Americans

What's the difference between an American and a European really? There's the rhythm of life of course but one can exaggerate this. There is all the time the urge for action, as opposed to reflection.

In Europe there are people who have lived in the same house and been in the same job for twenty, thirty, forty years, and who would hate to pull up their roots and change to something new. That's not the American way of life. They love change, they call it " the spirit of adventure, " a spirit that they think is more characteristic of America than of Europe. The English, the French, the Germans, the Italians have all got one thing in common — they are descended from the men who stayed behind. In the States they are descended from the folk who " moved away". And so they still like to " move away", to change homes and jobs. They seem to be constantly pulling down old and often quite beautiful houses or throwing away things merely because they are old. They have none of the Englishman's sentimental love for things because they are old.

One often hears of the Englishman's " reserve"; how he likes to " keep himself to himself'; and how on a long railway journey, with four Englishmen in the carriage, often there won't be a word spoken during the whole journey. That wouldn't be the case in America. The Englishman thinks it is ill-mannered to ask personal questions. The American doesn't feel that at all. In the short ride between the boat on which you arrived in New York and the hotel to which you are being driven, the taxi driver will have told you all about himself, his wife and family and probably the towns in England that he was in during the war. He will inquire where you have come from, what your job is, how you like America and how long you are staying in New York.

The Englishman prizes privacy, the American prefers sociability. The Englishman's suburban house has its little garden with a hedge or a fence all round it to shut him off from his neighbours. The American houses have no hedges or fences separating them from the pavement or from each other. There are none of those little shut-off gardens; generally just a strip of grass with trees on it. And inside the house, instead of the separate hall, living-room, dining-room so typical of the English house, the American has the " open plan" house, just one large room where all the family activities (usually noisy) go on with, perhaps, a " dining recess" or a " kitchen-break fast- room".

With this sociability goes overwhelming hospitality. You get taken to parties at the houses of your friends and of your friends' friends; you are invited to theatres, dinners, sports meetings, motor trips; from the first minute you are on " first name" terms with the people you meet; they all show the keenest interest in your affairs and ask you to let them know if they can help you (and by the following week they have forgotten all about you).

They like new things — and they get rid of their friends as they do of their cars. No one strikes up acquaintance sooner than the Americans do, and nobody finds it harder to make a real friendship.

Most Americans have great vigour and enthusiasm. They prefer to discipline themselves rather than be disciplined by others. They are prepared to take initiative, even when there is a risk in doing so. They have courage and do not give in easily.

Americans are considered sentimental. When on ceremonial occasions they see a flag, or attend parades celebrating America's glorious past, tears may come to their eyes. They have particular knowledge of everyday things, and a keen interest in their peculiar city and State. Foreigners sometimes complain, however, that they gave little interest in or knowledge of the outside world.

However, American society must not be regarded as all of one piece. Chicago is decades away from Boston, the Middle West — a different country from New England, the South from both, California — the West generally — a world away from all. No one who knows America even a little would make the mistake of thinking Americans all alike.

Vocabulary:

to exaggerate – перебільшувати

to urge – наполягати

opposed – на противагу

reflection – роздуми

to pull up – висмикувати

descend – спускатися

to inquire – дізнаватися

to prize - високо цінують

shut-off – ізолювати

hospitality- гостинність

overwhelming – непереборюваний

to get rid of – позбавлятися когось (чогось)

vigour – сила, енергія

to give in – здаватися

2. Answer the questions:

1. What’s the difference between an American and a European really?

2. What is there in common with the English and Americans?

3. In what are the English and Americans different?

4. What other information describing the English and the Americans can you think of?

3. Complete the sentences:

1. The English, the French, the Germans, the Italians have all got one thing in common...

2. The Englishman prizes privacy,...

3. In the States they are descended...

4. They have none of the Englishman's sentimental love for things...

5. The Englishman thinks it is ill-mannered...

6. The Englishman prizes privacy,...

7. The American houses have no hedges or...

8. With this sociability goes...

9. They like new things...

10. They prefer to discipline..