者) looked for a land of rich resources and a land of promise，opportunity and freedom.Actually they looked for a better life.So individualism (个人主义)，self­reliance，and equality of opportunity have perhaps been the values most closely associated with the frontier heritage (遗产) of America.

　　In history，people from different countries in the world rushed to America three times.They brought their own culture to America and later on，different cultures were mixed together.Thus the unique American culture is formed，a common cultural life with commonly shared values.The fundamental American belief in individual freedom and the fight of individuals to practice their own religion is at the center of religious experience in the United States.The great diversity of ethnic backgrounds has produced religious pluralism (多元化) ；almost all of the religions of the world are now practiced in the United States.

　　Nowadays，we can see the continual influence of the three elements in the current American society.American family is typically parents and their unmarried children.Middle­aged and elderly people generally do not live with their married children.The people in America have a very strong desire to start a new life in a new place.Quite a number of people change residences every year.The average American moves fourteen times in his lifetime.

　　【语篇解读】　本文主要从三个方面说明了美国独特文化产生的原因。

　　1．We can learn from this article that ．

　　A．the frontiersmen left important society values for American culture

　　B．the early immigrants brought about the unique American culture

　　C．people in the world once rushed to America because of its unique culture

　　D．the American family members don't get along well with each other

　　A　[细节理解题。根据第二段的内容可知，美国早期的拓荒者(frontiersman)对美国文化有深刻的影响。]

　　2．From the passage we know ．

　　A．there are many kinds of American religions

　　B．American religions are different from those in other places

C．American values are the same as Chinese ones