The United States is a country made up of many different races. Usually they are mixed together and can't be told from one another. But many of them still talk about where their ancestors came from. It is something they are proud of.
The original Americans, of course were the Indians. The so-called white men who then came were mostly from England. But many came from other countries like Germany and France. One problem the United States has always had is discrimination. As new groups came to the United States they found they were discriminated against. First it was the Irish and Italians. Later it was the blacks. Almost every group has been able to Nelly escape this discrimination. The only immigrants who have not are the blacks. Surprisingly enough the worst discrimination today is shown towards the Indians.
One reason the Indians are discriminated against is that they have tried so hard to keep their identity. Of course they are not the only ones who have done so. The Japanese have their Little Tokyo in Los Angeles and the Chinese a Chinatown in New York. The Dutch settlement in Pennsylvania also stays separate from other people. Their towns are like something from the 19th century. They have a different reason from the other groups for staying separately. They live separately for religious reasons rather than keep together in a racial group.
Although some groups have kept themselves separate and others have been discriminated against, all groups have helped make the United States a great county. There is no group that has not helped in some way. And there is no group that can say. they have done the most to make it a great country.
Many people still come from other countries to help the United States grow. A good example is the American project that let a man walk on the moon. It was a scientist from Germany who was most responsible for doing that. It is certain that in the future the United States will still need the help of people from all racial groups to remain a great country.
- Which of the following statements can best describe the main idea of this passage
- The United States is a country made up of many different races.
- Discrimination is the most serious problem in the United States.
- All races in the United States have helped make the country a great one.
- The prosperity of the United States is mainly due to the hard work of the most discriminated races.
- In the first paragraph the word "told" means _________
- separated B. distinguished C. revealed D. made known
- This passage implies that discrimination is a problem which ________
- many races in the United States have experienced
- will still be very serious in the United States in the future
- has already been solved in the United States
- is strongly opposed by many different races in the United States
- The main reason why the Indians are most discriminated against is that________
- they have tried hard to keep their religions
- they have tried hard to live together to keep their Indian customs
- they are the only ones who have tried to keep their identity
- they discriminate many other races
- The Dutch live separately in Pennsylvania_________
- to escape discrimination B. to keep together in a racial group
- to enjoy themselves in their own towns D. for religious reasons
核心词汇注释
race n．种族，种族气质，种族特征，赛跑，急流，姜根
vi．赛跑，疾走 vt．与……赛跑，使空转
ancestor n．祖先，祖宗
original adj．最初的，原始的，独创的，新颖的 n．原物，原作
Indian． adj．印度人的，印第安人的 n．印度人，印第安人，印第安语
discrimination n．辨别，区别；识别力，辨别力；歧视
Irish n．爱尔兰人，爱尔兰语，爱尔兰 adj．爱尔兰的，爱尔兰人的
immigrant adj．从外国)移来的，移民的，移居的 n．移民，侨民
identity n．同一性，身份，一致，特性，恒等式
Pennsylvania n．宾夕法尼亚州(美国州名)
racial adj．人种的，种族的，种族间的
长难句剖析
One reason the Indians are discriminated against is that they have tried so hard to keep their identity．
[结构分析]本句的主干是one reason is…，the Indians are discriminated against前面省略了关系代词that，作主语one reason的后置定语从句。is后接表语从句，这个表语从句的结构是they…tried to keep…。
[参考译文]印第安人被歧视的一个原因是他们努力保持自己的特性。
It is certain that in the future the United States will still need the help of people from all racial groups to remain a great country．
[结构分析]本句的主干是It is certain that．．．the United States will still need．．．to…。真正的主语是由that引导的主语从句，it只是形式主语。to remain a great country在主语从句中做目的状语。
[参考译文]毫无疑问，美国要想在未来继续保持其大国的地位，仍然需要来自各个种族的人的支持和帮助。
全文参考译文
美国是一个由众多不同种族构成的国家。他们通常融合在一起不易区分。不过他们中的很多人始终在谈论他们的祖先来自何方。这是他们引以为豪的事情。
印第安人自然是最初的美国人，以后来到美国的所谓的白人大多数来自英国。但也有很多来自其他的国家比如德国和法国。
美国一直以来都存在歧视问题。当新的种族来到美国，·他们发现自己受到歧视，刚开始是爱尔兰人和意大利人，以后是黑人。差不多每个种族最终都能够摆脱歧视。
唯一未能摆脱歧视的移民是黑人，使人惊讶的是印第安人受到了最严重的歧视。印第安人被歧视的一个原因是他们努力保持自己的特性。当然他们不是唯一这样做的种族。日本人在洛杉矶有他们的小东京，中国人在纽约有唐人街。在宾西法尼亚州的荷兰人聚居地也是和其他人分开的。他们的小镇有着一些19世纪的特色。他们单独居住的原因不同于其他种族。他们和其他种族分开居住是因为宗教而不是为了族群的聚居。
即便一些人群分开居住，还有一些受到歧视，但所有的种族都帮助美国成为了一个伟大的国家。每个种族都以某种方式提供帮助。任何一个种族都不能说他为美国的繁荣富强作出了最大贡献。
始终有许多不同国家的人来帮助美国成长。一个很好的例子就是美国的登月计划。主要负责这个计划的是一位来自德国的科学家。毫无疑问，美国要想在未来继续保持其大国的地位，仍然需要来自各个种族的人的支持和帮助。
题目答案与解析
1． 以下哪一项是对本文中心思想的最好描述 [答案]C
A．美国是由许多不同种族构成的。 B．歧视是美国最严重的问题。
C．所有的种族都为美国成为一个伟大国家做出了贡献。
D．美国的繁荣主要来自大多数受歧视种族的努力工作。
[解析]本题可参照文章的第5段。从中可知，美国所有的种族都为建设美国作出了贡献，体现了文章的中心思想，因此C项为正确答案。
2． 第1段中单词“told”的意思是_______。 [答案]B
A．分离 B．区别 C．揭示 D．让……知道
[解析]文中原句是Usually they are mixed together and can't be told from one another。told是tell的过去分词，常与Can，could，be able to连用，意思是“辨别、分辨、认出”。因此B项为正确答案。
3． 本篇文章暗示歧视是一个________的问题。 [答案]A
A．美国许多种族都经历过 B．在美国将来仍然会十分严重
C．在美国已经解决了 D．在美国被许多不同种族强烈反对
[解析]本题的依据是文中第3段的As new groups came to the United States they found they were discriminated against。First…Later．．．Almost every group has been able to finally escape this discrimination．因此A是正确答案。
4． 印第安人最受歧视的原因是________。[答案]B
A．他们努力试图保持自己的宗教信仰B．他们努力试图住在一起并保持他们的风俗习惯
C．只有他们试图保持自己特色 D．他们歧视许多其他种族
[解析]本题的依据是第4段的第1、2句话 One reason the Indians are discriminated against is that they have tried so hard to keep their identity. Of course they are not the only ones who have done so,从中可知B项为正确答案。
5．住在宾州的荷兰人自成一体的目的是________。 [答案]D
A．逃避歧视 B．在种族团体中住在一起
C．喜欢住在他们自己的城镇里 D．出于宗教原因
[解析]本题的依据是第4段的最后一句话they live separately for religious reasons rather than keep together in a racial group.。从中可知，荷兰人自成一体是出于宗教的原因，因此D项为正确答案。