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1.Thevastexpanse of the United States ofAmerica stretchesfromthe heavilyindustrialized, metropolitan Atlanticseaboardacrossthe rich flat farmsofthe centralplains,overthe Rocky Mountainstothefertile west coast, thenhalfway acrossthe Pacifictothebalmy island-state of Hawaii. The American scene awes the viewerwithboth itsvarietyand size. The continental United States (not counting outlyingAlaska andHawaii) measures, 4,500 kilometersfromits AtlantictoPacific coasts, 2,575 kilometersfromCanadatoMexico. The entirenation (all 50 states)coversan area of 9million square kilometersandhasa population of 220 million people.
1、美利堅合眾國的遼闊地域(vast expanse)，從高度工業化、遍布大都市的大西洋沿岸(Atlantic seaboard)，延伸至中部平原肥沃平坦的農場，越過洛磯山脈，到達富饒的(fertile)西海岸，然后橫跨半個太平洋(the Pacific)到達氣候溫和的(balmy)由群島組成的夏威夷州。來美國觀光的人無不贊嘆(awe)這塊土地幅員廣闊、多姿多彩（variety）。美國大陸(不包括遠離本土的(outlying)阿拉斯加和夏威夷)從大西洋沿岸到太平洋海岸的距離為4500公里，從加拿大到墨西哥的距離為2575公里。全國50個州的總面積為900萬平方公里，人口為2.2億。
2.The sparsely settled, far-northern state of Alaskais the largest of America's 50 states(in many countriestheywould be calledprovinces). It ismore than two and ahalf timesthe size of Sichuan province, Texas, in the southern part ofthe country, is secondin size.Texas ishalf the size ofAlaska.
2、人口稀少的(the sparsely settled)阿拉斯加州位于美國的最北部，在全國50個州(在很多國家叫做省(province))中，它的面積最大，比中國四川省的兩倍半還大。南部的得克薩斯州的面積是第二位，只有阿拉斯加州的一半大。
3. A land of heavyforests(311 million hectares) and barren deserts, of high-peakedmountains(McKinleyrisesto6,300 meters) and deep canyons, America also enjoys bountiful rivers and lakes. The broad MississippiRiver system, famed in song and legend, meanders 6,400 kilometersfrom Canada to the Gulf of Mexicothe world's third longest riverafterthe Nile and Amazon.A canal in the north joinsthe Mississippitothe five Great Lakes-theworld's largest inland water transportation routeandthe biggest body of fresh water in the world.
3、除許多茂密的森林(達3.11億公頃(hectare))、荒蕪的沙漠、多高峰的山脈(麥金萊山海拔6300米)和深深的峽谷(canyon)以外，美國還有（enjoy 享有）很多美麗的河流和湖泊。為很多民歌和傳說(legend)所傳頌(famed)的寬闊的(broad)密西西比河水系，從加拿大蜿蜒曲折(meander)6400公里，流入墨西哥灣，是除尼羅河、亞馬孫河以外的世界第三大河。北部的一條運河(canal)將世界上最長的內河航線(inland watertransportation route)-密西西比河同世界上最大的淡水群-五大湖連接在一起(join)。
4.America'searlysettlers were attractedby the fertile land andvaried climates it offered for farming. Today,with121 million hectares under cultivation, American farmersplantspring wheatonthe cold western plain; they raise corn andfine beef cattlein the central plains, andricein the damp heat ofLouisiana.Florida and California are famous for their citrus fruits andtropicalavocados;the cool rainy northeastern states(arefamous)forapples, pears, berriesand vegetables.
4、適于農業的肥沃土地和各種不同的氣候吸引了早期來美洲的移民(settlers)。現在美國的耕地達1.21億公頃。美國農場主在寒冷的西部平原上種植春小麥(spring wheat)，在中部平原上種植玉米、飼養良種肉牛(fine beef cattle)，在氣候濕熱的(the damp heat)路易斯安那州種植水稻。佛羅里達州和加利福尼亞州以盛產柑橘和熱帶鱷梨聞名，涼爽多雨(coolrainy)的東北各州則以蘋果、梨、莓和蔬菜而著稱。
5. Underground,a wealth ofminerals providesa solid base for American industry.History has glamorized the gold rushestoCalifornia and Alaska, andthe silverfindsinNevada.YetAmerica'syearly production of gold ($140million) and silver ($150 million)isnow valuedfar less thanthe oil ($25,000 million), copper, iron, coal and other mineralsit mines. Texas, a bigoil-producer in the southwest,aloneaccounts forone-fifththe value of allU.S. mineralproduction.
5、豐富的地下礦藏(underground, a wealth ofminerals)是美國工業的堅實基礎(a solid base forAmerican industry)。美國歷史雖然曾對加利福尼亞州和阿拉斯加州的淘金熱(thegold rushes)以及內華達州銀礦的發現(the silver finds)作過動人的描繪(has glamorized)，然而(yet)美國當今的黃金年產值(1.4億美元)和白銀年產值(1.5億美元)都大大低于(far less)石油(250億美元)、銅、鐵、煤及其他開采的（it mines）金屬。得克薩斯州是西南部主要的產油州(a big oil-producer in thesouthwest)，僅該州的石油總產值就占美國礦產品產值的五分之一(one-fifth)。
6. Americahaslongbeen known asa "melting pot,"forit is a nation ofimmigrants fromall over the world.The firstto arrive-from Siberia,morethan 10,000 years ago,it isbelieved-were the American Indians. Today theynumbernearly 850,000;halfliveon landset aside for them in 31 states;theresthave"melted" inwiththe rest of America'snearly220 million population.
6、美國歷來以“熔爐(各種族融合的國家)”(melting pot)而著稱，因為(for)這個國家的人口是由世界各地來的移民所組成的。最早的移民是美洲印第安人，據信(it is believed)是一萬余年前從西伯利亞來的。現今印第安人約有(number)85萬，其中一半人居住在31個州內為他們專門劃出的土地上（onland set aside for them），其余的人已“融入”全美國的近2.2億人口中。
7. Europe, the major source of immigration,began sendingcolonists to America in the early 17th century.Tens of millions flooded to America's shores from Europebetween 1880 andthe First World War.The next largest group of Americanstracetheir ancestry toAfrica, black peoplenowconstitute over 11 percent of the population.The melting pothas alsoabsorbed nearly 600,000Japanese,half a millionChineseand 340,000Filipinos. Many live in Hawaii, more thantwo-thirds ofwhosepeople boast onAsian or Polynesian heritage.
7、(1)歐洲這個移民的主要來源地，在17世紀初就開始輸送殖民地開拓者來(colonists)到美洲。從1880年到第一次世界大戰，有幾千萬（tens of millions）人從歐洲涌上(flood to)美洲海岸。(2)美國第二大族群的祖先(ancestry)可追溯到非洲；黑人現在占美國人口的百分之十一(2420萬人)。這個多種族融合的國家還吸收(absorb)了近60萬日本人、50萬中國人和34萬菲律賓人。很多移民生活在夏威夷，超過三分之二的夏威夷居民自稱(boast)為亞洲人和波利尼西亞人的后裔(heritage)。
8.Oncea nation of farmers,the United Stateshas becomeincreasinglyurban since the turn of the last century.Todaythree out of fourAmericans live in towns, cities or suburbs. Two-thirds of allfamilieslive inseparate households, and 65 percent own their homes.
8、美國一度曾是農場主的國家，自進入上世紀以來（since the turn of the last century）日益城市化(increasingly urban)。如今，四分之三(three out of four)的美國人居住在城鎮、城市及市郊(suburbs)。三分之二的家庭獨立成戶，百分之六十五的家庭擁有自己的住宅。
9. Americans are alwayson the move. Each year,onein every five Americansleaves home and jobto find new onessomewhereelse. The population is shifting ever westward. California recently passed New Yorkasthe mostpopulous state, although New York City (population: 8 million)and Chicago (3 million) are stilllargerthanCalifornia's largest city, Los Angeles.
9、美國人口的流動性很大。每年，每五個美國人中就有一個(one in every fiveAmericans)離開家和工作到別處(somewhere else)去安家和找新的工作。人口總是流向西部。(The population is shiftingever westward.)加利福尼亞州最近已超過紐約州成為美國人口最多的一個州，雖然紐約市(人口為800萬)和芝加哥市(300萬)的人口仍然多過加利福尼亞州最大的城市洛杉磯。
10. The nation's capital, Washington, is ninthin size,witha population of over700,000.Laid out by Frencharchitect PierreL'Enfant in the late 18th century, it wastheworld's first cityespeciallyplannedasa center of government.
10、美國首都華盛頓的面積(in size)在全國的城市中為第九位，人口70余萬。它在18世紀末(in the late 18th century)由法國建筑師(architect)皮埃爾·朗方設計（lay out），是世界上專門作為一個政府中心而規劃設計的(especially planned as a center ofgovernment)第一個城市。
* FromFacts & FiguresUSA by USICA 選自美國國會新聞署《美國的事實與數字》。
