fun 2:44
110. Paying Your Fare 2:25
111. Library Resources 2:59
112. Finding a Job in California 2:34
113. The Backyard Barbeque 2:45
114. The Blended Family 2:49
115. Keeping a Diary for Your Health 2:35
116. Santa Anita Race Track 3:14
117. Miniature Golf 2:39
118. Working Out in L.A. 2:46
119. Sunset Boulevard and Hollywood 2:33
120. Catalina Island 2:37
121. Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan 2:41
122. Couch Potatoes 2:49
123. The Los Angeles County Fair 3:05
124. Bilingual Is Better 2:58
125. Casey Anthony: America's Most Hated Woman 3:07
126. The Star Wars Phenomenon 2:43
127. Star Trek 2:50
128. The Nuclear Bombing of Japan 3:05
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America is called the land of opportunity, where people believe they can succeed if they work hard. Each year thousands of people from many countries move there hoping to live the “American dream.” The United States is very diverse—a “melting pot” of different cultures—and it is home to top schools such as Cal Tech, Harvard, and UCLA. These universities are famous worldwide for strong programs in science, engineering, and many other subjects. Even though its past had problems, the country now promotes freedom and equal chances for anyone who wants to become a doctor, lawyer, librarian, or follow any other career.

  • opportunity
    • Definition: a chance or possibility for people to achieve their goals in America
    • Example: Thousands of people immigrate to the United States every year to have access to these kinds of opportunities.
  • diversity
    • Definition: the presence of many different cultural or ethnic backgrounds within the country
    • Example: One of the many reasons America is such a great country is the diversity you see all around.
  • melting pot
    • Definition: a place where people from various backgrounds blend together into a single society
    • Example: America is one big melting pot of citizens from different backgrounds.
  • prestigious
    • Definition: regarded as having high status and respect, especially in education
    • Example: UCLA has distinguished itself as a prestigious and selective university.
  • freedom
    • Definition: the condition of having rights and liberties, especially equality and personal choice
    • Example: America is also known for being at the forefront of freedom and equality.
  1. According to the passage, what does the phrase "the American dream" refer to?
    1. The chance to immigrate to the U.S. for opportunities
    2. The American sports achievements
    3. The historical founding of the United States
    4. The popularity of Hollywood movies
  2. Which institution is described as being located in Pasadena?
    1. Harvard University
    2. University of California, Los Angeles
    3. California Institute of Technology
    4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  3. What year do the buildings at Harvard date back to?
    1. 1776
    2. 1636
    3. 1900
    4. 1804
  4. UCLA is noted for its proximity to which famous area?
    1. Times Square
    2. Silicon Valley
    3. Hollywood
    4. Wall Street
  5. Which professions are explicitly mentioned as achievable in America?
    1. Engineer, painter, chef
    2. Doctor, lawyer, librarian
    3. Pilot, journalist, actor
    4. Teacher, scientist, musician
  • Do you think the “American dream” is still possible for people today? Why or why not?
  • Have you ever lived in or visited a country with many different cultures? Share your experience.
  • Why does the author call America a “melting pot”? What does this tell us about its society?
  • How might the education system be different if the United States did not have top universities like Harvard and Caltech?
  • The text says America leads in freedom and equality, but also mentions a contradictory history. Do you think America lives up to these ideals now? Explain.
  • Which is more important for success: personal effort or access to good education? Why?
  • Imagine you are a student at UCLA. Write a short description of a typical day on campus.
  • If you could create a new university in the United States, what subject would it focus on and why?
  • Do you believe that the diversity in America makes the country stronger? Give reasons.
  • What challenges might immigrants face when trying to achieve the American dream, according to the text?
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100
2 years, 3 months and 12 days ago Level: Upper-Intermediate (B2)

America: Land of Opportunity

America is known as the land of opportunity, where one could achieve anything they put their mind to, no matter who they are. Thousands of people immigrate to the United States every year from different parts of the world to have access to these kinds of opportunities. This is what is known as "the American dream". One of the many reasons America is such a great country is the diversity you see all around. America is one big melting pot of citizens from different backgrounds.

America is also home to many of the world's top colleges and universities. The California Institute of Technology is a top world-ranked college that focuses highly on science and engineering. It is located in the city of Pasadena. Harvard University is another top world-ranked college that you might be familiar with. The buildings at Harvard date all the way back to the year 1636, making Harvard the oldest university in the United States. It is located in the state of Massachusetts. University of California, Los Angeles, is another institute worthy of recognition. Located next to Hollywood, UCLA has distinguished itself as a prestigious and selective university due to the number of people who apply for admission throughout the United States. The universities mentioned are but a few of the many other excellent schools that make the United States so outstanding.

America is also known for being at the forefront of freedom and equality. Although our history may be contradictory to these ideals, we have progressed and now live in a land of equal opportunity. Whether you wish to become a doctor, a lawyer, or a librarian, America is the best place to be at to achieve these dreams.

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