| USA
Country Information The USA is the fourth
largest country in the world, in terms of area, and the
third largest country, in terms of population. There are
50 states covering an area of 4 million square miles
with a population of more than 281 million. The density
of population greatly varies, depending on where you are
in the country.
The US is the
world's foremost economic and military power. It is also
a major source of entertainment: American TV, Hollywood
films, jazz, blues, rock and rap music are primary
ingredients in global popular culture.
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Click Above Image For Detailed USA (United States of America) Map
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| Ethnic and
racial diversity - the 'melting pot' - is celebrated as
a core element of the American ideology. The 1964 Civil
Rights Act outlawed racial and other discrimination, but
race continues to be a live issue. The ongoing debate
includes topics such as affirmative-action programs -
intended to remedy past discrimination - and housing
segregation. |
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The US
originated in a revolution, which separated it from the
British Crown. The constitution, drafted in 1787,
established a federal system with a division of powers
even at the central level, which, uniquely among modern
nation-states, has remained unchanged in form since its
inception.
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The early
settlers came predominantly from the British Isles.
Slaves from Africa joined them involuntarily in a second
wave. Millions of Europeans constituted a third stage of
immigration. Today, Asians from the Pacific Rim and
Hispanics from the Americas are seeking what their
predecessors wanted: political freedom and prosperity.
This shift is reflected in America's interests abroad,
which are now less European in focus than ever
before.
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American
foreign policy has often mixed the idealism of its
"mission" with elements of self-interest. The latter is
exemplified in its international record on the
environment, which has attracted criticism, and the need
to maintain energy supplies, in which the US is not
self-sufficient.
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English is
spoken in different ways depending on the area of the
country. Accents can vary from the sharp fast-paced
speech of New York to the slow-paced drawl of
Mississippi. Americans are eager to help you learn the
language, so you need not hesitate in asking them to
correct your speech and answer your questions. Apart
from this, cassettes are available to understand and
learn the language. Watching television will also help a
lot in learning the US English. | |
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Lifestyles
vary greatly. It is very formal in the west when
compared to the east, while in the north it is more
casual than in the south. In the south the lifestyle is
more religious and traditional, mainly focusing on the
family. In the east and west coast it is new, varying
and trendy. | |
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Food styles
and menu offerings vary greatly from place to place,
largely depending on the culture of the original
settlers in that area. For example, while food in Texas
has a strong Mexican flavor, food in Louisiana has a
Cajun or French Flavor. The recipes of the Scandinavian
settlers are still maintained in far northern States,
while in Northern California the cuisine has an Asian
flavor. | |
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Weather
observations are taken with respect to time. By
Convention, weather scientists use the twenty-four hour
clock, and use one time zone, Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
This time is also known as Universal Time (UTC). To
convert to local time, you must know the time difference
between GMT and local time for both standard time and
summertime (daylight savings time). Not all states use
daylight savings time in the summer. | |
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Daylight
Saving Time, for the US and its territories, is not
observed in Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico,
the Virgin Islands, the Eastern Time Zone portion of the
State of Indiana, and the state of Arizona. Navajo
Nation participates in the Daylight Saving Time policy,
due to its large size and location in three
states. | |
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