博采英語(yǔ)閱讀第三冊(cè)8單元

1、Chapter 8 Geography and PeoplePart One. GeographyI. Location and Area1. LocationThe United States of America is located in the central part of North America (except Alaska and Hawaii). The continental United States across central North America from the Atlantic Ocean on the east to the Pacific Ocean

2、 on the west, about 4,500 km. from east to west; including 4 times zones.It is bounded by Canada on the North and by Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico on the south, about 2,500 km from south to north.2. Ideal Location: 1) Its Atlantic coast faces the developed countries of Western Europe and its Pacific

3、 coast and Hawaii give the nation an approach to the Far East and Australasia. They provide convenient sea routs for foreign trade. 2) Mainland America, lying within the northern temperate zone, grows rich agricultural products. 3) The long coastline with many harbors and inlets provides favorable c

4、onditions for foreign trade and the fishing industry, but also brings much of the country within the influence of the oceanic air mass. 4) America has no land neighbor that is strong enough to pose a threat to its security. This relieves the US of the burden of maintaining a large frontier army alon

5、g its border.3. Area:The total area of the United States is 9,5 million sq. km, which makes it the fourth largest country in the world after Russia, Canada and China.The United States from the western coast line to eastern stretches 4500 km. and some 2,500 from south to north.Its coastline runs 19,9

6、24 km.4. States: America consists of 50 states and a federal district, the District of Columbia, (also called Washington D. C.) in which the capital city of Washington is located on the Potomac River.1) The largest state:of the fifty states, the largest state in area is Alaska, but on the mainland,

7、the largest state is Texas.The smallest state: Rhode Island.2) Two youngest states: Alaska: located in extreme Northwest of North America between the Arctic and Pacific oceans, is the largest in area of all the 50 states , Juneau (朱諾) is the capital The territory was purchased from Russia in 1867.Mo

8、unt Mckinley is the highest peak in America.The native people include Eskimos, Indians and Aleuts. Scenery of this state is famous for its beautiful glaciers, waterfalls and lakes.Hawaii: in the central Pacific, like a chain of beads, containing 8 major islands and 124 small islands.Honolulu is the

9、capital. Mauna Loa,(莫納洛阿火山) the worlds largest volcano, is located on Hawaii and erupts from time to time. Hawaii was admitted as the 50th state in 1959.Tourism is Hawaiis most important industry.Pearl harbor: the base of the Pacific Fleet of US. (Oahu Island)II. Geographical Division: The large ter

10、ritory of the continental United States can be divided into three basic areas:1. The Eastern Part: The Atlantic Seacoast West to the Appalachians 2. The Middle Part: The Great Plains 3. The Western Part: The Rockies West to the Pacific1. The Eastern Part The Atlantic Seacoast West to the Appalachian

11、s The eastern part consists of the highlands formed by the Appalachians Range. It holds one sixth of the national territory on the continent, covering a distance of 1,200 m.These highlands are relatively low. The average altitude is only 800 m. (The two main mountain ranges in America are the Appala

12、chian Mountains and the Rocky Mountains. The Appalachians run slightly from the northeast to southwest and the Rocky Mountains run slightly from the northwest to southeast.)The Appalachian Mountains The Appalachian Range begins from the Canadian province of Newfoundland and stretches to central Alab

13、ama, the heart of southeastern United States, covering a distance of 3,200 kilometers. They are old mountains with rounded tops and wooded hills, usually not over 800 m. in height. The highest peak is Mount Mitchell (North Carolina), 2,037meters.The Appalachians have much beautiful scenery and many

14、tourist resorts.Great Smoky Mountain national park (fall scenery is very beautiful) Two rivers originate: Ohio and Tennessee Rivers2. The Western Part The Rockies West to the Pacific The western part consists of high plateaus and mountains The whole area of this part holds one third of the countrys

15、territory on the continent. High plateaus between the Rockies and Cascade-Sierra Nevada ranges. the Columbia Plateau in the north and the Colorado Plateau in the south The Colorado Plateau, roughly centered on the Four Corners region, covers an area of 337,000km2 within western Colorado, northwester

16、n New Mexico, southern and eastern Utah, and northern Arizona. The Colorado Plateau is largely made up of deserts, with scattered areas of forests. In the southwest of the Colorado Plateau lies the Grand Canyon (277 mile long, 18 mile wide) of the Colorado River.Mountains: the Rockies, the Cascade R

17、angewhich extends from Canada through the western part of the United States to Mexico and further south.The Rockies: The Rocky Mountains are called “the backbone of the continent”, are also known as Continental Divide, or Great Divide, the most important watershed on the continent. The Rockies stret

18、ches from the Canadian border in Montana and Idaho, through Wyoming, Utah and Colorado into New Mexico. Average altitude is over 3000 meters. There are numerous high peaks in the Rockies; the highest is Mt. Elbert There are many national parks in this section because of varied scenery. The most famo

19、us is Yellowstone National Park. ( Northwestern part of Wyoming, established in 1872) Yellowstone National park is the oldest national park in the world and the largest wildlife preserve in the U. S.Old Faithful is the most famous geyser in the park, erupting more than 100 feet about every 73 minute

20、s.3. The Middle PartThe Great Plains The Great Plains lie between the Appalachians in the east and the Rocky Mountains in the west. It occupies almost half of Americas landmass on the continent. It stretches from the Great Lakes in the north to the Gulf of Mexico in the south. The Great Plains displ

21、ay best Americas largeness. The eastern part: the Mississippi River basin Its called “Barn of America” because of large size and rich soil. Midwest: near the five great lakes The western part: the Prairie (with rich grass, no trees, a cattle country.)The Mississippi River: The Mississippi has been c

22、alled father of waters or Old Man River.Its the most important and longest river in the US. Its the fourth longest in the world after Amazon, Nile, and Yangtze. It flows from the Lake Itasca in Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico, having a length of 3,780 kilometer and drainage area of more than 3 milli

23、on square kilometers.6400 km. the length is counted from the tributary river Missouri.It is Missouri River that originates the Rockies and joins the Mississippi at St Louis With its hundreds of tributaries, the Mississippi basin drains more than half of the nation. Chief tributaries: the Missouri Ri

24、ver, the Ohio, and the Arkansas,The Great Lakes: The Great Lakes are the most important lakes in the United States. They are Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. They are located between Canada and the United States except Lake Michigan, the other four are shared wit

25、h Canada. These five lakes cover an area of 245,300 sq. km. and are the largest group of freshwater lakes in the world.Lake Superior is the largest fresh water lake in the world, Lake Michigan is only entirely in the U.S. The world-famous Niagara Falls are located between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.

26、( 1240 m, wide, drop average 49 m) ( ship: Maid of the Mist)l Composed of two major sections: Horseshoe Falls (in Canada), and the Bridal Veil Falls.Importance of Great lakes: fresh water supply, transportation and natural resources.The Great Lakes are the economic lifeline of the Midwest.III. Tradi

27、tional Six Regions: These six regions are formed by history and geography and shaped by the economy, literature and folkways that all the parts of the regions share. Six regions: New England, the Mid-Atlantic States, the South, the Midwest, the Southwest and the West1. New England: It locates on the

28、 northeastern corner of America. It is a highly industrialized area. Including six states: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut New England is famous for having a long history; the Europeans made their first settlement there. So it is sometimes called the birthp

29、lace of America. Massachusetts has the largest population and is generally considered the most important one. Boston, the capital, is a leading port and a financial and cultural center.Rhode Island is the smallest state in size and the most densely populated state. New England is also well-known for

30、 its position in education; many famous universities such as Yale University, Harvard University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are located here. 2. The South Region: (“Sunny South” for its warm climate) Includes 13 states, with plentiful rainfall and a mild climate.Owing to its mi

31、ld weather, the South has become a Mecca for retirees from other U.S. regions and from Canada. Large-scale agriculture: cotton and tobacco Sometimes it is called the Cotton Belt because cotton was once the major crop. Recent years, industry has moved into the South, so the population grows rapidly.M

32、ajor Cities: New Orleans, Memphis, Atlanta, little Rock and Birmingham.3. The Midwest (Middle West, The Great Lakes)Location: the northeastern part of the Mississippi River Basin, and in the general area of the Great Lakes. States include: Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, Iowa

33、 and Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas.The soil is rich, the rain is usually plentiful and the growing season is long, the fertile central lowlands. These factors make the Midwest Americas most important agricultural heartland of the United States, The region is known as th

34、e nations “breadbasket”. It is also a major manufacturing region and the nations leading center of heavy industry. 4. The Western Region: The region includes 11 states: Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska, Hawaii, etc. California: 14% of American GDP, agricultural yield is predominant One of Amer

35、ican high-tech industry center for aerospace, computer hardware and softwareImportant cities: San Francisco, Los Angeles, San DiegoIV. The Three Major River Systems The three river systems are the Gulf, the Atlantic and the Pacific.The Gulf System: the MississippiThe Atlantic System: the Hudson, the

36、 Delaware, the Potomac, the St. Lawrence.The Pacific System: the Columbia, the Colorado.Some major rivers: NamePositionSignificance MississippiFrom north Minnesota to Gulf of Mexico “father of waters” or “old man river”; drain; water way.MissouriFrom southwest Montana join Mississippi at St. Louis “

37、Big Muddy” water transportation and drainOhioFrom the Appalachians to Mississippi at Cairo; The longest eastern tributary of Mississippi the American Ruhr; coking coal; steel industry; water transportation.ColoradoFrom Rocky Mountains to the Gulf of California Famous for Grand Canyon drain; vital so

38、urces of life for the southwestern corner; damsRio GrandeFrom southern Rocky mountains to the Gulf of Mexico natural boundary between Mexico and the United states.HudsonMeets the Atlantic Ocean at New York cityharbor transportationLakes: Five Great Lakes The Great Salt Lake and Alaskas Iliamna Lake

39、(伊利亞姆納湖)Benefits of the lakes, rivers: The Great Lakes are the economic lifeline of the Midwest. A large network of lakes and the Atlantic and Gulf rivers links the interior of the country with the coastal cities Many swift rivers provide good sources of hydroelectric power. V. ClimateGenerally, Ame

40、rica is mainly situated in the northern temperate zone. Mainly are humid continental climate and subtropical climate. Factors influencing the climate: middle latitudes north of the equator: a. wide ranges of temperature; b. many types of climate. the surrounding waters: the Atlantic oceans, the Paci

41、fic oceans, the Gulf of Mexico, the Great Lakes. (keep temperatures moderate, supply water vapor that falls as rain) Mountain ranges The western mountain ranges have an important effect on the climate of the Far West. Ocean currents Northern part of the west coast and southern Alaska: Warmed by the

42、Japan Current日本暖流 New England: Cooled by the waters of Labrador Current拉布拉多寒流 Southern part of the west coast: Moderated by the cool California Current加利福尼亞寒流 South-eastern: Warmed by the Gulf Stream墨西哥灣暖流locationtypefeatureNorth-eastern(New England) Humid continentalclimate 濕潤(rùn)的大陸性氣候Summers are long

43、er and hotter in the south and winters are colder in the north; plenty of rainfall; a long growing season South-eastern Humid subtropical climate 濕潤(rùn)的亞熱帶氣候Summer are hot and winters mild; an adequate rainfall; late summer and early autumn hurricanes; favor for agriculture Great Plains Continental ste

44、ppe climate 大陸性草原氣候Winters are cold and snowy; summers are very hot and dry. Strong wind, little rainfall, often has dust storms.Intermountain region(Western Plateau)Continental desert climate大陸性沙漠氣候Weather is dry with very little rainfalls, deserts appear; days are hot and nights cool.Pacific north

45、westMaritime climate海洋性氣候winters are mild and summers are cool; Steady reliable rainfall throughout the whole year; Small range of temperaturePacific southMediterranean climate地中海式氣候Warm, dry summers and moist wintersVI. Major Cities:1. New York ( “the big Apple”) The largest city in America. The co

46、mmercial and financial center of the United States The headquarters of the U. N. The Statue of Liberty at the gate of New York Harbor is the symbol of America. Includes three islands: Manhattan Island, Long Island and Staten island Five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, the Staten and Queens

47、 Manhattan: financial and entertainment center Famous places: Broadway, Times Square (the crossroads of the world) Wall Street, Fifth street, Central Park, etc.2. Washington Its the capital city, belongs to no state, and is governed directly by the federal government. The District of Columbia is nam

48、ed after Christopher Columbus; the city is named after George Washington. Washington has numerous museums, theaters and centers of interest. eg. the White House, the Capitol, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, the Kennedy Center, and the Library of Congress.3. San

49、 Franciscolocated on the West Coast of the United States, the fourth most populous city in California. Tourism is the backbone of the San Francisco economy, and the city attracts the third-highest number of foreign tourists of any city in the U.S. The Golden Gate Bridge is a spectacular scene for vi

50、sitors. Chinatown in San Francisco is the largest Chinese settlement in the United State. San Francisco is a center of oil-refining, chemicals, commerce, and the shipping industry. The legacy of the California Gold Rush turned San Francisco into the principal banking and finance center of the West C

51、oast in the early 20th century. 4. Los Angeles The second largest city in America An important electronic center; the center of atomic research Well known for the manufacture of tires, automobiles and aircrafts. Hollywood is regarded as the heart of worlds motion picture industry （Academy Award; Hol

52、lywood Walk of Fame，Beverly Hills） The world famous Disneyland attracts millions of tourists every year.5. Chicago “the Windy City” (Near Michigan Lake) the nations third largest city Industrial city: heavy and light industries are highly developed The center of industry, transportation, commerce an

53、d finance in the Midwest Region Chicago Spire (螺旋塔) Cloud Gate (云之門)Part Two PeopleI. Population The United States is the third most populous nation in the world after China and India Total population: 300 million (2006) White 74.75% Blacks 12.1% Asians 4.3% Native Americans 0.8% Native Hawaiians an

54、d other Pacific Islanders 0.1% Mixed-race people 1.9% others 6% Distribution: The distribution of the population is rather uneven The Northeastern Part: the most densely populated, including the states of New England, the Middle West and the Middle Atlantic. (1/4 total land area, half of the populat

55、ion) The Great Plains: comparatively small population (Americas “l(fā)argeness” is best displayed because the large rural area looks rather empty)Texas is the largest state in this region and having become the second most populous state. The northern part of the region is rather empty and featureless.Th

56、e South: 57.5 million people. (The South used to be thinly populated, but now many Americans are moving there.) The West:The region is not densely populated, except for some metropolitan centers like Los Angles and San Francisco. The population distribution in the West is quite uneven. California is

57、 the most populous state in the US. Now the West has about 20% of the nations population. II. Nation of Immigrants The United States is a nation of immigrants. America “is not merely a nation but a nation of nations”.1. Indians American Indians are original inhabitants on the continent. Columbus gave the name.They came across