首页
外语
计算机
考研
公务员
职业资格
财经
工程
司法
医学
专升本
自考
实用职业技能
登录
外语
The American Indians——A people in Crisis Indians lived in North America long before the continent was settled by Europeans.
The American Indians——A people in Crisis Indians lived in North America long before the continent was settled by Europeans.
admin
2013-06-12
52
问题
The American Indians——A people in Crisis
Indians lived in North America long before the continent was settled
by Europeans. Through a long and difficult struggle that continues to this
day, the Indians have striven to【1】______their traditions, their religion【1】______
, and their culture. But the problem is that nowadays conditions
which favored the old life are gone for ever, and many Indians are unable
to【2】______the white man’s ways. 【2】______
Thousands of years before Columbus came to the New World, the
Indians entered North America by crossing a narrow strip of land that
once【3】______ Alaska and Siberia. These migrants entered a new 【3】______
world in which there were no people at all. But there were many animals
to hunt, and there were【4】______ where nuts, roots, and berries 【4】______
could be gathered. Some of Indians moved south into Central and South
America. Others traveled【5】______to the Atlantic Ocean. Eventually【5】______
, the people who became the American Indians had spread across North
America
There are at least【6】______separate Indian languages in North 【6】______
America, each with its own grammar and vocabulary. And none is related
in any way to English or any other European language.
The regions of North America where the newcomers lived
【7】______greatly in climate and food supply. The regional differences【7】______
produced two quite different types of Indians: the Plains Indians
and the Village Indians. The former, living in the plains and eastern
forests where game was plentiful, hunted and fished. While the latter,
living in tile dry【8】______, built mud brick houses and develop 【8】______
【9】______ 【9】______
From the European viewpoint, the Indians were a primitive ston
age people, who made their【10】______ from stone, bone or wood. 【10】______
They did not know how to work metal.
【2】
The American Indians—A People in Crisis
Good morning, everybody. In today’s lecture I’d like to talk about American Indians who are considered a people in crisis. Indians were the first Americans. They lived in North America long before the continent was settled by Europeans. Through a long and difficult struggle that continues to this day, the Indians have striven to preserve their traditions, their religion, and their culture. In this they have shown great determination, continuing to hunt and fish or to manage small farms just as their ancestors did. But compared to other Americans, most Indians are poor. And this is their problem. Conditions which favored the old life are gone for ever, and yet many Indians are unable to adopt the white man’s ways. Now some of them are in trouble with the law. How did this trouble start? Who are the Indians? Where did they come from? Where do they live today? Why is it so difficult for them to assimilate?
The American Indians are of Asian ancestry. Thousands of years before Columbus came to the New World, they entered North America by crossing a narrow strip of land that once connected Alaska and Siberia. Ancient geological changes raised the level of the oceans covering this natural bridge with water. Today this place is called the Bering Strait. At its narrowest point, the Strait is only 56 miles wide. In ancient times, as today, a crossing there, even by primitive boat, must have been comparatively easy.
The migrants entered a new world in which there were no people at all. But there were many animals to hunt, and there were forests where nuts, roots, and berries could he gathered. Living comfortably on this food supply, the newcomers spread out. Some moved south into Central and South America. Others travelled east to the Atlantic Ocean. These migrations were gradual, probably taking thousands of years. Eventually, the people who became the American Indians had spread across North America.
These migrants contained groups of quite different cultural ancestry. This is evident in the variety of languages they spoke. There are at least 200 separate Indian languages in North America, each with its own grammar and vocabulary. And none is related in any way to English or any other European language.
The regions of North America where the newcomers lived varied greatly in climate mid food supply. In the plains and eastern forests where game was plentiful, the Indians hunted and fished. In the dry Southwest, they fanned. These regional differences explain the richness and variety of Indian culture: dissimilar economics produced quite different systems of society.
For instance, many Indians of the Southwest, such as the Hopi and the Zuni, were village Indians. They built mud brick houses and developed agriculture. Many of them learned to irrigate; others became expert dry farmers. They grew beans, corn and other vegetables. They made baskets, raised and wove cotton, and made beautiful pottery.
The Sioux, on the other hand, were Plains Indians. They were nomads who moved from the place in the area that is now North and South Dakota, Nebraska, and Minnesota. Being great hunters, they were able to kill the buffalo. Killing a buffalo was no easy matter. It took skill and courage. When a herd was sighted, the men, who were called "braves", would creep silently through the tall grass toward an animal on the edge of the herd. Then they would shoot it with their bows and arrows. A safer method often used by the Indians was to drive the herd over a steep cliff. The animals would be killed by the fall. Any survivors would be quickly finished off by the Indian braves at the bottom of the cliff. Then the Sioux would have a great feast. There was plenty of meat for everyone. They made tents from the buffalo skins, and also used it for clothes and shoes.
From the European viewpoint, the Indians were a primitive stone age people, who made their tools from stone, bone or wood. The Indians did not know how to work metal. Their farms, if they had any, were small. And they did not ranch. These were all enterprises which the whites were eager to start, but the Indians were in the way. A cultural clash was unavoidable.
选项
答案
adopt / take / accept
解析
转载请注明原文地址:https://kaotiyun.com/show/dj4O777K
0
专业英语八级
相关试题推荐
InBritain,ministersareappointedbytheQueenontherecommendationof
ThelargestlakeinBritainis
Lastweekoilpricesfinallystoppedrising.Theynowhoveraround$43abarrel,a20-yearhigh.TheaverageAmericanfamilywil
Currenteconomichardshipshavehadwhatiscalledinconstitutionallawa"disparateimpact":Thecrisishasnotafflictedever
AnyonebelievingtheglobaleconomiccrisistobeovershouldhavetakenalookaroundEuropethisweek.Desperatetorevivehis
Working-classfamiliesintheUnitedStatesareusuallynuclear,andmanystudiesindicatethatworking-classcouplesmarry
Intheyearsfollowingthe1977DietaryGoalsandthe1982NationalAcademyofSciencesreportondietandcancer,thefoodindu
中国是一个地域辽阔、有着千年悠久历史的多民族国家,有着秀丽的自然风光、众多的名胜古迹和丰富多彩的灿烂义化,旅游资源十分丰富。改革开放以来,中国经济以年平均均近10%的进度持续增长,各项事业蓬勃发展,人民生活水平显著提高,为旅游业的兴旺奠定了坚实的基础。中国
SincetheTitanicvanishedbeneaththefrigidwatersoftheNorthAtlantic85yearsago,nothinginthehundredsofbooksandfi
A、AtMarbleArch.B、NearHydePark.C、InPortlandplace.D、AtMayfair.C
随机试题
马力有时也作为电功率单位,1hp=()kW。
眼部碱性烧伤的特点
关于风险分析的意义,下列说法错误的是( )。
( )不属于客观原因导致投资偏差。
背景资料某送变电工程公司承接了我国西部某高压输电线路8个塔基的施工建设项目,工期1年。工程施工特点为:野外露天作业多,高空作业多,山地施工多,冬季气温低,50%的塔基建在山石上,需要爆破处理。对此,该工程公司项目部根据职业健康、安全与环境进行了主要
以下选项中属于减少给水排水构筑物裂缝的施工措施有()。
美国著名的社会心理学家马斯洛认为,一个人只要活着,都希望得到社会和他人的肯定、认同和尊重,达到自我实现的目标,强调的是()。
Agaragethesedaysisahighlyprizedasset,likelytoaddasmuchas10%~15%tothevalueofahouse,especiallyifit’sina
通过拨号上网,从室外进来的电话线应当和______连接。
Chicago:SomeBigPlacestoSeeinthe"CityoftheBigShoulders"Earlylastcentury,thepoetCarlSandburgdescribedChic
最新回复
(
0
)