UNIT 13, American Beliefs and Values 22A

A nation as large and ______ as the US would surprise nobody when Americans dispute among themselves as to what constitutes “American values”.

This so-called “American way of life” ______ the basic values that almost all Americans share and affirm.

The following are some of the most ______ and fundamental ones that underline the “American way of life”.

More often than not the child’s preference will be ______.

Similarly, Americans also admire people who have overcome ______ circumstances, for example, poverty or a physical handicap, and “succeeded in life.

American legal and institutional heritage prescribes equal rights, ______ special privileges, and demands equal opportunity and representation for every citizen.

Americans are generally quite uncomfortable when someone treats them with obvious ______.

Americans look directly into each other’s eyes when talking, conveying informality, ______, and equality in the exchanges of glances.

In the eyes of Americans, a hard worker is one who “gets right to work” on the task ____ ____.

Bringing in other people to mediate a dispute is considered somewhat ______, the act of a person without enough courage to speak directly to someone else.