English meals

The English usually have 4 meals a day: breakfast, lunch, tea (5 o'clock) and dinner. Breakfast can be a full "English breakfast" of cornflakes with milk and sugar, or bacon and eggs, toast and marmalade, tea or coffee. Some people,. however, have just a cup of tea or coffee with a toast or something similar. This is usually called a "continental breakfast".

At midday everything is stopped for lunch. Most offices and small shops are closed for an hour and the city pavements are full of people on their way to cafes, coffee bars, restaurants. Factory workers usually eat in their canteens.

The English like what they call "good plain food". They must be able to recognize what they are eating. Usually they like steak, roast beef, Yorkshire pudding and fish and chips.

Afternoon tea is taken at about 5 o'clock, but it can hardly be called a meal. It is a cup of tea and a cake or biscuits. At the weekends afternoon tea is a special occasion. Friends and visitors are often invited to have a chat over a cup of tea.

Dinner is the most substantial meal of the day. It is usually eaten at 7 o'clock. The first course may be soup (though the English don't like it very much). The main course will often be fish or meat, perhaps the traditional roast beef of old England, and a lot of vegetables. The next course will be something sweet and often cooked, such as a fruit pie. Last of all-there may be cheese, often with biscuits.

It is common knowledge that the English are fond of tea. They like to-have "a nice cup of tea" 6 or 8 times a day, sometimes even more.

On Christmas Day a roast turkey is traditionally cooked for dinner. It is usually followed by Christmas pudding. Long before Christmas housewives begin to plan what cake to make for Christmas. Usually they make fantastic Christmas cakes.

Второй завтрак (ланч); корнфлекс; тротуар; столовая; бифштекс; пудинг, жареный картофель; пирог.

Constitution met in 1788 in New York City. Since then the Congress has been the place where the laws of the USA are made and adopted.

The Congress consists of two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The Senate is made up of 100 Senators, two from each of the 50 states. Senators are elected for the term of six years. A Senator must be at least 30 years of age and must have been a citizen of the United States for at least 9 years.

The members of the House of Representatives are elected only for two years and their number depends on the population of each state; but every state has at least one Representative in the House. A representative must be 25 years of age and must have been a citizen of the United States for at least 7 years.

The Congress assembles once a year. Both chambers must approve a new bill for it to become a law.

The executive branch consists of the President, Vice-President and the President's Cabinet. Its function is to carry out the laws and direct the national policy of the country. The President and Vice-President are elected in a national election for a four-year term of office: they may be reelected for a second time. Under the Constitution, any American can become President, who is a natural-born citizen, at least 35 years of age, and for at least 14 years has been a resident of the United States. On Inauguration day on the 20th of January the new President is sworn to preserve and protect the Constitution and defend American interests all over the world.

The President appoints the members of his Cabinet. The members of the Cabinet are the heads of the ten most important Departments; most of them are called 'Secretary': the Secretary of State. Treasury, Defenses etc. The Cabinet must assist and advise the President on any matter when the President wishes such advice.

The judicial branch is headed by the Supreme Court which settles disputes between two or more states; besides, the Supreme Court may veto any law passed by the Congress as contradictory to the Constitution of the USA.

The United States is a federal union, and the President is the head of the Federal Government which decides international problems and deals with national matters. But every state also has its own Constitution and elected Government headed by the Governor. State governments manage their local affairs and have enough independence in financial matters. However their laws and decisions must not conflict with the Constitution of the United States.

The US national flag - Stars and Stripes. The colors are red, white and blue, thirteen stripes represent die first 13 states of the United States; 50 stars represent the current number of states.

Принимать (новый закон, проект); законодательная власть; (будет) вручена Конгрессу; в соответствии с Конституцией; представитель;

собираться; законопроект; исполнительная власть; срок нахождения на посту; урожденный; постоянный житель; торжественное представление нового должностного лица, введение в новую должность; Президент приводится к присяге; хранить и защищать; Государственный Секретарь (министр иностранных дел), министр финансов, обороны; судебная власть; Верховный Суд; решать конфликты, споры; накладывать вето; противоречащий; заниматься, иметь дело; текущий, относящийся к настоящему моменту.