11542 amish 3 pgs

ENGLISH – Intermediate - Advanced
A visit to parts of Lancaster County,
Pennsylvania, is like a trip back in time.
People live in simple farm houses. Family
members including small children, all work
in the fields. Crops are planted and
harvested without modern farm
technology.
Most Amish people are easy to recognize.
The women make their own long, darkcolored dresses. They cover their hair with
cloth hats, called prayer hats. They do not
wear jewelry. The men grow long beards
when they marry. They wear black clothing
and dark hats.
About sixteen thousand to eighteen
thousand Old Order Amish live in
Lancaster County. This area is also known
as Pennsylvania Dutch Country.
The Amish live much like their ancestors
did. Modern things like electricity, central
heating and indoor water pipes are not
considered necessary.
The Amish do not drive cars. Instead, they
travel in buggies pulled by horses.
A group of Old Order Amish recently won a
legal battle against the state over safety
markings on these wooden vehicles.
Pennsylvania requires buggies to carry a
red warning sign that can be easily seen in
car lights. But the Old Order Amish do not
have to observe that law.

The group is called the Swartsentrubers.
They hang a light from the driver’s side
door of their buggies.

True or False (Circle your answer)
T
F
come to

Amish people were invited to
Pennsylvania where they

could enjoy
religious freedom.
T
F It is acceptable to take
photographs of
Amish people.
T
F Amish people are easy to
recognize
because of their way of
dressing.
T
F
make-up

Women are not allowed to wear
or jewelry.

T
F Men grow their beard when
they marry.
T
F
in their

As Amish people have no pipes
homes, they can’t have toilets.

T
F Amish people are found in
twenty-eight
states.
T
F Amish people are mainly
farmers and
carpenters.
T
F Amish people have a limit
range of last
names.

The Amish heat their houses with wood


If the guests have any room left in their stomach after all that, they can have a
sweet, rich dessert.
The Amish and other groups in Lancaster County, including Mennonites, are known
as the Plain People. Many came to the United States from Germany and Switzerland

in the seventeen hundreds and eighteen hundreds. They were expelled or chose to
leave because of religious oppression. Most of them settled in Pennsylvania, where
they were promised religious freedom. Lancaster County is inhabited by officially
50,000 Amish people. Other settlements are found in twenty-two American states
and in Ontario, Canada.
The 500 or so Amish who came to the New World in the 1700s had about 40 last
names. The 100,000 Amish who live in the United States today are the descendants
of those people –and have the same 40 last names. To avoid confusion, the Amish
give nicknames to people who have the same name. Some nicknames have an
obvious explanation: “Chicken Dan” sells chickens. “Curly Dan” has curly hair.
Some people have expressed concern about the growing number of businesses in
Pennsylvania Dutch County. The people worry that this will interfere with the Amish
way of life. Sometimes, visitors stop near an Amish family and take their picture –an
act that angers the Amish.
As you tour Amish country, you will see small, well-kept farms of about twenty
hectares. The Amish are known for their success at farming. Amish farmers produce
as much corn, peanuts, tobacco and other crops on each hectare as other farmers.
But they always have been more concerned with protecting the land than with
producing huge crops. The Amish also raise farm animals such as cows, pigs, horses
and chickens. Each family takes care of its own farm. Amish people are known for
their talents with raising and training horses.
But the community works together to do big jobs. People also gather for religious
services. The services are in German. At home, the Amish speak a form of German
called Pennsylvanian Dutch.
The Amish believe that hard work is important and enjoyable. They do not believe in
depending on the world outside their community. Almost every Amish man can build
a house, make furniture, and raise crops and animals. Almost every Amish woman
can preserve food, make clothing and covers for beds called quilts. Quilt makers all
over the world recognize the beauty and complexity of Amish quilts.
Young women make the dresses they wear for their marriage ceremonies. These

dresses are blue, instead of the white that is traditional for many other Americans.
After their weddings, the women wear these dresses to church. And when they die,
tradition calls for them to be buried in their wedding dresses.
Most Amish families have seven or eight children. Traditionally the children do not
leave home until they marry.
The Amish live by rules they believe are explained in the Bible, the Christian holy
book. For example, they believe that Christians must always treat other people with
love and gentleness. They believe it is wrong to fight wars. They do not become
soldiers or police officers.
These religious beliefs sometimes have brought the Amish into conflict with


When boys and girls reach the age of 16, they have two years of rumspringa. During
this period of time they can live the “English” life; wear make-up and jewelry, go to
parties and have a job with American people. They have to decide for themselves
whether they want to stay Amish and return to the old fashioned way of living or
stay American! A very difficult choice, which often leaves confused and depressed
young people on their own.
The Amish permit few differences among their own people. They are different from
most other Americans, and happy to be that way.

Free Writing Task

Another Way of Living

How does your life differ from the life of an Amish person?
•
•

Write about differences and similarities in the way you live your life and the way an

Amish person lives his or her life
You must write between 350 and 400 words