N. Kryazheva - The United States and the United Kingdom. Past and Present (pdf), страница 6

Now most older people live on their own. They generally stay in contact withtheir children but might live in a different part of thecountry. People are also living longer - often for 20 years after they've retired from their job. ModernAmerican culture tends to value youth rather than age. All of thiscreate an interesting challenge for older people and for the country, since by theyear 2020, one in every 6 Americans will be over the age of 65.In the traditional family, the wife stayed home with the children while the husbandearned money.

Now 60 percent of all married women work outside theirhome. So, a majority of couples have two wage-earners. One reason for thischange is that women want and expect to have careers. Another reason is economics. With rising prices, many families cannot survive on one person's salary.Is the American family in trouble? People point to the divorce rate, to the factthat working mothers might have less time with their children, and to the "generation gap,"or the problems that parents and children sometimes have no understanding each other. Experts say, however, that the family is as strong as ever.Family is still at the centre of most people's lives.HOUSE AND HOMEThe lives of most Americans revolve around their homes and houses.The percentageof Americans owning the houses and apartments they live in is the highest among western nations.Most Americans still live in "single-family dwellings," that is, houses which usually have a front and backyard.Most of America has a more or less four season climate; and the rhythms oflife around the house tend to follow the seasons.

Spring means that the stormwindows must be taken down in those areas, where it gets cold in winter. Thescreen windows, so intended to keep out insects, need to be cleaned or paintedand installed. After winter, the garden needs a lot of work to be done. In summer,the lawn must be mown every week or so. It is a good time to scrape and paint.The car gets washed every week or so. As soon as autumn leaves begin to fall,they must be raked, and the storm windows need to be ready and put up again.In winter, the walks and driveways must be kept clear of ice and snow. There isalways something that needs to be done around the house, and most Americanhome owners do it themselves.Shopping, that is, the big food shopping, is usually done once a week at t| local supermarket.

Oneadvantage of a service-oriented economy (and one §foreigners frequently comment on) is that many businesses, with employees wqi ing in shifts, stay openlate to provide services and possibilities for shopping. Mc Americans, like most people everywhere, arealways trying to keep their budg$ under control, and always going over. The food will often be paid forby check. ( convenient and, moreover, as all checks are returned by the bank, you have record ofeverything spent. Most stores will pack your groceries for you, and mar still take them out to your car.The big brown bags traditionally provided can be n used later for a lot of things, from masks for thechildren to garbage bags and wra| ping paper for packages. By the way, plastic bags are making theirentry, but bein resisted by many shoppers.

The young men and women who pack the grocerie arealmost always neighborhood teen-agers who work part-time.In many American families children are expected to help around the housf They are assigned "chores"which might include, for instance, vacuuming the rugs washing and waxing floors, cleaning windows,mowing the lawn, shoveling snov keeping the cars clean, looking after the pets, and so on.

Somefamilies give small amount of money, an allowance, in exchange for these and similar chores Otherfamilies simply expect such work to be shared by everyone in the family.At the same time, many American middle-class families expect their children to fin part-time jobsespecially as they enter their teens.

They might be working at the locc supermarket or service station,mowing lawns, delivering newspapers, or baby-sitting In fact, about 75 percent of high school seniorswork during the average school week Most of these teen-agers are working because their families can'tafford buying things for them. Rather, the idea seems to be that the work experience is (as parents areso fond of telling their children) "good for you." One effect on American society is thai middle-classchildren can do menial work without losing face.

Sometimes, in fact, it's a way of gaining status. This hasa subtle effect on customer-employee relations: the kic who just packed your groceries or filled your gastank could well be your neighbor's sor or daughter. In general, Americans feel that young people shouldappreciate the value of work and team how to stand on their own two feet.Most Americans expect their children to leave.home at an earlier age than dc parents in many otherwestern countries. Beyond a certain age, they are often expected to contribute to, or pay for things thatgo beyond food, clothing, and shelter.

The image that American teen-agers "get whatever they want"from their parents comes from a time when the standard of living was much higher in the USA. than йwas elsewhere. Many high school students have their own cars. But most of them were paid for by thestudents themselves (along with the necessary automobile insurance, which, by the way, is particularlyexpensive for teen-agers).Most Americans today work not more than eight hours a day, five days a week at their jobs.In the average American home, there is an enormous amount of activity, of coming and of going,seemingly all happening at once. For the parents, there are perhaps courses at the local evening schoolor college.

There are different clubs and public service organizations, many of them related to charitablework.Many American children take (or are made to take) piano or other music lessons,cinq or ballet lessons, horseback riding, swimming, skiing, golf, tennis, and just about anything else thatparents think will be good for their children. The social life is often hectic as well. One child is off to aparty, another to the library, another to see a film Neighbors drop by, and the telephone keeps ringing.Messages (often put on the refrigerator door) remind one family member to do this or that, to pick upMarilyn on Monday for her violin lesson, or to bake the cake for the church dinner.Many adults and teen-agers are involved in volunteer work. According to a recent Gallup poll, about 84million Americans, that is, almost one out of every three Americans donate some part of their time asvolunteers.

More than half of them do over 100 hours of volunteer work during the year. Some of thiswork is done through the so-called service organizations and clubs.In addition, there are so many other activities and clubs, groups, volunteer organizations, courses, andhobbies, that most Americans are involved in several at the same time. And, of course, there's alwayswork and school, and the things that need to be done around the house. Americans also talk about astress.

Life is hectic, the pressure is on at work and school. The competition is intense. And workinghard, Americans often have schedules that leave little room to just sit and do nothing. They are usuallyon the go most of the week, and have full week-ends as well. Americans also take shorter and fewerholidays and vacations than most people in other industrialized societies. They are under pressure to dowell on their examinations and get into a good university, to get a better and better paying job, to improvethemselves.

Still, this emphasis on the stress of American daily life is frequently overdone, often byAmericans who sometimes boast in telling others how busy they are.In fact, in the past decade there has been a sharp decline in stress-related health problems such asheart attacks. A better diet and a radical change in exercise habits has meant that the number of heartattacks among American businessmen is going down, although they are still on the increase in otherwestern nations.

Also, the rules for competition in the US are well understood. Americans have showntheir preference to a comfortable and convenient life style.Words and Phrases:to own - обладатьowner- хозяинaverage -среднийlawn- газонto install - вставлятьshelter - кровto mow - скашивать газонdwelling - здание, строениеbaby-sitting - уход за детьмиrug - коврик, ковер, пледteens - возраст от 13 до 19menial work - лакейская работаwithout losing face - не теряя достоинстваto rake leaves - сгребать граблями листьяhectic - лихорадочныйwrapping paper - оберточная бумагаto concern with - заботиться оto be available - иметься в наличииcharitable work - благотворительностьgarbage bag - мешки для мусораgrocery (ies) - бакалейные товарыinsect - насекомоеsubtle - зд.

незначительныйadult - взрослый, совершеннолетнеto enter teens - достичь подросткового возрастаto gain status - зд.: завоевать самостоятельность (самоутверждаться)"chores" - зд.: работа по дому (уборка мусора, готовка), поденная рабо)to be on the go - зд.: быть занятым, быть "в бегах"to shovel snow - расчистить тропинку в снегуto stand on their own two feet - жить самостоятельноenormous amount of activity - зд.: большое поле деятельностиTasks:1. True or False?a. most Americans expect their children to leave home at an earlier age thado parents in many other countries;b.

many adults and teen-agers are involved in volunteer work;c. life is hectic, the pressure is on at work and at home;d. Americans have shown their wish for a comfortable and convenient lifistyle.2. Ask you group-mate whether she (he) knows:a. anything about rhythms of life around the house;b. anything about shopping;c. anything about children's help in families;3. Make up a plan of the text.SPORT IN THE UNITED STATESSports of all kinds are popular in the United States. Much attention is given to sports in the newspapers,magazines, on the radio and television.

Baseball remains the most popular, although in recent yearsfootball has become almosi as popular as baseball. All high schools and universities have their ownbaseball teams. Today it is very fast and exciting game and each year seems to grow more popular inthe US. About 30 ml people attend league baseball games each year, and some 40 ml turn out forfootball.Attention, however, is centered principally on the major league teams, which are made up of professionalplayers.