American Values

Early settlers came to the North American continent and established colonies mainly because they wanted to be free from...

• the power of kings, priests, and noblemen.

• the influence of their families.

• the problems of poverty and hunger.

There are no titles of nobility in the United States today because...

• no one likes aristocrats.

• the church does not allow it.

• they are forbidden by the Constitution.

The price that Americans pay for their individual freedom is...

• self-reliance.

• competition.

• hard work.

The American belief in self-reliance means that...

• receiving money from charity, family, or the government is never allowed.

• if a person is very dependent on others, he or she will be respected by others.

• people must take care of themselves and be independent, or risk losing their personal freedom.

The American belief in equality of opportunity means that...

• all Americans are rich.

• Americans believe that everyone should be equal.

• everyone should have an equal chance to suceed.

In the United States, learning to compete successfully is...

• part of growing up.

• not seen as healthy by most people.

• not necessary, because Americans believe in equality.

Traditionally, immigrants have been able to raise their standard of living by coming to the United States because...

• Americans value money more than anything else.

• there were such abundant natural resources.

• the rich have shared their wealth with the poor.

Americans see their material possessions as...

• having nothing to do with social status.

• the natural reward for their hard work.

• showing no evidence of a person's abilities.

A belief in the value of hard work...

• developed because it was necessary to work hard to convert natural resources into material goods.

• developed because the immigrants who came here had a natural love of hard work.

• has never been a part of the American value system because people have so much.

In reality, such American ideals as equality of opportunity and self-reliance...

• do not exist because there is no equality in the United States.

• are always put into practice in the United States and truly describe American life.

• are only partly carried out in real life, but are still important because people believe in them.