ABSTRACT
Americans are a commercial people par excellence. But of all the consumer goods we sell around the globe, perhaps the most important is ourselves. Supporters of American meat industries will be happy to know that the author's Chinese students think of the United States as a land overflowing with animal products, notably beefsteak (mentioned eight times on the author's three answer sheets), hamburger (also mentioned eight times), and Turkey (mentioned seven times), known in China as an important American ritual food. Coffee and various forms of alcohol showed up frequently as favored American drinks. In a landlocked part of China, it is unsurprising that the author's students often mentioned the beach as a desirable destination, though they might be surprised to realize that many Americans have no more access to the seaside than they do. Children have their own choices and they can make decisions by themselves.
