The united states of america

WORD LIST:

population населення

diversity різноманітність

statement ствердження

landscape ландшафт, пейзаж

to occupy займати

fertile valleys родючи долини

stony deserts кам’янисті пустелі

tropical heat тропічна спека

moderate climate помірний клімат

wheat and corn пшениця та кукуруза

enterprises підприємства

mineral resources корисні копалини

deposits родовища

to extract raw materials видобувати сировину

to prefer віддавати перевагу

to consist of складатися з

legislation законодавство

to elect обирати

governing party правляча партія

The United States of America (USA) lies in the central part of the North American Continent with the Atlantic Ocean to the East, the Pacific Ocean to the West, Canada to the North and Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico to the South.

The USA is one of the largest countries in the world. The size of its territory places it fourth in the world after Canada, China and Russia. The population of the country is about 240 million.

The USA is a country of great diversity. No general statement can be made about the landscape, the climate and the weather because the country occupies nearly half of the continent. Each region of the USA has its own characteristics. One can find fertile valleys and stony deserts, tropical heat and arctic cold. The Mississippi is the largest river of the USA.

In the central part of the usa the climate is moderate. Wheat and corn are grown there. South has been an agricultural region for hundreds of years. Cottons, lemons, oranges are grown there.

Originally industry began developing in the North of the country, especially near Great Lakes. It remains the major industrial region, however now one can find industrial enterprises in every part of the USA.

The USA is rich in mineral resources. It has deposits of oil and natural gas, coal and iron. However the country prefers to import raw materials instead of extracting them at home.

The capital of the country is Washington, D.C. (District of Columbia). New York is the largest financial, industrial, transport and trade center with the population of nearly 9 million.

The USA consists of fifty states. Each of the states has its own flag, emblem, legislation and governor. The national flag of the whole country is called “Stars and Stripes” because it consists of red stripes and white stars against blue background. A star symbolizes each state. The national emblem is eagle, a strong and majestic bird that used to be wide-spread in the North American continent.

American people celebrate many holidays. Some of them are characteristics not only of the USA but of other countries as well. These are Christmas (December 25), New Year’s Day (January 1), Valentine’s Day (February 14), Easter and some others. However there are holidays that are celebrated only in the USA. Among them are: Independence Day (July 4), Columbus Day (October 9), Halloween (October 31), Thanksgiving Day (November 23) and others. Americans congratulate their mothers on the 14^th of May (Mother’s Day) and fathers on the 18^th of June (Father’s Day). The Labour Day is celebrated not on the first of May, as in this country, but on the 4^th of September.

Americans are fond of their traditions. Every year a lot of festivals of folk art and country singing and dancing are set up. The largest of them takes place in Washington.

The USA is a presidential republic. The head of the state is the President elected for a term of four years. At present President Bush is in power.

The highest legislative body is the Congress, which consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives. There are two main governing parties: the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. At present the Democratic Party is ruling.

The USA is the motherland of many outstanding people. American scientists and musicians, politicians and sportsmen are known all over the world. Among American writers, for example, one should name Mark Twain, Jack London, Theodore Dreiser, Ernest Hemingway, Jerome Salinger and many others.

Our city has a sister-city in the USA. It is the city of Cincinnati, the State of Ohio. The exchange official delegations, professionals in different spheres of economy, students, etc.

TASK 2: Suggest Ukrainian equivalents:

Great diversity, agricultural region, natural gas, to extract raw materials, legislative body, strong and majestic, to congratulate, folk art, the head of the state, outstanding people, to be fond of, to exchange, different spheres of the economy, instead of, trade center, to grow, originally, wide-spread.

TASK 3: Say whether the following statements are true or false:

1. The size of the territory of the USA places it fifth in the world after Canada, China, Russia and Australia.

2. The climate in the USA is tropical and subtropical.

3. North has been an agricultural district for hundreds of years.

4. Wheat and corn are grown in the central part of the USA.

5. The USA is rich in mineral resources.

6. The country prefers to extract raw materials instead of importing them.

7. The USA consists of 50 states, each has its own flag, emblem, governor.

8. The national emblem of the USA is bear.

9. Independence Day is celebrated on the 4^th of July.

10. The President is elected for a term of 5 years.

TASK 4: Choose the correct variant and fill in the gaps:

1. The USA lies in the ______ part of the North American continent.

A. southern B. northern C. main D. central

2. The country _______ nearly half of the continent.

A. shows B. takes away C. gives up D. occupies

3. Cotton, lemons, oranges _______ in the South.

A. grows B. are growed C. grew D. are grown

4. The USA has _______ of oil, gas, coal and iron.

A. areas B. accounts C. deposits D. districts

5. The national flag ______ red stripes and white stars against blue background.

A. showed B. consisted C. showes by D. consists of

6. The Valentine’s Day is celebrated______ the 14^th of February.

A. by B. on C. from D. at

7. The highest legislative body is _______.

A. the Parliament B. the Senate C. the House of Commons D. the Congress

8. At present the _____ Party is ruling.

A. Labourist B. Conservative C. Democratic D. Republican

TASK 5: Translate into English:

1. Більшість підприємств розташована на півночі Америки.

2. У США вирощують багато сільськогосподарських культур.

3. Україні є багато корисних копалин та сховища газу, нафти, вугілля.

4. Хоча столиця США Вашингтон, Нью-Йорк є найбільшим фінансовим, транспортним та торговим центром.

5. Американські виборці обирають Президента на 4 роки.

6. Харків має місто-побратим у США, це місто Цінціннаті.

TASK 6: Read and translate with the dictionary additional texts and answer the questions:

WASHINGTON D.C.

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.

It was George Washington, the first President of the USA, 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. It is a one-industry city. That industry is Government. The city’s main output are laws and government decisions. Besides, Washington is the residence of the President and the Congress of the USA.

The President’s residence is the White House. All American presidents except George Washington (the White House was not yet built in his time) lived in the White Hall. It is a two-storeyed building, which was built in 1799.

Not far from the Capitol there is Washington Monument, which looks like a very big pencil. It rises 160 metres and is hollow inside.

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.

Lincoln Memorial is devoted to the memory of the 16^th President of the USA, the author of Emancipation Proclamation, which gave freedom to Negro slaves in America.

On the other bank of the Potomac River lies the Arlington National Cemetery where President Kennedy was buried. American soldiers and officers, who died in World War I and II are buried there too.

Washington is a large scientific and cultural centre. There are five Universities, a lot of research institutes, the National Academy of Science and the Library of Congress.

Among its well-known buildings is the Pentagon, the residence of the US Military department.

QUESTIONS:

1. What are the most famous things in Washington?

2. Who was the first president of the USA?

3. What is the population of Washington?

4. What industries are there in the city?

5. Who is the author of the Declaration of Independence?