Match the following American Holidays with their dates. If necessary use the information from the Internet and other sources.

Date	Official Name
1. January 1	a) Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
2. Third Monday in January	b) Father's Day
3. January 20 following a Presidential election	c) Women's Equality Day d) Columbus Day
4. Third Monday in February	e) Flag Day
5. Last Monday in May	f) Labor Day
6. July 4	g) Veterans Day
7. First Monday in September	h) Thanksgiving Day
8. Second Monday in October	i) April Fools' Day
9. November 11	j) Easter
10. Fourth Thursday in November	k) International Women's Day
11. December 25	l) Constitution/Citizenship Day
12. February 2	m) Inauguration Day
13. February 14	n) Halloween
14. March 8	o) Memorial Day
15. March 17	p) Groundhog Day
16. April 1	q) New Year's Day
17. Sunday following the Paschal Full Moon, date varies from March 22 to April 25	r) Christmas s) May Day t) Independence Day
18. May 1	u) Washington's Birthday/Presidents' Day
19. Second Sunday in May	v) Mother's Day
20. June 14	w) Saint Patrick's Day
21. Third Sunday in June	x) Valentine's Day
22. August 26
23. September 17
24. October 31

Read and translate the following text.

Living like an American

The USA contains many diverse ethnic groups, so when we talk about 'Americans', we are talking in generalisations. But if you are planning to work or study in the US, you have to know what makes Americans tick. So here is our essential guide to American cultural attitudes.

1. First and foremost, Americans see themselves as individuals rather than members of a group. They feel they are responsible for their own lives and their own future. So they prefer to be independent and not rely on other people.
2. While Americans can be very individualistic, they also have a strong sense of team work. In colleges, you see this team spirit in study groups when students work together on projects or prepare for exams. After a natural disaster such as a tornado, you see Americans working together to achieve a common goal.
3. Americans live by schedules. They're often in a hurry, rushing from one engagement to the next. So punctuality is important. When you have an appointment or an invitation in the US, you shouldn't make people wait. Obviously, the same goes for college lessons, too!
4. When you meet Americans for the first time, they are open, direct and outgoing. It's normal to make eye contact and smile. However, you shouldn't confuse casual friendliness with deep friendship. These develop over a much longer period of time.
5. In general, Americans are much more informal than many other cultures when they interact with other people. They tend to show less deference to age, wealth or social position. In conversation, it's common to use first names and dress and posture are usually relaxed.
6. Americans assume people need time to be by themselves, so have 'me time' – time to think, reflect and recover their energy. The right to personal privacy is even included in the US constitution.
7. The average distance you should keep from another person varies from culture to culture. This personal space is very important to Americans. So in conversation or even standing in the subway, you shouldn't get too close. Americans also tend to avoid physical contact with strangers.
8. Success is perhaps the most important value in American life. Everyone wants to succeed at something, from college to sport to work. Many other values - individualism, freedom, social mobility, making money - are linked to success. One downside of this drive for success is that it also makes people competitive. But there's no getting away from it: success lies at the heart of the American dream.

Answer the questions.

1. How do Americans see themselves?

2. In what way do Americans differ from other cultures?

3. "Americans are much more informal than many other cultures when they interact with other people". What does it mean?

4. What is 'me time'?

5. What is the cultural difference between American and Russian people?

6. What is the most important value in American life?

7. "Success lies at the heart of the American Dream". Are there 'Russian Dream'?

SPEAKING