托福阅读背景知识（八）

四、托福阅读背景知识：美国土著的语言文化

　　Native American languages

　　Before Europeans arrived in North America there were over 300 Native American languages. Some have now died out, and of the 250 or so remaining many are spoken only by a few older people. Other languages, like Cherokee, are more widely spoken. Most Native Americans speak English, some as their first language and others as their second.

　　Native American languages have added many words to English, though the meaning of a word has often been changed. Teepees are a kind of tent, *wampum belts were made of beads and since the belts had great value Europeans used wampum to mean 'money'. Moccasins, a kind of shoe, are today worn by people all over the world. Many Native American words describe the things they name. For example, the Asakiwaki tribe's name means 'people of the yellow earth', and the Cherokees' name for themselves, Ani-Yun'wiya, means 'the leading people'. Indian names for Whites included 'people greedily grasping for land'.

　　Many American place names have their roots in Native American languages. *Ohio, for instance, is a Native American name, and the names of many of its towns and cities, such as Chillicothe and Sandusky, and the lakes Scioto and Olentangy, are of Native American origin.

五、托福阅读背景知识：美国城市-费城

　　费城是美国第四大都市，随同岁月的飞逝，与工业化的进展，费城所拥有的历史性遗产，已逐渐褪色。但是在十八世纪中叶，费城却是起草与通过独立宣言的地方。而且，美利坚合众国宪法草案也在费城起草与答署。贝茜•罗斯在这里升起了合众国国旗。华盛顿以总统身分，在这里也流过了许多岁月。这里乃是美利坚合众国的诞生地。

　　独立纪念馆IndependenceHall

　　建立于1732年，原为州政府，后于1776年7月，在该处发表独立宣言。其后，又在该处起草合众国宪法，从而诞生了美利坚合众国。

　　议事厅CongressHall

　　与独立纪念馆连接的建筑物。1790年到1800年为止，该处为联邦议事厅。华盛顿曾在该处被推选第二次担任总统。厅内留存历史性遗物极众。

　　罗斯故居BetsyRossHouse

　　这是设计美国国旗星条旗的罗斯夫人的老家。据说，它是1774年由华盛顿总统建议而兴建的。附近的Elfreth'sAlley和BladenCoat小路仍留存了十八世纪美国开国初期的形迹，散步其间，易兴思古幽情。

　　罗丹博物馆rodinMuseum

　　是除了法国之外，收藏名画家罗丹作品最多的一家博物馆。

　　宾州美术馆PennsylvaniaAcademyOfTheFineArts

　　创设于1801年的美国最古老的美术馆。美国美术界的杰作，几乎都收藏在该馆。

　　佛兰克林科技馆FranklinInstitute

　　为了纪念本杰明•佛兰克林的贡献而兴建的科学博物馆，展出运输、航空、物理、天文、化学资料。