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181. Give the names of some social programmes.
The word "welfare" as used in American English today most commonly serves as an umbrella term for a variety of government programs that provide income support and create a social safety net for impoverished individuals and families.
Social Security ensures that retired persons receive a modest monthly income and also provides unemployment insurance, disability insurance, and other assistance to those who need it.
Welfare payments (monthly payments for people with low income), Veteran’s benefits (pensions and free medical care), Job training, Food stamps (special stamps that can be used to buy food at any store), School brunches (free meals for schoolchildren from poor families), Surplus food programmes (food is distributed free of charge to the poor), Unemployment Insurance (weekly payments for up to six month while looking for a job) +public housing. Benefits (vocation money, medical insurance, retirement plans).
182. When was the Social Security programme adopted and what was its significance?
1935, it provides public assistance to the needy and is a major social welfare programme in the US.
183. How are welfare recipients regarded in American society?
They are not widely respected because of the features of American national character and the “self-reliance” notion.
Many middle-class Americans resent the use of their tax dollars to support those whom they regard (rightly or wrongly) as unwilling to work. Some critics argue that dependency on welfare tends to become a permanent condition, as one generation follows another into the system. Some people believe the system encourages young women to have children out of wedlock, because welfare payments increase with each child born. Other experts maintain that unless the root causes of poverty -- lack of education and opportunity -- are addressed, the welfare system is all that stands between the poor and utter destitution.
184. What are the names of the federal programmes under which people can receive money for medical care?
MEDICAID AND MEDICARE.
Medicaid is a joint federal-state program that funds medical care for the poor. The requirements for receiving Medicaid and the scope of care available vary widely from state to state. At a cost of about $156 thousand million a year, Medicaid is the nation's largest social-welfare program.
Medicare, another form of federal health insurance, pays a large part of the medical bills incurred by Americans who are 65 and older or who are disabled, regardless of age. Medicare is financed by a portion of the Social Security tax, by premiums paid by recipients, and by federal funds. Everyone who receives Social Security payments is covered by Medicare.
185. Which of the two main political parties is more inclined to develop welfare programmes in the USA?
The Democratic party.
186. Give the names of the holidays that originated on the American soil.
Martin Luther King Day - the third Monday of every January
Presidents' Day - the third Monday in February
Memorial Day - the fourth Monday of every May
Independence Day - July 4
Labor Day - the first Monday of September
Columbus Day - October 12
Veterans Day - November 11
Thanksgiving - the fourth Thursday in November.
187. What was the origin of Thanksgiving Day?
The holiday dates back to 1621, the year after the Puritans arrived in Massachusetts, determined to practice their dissenting religion without interference. After a rough winter, in which about half of them died, they turned for help to neighboring Indians, who taught them how to plant corn and other crops. The next fall's bountiful harvest inspired the Pilgrims to give thanks by holding a feast.
The Thanksgiving feast became a national tradition -- not only because so many other Americans have found prosperity but also because the Pilgrims' sacrifices for their freedom still captivate the imagination.
188. What is the traditional menu of Thanksgiving dinner?
To this day, Thanksgiving dinner almost always includes some of the foods served at the first feast: roast turkey, cranberry sauce, potatoes, pumpkin pie. Before the meal begins, families or friends usually pause to give thanks for their blessings, including the joy of being united for the occasion
189. What American holiday is considered to be a special time for charity? Thanksgiving Day.
190. What is the main national holiday in the USA?Independence Day - July 4.
191. What are the main Christian holidays in the USA?
Americans share three national holidays with many countries: Easter Sunday, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.
Easter, which falls on a spring Sunday that varies from year to year, celebrates the Christian belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. For Christians, Easter is a day of religious services and the gathering of family. Many Americans follow old traditions of coloring hard-boiled eggs and giving children baskets of candy. On the next day, Easter Monday, the president of the United States holds an annual Easter egg hunt on the White House lawn for young children.
New Year's Day, of course, is January 1. The celebration of this holiday begins the night before, when Americans gather to wish each other a happy and prosperous coming year.
Dec 25 - Christmas is a most important religious holy day for Christians, who attend special church services to celebrate the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. Since most Americans are Christian, the day is one on which most businesses are closed and the greatest possible number of workers, including government employees, have the day off. Many places even close early on the day before. Decorating houses and yards with lights, putting up Christmas trees, giving gifts, and sending greeting cards have become traditions even for many non-Christian Americans.
192. What American holidays are celebrated on Monday to give the people a long weekend?
Martin Luther King Day - the third Monday of every January
Presidents' Day - the third Monday in February
Memorial Day - the fourth Monday of every May
Labor Day - the first Monday of September.
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