Unit 3 1-1 The United States of America

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The USA is the most powerful and highly developed country of the world. It is situated in the central part of the North American continent. Its western coast is washed by the Pacific Ocean and its eastern coast is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.
The USA is separated from Canada in the north by the 49th parallel and the Great Lakes, and from Mexico in the south by a line following the Rio Grande River and continuing across the highlands to the Pacific Ocean. The total area of the USA is over 9 million square kilometres.

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Unit 3    1-1 The United States of America

The USA is the most powerful and highly developed country of the world. It is situated in the central part of the North American continent. Its western coast is washed by the Pacific Ocean and its eastern coast is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.

The USA is separated from Canada in the north by the 49th parallel and the Great Lakes, and from Mexico in the south by a line following the Rio Grande River and continuing across the highlands to the Pacific Ocean. The total area of the USA is over 9 million square kilometres.

The continental part of the USA consists of the highland regions and two lowland regions. The highland regions are the Appalachia mountains in the east and the Cordillera in the west.

Between the Cordillera and the Appalachian Mountains are the central lowlands which are called the prairie, and eastern lowlands called the Mississippi valley.  
The principal rivers of the USA are the Mississippi, the longest river in the world (7,330 km) and the Hudson river. The climate of the USA differs greatly from one part of the country to another. The coldest climate is in the northern part, where there is heavy snow in winter and the temperature may go down to 40 degrees below zero. The south has a subtropical climate, with temperature as high as 49 degrees in summer.

The population of the United States of America is about 250 million people, who are called Americans. Most of the people live in towns and the population of the countryside is becoming smaller and smaller.

For many decades the USA has been the place where lots of people sought refuge from persecution for political or religious beliefs. That's why in America there are representatives of practically all racial and national groups. There are about 25 million Negroes in the country and a little over half a million Indians.

The capital of the USA is Washington. It is situated in the District of Columbia. Washington is a beautiful administrative city with practically no industry. The USA is a highly developed industrial state. Its agriculture is also highly mechanized. There are coal-mines in the Cordillera Mountains, in the Kansas City region. Iron is mined near the Great Lakes. The USA has rich oil-fields in California, Texas and some other regions. It occupies one of the first places among the countries of the world for production of coal, iron and oil.

The USA has a highly developed motor-ear industry. It would be no exaggeration to say that cars have become the symbol of American way of life. The vehicles produced at such companies as Ford and the General Motors are known world-wide. The motor-car industry is concentrated in and around Detroit. Ship-building is developed along the Atlantic coast and in San Francisco. The textile industry is to be found in the north-east and in the south of the country.

The USA has a highly developed railway system. It also has the best network of roads in the world. They are called highways.

The USA is a federal country of 50 states and the District of Columbia. The political life of the country has always been dominated by the two major parties: the Democratic party and the Republican party. At an election time they contest presidency and the majority of seats in the Congress. The Congress is the highest legislative body of the country. It consists of two chambers — the House of Representatives and the Senate. The President, elected by the whole nation for four years, is head of the state and the Government.

Questions:

1. What kind of state is the USA?  
2. Where is it situated?  
3. What is the USA washed by in the east and in the west?  
4. What is the USA separated from Canada by?  
5. What is the total area of the country?  
6. What are the principal rivers of the USA?  
7. What is the population of the country?  
8. Where do most people live?  
9. What did many people seek in the USA?  
10. Why are there representatives of all racial and national groups in America?  
11. Where is the capital of the country situated?  
12. Is the agriculture in America highly mechanized?  
13. What raw materials is America rich in?  
14. What has become the symbol of American way of life?  
15. Where is the motor-car industry situated?  
16. Where is the textile industry to be found?  
17. Has the USA a highly developed railway system?  
18. How many states are there in the USA?  
19. By what party has the political life in America been dominated?  
20. What do the two parties contest at an election time?  
21. What is the highest legislative body of the country?  
Vocabulary:

powerful — мощный  
western — западный  
eastern — восточный  
highland regions — возвышенность  
lowland regions — низменность  
prairie — прерии  
to seek (sought, sought) refuge — искать убежище  
persecution — преследование  
political and religious beliefs — политические и религиозные убеждения  
rich oil fields — богатые месторождения нефти  
California — Калифорния  
It would be no exaggeration, o say — не будет преувеличением сказать, что  
symbol — символ  
textile — текстильная промышленность  
network of roads — сеть дорог  
to contest presidency — оспаривать, претендовать на пост президента  
the majority of seats in the Congress — большинство мест в конгрессе  
the highest legislative body — высший законодательный орган  
chamber — палата

 

Unit 3    1-2 The United States of America

The USA is composed of 50 states. It occupies the central part of North American continent. It borders on Canada in the north and on Mexico in the south.

The waters of the Atlantic Ocean wash the USA in the east and the waters of the Pacific Ocean wash the country in the west. The Hawaiian Islands are in the Pacific Ocean. They became the 50th state of the USA in 1958. The total area of the country is 9000 square kilometers. The population is more then 200 million people.

Washington is the capital of USA. English is the official language. The flag of the USA known as the “Stars and Stripes”.

The Rocky Mountains extend from Alaska through the USA to Mexico, but greater part of the country is a plain. Where are many rivers in USA and the longest is Mississippi. The country has every variety of climates: from climate of the tropics to that of the Atlantic regions. The USA economy grew greatly during the world wars. When big American monopolists got great profits.

The country is rich in mineral resources, heavy industry prevails in the USA economy, including mining metallurgical, machine building, chemical industries. Light and food industries are wheel developed too.

The USA is the federate republic. The president is the heard of the state. He is also commander –in –chief of army and navy. The highest legislative organ in the country is the congress, which consists of the senate and House of Representatives.

 

 

Unit 3    2-1 Washington

 

Washington, the capital of the United States of America, is situated on the Potomac River in the District of Columbia. The district is a piece of land ten miles square and it does not belong to any separate state but to all the states. The district is named in honour of Columbus, the discoverer of America. The capital owes much to the first President of the USA -George Washington. It was G. Washington, who chose the place for the District and laid in 1790 the corner-stone of the Capitol, where Congress sits.

Washington is not the largest city in the USA. It has a population of 900 000 people. Washington is a one-industry town. That industry is government. It does not produce anything except very much scrap paper. Every day 25 railway cars leave Washington loaded with scrap paper.

Washington has many historical places. The largest and tallest among the buildings is the Capitol with its great House of Representatives and the Senate chamber. There are no skyscrapers in Washington because no other building must be taller than the Capitol. The White House is the President's residence. All American presidents except George Washington (the White House was not yet built in his time), have lived in the White House. It was built in 1799. It is a two-storied, white building.

Not far from the Capitol is the Washington Monument, which looks like a very big pencil. It rises 160 metres and is hollow inside. A special lift brings visitors to the top in 70 seconds from where they can enjoy a wonderful view of the whole city.

The Jefferson Memorial was built in memory of the third President of the USA, Thomas Jefferson, who was also the author of the Declaration of Independence. The memorial is surrounded by cherry-trees. The Lincoln Memorial devoted to the memory of the 16th President of the US, the author of the Emancipation Proclamation, which gave freedom to Negro slaves in America. On the other bank of the Potomac lies the Arlington National Cemetery where President Kennedy was buried. American soldiers and officers, who died in World Wars I and II are buried there too.

Questions:

1. What city is the capital of the USA? 
2. Where is Washington situated? 
3. To which state does the city of Washington belong? 
4. In whose honour is the district of Columbia named? 
5. Who was the first President of the USA? 
6. Who chose the place for the District? 
7. Is Washington the largest city in the USA? 
8. What is the population of Washington? 
9. What industries are situated in the city?  
10. What do 25 railway cars leave Washington loaded with? 
11. Why are there no sky-scrapers in Washington? 
12. Where is the President's residence? 
13. When was the White House built? 
14. In whose memory was the Jefferson Memorial built? 
15. Who is the author of the Declaration of Independence? 
16. Which document gave freedom to Negro slaves in America?

17. Who was buried at the Arlington National Cemetery? 
Vocabulary:

separate - отдельный 
to be named in honour - быть названным в честь  
except - кроме, за исключением  
scrap paper - макулатура  
hollow - полый, пустой 
to enjoy a wonderful view of - любоваться прекрасным видом 
cherry-trees - вишневые деревья 
on the other bank - на другом берегу

 

Unit 3     2-2 Washington

The beautiful city of Washington D.C. is the capital of the United States and the centre of its government. The capital was named after the first president George Washington and was founded in 1790. It is situated on the Potomac River in the District of Columbia. Washington is not the largest city in the USA. It has about 900 000 inhabitants.

Washington D.C. has nothing characteristically American in it, as its conception is purely French. It has long wide avenues, gardens, beautiful parks and no skyscrapers at all.

Washington is the residence of the President and the Congress of the USA. The White House is the President's residence, the Capitol — the seat of the American Congress. The largest and the tallest among the buildings is the Capitol with its great House of Representatives and Senate Chamber. There are no skyscrapers because no other building must be taller than the Capitol.

All american presidents except George Washington (the White House was not yet built in his time) have lived in the White House. It was built in 1799. Washington is a large scientific and cultural centre, where there are many research institutes, five universities, the National Academy of Science and the Library of Congress.

There is one more well-known building in Washington — Pentagon, the residence of the US Military department. It is situated in the suburbs to the south of the Potomac.

Questions:

1. What is the capital of the USA?  
2. Who was the first President of the USA?  
3. Is White House situated there?  
4. Did George Washington live in the White House?  
5. Name the famous buildings in Washington.  
6. Is there any industry in Washington?  
Vocabulary:

to be founded — быть основанным  
conception — понятия, замысел  
skyscraper — небоскреб  
except — за исключением  
suburb — пригород

Unit 3     2-3 Washington

Washington sprang out of a marshy wilderness. It's named after George Washington, the first President of the United States. Washington is situated on the Potomac River in the District of Columbia. The District of Columbia is outside the jurisdiction of any state and subjects only to the control of the Federal Congress.

Washington is the seat of the Federal Government of the United States. It has been the capital of the USA since 1800. It has about 900 000 inhabitants.

Washington is one of the least industrialized metropolises in the world. However, in many ways it's a typical American city. Washington often rates as "dangerous" on the scale of air pollution. The air is periodically toxic from exhaust fumes. The water in Potomac is polluted. There are traffic jams in rush hours in its streets. Washington is often called the city of underprivileged and poor blacks.

In spite of all its problems, Washington has another nickname — the American Paris. The major attractions for tourists are in the heart of Washington. Among them the National Museum of History, the National Museum of Natural History. The National Gallery of Art exhibits thousands of the world's finest canvases. The Library of Congress is the younger rival of the London Library of the British Museum. It contains a lot of books, prints and photos.

There's hardly a park, a square or a open area in the capital without monument or a memorial. The most impressive and best-known of them are the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. The Washington Monument is the highest structure of the city. The oldest building in Washington is the White House, the official residence of the President.

Washington's broad and long streets add to the poise of the city. Most of them are called after states — Pennsylvania Avenue, Connecticut Avenue. The capital is also proud of its two universities — Georgetown University and George Washington University.  
  

Questions:

1. What is the capital of the USA?  
2. What is another Washington's name?  
3. Is Washington a typical American city?  
4. What kind of interesting places are there in the city?  
5. Name the most famous monuments in the city.

 
Vocabulary:

marshy wilderness — болотная пустошь  
jurisdiction — юрисдикция  
exhaust fumes — выхлопные газы

Unit 3     3-1 New York

New York is the largest city in the USA and the biggest seaport. It is the business centre of the United States. New York is situated in the mouth of the Hudson river. In comparison with such ancient historical cities as, say, Rome, London, Moscow or Paris, New York is quite young. It was founded in 1613 by Dutch settlers.

There are five districts in the city: Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn and Richmond. Manhattan is the central and the oldest part of the city. It is the district of business and finance. It is here in Wall Street that many business offices, banks and the world famous New York stock exchange are situated. The New York stock exchange dominates business life of many countries.

The total area of New York is 365 square miles or 900 square kilometres. Its population together with the population of its suburbs amounts to 16 million people. Among the inhabitants of New York one can meet people of almost all nationalities. They settled here during the immigration in the 19th and at the beginning of the 20th century.

A traveller who visits New York for the first time wonders at the modern architecture. The Statue of Liberty, which is on Liberty Island, was a present from France in 1876 on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of American independence. This statue and a few 18th and 19th century churches, hospitals, newspaper offices and other buildings are the only examples of "old" architecture in New York. Wherever your eyes travel, everywhere you can see sky-scrapers.

New York, one of the USA leading manufacturing cities, is the home of great firms and banks. The most important branches of industry are those producing vehicles, glass, chemicals and all kinds of machinery. The city has very busy traffic. Its streets and highways are full of cars and buses. The mouth of the Hudson river makes an excellent harbour for numerous passengers and cargo ships from all over the world. Speaking about New York one can't but mention the outstanding role, the city plays, in the cultural life of the country.

New York has many museums and art galleries which have collected works of art of many peoples and of all times. Many of them are on constant display in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum of Art. Most of the theatres and cinemas are in or near Broadway, the longest street and the biggest shopping district in New York. The Metropolitan and Modern Arts Museums attract many visitors.  

 

Questions:

  1. What is the largest city in the USA? 
    2. Where is New York situated? 
    3. When was the city founded? 
    4. How many districts are there in New York? 
    5. What is the central and the oldest part of New York? 
    6. In which district are many offices situated? 
    7. What is the population of New York? 
    8. People of how many nationalities live in the city? 
    9. What does a traveler who comes to New York for the first time wonder at? 
    10. How and when did the Statue of Liberty appear in New York? 
    11. Which industries are situated in New York? 
    12. What is situated in the mouth of the Hudson river? 
    13. What are the names of art museums situated in New York? 
    14. In what street are most of the theatres and cinemas situated?

 

Vocabulary:

to be founded - быть основанным 
Dutch settlers - датские поселенцы 
stock exchange - биржа  
the total area - общая площадь  
suburbs - пригороды  
to amount to - составлять  
to settle - поселиться 
to wonder at smth. - любоваться чем-либо  
sky-scrapers - небоскребы  
vehicle - автомобиль, средство передвижения 
highway - автострада 
harbor - пристань 
cargo ships - грузовые корабли 
to be on constant display - постоянно экспонироваться

Unit 3     3-2 New York

New York is one of the largest cities in the world and the biggest seaport. It's the financial capital of the country. It's the business centre of the United States. The city is situated in New York State, at the mouth of the Hudson river. It's population is over eight million. In early times the New York area was populated by Indians. It is here in Wall Street many business offices, banks and world famous New York stock exchange are situated.

New York is an industrial and cultural centre of the country. The most important branches of industry are those producing vehicles, glass, chemicals. New York is also a great cultural centre. It has many museums, art galleries, theatres. There are two world-famous streets in New York — Broadway and Fifth Avenue.

Broadway is the centre of the theatres and night life. Fifth Avenue is the great shopping, hotel and club avenue.  
The Empire State Building is at Fifth Avenue. It's a 102-storeyed building, was built in 1931. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is at Fifth Avenue. It includes hundreds of world famous masterpieces and attracts many visitors.

The Statue of Liberty is the symbol of American democracy. It stands on Liberty Island in New York port. Liberty carries the torch of freedom in her right hand. In her left hand she is holding a tablet with the inscription "July 4,1776" — American Independence Day.

Today New York City is informally called "The Big Apple". The origin of this name is unknown, but it is popular all over the world.

Questions:

1. Is New York a capital of the USA?  
2. Where is New York situated?  
3. Is New York an industrial centre?  
4. What are the two world — famous streets in New York?  
5. What is the nickname of New York?  
6. Would you like to visit New York?  
Vocabulary:

stock exchange — биржа  
vehicles — средство передвижения  
include — включать  
masterpiece — шедевр  
torch — факел

Unit 3     3-3 New York

New York is the biggest city in the USA and one of the largest cities of the World* The population of this city is near 12 million people. It is the capital of New York State.

There are 5 boroughs in New York — Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island or Richmond. Brooklyn alone has so many people that if it were a separate city, it would be the fourth largest city in the United States.

Some call New York a poem in stone and steel, others a soulless monster. It is unlike any other city in the world.

At the beginning of the 17th century only the wigwams of the Iroquois stood where the sky-scrapers of New York now reach to the clouds. In 1626 the Dutch Governor, Peter Minuit, concluded with them what American business experts call «the most profitable commercial deal in the U.S. history». With several bottles of gin and a handful of trinkets that cost twenty-four dollars, he bought a large island from the simple-hearted, trusting Indians. Later the Indians named the island Manhatta (present-day Manhattan, the main borough of New York, which in Iroquois means: «They cheated us».

It seems that at the dawn of private enterprise, too, it was hard to understand the difference between «a commercial deal» and cheating, between «a miracle of enterprise» and robbery.

It was not until the end of the 18th century that the city's real growth began. Situated as it is at the mouth of the Hudson River, which is open to ocean-going ships the year round, New York quickly became one of the largest ports in the world.

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