大家知道，學習英語就要學習英美文化、英美習俗等，同時，這也是高考英語閱讀理解的一個重要方面。那么，你了解美國的文化嗎？你知道其主要特點嗎？讀讀本文吧，它會從一個側面告訴你美國文化的特點是什么——

　　Who are these people rushing by you in the street? More than 215 million people now call America “home”, but most of them can trace their families back to other parts of the world. If you look at the names on shop windows, you will see that Americans come from many different lands. The idea that these people, who once were strangers to the United States, have lost the customs and cultures of their original countries and have become “American” is really not true. In fact, what exists in America is more often a kind of “side-by-side” living in which groups of people from other countries often have kept many of their customs and habits. They join the general American society only in certain areas of their lives—such as in schools, business, and sports—but they keep many of their own native customs and manners socially and at home. This living “side-by-side” has both advantages and disadvantages. Sometimes it may cause disagreements to develop between groups whose ways of life are very different from one another. however, there are also great advantages that come from the variety of cultures brought by settlers from other lands. There is great freedom of choice among ideas and dress, food, and social customs in America. Everyone can find some part of his or her familiar world in the United States, in churches, music, food, national groups, or newspapers.

　　1. More than 215 million people call America “home” because_______.

　　A. they buy their houses there              B. they settle there now

　　C. they get married there                     D. they were born there

　　2. “Side-by-side” living style means _______.

　　A. making friends with native people

　　B. keeping their own customs while sharing American ones in certain areas

　　C. the groups of people who live nearby

　　D. that they get closer to American society

　　3. according to the passage, people in the USA ________.

　　A. share American customs and culture

　　B. live in a kind of “side-by-side” society

　　C. keep their own customs and habits firmly

　　D. make no choice to accept American customs

　　4. Which of the following statements is true?

　　A. They always stick to their own customs and habits.

　　B. “Side-by-side” living style is not suitable.

　　C. They face the society they are not familiar with.

　　D. The advantages coming from the variety of cultures make life in America colorful.

　　5. Which title of the following can best take the place of “Different Cultures in America”?

　　A. Advantages and Disadvantages.

　　B. Different Customs and Habits.

　　C. Home for the People.

　　D. “Side-by-side” Living Style in America.

　　【答案與解析】美國文化的總體特點是兼容性強、包容性強、開放性強，許多人稱美國文化為“熔爐文化”，本文從一個側面證明了這一觀點。

　　1. 選B。推理判斷題。從however, there are also great advantages that come from the variety of cultures brought by setters from other lands可知以美國為家的人主要是已經定居在美國，即答案選B。

　　2. 選B。推理判斷題。從They join the general American society only in certain areas of their lives—such as in schools, business, and sports—but they keep many of their own native customs and manners socially and at home. This living “side-by side” has both advantages and disadvantages (他們在某些方面融入美國社會，但他們同時也保留自己民族的文化和風俗)可知答案B正確。

　　3. 選B。事實細節題。從In fact, what exists in America is more often a kind of “side-by-side” living in which groups of people from other countries often have kept many of their customs and habits可知答案B正確。

　　4. 選D。推理判斷題。從文章最后對多種文化并存優點的分析，可推知這種局面使生活在那里的異國人可以自由選擇生活方式，使生活豐富有色彩，故答案選D。

　　5. 選D。主旨大意題。文章主要講了美國多種文化并存的原因及優缺點，故最佳標題為D。