An American Family 美国家庭

　　The way to learn about a country is to read about its people. To make it interesting, it is best to meet people who are part of a family. Each reader of this book is a son or daughter with a mother and a father. As you read about someone in another country who lives in a family like you do, then you will understand the families are alike in many ways but different in other ways. As you compare your family to an American family, you will compare Chinese families to American families. In this way, you will understand what another country is like by meeting Americans in a family.

　　In about 1990, four families came to America from two northern European countries, two from Sweden and two from Norway. The Swedish were named Anderson and the Norwegians were named Hagen. The grandchildren of these families were named Janet Anderson and Dennis Hagen. These two young people fell in love and married in 1960. They will be the parents in this story. They became teachers in the United States and they also were teachers in China for ten years from 1990 to 1999.

　　They had four children, Eric, Pam, Tim, and Jon. When Eric was a child, he liked to read and add numbers. In high school, he played tennis and made music with a trombone in the band and with his singing voice in the chorus.

　　Pam was a very loving daughter. She enjoyed her dolls just like a young mother. In high school, she also played tennis and made music with an oboe in the band.

　　Tim was always reading as a boy. He liked to make up stories about people in ancient times who fought battles for the king. Tim liked to jump very high over things and play basketball. He played the viola in the orchestra.

　　Jon watched his older brothers play sports so he learned to play basketball very well. He joined the school orchestra by playing the cello. He also played soccer and American football.

　　This is a very active American Family who loves to play sports and make music. You will meet each one in the following stories. The father Dennis, the mother Janet, the daughter Pam, and the sons Eric, Tim, and Jon.

　　Comprehension Check

　　1.What is the best way to understand another country?

　　A. It is to read about its people.

　　B. It is to meet people who are part of a family.

　　C. It is to compare your family with one in that country.

　　D. It is to study the different ways people in that country do things.

　　答案：B

　　2.When did the four families come to America from two northern European countries?

　　A. In the nineteenth century.

　　B. In 1960s.

　　C. About 100 years ago.

　　D. From 1990 to 1999.

　　答案：C

　　3.Which of the four children was a girl?

　　A. Pam B. Jon C. Tim D. Eric

　　答案：A

　　Words and Phrases

　　alike a.相同，相像

　　Norway n.挪威

　　Norwegian a.挪威的 n.挪威人；挪威语

　　Sweden n.瑞典

　　Swedish a.瑞典的 n.瑞典语； the Swedish 瑞典人

　　trombone n.长号

　　band n.乐队（尤指管乐队）

　　chorus n.合唱队

　　doll n.洋娃娃

　　oboe n.双簧管

　　viola n.中提琴

　　orchestra n.管弦乐队

　　cello n.大提琴

　　soccer n.英式足球