Engelsk Prøve Om USA

Question 1

How many states are there in the US?

Answer 1

There are 50 states

Question 2

What were the last two states to be added to the federation?

Answer 2

The two last states to be included in 1959 were Alaska and Hawaii

Question 3

What is the difference between Washington DC and Washington?

Answer 3

Washington is a state and Washington DC is a city, DC also means that there is also consists of the District of Colombia

Question 4

How many times larger is the USA than Norway?

Answer 4

USA is 30 times bigger then Norway

Question 5

Approximately how many inhabitants are there in the USA?

Answer 5

There are 304 million inhabitants in USA, making it the worlds third largest, after China and India

Question 6

What are the four main geographical regions called?

Answer 6

We can divide the nation into the following four main regions: the Northeast, the Midwest, the South and the West.

Question 7

Give examples of how these regions are different.

Answer 7

🔹Size of population
🔹Race and culture background
🔹Different food tradition
🔹Different dialects

Question 8

How many British colonies were there in 1776?

Answer 8

13 British colonies

Question 9

How many states in the US have a law permitting the death penalty and what percentage of the total number of US states does this represent?

Answer 9

32 states have a law permitting capital punishment, but t is not practiced in more than half of them

Question 10

Witch method is used as the primary form of execution?

Answer 10

Lethal injection is the primary form of execution practiced by most states while the electric chair an the gas chamber are still used in some states

Question 11

What are some of the arguments mentioned that support capital punishment?

Answer 11

🔹Often victims’ survivors demand capital punishment as a means of getting even with the offender
🔹Capital punishment deters crime
🔹Capital punishment keeps offenders from returning to society and committing new crimes
🔹It is cheaper because keeping criminals in prison is expensive

Question 12

What are the arguments expressing opposition (capital punishment)?

Answer 12

🔺Inmates can be executed before they have a chance to prove their innocence.
🔺Capital punishment is not a deterrent and is more expensive than life in prison
🔺It is a cruel punishment

Question 13

Why are many of the prisoners on death row black?

Answer 13

Critics claim that many black inmates are victims of discrimination. Also due to blacks poor economic states they cannot hire a good attorney, and they also face prejudiced juries

Question 14

How do most Americans celebrate the Fourth of July?

Answer 14

It starts with the official start of the summer, and then most people attend the forth of July parade and watch the fireworks in the end. Often the Americans are having a barbeque grill with family and friends.

Question 15

Why do the Americans celebrate Fourth of July

Answer 15

Because forth of July is USA’s birthday, independent day. This day is in remembrance of 1776 when the 13 colonies declared there independent from Britain.

Question 16

What is Labor Day and how is it dig tent then other European countries?

Answer 16

Labor Day is the first Monday in September. It is a day to recognize workers in America.
Unlike other European countries who mark the day with parades, speeches an political demonstrations, Labor Day in the US is celebrated similarly to the Fourth of July with picnics, cook outs, baseball and other outdoor festivities.

Question 17

Mane four other national holidays?

Answer 17

🔸 Thanksgiving
🔸 Easter
🔸 Christmas
🔸 The New Year celebration

Question 18

Why are our impressions of America often different from reality?

Answer 18

It`s because of our impressions are often based on stereotyped characters brought forth by TV, films and media.

Question 19

What are our first impressions on arrival in America?

Answer 19

On stepping on to American soil, we are greeted by the vast diversity of multicultural America. People of all shapes, races and sizes mill around in public areas and malls. At first glance, Americans are outgoing and friendly.

Question 20

Why shouldn’t we confuse friendliness with friendship in America?

Answer 20

It`s because, as in most cultures, it takes a long time to establish genuine friends.

Question 21

What characterizes the American “doer”?

Answer 21

That is because they are heard workers, and in this setting the text says; Americans are known as “doers” barely allowing themselves two weeks of vacation on a yearly basis.

Question 22

How do Americans measure success?

Answer 22

On a superficial level, they set their goals high and success is often measured by how much money they earn, what education they can provide for their children, what kind of house and car they own and what great parties they throw.

Question 23

In which ways do Americans demonstrate community spirit?

Answer 23

They give generously to charities, and are often first to volunteer for various activities within the community. Parents together with young people are often involved in school activities such as PTA meetings, school pep rallies, seasonal dances, and various sporting events. Church-based activities are also very popular and are focal points for bringing people together.

Question 24

Americans are said to have a silly side, explain.

Answer 24

Because the Americans are able to make fun of themselves and make jokes. They also has TV show such as Daily Show with Jon Stewart or Saturday Night Live confirm this.

Question 25

How do Americans demonstrate patriotism?

Answer 25

They sing their national anthem at the start of most sports games, pledge allegiance to the flag at school, and display or wave the flag whenever they can.

Question 26

Why have 75% of Americans never been outside America?

Answer 26

Because they says they love their country and feel that it has everything.

Question 27

Give examples of thinking big in America.

Answer 27

Everything is big in America, phrases such as “think big”, “big is beautiful”, “the Big Apple”, ”the big cheese” or “big money” are all part of the American mind set. Big cars, big trucks, big highways, big skyscrapers, big burgers and cokes at McDonalds, big screens and super large humans may seem overwhelming to foreigners.

Question 28

Which celebrations are mentioned in the text? Can you think of any others?

Answer 28

In the text, they mention events such as: Easter Parade, the St Patrick’s Day parade in New York, 4th of July, Pageants, The Oscars or the Tournament of Roses. Events I can think about: Tomorrowland, Thanksgiving, Teen Chose Awards and Kids Chose Awards.

Question 29

What percentage of Americans would prefer living in a different type of community than the one they are in?

Answer 29

Nearly 46% of Americans would prefer living in a different type of community than the one they are in.

Question 30

In which way does mobility among Americans have its price?

Answer 30

Rise in gas prices and the emphasis on saving the planet. Sins so many Americans move a lot it’s effecting the planet and the nature.

Question 31

What are some of the causes of obesity among Americans?

Answer 31

High-cholesterol foods sold in grocery stores, fast food chains or served in restaurants in mammoth portions keep one out of three Americans overweight. MacDonald, burger king and others fast food restaurants is a big part of the reason.

Question 32

Why is the U.S. called a nation of nations?

Answer 32

It is because of all the different immigrants, with different backgrounds from different countries that are living in the USA together..

Question 33

What is implied by such a metaphor as “the melting pot”?

Answer 33

The melting pot is a metaphor for a mixed society becoming more together and alike, the different elements “melting together” into a society with a common culture.

Question 34

What is the immigrant experience?

Answer 34

The experience is different form one and another. For some they are negative, but for others positive. It`s depends on how they are treated by other people. If they are accepted, have a home and a job.

Question 35

What is the difference between the metaphors “a divided heart” and “a double landscape”?

Answer 35

“A divided heart” is that you do not really know where you belong, and “a double landscape” is that there are different cultural traditions where you live.

Question 36

What is understood by the metaphor “salad bowl”?

Answer 36

In the salad bowl the theory is that the newly arrived immigrants do not lose the unique aspects [like their language, foods, religions, and holidays] of their cultures like in the melting pot, instead they keep them. Just as you can see all the separate ingredients in a salad, you can still identify who is a Chinese-American, a Mexican-American, and a French-American.

Question 37

What is a hyphenated American?

Answer 37

An American who is referred to by a hyphenated term with the first word indicating a foundation in a distant country, and the second term being “American”, as Irish-American, Italian-American, African-American, Asian-American.