"Is the American Dream Still Possible?"

Parade magazine commissioned a nationwide survey of 2,200 mostly middle-class Americans to answer the question. Focusing on finances and outlooks for the future, David Wallechinsky presents the results in an article published in 2010.

Here are all the word lists to support the reading of Grade 11 Unit 1's texts from SpringBoard's Common Core ELA series: A Cause Greater Than Self, The New Colossus, The Statue of Liberty Address, poems about America, America, America and I, What Is an American, Growing Up Asian in America, Let America Be America Again, The Four Freedoms, The Bill of Rights, What Is Freedom, Is the American Dream Still Possible, The Declaration of Independence, poems about immigrants, Money, A Raisin in the Sun, Who Burns, Roberto Acuna, Barack Obama, The Right to Fail
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. traditional
    pertaining to time-honored orthodox doctrines
    The traditional American Dream is based on the belief that hardworking citizens can better their lives, pay their monthly bills without worry, give their children a start to an even better life and still save enough to live comfortably after they retire.
  2. decline
    change toward something smaller or lower
    But many average Americans are struggling--squeezed by rising costs, declining wages
  3. diminished
    made to seem smaller or less, especially in worth
    credit-card debt and diminished benefits
  4. forge
    make out of components, often in an improvising manner
    Do most Americans still believe they can forge better lives for themselves?
  5. prosperity
    the condition of having good fortune
    By international standards, they live a life of prosperity.
  6. pragmatism
    the attribute of accepting the facts of life
    Most of those interviewed display qualities common to American success stories: determination, flexibility, pragmatism, willingness to work hard and especially self-reliance.
  7. financial
    involving fiscal matters
    Almost three-quarters of the middle class respondents surveyed say they take responsibility for their own financial destiny and believe that they will succeed or fail based on their own efforts.
  8. intriguing
    capable of arousing interest or curiosity
    One of the most intriguing results of the Parade survey is that 89% of the middle class believes that businesses have a social responsibility to their employees and to the community.
  9. fortitude
    strength of mind that enables one to endure adversity
    I used to believe I was responsible for my own destiny. But it's not that simple. Now it's faith and fortitude.
  10. zealot
    a fervent and even militant proponent of something
    Don't leave decision-making and priority-setting to zealots who have an ax to grind--or to the blindly ambitious people who emerge in every generation.
Created on 十一月 8, 2014 (updated 十一月 9, 2014)

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