Ⅱ1. Why is education very important to Americans?
Because it contributes to developing the national strength and personal success.
2. What are the three kinds of the American high schools?
They are made up of comprehensive, academic, vocational and technical schools with somewhat different tasks.
3. What is the difference between an academic high school and a technical high school?
An academic high school only aims at preparing students for college while a technical school provides students for a variety of occupations and vocations.
4. Why is the board of trustees which governs American colleges and universities composed primarily of laymen?
Because layman will be more likely to represent the public interests than professions who would benefit from board decisions
5. What are the reasons for the rapid growth of the community college in America?
The reasons are their open admission policies, cheap tuition and fees, convenient location and flexible curriculum structures.
6. What were the two focuses of the American educational reform in the mid-1980s?
The first was the raising of the standards of teaching and learning; the second was the restructuring of the schools.
7. What did the real American Literature begin?
It began after the American War of Independence.
8. Who were the writers of the first American writings?
They were the first settlers in English colonies.
9. What does Mark Twain want to put across in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn?
He wants to show the basic goodness and wisdom of ordinary people and describe the social life of American people.
10. What is The Waste Land by T.S. Eliot considered?
The Waste Land is considered the manifesto of the "Lost Generation".
Ⅲ1. Research university
Research University: Such a university offers a full range of programs leading to a BA degree and is committed to postgraduate education through the doctorate. It gives high priority to research and award doctoral degrees.
2. specialized institutions
specialized institutions: Specialized institutions are institutions of one type of American higher education which undergo education in some specialized fields. The institutions include theological seminaries, Bible colleges and institutions offering degrees in religion; medical schools or centres and other separate health profession schools; schools of engineering and technologies; schools of law; music and design; teachers college; military institutions, tribal colleges and universities, etc.
3. open admissions
open admissions: The method is being practised in some public institutions of higher education in the U.S. to admit students. Admission to some of these institutions requires a high school diploma or its equivalent, but in most cases, involves almost no restriction. Nearly all the nation's public community colleges practise some form of open admissions.
4. knickerbockers era
knickerbockers era: In the early part of the 19th century, New York City was the centre of American writing. Its writers were called "knickerbockers" and the period from1810 to 1840 is known as the "knickerbockers era" of American literature. The name comes from A History of New York, by Diedrick Knickerbocker written by Washington Irving.
5. Harlem
Harlem: Harlem is the Northeastern part of New York City where black people are concentrated and where Black writers from the south and elsewhere came and wrote freely what they wanted to say without having to suffer any oppression by the white, without even seeing any whites.