Do you think it is wrong to put old people into a nursing home? Why (not)? Tasks

1. Imagine that one of your relatives needs to go into a care home. Write a list of questions that you would like to ask the care home manager. l/}cUx>

2. Watch Unit 13 "Charity" (Inside Out Advanced) and answer the questions. (What's Oxfam? What are the main ways of raising its funds? What are its main campaigns?)

Topic: The Formation of the Nation.

1. The Pre Columbus visits to America.

2. Christopher Columbus and his discovery of a New World.

3. The first Englishmen in a New World.

4. The life in the 13 English colonies.

5. The "Boston Tea Party" and the War of Independence.

6. US National symbols. Answer the questions

   1. Where did the people come to the continent?

   2. When did the ancestors of the Indians come to North America?

   3. What ancient civilizations of Indians existed in South and North America?

   4. Why did Ch. Columbus call native people of a New World "Indians"?

   5. What plants, crops, vegetables and fruit did European «explorers bring to the Old World from America?

   6. What were the first two English colonies in a New World?

   7. How did the words "America", "Baltimore", "Pennsylvania" appear?

   8. What is the history of New York City?

   9. What territories belonged to France and Spain? What was the price of the territory sold by France?

   10. What was the 13^th English colony? (What colony became the 13^th in 1733?) 11 .When did Texas get the independence from Mexico?

       12. What state was the biggest in population in the end of XVIII century?

       13. What city was the largest that time?

       14. When did the "Boston Tea Party" take place?

       15. How many colonies broke away with Great Britain?

       16. How long did the War of Independence last?

       17. Who were the "founding fathers", the heroes of American history?

       18. Who was called the "father of American Constitution"?

       19. What document marked the formation of the American nation?

       20. Who was the first president of the United States?

       21. What is the history of the American flag?

       22. What does the coat of arms represent?

       23. What is the name of a popular patriotic song, which is not the national anthem of the US?

       24. What is the national anthem? Points for discussion

           1. Do the phrases "Pilgrim Fathers" and "Founding Fathers" mean the same?

           2. Can you think of the reasons why so many people immigrated to the USA? What did they hope to find there?

           3. "Life, liberty and pursuit of happiness" has been described as American Dream. What do you think this mean for the individual?

Topic: The US political system

1. The US Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

2. The Congress. The Senate and the House of Representatives.

3. The Presidency.

4. The Court System. Answer the questions

   1. Whose interests has the US Constitution reflected from the very beginning?

   2. What principle forms the basis of the Constitution?

   3. What freedoms are proclaimed by the Constitution? Which of them has become the most important?

   4. In what way has the original text of the Constitution been changed?

   5. When was slavery abolished in the USA?

   6. How are the first ten amendments of the Constitution of the US called?

   7. Why does the Fifth Amendment retain its importance nowadays?

   8. What is the justification for the U.S. President being able to serve only two terms in office?

   9. When did American women receive the right to vote?

   10. Who can really have a right to vote in the USA?

   11. Which U.S. legal holiday - held every four years - falls on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November?

   12. What article of the Constitution was the Congress of the US created by? And when?

   13. What are the duties of the Congress, the Senate?

   14. How is the power divided among the three branches of government?

   15. Who can be a Senator and a Representative in the USA?

   16. Give the definitions of the words "lobbyism" and "lobbyist".

   17. Whom does the executive power belong to in the USA?

   18. What the greatest powers exercised by the President?

   19. After the Vice-president which political figure is the next in line to succeed the President?

   20. What is the "Cabinet"? Who appoint it?

   21. How many members are there in the President's Cabinet today?

   22. What sort of court system is there in the United States?

   23. Where does the Supreme Court of the US meet?

   24. When is the Supreme Court in session?

   25. What is one of the most important duties of the Supreme Court?

   26. How long can a federal judge hold office?

   27. What questions are settled by state (district) courts?

Presidents of the United States

Answer the questions

1. Who was the President of the US during the American Civil War? What did he proclaim?

2. Who was the first president to serve only one term?

3. Who was the first president who was elected as a member of the Republican Party? eiu. bV^b

4. Which American President waslto live in the White House?

5. Who was the longest US President? Who was the shortest?

6. Who was the youngest American President?

7. Which American general, who later became the 34^th President, commanded all U.S. forces during World War Two?

8. Which American President attended the Potsdam Conference? *

9. Who was the American President during the Cuban missile crisis?

10. Who was the first U.S. President who visited the People's Republic of China and Russia?

Points for discussion

1. Why is the American government sometimes referred to as "Uncle Sam"?

2. The structure of the national Government is based on the US Constitution of 1787 which regulates its work. How is American government organized?

3. Do you know any rightist organizations of the USA? What is Ku-Klux- Klan? What do you know about this organization?

4. They say that in Washington, D.C. politics is the № 1 topic of conversation. Why do you think it is so?

5. Why do the Americans consider their Constitution the best in the world?

6. What do you think about the fact that nowadays the percentage of people who do not support either of the two political parties is the largest in history?

Topic: States of America. Tasks

3. Find interesting facts about the states of America.

4. Describe the state according to the following plan.

Plan

• The History of the State.

• Its geographical position, territory, climate and vegetation.

• Its capital, the number of population and state symbols.

• Economy and agriculture.

• The sights and natural wonders.

Topic: American culture and arts

1. Arts and architecture.

2. Music on the American continent.

3. Movie industry. Hollywood.

4. American Theatre. Broadway.

Tasks

1. Speak on the topic "Arts and architecture".

2. Here are some statements about music. Choose which closely correspond to your view about music. Why?

• "Music is the food of love" (Shakespeare).

• Pop music is nothing but rubbish, played much too loud.

• Pop music is the only music that is alive at the moment.

• The major contribution that America has made to the world is to invent jazz.

• Music is only useful as a background noise while you are doing other things.

  3. Speak about famous American musicians: Duke Ellington, Elvis Presley, Diana Ross and etc. according to the plan:

• Personal data about age, education, where and how they worked;

• Data about concert tours, awards and honors;

• Data about the significance of their work and their role in popularizing their style of music.

4. Test yourself. Choose the correct word or phrase to complete the following sentences.

   1. Hollywood is the name which is considered to be synonymous to American (art / cinematography / business).

   2. American cinema was born in the (east / west / south) of the country.

   3. American film industry began to develop rapidly in the (20s / 30s / 40s).

   4. Hollywood became a symbol of the American (prosperity / independence / dream).

   5. The star system is the basis of the Hollywood prosperity, because it gives ( a stimulus to competition, a possibility to reveal one's talent / big profits).

   6. "United Artists" company was established by some well-known American actors striving for their (independence / success in movie industry / stability in film business).

   7. To receive an Oscar in Hollywood means to get the highest (recognition / award / appraisal) of the American Cinema Academy.

5. Answer the questions.

• How old is American theatre?

• What does the American theatre reflect?

• Do they have any nationally subsidized theatres in the USA?

• How much does it cost to produce a show on Broadway?

• What are the New York theatre divisions?

Points for discussion

1. What is the most prestigious award in the American motion picture world? Is there any similar award in your country? Do you remember any of its winners?

2. What is the role of music in your life? What kind of music do you prefer?

3. Do you listen to American music? What American musicians do you know? Who is your favorite one? What are your friends' preferences? Do you share them?

4. What musical traditions has American music assimilated? What is the origin of spirituals?

5. i

   Do many people in the USA like classical music? What about your country?

Topic: American traditions and holidays

1. The American way of life.

2. The national character of Americans.

3. Sport and leisure activities.

4. American holidays. Tasks

   1. Read Text 1 (G.V. Nesterchuk, V.M. Ivanova The USA and the Americans) p. 170-172.

   2. Answer the following questions.

• What role does sport play in American life?

• What was the aim of setting up a special council on fitness?

• What are the sport facilities in the USA?

• What does American football differ in from the same game in the continent?

• What sport is called the "national pastime "? Why?

  3. Read Text 9 "Cowboy: myth and reality" (G.N. Nesterchuk, V.M. Ivanova ) p.148-150.

  4. Answer the questions.

• How is cowboy shown in popular American westerns?

• What were the distinctive features of a cowboy's costume?

• Why are cowboys considered to be folk heroes?

5. Describe most popular national and family holidays of the United States. Points for discussion

   1. America is often described as a nation on wheels. Do you think it is true? Support your point of view with the facts.

   2. There's no denying the fact that the life in the United States, especially in big cities is fast and full. What is done in the USA to reduce the number of road accidents? What can you say about this problem in your country?

   3. What are the tendencies in the family development in the USA? Which of the two traditional kinds of family is most common in your country?

   4. A rise in divorce rate seems to be worldwide at present.

   5. What are the most spectacular sports in the USA? Are they practiced in your country?

   6. The number of women involved in different jobs outside their homes is constantly increasing. What are the reasons? Is the role of women in your country similar to that of American women?

   7. Franklin Delano Roosevelt once said, "If I were starting over again I'm inclined to think I would probably go into the advertising business in preference to almost any other". Why did he say that? Do you think politics and advertising business have something in common?

Вопросы к экзамену по лингвострановедению

1. The geographical position of the British Isles. The peculiarities of the landscape and climate. Rivers. Mountains. Lowlands. Highlands.

2. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The parts it consists of. The flags, emblems, national symbols, saints, legends and stories connected with them.

3. The Parliamentary Monarchy in Britain. Functions and powers of the Queen (king). Queen Elizabeth II.

4. The British Parliament. Some historical facts of its formation.

5. The House of Lords. The House of Commons. Electoral system.

6. The Party system and the Government.

7. Religion in Britain. The Reformation and appearance of the Church of England.

8. Church in Modern life of Great Britain. The Presbyterian Church of Scotland and other religious communities of GB.

9. The System of Education. Public schools.

10. Ancient Universities of Great Britain. Oxford and Cambridge. 1 l.UK Economy. Tradition and changes.

    12. The main economic regions. The South industrial and agricultural region.

    13. The main industrial regions. The Midlands, Lancashire, Yorkshire and the North.

    14. The industry and agriculture of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

    15. The British theatre. Pre-Shakespeare's Theatre. Shakespeare Memorial Theatre. Modern theatres, plays and musicals.

    16. The development of architecture and painting in Great Britain.

    17. British cinema history and today. Most popular British films and producers.

    18. Mass Media. British press. Radio and Sound Broadcasting.

    19. Music in Great Britain.

    20. National character of Englishmen, Scots, Welsh and Irish.

    21. Englishmen as a "stiff upper lip nation".

    22. Customs and traditions of Great Britain.

    23. British holidays.

    24. Great Britain in World War II

    25. The geographic position of the USA. Mountains, rivers, lakes and climate of the USA.

    26. The Pre Columbus visits to America. Christopher Columbus discovery of a New World.

    27. The first Englishmen in a New World.

    28. The life in the 13 English colonies.

    29. The "Boston Tea Party" and the War of Independence.

    30. US National symbols.

    31. _The formation of a New Nation. The Population of the USA now.

    32. The Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

    33. Washington D.C. as the heart of the US politics.

    34. The US Congress.

    35. The Presidency. The Court System.

    36. The US industry and People. The industrial growth and inventions in the century.

    37. The 1920s and the Great Depression.

    38. The USA in the World War II.

    39. The United States after World War II. Science and progress. The Cold War.

    40. Main economic regions (New England, the Midatlantic region, the South).

    41. Main economic regions (the Midwest, the Southwest, the West).

    42. The System of Education in the USA.

    43. The National character of Americans.

    44. The American way of life. Religion in the life of Americans.

    45. The evolution of the arts in the USA. Visual arts.

    46. Architecture of the US.

    47. Music in the USA.

    48. The American Theatre.

    49. The Movie industry in the USA.

    50. The press, radio and TV in the USA.

    51. American literature.

    52. Holidays in the USA.

Основная литература по лингвострановедению

1. Барановский Л.С., Козикис Д.Д. Добрый День, Британия!: учебное пособие для студ. вузов. - Мн.: А-во САДИ, М.: Московский лицей, 1997.-335 с.

2. Барановский Л.С., Козикис Д.Д. Здравствуй, Америка!: учебное пособие для студ. вузов. - Мн.: Выш. Шк., 1997. -308с.

3. Левашова В.A. Britain today: life and institutions: учебное пособие для студ. высших учеб. заведений. - М.: ИНФРА-М, 2001. - 216 с.

4. Леонович О.А. Страноведение Великобритании: учебное пособие для студ. лингвистических вузов и фак. - 2-е изд., испр. И доп. - М.: КДУ, 2004. - 256с.

5. Михайлов Н.Н. Лингвострановедение Англии = English Cultural Studies: учебное пособие для студ. филол. и фак. ин.яз. высш. учеб. заведений.

• 2-е изд., стер. - М.: Издательский центр «Академия», 2006. - 208 с.

  6. Ощепкова В.В. Язык и культура Великобритании, США, Канады, Австралии, Новой Зеландии: учебное пособие для студ. высших учеб. заведений. - Москва: Глосса; СПб: КАРО, 2004. -336 с.

  7. Токарева Н.Д. Америка. Какая она?: учебное пособие для студентов вузов. - Минск: Высшая школа, - 334 с.

Дополнительная литература по лингвострановедению

1. Барановский Л.С. Panarama of Great Britain. - Мн.: Выс. шк., 1990 - 343с .

2. Бромхед П. Life in Modern Britain. - Longman Group Limited, 1995. - 198 c.

3. Бурова И.И., Силинский C.B. Соединенные Штаты Америки. - СПб.: Лениздат, 2002.

4. Доронина Е.Ф. Страноведение. Великобритания, США: Учебное пособие для ст-тов ф-тов иностр. Языков. - Куйбышев: КФ НГПУ, 2002.- 130 с.

5. Куприянова В.В.Британия: учебное пособие для студентов фак. ин. яз.

• Л.: Просвещение, 1977. - 483 с.

  6. Нестерова Н.М. Страноведение: Англии: учебное пособие. - Ростов-на- Дону: Феникс, 2001.- 320 с.

  7. Нестерчук Г.В., Иванова В.М. США и американцы: учебное пособие. - 2- изд., стереотипное. - Мн.: Выш. Шк., 1997. - 238 с.

  8. Ощепкова В.В. The USA: Geography History Education and Painting: учебное пособие. - M.: Лист, 2000. - 122 с.

  9. Тимановская Н.А. Взгляд на англоговорящие страны: учебное пособие для учащихся и студентов. - 4-е изд. - Тула: Автограф, 2000. - 384 с.

  10. Томахин Г.Д. По Соединенным Штатам Америки: пос. для учителей. - М.: Просвещение, 1980.

П.Томахин Г.Д. Постранам изучаемого языка: Анг. яз.: Справ, мат-лы. - М.: Просвещение, 1993.

12. Толфри П. Ireland: Longman Structural readers: Background Stage -2. - Longman Group UK Limited. - 48 c.

13. Хилл Д. Scotland: Longman Structural readers: Background Stage -2. - Longman Group UK Limited. - 47 c.

14. Sharman E. Across cultures. - Аудио-курс. - Longman, 2006.

15. Vaughan - Ress M. In Britain: New Edition / M. Vanghan Rees, R.Bystrom, S. Bystrom. - Аудио-курс. - Обнинск: Титул, 1997.