Why American Culture is Unique American culture is unique because it is nurtured， formed and developed under certain conditions， which are characteristically(特性)A The major factors contributing to the making of this new nation and the forming of a new culture are the hard environment， ethnic diversity(多民族) and plural religion， which is quite different from other nations in the What is more， these elements are still influencing the American Rough EnvironmentThe early immigrants who were English Puritans settled down in northeast part of A The environment there was very rough but they believed the poor land could purify their mind so they chose the place along the From 1607 to 1892， frontiers were pushed further The American frontier consisted of the relatively unsettled regions of the United States， usually found in the western part of the The frontiersmen looked for a land of rich resources and a land of promise， opportunity and Actually they looked for a better So individualism， self-reliance， and equality of opportunity have perhaps been the values most closely associated with the frontier heritage(遗产) of A Ethnic DiversityThe population of the United States includes a large variety of ethnic groups coming from many races， nationalities， and People refer to the United States as "melting pot "and the dominant people are B American is made up of WASP+MM， that is， White， Anglo Saxon， Protestants plus Middle Class and M In history， people from different countries in the world rushed to American three They brought their own culture to American and later on different cultures were mixed Thus the unique American culture is formed， a common cultural life with commonly shared Plural religionThe fundamental American belief in individual freedom and the right of individuals to practice their own religion is at the center of religious experience in the United S The great diversity of ethnic backgrounds has produced religious pluralism; almost all of the religions of the world are now practiced in the United S Christianity(基督教) is the dominant religion in American and Protestant (新教)is predominate(主导) Any individuals are equal before God and they believe they can communicate directly to God so they can share the same Under the protestant， many new ones are formed and different explanations produce different sect of Churches are independent and American religion is no longer religion The institution permits the practice of religion and the political power is separate form So there are more religions in American than in other Current influence:Nowadays，we can see the continual influence of the three elements in the current American American family is typically parents and their unmarried Middle-aged and elderly people generally do not live with their married Many Americans live in mobile homes whose homes are built with They can be The people in American have a very strong desire to start a new life in a new Quite a number of people change residences(住所) every The average American moves fourteen times in his The courage to try something new has been an American American democracy means majority rule， but it also means protection of minority There are certain freedom which the United States promises to all its citizens and members of minority group cannot be denied these rights by a vote of the Americans also like to be involved in many challenge activities and sports to show their adventurous All of these are affected by the heritage of the American From the facts above， we can see American culture is unique which was cultivated， formed and developed by the main three factors， rough environment， ethnic diversity and plural religion and still is affected and determined by them now
英美文化背景知识 Education in Britain and The USIn Britain all children have to go to school between the ages of 5 and In the US children must go to school from the age of 6 to between the ages of 14 and 16， depending on the state they live SubjectIn England and Wales the subjects taught in schools are laid down by the National Curriculum(课程)， which was introduced in 1988 and sets out(制定) in detail the subjects that children should study and the levels of achievement they should reach by the ages of 7， 11， 14 and 16， when they are The National Curriculum does not apply in Scotland， where each school decides what subjects it will In the US the subjects taught are decided by national and local Whereas British schools usually have prayers(祈祷) and religious(宗教的) instruction， American schools are not allowed to include prayers or to teach particular religious beliefs(信仰)ExaminationsAt 16 students in England and Wales take GCSE These examinations are taken by students of all levels of ability in any of a range of subjects and may involve a final examination， an assessment(评价) of work done during the two year course， or both of these At 18 some students taken A-level examinations， usually in not more than 3 It is necessary to have A-levels in order to go to a university or polytechnic(综合技术大学)In Scotland students take the SCE A year later， they can take examinations called HIGHS， after which they can either go straight to a university or spend a further year at school and take the Certificate(证书) of Sixth Year S In Scotland the university system is different to that in England and W Courses usually last four years rather than three and students study a larger number of subjects as part of their In the US school examinations are not as important as they are in B Students in High Schools do have exams at the end of their last two years， but these final exams are considered along with the work that the students have done during the school Social Events and Ceremonies(仪式)In American high schools there is a formal ceremony for Graduation (=completion of high school) Students wear a special cap and gown and receive a diploma(文凭) from the head of the Students often buy a class ring to ear， and a yearbook， containing pictures of their friends and There are also special social events at American Sports events are popular， and cheer leaders lead the school in supporting the school team and singing the school At the end of their junior year， at age 17 or 18， students held in the The girls wear long evening dresses and the boys wear TUXEDOSIn Britain， there are no formal dances or social occasions(场合) associated(和有关) with school Some schools have SPEECH DAY at the end of the school year when prizes are given to the best students and speeches are made by the head teacher and sometimes an invited However， in many British schools students and teachers organize(组织) informal dances for the older
