General knowledge of America美国概况美国概况Contents: BasicinformationAmericangeographyFullnameNationalflagNationalemblemNationalanthemNationaldayNationalflowerCapitalNicknameI. Basic information Name of the CountryThe full official name of the country is the United States of America, usually referred to as the U.S.A.The United State of America, with the capital of Washington D. C., is the biggest country in North America. national flagnational flag： Stars and Stripes Stars and StripesThe Star-Spangled BannerThe Star-Spangled Banner 1.made up of 13 alternating red and white stripes and 50 white stars on a blue field 2.Stars are considered a symbol of the heavens and the divine goal 3.the stripe is symbolic of the rays of light from the sun White: Signifies purity and innocence Red: Signifies valor and braveryBlue: Signifies Vigilance, perseverance, and justiceStar Spangled Banner 星条旗之歌Oh,saycanyousee,bythedawnsearlylight,Whatsoproudlywehailedatthetwilightslastgleaming?Whosebroadstripesandbrightstars,throughtheperilousfight,Oertherampartswewatched,weresogallantlystreaming? 啊啊啊啊! !在在在在 晨晨晨晨 曦曦曦曦 初初初初 现现现现 时，时，时，时， 你你你你 可可可可 看看看看 见见见见 是是是是 甚甚甚甚 么么么么 让让让让 我我我我 们们们们 如如如如 此此此此 骄骄骄骄 傲傲傲傲? ? 在在在在 黎黎黎黎 明明明明 的的的的 最最最最 后后后后 一一一一 道道道道 曙曙曙曙 光光光光 中中中中 欢欢欢欢 呼，呼，呼，呼， 是是是是 谁谁谁谁 的的的的 旗旗旗旗 帜帜帜帜 在在在在 激激激激 战战战战 中中中中 始始始始 终终终终 高高高高 扬扬扬扬! !Andtherocketsredglare,thebombsburstinginair,Gaveproofthroughthenightthatourflagwasstillthere.Osay,doesthatstar-spangledbanneryetwaveOerthelandofthefreeandthehomeofthebrave?烈烈烈烈 火火火火 熊熊熊熊 熊，熊，熊，熊， 炮炮炮炮 声声声声 隆隆隆隆 隆，隆，隆，隆，我我我我 们们们们 看看看看 到到到到 要要要要 塞塞塞塞 上上上上 那那那那 面面面面 英英英英 勇勇勇勇 的的的的 旗旗旗旗 帜帜帜帜在在在在 黑黑黑黑 夜夜夜夜 过过过过 后后后后 依依依依 然然然然 耸耸耸耸 立立立立! !啊啊啊啊! !你你你你 说说说说 那那那那 星星星星 条条条条 旗旗旗旗 是是是是 否否否否 会会会会 静静静静 止，止，止，止，在在在在 自自自自 由由由由 的的的的 土土土土 地地地地 上上上上 飘飘飘飘 舞，舞，舞，舞，在在在在 勇勇勇勇 者者者者 的的的的 家家家家 园园园园 上上上上 飞飞飞飞 扬。扬。扬。扬。National emblem： Bald eagleMotto:InGodWeTrust(official)E Pluribus Unum (traditional)(Latin: Out of Many, One)The Great SealThe Great SealOlive branch and arrows(peace and power) 美国的国徽是由威廉巴顿William Barton和查尔斯汤姆逊Charles Thomson设计的，美国政府于1782年6月20日开始用这个国玺来鉴定重 要文件。 国徽的图案，正中是一只象征独立、自由精神的白头鹰，前面盾牌状的国旗，代表了1777年加入美国联邦的十三个州。白头鹰的右爪持着希望和平的橄榄枝，左爪握着决心自卫的利箭。白头鹰衔着一条用拉丁文写着“合众国” 字样的彩带，国徽顶端则是透过云雾，闪闪发光的十三颗金星。The Great Seal shows a wide-spread eagle, faced front, having on his breast a shield with thirteen perpendicular red and white stripes, surmounted by a blue field with the same number of stars. In his right talon the eagle holds an olive branch, in his left a bundle of thirteen arrows, and in his beak he carries a scroll inscribed with the motto: E Pluribus Unum“, meaning out of many, one The Eagle appears in the Seals of many of our States, on most of our gold and silver coinage, and is used a great deal for decorative patriotic purposes. The eagle represents freedom. NationalAnthem:TheStar-SpangledBanner星条旗永不落星条旗永不落NationalDay:July4Nationalflower:roseNationalbird:baldeagleCapital:WashingtonD.C.(asamemorialtoGeorgeWashingtonandChristopherColumbus)Nickname:UncleSam vIn1986,PresidentReganissuedaproclamationtodeclarethattherosebecametheofficialfloweroftheAmerica.National BirdThe EagleThebaldeaglewaschosenonJune20,1782asthesymbolofAmerica,becauseofitslonglife,greatstrengthandmajesticlooks.Theeagle,fullofthespiritoffreedom,livingabovethevalleys,strongandpowerfulinhismight,hasbecomethenationalsymbolofU.S.A.GeorgeWashingtonChristopherColumbusUncleSamUncle Sam a figure symbolizing the United States portrayed as a tall, white-haired man with a goateeoften dressed in red, white, and blue, and wears a top hat“Uncle Sam” to the United States is “John Bull” to UK John BullUncle Sam MexicoThe Pacific OceanThe Atlantic Ocean1.Locationandsize2.Topography(地形地形,地质地质)Majormountainsandriversthreegeographicaldivisions3.Climate4.Naturalresources5.Population6.Geograpicalregions7.MajorcitiesII. American Geography1.TheUnitedStatesismadeupofDistrictofColumbiaand_states.A.48B.49C.50D.512.WhatarethenamesofthetwostatesoftheUnitedStateswhicharenoncontiguous?A.AlaskaandHawaiiB.AlaskaandOhioC.OhioandKansasD.HawaiiandKansas48 contiguous states + 2 noncontiguous states + D.C1.LocationandSize 1.ContinentalUnitedStatesliesincentralNorthAmericawithCanadatoitsnorth,MexicoandtheGulfofMexicotoitssouth,theAtlanticOceantoitseastandthePacificOceantoitswest.2.The2neweststates:AlaskaandHawaiiseparatedfromcontinentalUnitedStatesAlaskabordersonnorthwesternCanada,HawaiiliesinthecentralPacific.3.theadvantagesofthelocationoftheUSTheUShasanideallocationforitsdevelopment.-ItsAtlanticcoastfacesthedevelopedcountriesofWesternEurope,anditsPacificcoastandHawaiigivethenationanapproachtotheFarEastandAustralasia-InthepasttheAtlanticandPacificOceansservedasnaturalbarriersbetweentheUSandtherestoftheworld.ThisallowedtheUStogrowandbecomestrongwithlittleoutsideinterference.-AndtodaythedevelopmentofmeansofcommunicationandtransportationmakestheU.S.wellconnectedtotherestoftheworld.SizeoftheUS-alandareaof9.3millionsquarekilometers.-stretches2,575kilometersfromnorthtosouthand4,500kilometersfromeasttowest.-the4thlargestcountryintheworldinsizeafterRussia,CanadaandChina.-Alltogetherthereare50statesintheUS.-OfallthestatesAlaskaisthelargestinareaandRhodeIslandthesmallest.-onthemainlandTexasisthelargest.2. topography: Mountains in U. S. A.AppalachianMountains阿巴拉契亚山脉阿巴拉契亚山脉RockyMountains落基山脉落基山脉TheAppalachianMountains-runslightlyfromthenortheasttosouthwest-old(havebeenwornoutovermillionsofyears)andlow(thehighestpeakisonlyalittleover2,000metres)-notedforvirginforestsandmines-servedasanaturalbarrierforwestwardmovementduringtheearlysettlement.The Appalachian MountainsThe Appalachian MountainsthegreatmountainsystemofeasternNorthAmerica;onesixthofthenationalterritoryonthecontinent;FromprovinceofQuebecinCanadatoNorthernAlabama.TheRockyMountains-runslightlyfromthenorthwesttosoutheast-younger(areconsideredasyoungasChinasHimalayas)andhigh(withthehigherpeakElbertofabout4,500metres)-thebackboneoftheNorthAmericancontinentandisknownastheContinentalDivide.-famousforlotsofnaturalnationalparks-ItisalsoknownastheContinentalDivide(大大陆分水岭陆分水岭),becauseitseparatesthemajorriversystemsoftheUnitedStates.Rocky Mountains-great backbone of North AmericathegreatmountainsystemofwesternNorthAmerica;5000kmsfromNewMexicotoCanada;averagealtitude:morethan3000msabovesealevel.Appalachian Mountains VS Rocky MountainsAppalachianMountainsRockyMountainsDirectionFromthenortheasttosouthwestFromthenorthwesttosoutheastAgeOlderYoungerHeightLower(2037m)Higher(4500m)2.Topography:RiversintheUSATheriversinthecountryaremainlylyingbetweentheAppalachianandRockyMountains.1.TheMississippi-3,782kilometreslong-TheMississippianditstributariesdrainoneoftherichestfarmareasintheworld-Theyforma19,000-kilometresystemofwaterwaysandserveasimportantmeansoftransportation.-called“fatherofwaters”andthe“oldmanriver”Rivers in U.S.A.MississippiRiverFatherofallWaters2.TheMissouri-over6,000kilometresandisoneofthelongestriversintheworld-runs3,725kilometresbeforeitjoinstheMississippi3.TheOhio-about1,500kilometreslong-calledtheAmericanRuhr(aftertheRuhrRiver鲁尔河鲁尔河inGermany),famousforitsrichvaluabledeposits-Theareaiswellknownforitssteelindustry4.OnthePacificsidethereare2greatrivers:theColoradointhesouth,andtheColumbiarisesinCanada.5.TheHudson“father of waters”“father of waters”The most important and longest river in the U.S.The Missouri and the Ohio are two of its largest tributaries.The Great LakesNiagaraFalls尼亚加拉瀑布尼亚加拉瀑布The five Great LakesLake MichiganLake SuperiorLake ErieLake HuronLake Ontario-theworldslargestGroupoffreshwaterlakes-TheyarealllocatedbetweenCanadaand the US except Lake MichiganThey are : LakeSuperior苏必利尔湖：苏必利尔湖：thelargestfreshwaterlakeintheworld.LakeMichigan密歇根湖：密歇根湖：theonlyoneentirelyintheUSLakeHuron休伦湖休伦湖LakeErie伊利湖伊利湖LakeOntario安大略湖安大略湖2.Topography:ThreeGeographicDivisionsGeographicDivisionsGreatPlainsEasternpartEasternpartWesternpartWesternpartTheEasternPartTheeasternpartthehighlandsformedbytheTheeasternpartthehighlandsformedbytheAppalachianRangeAppalachianRange( (阿巴拉挈亚山脉阿巴拉挈亚山脉阿巴拉挈亚山脉阿巴拉挈亚山脉) ). .onesixthoftheterritoryrelativelylow,withanaveragealtitudeof800metersabovesealevelTheWesternPartHighplateausHighplateaus( (高原高原高原高原) )andmountainsextendingandmountainsextendingfromCanadathroughthewesternpartofthefromCanadathroughthewesternpartoftheUnitedStatestoMexicoandfurthersouth.UnitedStatestoMexicoandfurthersouth.OnethirdofthecountrysterritoryOnethirdofthecountrysterritoryRockymountainsRockymountainsTheGreatCentralPlainBetween the Appalachians in the east and the Rocky Mountains in the Between the Appalachians in the east and the Rocky Mountains in the west. west. halfofAmericaslandmassonthecontinentstretchfromtheGreatLakesinthenorthtotheGulfofMexicointhesouthdrainedbytheMississippianditstributariesfivegreatlakesandNiagaraFallsThe Great Central PlainTheGreatCentralPlainisbetween_and_,occupyingabout1/2ofAmericaslandmassonthecontinent.Keys:RockyMountainsTheAppalachianMountainsOnesecond3. Climate3. ClimateThenorthernstatesarethecoldest;Thesouthernstatesaresunbelt;TemperatestatesareinthePacificNorthwest.Climate in the United States MaritimeclimateContinentaldesertclimateContinentalsteppe(西西伯利亚草原）伯利亚草原）climateHumidcontinentalclimateSub-tropicalclimateSub-arcticclimateTropicalclimateClimateMainly temperate withsome mild subtropicalzoneswithonlythesouthernFloridaandHawaiibeingtropical.50centimeterrainfalllineintheeastcomparativelymorerain,soeasyagriculture;inthewestmuchlessrain(lessthan50cm.ayear)withtheexceptionofthecoastalareasalongthePacific.4.NaturalResourcesrichinmineralresourcesamongthecountrieswiththegreatestreservesofcoal,ironoreandoil.aboundsinlead,copper,zinc,aluminum,silver,andgold.onefourthoftheterritorycoveredwithforestswhichmainlyconcentrateuponthreeareas:theareaalongthenorthwesterncoastofthePacifictheareainthesouththeareainthenorthrichinoiloncerichinoiloncethelargestoilproducingcountry.thelargestoilproducingcountry.oilreservealongthecoastoftheGulfofMexico,Texas,oilreservealongthecoastoftheGulfofMexico,Texas,Louisiana,andOklahomaLouisiana,andOklahoma5. population5. population“MeltingPot”AmongtheCaucasians,themostinfluentialpeopleareWASP:thewhiteAnglo-SaxonProtestants.Aborigines:theIndians80%-90%ofimmigrantsarefromAsiaandHispaniccountries.HispanicgroupsmainlycamefromMexico,PuertoRico,andCuba.Race/Ethnicity (2008)White79.8%African American12.8%Asian American4.5%Native American and Alaska Native1.0%Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander0.2%Multiracial1.7%Hispanic (of any race)15.4%NationofimmigrationLanguages (2007)English (only)225.5 millionSpanish34.5 millionChinese2.5 millionFrench2.0 millionTagalog (菲律宾语菲律宾语)1.5 millionVietnamese1.2 millionGerman1.1 millionKorean1.1 millionLanguage Spoken at Home (U.S. Census)6. Geographical Regions6. Geographical RegionsNewEnglandMiddleAtlanticstatesTheAmericanSouthTheMid-WestTheAmericanWestThePacificCoastNewStatesNew England 新英格兰Maine缅因州缅因州NewHampshire新罕布什尔州新罕布什尔州Vermont佛蒙特州佛蒙特州Massachusetts马塞诸塞州马塞诸塞州(麻省麻省)RhodeIsland罗得岛罗得岛Connecticut康涅狄格州康涅狄格州Middle Atlantic States WestVirginia西弗吉尼亚州西弗吉尼亚州NewJersey新泽西州新泽西州NewYork纽约州纽约州Pennsylvania宾夕法尼亚州宾夕法尼亚州Maryland马里兰州马里兰州Delaware特拉华州特拉华州The Mid-West StatesWisconsin威斯康星州威斯康星州SouthDakota南达科他州南达科他州NorthDakota北达科他州北达科他州Ohio俄亥俄州俄亥俄州Illinois伊利诺伊州伊利诺伊州Indiana印第安纳州印第安纳州Iowa艾奥瓦艾奥瓦(衣阿华衣阿华)州州Kansas堪萨斯州堪萨斯州Missouri密苏里州密苏里州Minnesota明尼苏达州明尼苏达州Michigan密歇根密歇根(密执安密执安)州州Nebraska内布拉斯加州内布拉斯加州The American SouthVirginia弗吉尼亚州弗吉尼亚州NorthCarolina北卡罗来州北卡罗来州Oklahoma俄克拉何马州俄克拉何马州SouthCarolina南卡罗来州南卡罗来州Tennessee田纳西州田纳西州Texas得克萨斯州得克萨斯州Alabama亚拉巴马州亚拉巴马州Arkansas阿肯色州阿肯色州Florida佛罗里达州佛罗里达州Georgia佐治亚州佐治亚州Kansas堪萨斯州堪萨斯州Louisiana路易斯安那州路易斯安那州Mississippi密西西比州密西西比州The American WestWyoming怀俄明州怀俄明州NewMexico新墨西哥州新墨西哥州Arizona亚利桑那州亚利桑那州Idaho爱达荷州爱达荷州Montana蒙大拿州蒙大拿州Nevada内华达州内华达州Colorado科罗拉多州科罗拉多州Utah犹他州犹他州The Pacific CoastWashington华盛顿州华盛顿州Oregon俄勒冈州俄勒冈州California加利福尼亚州加利福尼亚州The New StatesAlaska阿拉斯加州阿拉斯加州Hawaii夏威夷夏威夷The Top List : exercise Thelargeststate:AlaskaThesmalleststate:RhodeIslandThemostpopulousstate:CaliforniaTheleastpopulousstate:WyomingThelargestcities:NewYork？7. Major cities7. Major cities1.WashingtonD.C.2.NewYorkCity(inNewYork)3.LosAngeles(InCalifornia)4.Chicago(inIllinois)5.Houston(inTexas)6.Philadelphia(inPennsylvania)7.Detroit(inMichigan)8.SanFrancisco(inCalifornia)9.Boston(inMassachusetts)1.IntheUnitedStates,_,whichisacityofTexas,isnicknamed“theSpaceCity”.A.NewYorkCityB.DetroitC.PhiladelphiaD.Houston2.Harvardislocatedin_,whichisalsocalled“TheAthensofAmerica”fromtheteachingandresearchcarriedoutinover100collegesanduniversities.A.DetroitB.HoustonC.BostonD.LosAngeles3.WhichofthefollowingcitiesisNOTlocatedintheNortheastU.S.?A.HoustonB.BaltimoreC.PhiladelphiaD.BostonDCA Washington D.C.CapitalHeadquartersofallthebranchesoftheAmericanfederalsystem:Congress(CapitalHill),theSupremeCourtandthePresidencyTheWorldBankTheInternationalMonetaryFundLincolnMemorialNew York City (in New York)“TheBigApple”ThelargestcitybothintermofsizeandpopulationThebusinessandfinancialcapitaloftheworld.WallStreetTheNewYorkStorkExchangeLos Angeles (In California)2ndmostpopulouscityacityoffantasyknownformotion-picture,aeronauticsandaerospaceindustriesChicago (in Illinois)Windycity;the3rd populated cityFinancial, transportation, cultural capital of Midwestern AmericatheforemosttransportationhubHouston (in Texas)The largest city in Texas;The 4th largest city in USA; “theSpaceCity”attheforefrontinspacetechnology60年代初，美国最大的宇航中心年代初，美国最大的宇航中心约翰逊宇航中心在休斯敦市建约翰逊宇航中心在休斯敦市建立立Philadelphia (in Pennsylvania)5th largest city in terms of populationthebirthplaceofthenationThe Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were drafted here.Detroit (in Michigan)The largest city in MichiganTheMotorCitySan Francisco (in California)4th largest city in CaliforniaThebirthplaceoftheUnitedNationsOrganization(1945)The Chinatown of the city is one of the largest Chinese communities in the U.S.Boston (in Massachusetts)Capital and the largest city of M.“CradleofLiberty”“theAthensofAmerica”7. Major city: Major tourist attraction YellowstoneNationalParkGrandCanyonNiagaraFallsGreatSaltLakeStatueofLibertyYellowstone National ParkYellowstone National ParkThe first and oldest national park in the worldthe largest wildlife preserve in the U.S.Lies in three states: Wyoming (91%), Montana (7.6%),Idaho (7.4%)Grand CanyononeofthegreatnaturalwondersoftheworldLocatedinArizonaNiagara FallslocatedontheCanadianboundarybetweenLakeErieandLakeOntario.Great Salt LakeGreat Salt LakethelargestinlandsaltlakeinNorthAmericaStatue of LibertyStatue of LibertyLocatedatNewYorkHarborStatue of LibertyStatue of LibertyFollowingtheSeptember11attacksin2001thestatuewasclosedforsafetyandsecurityreasons;thepedestalwasreopenedin2004andthestatuein2009,withlimitationsonthenumberofvisitorsallowedtoascendtothecrown.Publicaccesstothebalconysurroundingthetorchhasbeenbarredforsafetyreasonssince1916.Statue of LibertyStatueofLibertywithtwintowersoftheWorldTradeCenterstillstandinginthedistanceonManhattanIsland(phototakenfromaboatontheHudsonRiverSeptember2,2000-almosttwoyearsbeforethe9/11terroristattack)-photobyStorm CryptonFlickr-noncommercialusepermittedwithattribution/noderivativeworks