Passage 1

As the 21^st century begins, a number of leaders in politics, education, and other professions believe that the United States must adopt some new values to go along the older traditional ones. What new values should Americans adopt? This is a very difficult question to answer. Certainly, a greater value should be placed on the conservation of natural sources; Americans should learn to use less and waste less. But conservation has never been a strong value to Americans, who have believed that their country offered an endless, abundant supply of natural resources. Recently, progress has been made—more and more Americans are recycling their paper, cans, bottles, and other goods—but old wasteful habits die hard. Furthermore, their need to protect the environment may conflict with the need for job, as in the Northwest, where conservationists battle lumber companies that want to cut down ancient redwood trees. A belief in the value of conservation is still weak compared with other American values; it can become stronger only as Americans see the need for it more clearly.

In addition, Americans may need to place a stronger value on cooperation on a national scale to achieve important national objective. The American idea of the national good has never been based on national cooperation but rather on the freedom of the individual, maintaining those conditions that provide the greatest freedom and prosperity for the individual. It is far more difficult for Americans to accept shared sacrifice for the common good and wellbeing of the entire country. For example, although the majority of Americans believe that is extremely important to balance the national budget and reduce the deficit, they do not want to see cuts in government programs that benefit them personally.

The American value of competition also hinders the development of a spirit of national cooperation. Competition sometimes encourages feelings of suspicion rather than the mutual trust that is necessary for successful national cooperation. Although Americans often cooperate successfully on the local level—in neighborhood groups and churches, for example they become suspicious when the national government becomes involve. For example, on the national level, they may see themselves as part of an interest group that is competing with other interest groups for government funds. A request by the national government for shared sacrifice may be seen as coercive and destructive rather than voluntary and constructive. However, the demands of the 21^st century may compel Americans to place a greater value on national cooperation to solve problems that affect them all, directly or indirectly.

What new values should Americans adopt?

Which of the following is NOT the reason that conservation has never been a strong value?

The word “good” in “the national good” in the second paragraph probably means ________.

The foundation of the American idea of the national good is ________.

The author writes the passage ________.