The US - Mixed
Culture Wars
Behold the Dreamers/ Immigration
Grammar
Vocabulary
Fun facts
100
Name one reason why some people argue that the American Dream is no longer attainable.
Possible answers:
- Rising income and wealth inequality
- Stagnant wages
- High housing costs
- Student loan debt
- Limited social mobility
- The growing gap between rich and poor
- High mortgage and interest rates
100
Explain how social media can contribute to culture wars.
Social media can spread information quickly, amplify extreme opinions, create echo chambers, and increase political polarization.
100
Explain how the novel "Behold the Dreamers" challenges the idea that hard work alone leads to success in the US.
Many characters work hard (e.g. Jende, Neni), but factors such as class, wealth, legal status, and luck play an equally important role.
100
Correct the sentence (sentence structure):
In the United States live many immigrants who hope for a better future.
Many immigrants who hope for a better future live in the United States.
Rule: Time - Place - Subject - Verb - Object - Place - Time
100
Translate into English:
anschauliche, bildhafte Sprache
vivid language
100
What is the most visited tourist attraction in the United States?
A) Statue of Liberty
B) Grand Canyon
C) Times Square
Correct answer: Times Square: 50–130 million visitors per year
--> Grand Canyon National Park: about 5–6 million visitors per year
--> Statue of Liberty: about 3.7 million visitors per year
200
What is American exceptionalism?
The belief that the US is unique and has a special role in the world.
200
Explain the main message of the cartoon.
The cartoon shows that culture wars in the US are a conflict between opposing ideologies/values and political parties.
The fight for dominance creates division and has a negative impact on ordinary people.
200
Name one way a person can obtain a Green Card in the US.
- Through a close family member who is a US citizen
-Through employer sponsorship / a job offer
-Through investment (e.g. investing a large amount of money and creating jobs)
-Through extraordinary ability (e.g. outstanding achievements in a field)
-Through the Diversity Visa Lottery
200
Which sentence needs a comma?
a) I believe that all men are created equal.
b) You can do anything if you really believe in it.
c) However you still need to work hard to achieve your goals.
c) However, you still need to work hard to achieve your goals.
--> Rule: Comma after introductory words and phrases.
200
Translate into German:
hostile
feindselig, bedrohlich
200
How many time zones are there in the US (including Alaska and Hawaii)?
6
300
Name two traditional American values that Trump emphasized in his inaugural address.
patriotism, national unity, security, economic prosperity, strength, and national sovereignty
300
Explain why politicians might deliberately emphasize culture-war issues during election campaigns?
To mobilize supporters, strengthen group identity, attract media attention, or distract from other issues.
300
Name two things that have changed concerning immigration to the US under the Trump administration.
- Stricter enforcement against illegal immigration
- A national emergency at the southern border
- Faster deportation procedures
- A significant reduction in border crossings
- Increased deportations
- Revocation of some humanitarian programs protecting migrants from deportation
- Lower refugee admissions
- Restrictions on student visas
- Attempts to limit birthright citizenship through executive orders
300
Correct the sentence and explain why the change is needed:
The United States is consisting of 50 states.
The United States consists of 50 states.
Explanation: This is a general fact. We use the simple present, not the present progressive.
300
English term:
Sprache, die Sinneseindrücke beschreibt
sensory language
300
Name one requirement for becoming President of the United States.
- Must be a natural-born US citizen
- Must be at least 35 years old
- Must have lived in the US for at least 14 years
400
How has immigration to the United States changed over time from its beginning to the year 2000. Name two developments.
How has immigration to the United States changed over time? Name two developments.
- Shift from European immigrants to immigrants from Latin America and Asia
- Increasing ethnic diversity
- Decline of immigration during the Great Depression/WWII
- Immigration becoming a major political issue
- Stronger focus on border control and legal immigration status
400
Explain how this map is related to culture wars in the US: 
The map shows that religiosity varies across the United States. More religious states, especially in the South, often hold more conservative views on issues such as abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, and the role of religion in public life. These differences in values can contribute to culture wars
400
Which narrative technique is used in Behold the Dreamers?
The novel is told by a third-person narrator who mainly follows the perspectives of Jende and Neni Jonga. The narrator is limited, meaning readers only know what certain characters know and think.
400
Correct the sentence and explain the mistake:
The democracy plays an important role in American politics.
Democracy plays an important role in American politics.
--> In English, abstract nouns such as democracy, freedom, poverty, immigration, education, and justice are usually used without an article when talking about the concept in general.
400
What is the term for a young baby in English?
infant
400
Which state produces most of America's pineapples?
Hawaii
500
The Declaration of Independence states that "all men are created equal" and have the rights to "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Discuss to what extent the United States has lived up to these and name two relevant points (PEE).
Possible aspects:
Pro: opportunities for immigrant throughout history, freedom of speech, social mobility, democracy/voting rights/civil rights
+ explanation
Con: economic inequality, racism, restrictions on trans rights, immigration barriers
+ explanation
500
Look at the map and give three reasonable explanations for the distribution of ethnic diversity in the US. Example: There is a higher population of ... in ... because ...
The Southwest has a large Hispanic population because it borders Mexico and has received many immigrants from Latin America.
California is close to Asia, offers many jobs, and already has large Asian communities that attract new immigrants.
The South has a large African American population because of the history of slavery.
Native American reservations are mainly located in the West because many Native Americans were forcibly relocated there during westward expansion.
Large cities and economically successful states tend to attract immigrants from many different backgroundsbecause they offer more jobs, educational opportunities, and established immigrant communities.
500
What is true about the author Imbolo Mbue?
A) She worked as an investment banker during the 2008 financial crisis.
B) She based Behold the Dreamers on a true story about her own family.
C) The idea for the novel came after she observed chauffeurs waiting for wealthy executives in New York City.
D) She was born and raised in the United States.
C) The idea for the novel came after she observed chauffeurs waiting for wealthy executives in New York City.
500
Correct the sentence and name a rule/mnemonic device (=Eselsbrücke) that helps to avoid the mistake:
If the government would invest more in education, the American Dream would be easier to achieve.
If the government invested more in education, the American Dream would be easier to achieve.
"If" and "would" is never good!
500
Name the term in English
the ability to read and write
literacy
500
Which American became a billionaire at the youngest age?
A) Taylor Swift
B) Kim Kardashian
C) Oprah Winfrey
D) Mark Zuckerberg
✅ D) Mark Zuckerberg - Became a billionaire at about 23 years old (2008)
A) Taylor Swift - Became a billionaire at about 33 years old (2023)
B) Kim Kardashian - Became a billionaire at about 40 years old (2021)
C) Oprah Winfrey - Became a billionaire at about 49 years old (2003)
600
Discuss to what extent the United States is still a global player (country with global power and influence) today? Support your answer with two arguments (PEE-method).
Still a global player:
-The US has one of the largest economies in the world --> important market.
-American companies such as Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Meta influence people worldwide.
-The US remains a major military power (Iran war)
-American culture (films, music, social media) has a global reach (e.g. Hollywood, Netflix).
Not a global player anymore:
-The US must cooperate with other countries to solve global problems (e.g. climate change).
-China has become a major economic and political rival.
-Countries such as China, India, and members of the EU are gaining influence.
-Some countries are less willing to follow US leadership.
600
Explain how this flag is related to culture wars in the US:
The Confederate flag is related to culture wars because Americans disagree about what it represents.
--> Some see it as a symbol of Southern heritage and history.
--> Others view it as a symbol of slavery, racism, and discrimination (the South fought to preserve slavery and because the flag has often been used by racist groups).
--> These conflicting interpretations lead to political and cultural debates.
600
Analyze the atmosphere in the excerpt from Behold the Dreamers and how it is created.
"Upper West Siders strolled by. MTA buses stopped by. A chaos of kids on scooters rushed by,..."
--> Name atmosphere
--> Explain how it created.
--> Explain use of language.
-Atmosphere: lively, energetic, busy, bustling, slightly stressful
-Language: parataxis, short phrases, parallelism, and motion verbs create a sense of speed, movement, and constant activity.
600
Correct the mistake and explain the rule:
Since 1965, millions of immigrants came to the United States.
Since 1965, millions of immigrants have come to the United States.
--> We use the present perfect with since because the action started in the past and continues up to the present.
600
Explain the term "informal economy" and give an example.
The informal economy includes jobs and economic activities that are not officially registered, regulated, or taxed by the government.
example: babysitting or cleaning without paying taxes, market stall vendor without business license, unregistered taxi driver
600
What is the most common surname in the United States?
A) Garcia
B) Johnson
C) Nguyen
D) Smith
Smith ✅ (#1 overall)
Johnson (#2 overall)
Garcia (#6 overall)
Nguyen (#38 overall)