Make a list of all geographical names mentioned in the text. Be sure that you can read them correctly. Use dictionary if necessary.
Read and translate the text.
The United States of America is the fourth largest country in the world (after Russia, Canada and China). It also includes Alaska in the north and Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean. It covers an area of 3,615,123 sq. mi. (9,375,720 sq. km.). The USA borders on Canada in the north and on Mexico in the south. It also has a sea border with Russia.
The USA is divided into 50 states and the District Columbia, a special federal area where the capital of the country, Washington, is situated. The population of the country is 307,212,123 (July 2009 est.).
The United States of America is a federal union of 50 states, each of which has its own government. The seat of the central (federal) government is Washington, DC. According to the US Constitution the powers of the government are divided into 3 branches: the executive, headed by the President, the legislative, exercised by the Congress, and the juridical. The Congress consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives. There are two main political parties in the USA: the Republican and the Democratic.
The national emblem of the country is the eagle. It has an olive branch (a symbol of peace) and arrows (a symbol of strength). There the eagle on the back of a dollar bill. The Statue of Liberty is the symbol of American democracy. The American flag is called “The Stars and Stripes” or “Old Glory”. It has 13 horizontal stripes, 7 red and 6 white which stand for the original 18 states. In the top left corner there are 50 white stars on a blue background: one star for each state. The national anthem of the US is “The Star Spangled Banner”.
Complete the missing facts about the USA. Use vertical prompts if necessary.
Capital City: National Independence: July, 4 1776 (from Great Britain) Motto: National Anthem: Government type: Constitution-based federal republic Administrative divisions: First President: Last Chief of State: Head of Government: the President Political Parties: Internet domain: Largest State:
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Smallest State: Rhode Island Largest cities: Border Countries and Oceans: Population: Land Area: Highest Point: Mt. McKinley, Alaska, 20,320 ft. (6194 m.) above sea level Lowest Point: Death Valley, California, 282 ft (86 m.) below sea level Largest rivers: National Bird: National Flower:
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Alaska In God We Trust Rose George Washington the Mississippi the Missouri the Rio Grande the Columbia .us New York City Los Angeles Chicago Philadelphia etc. |
D. Find in the text English phrases corresponding to the Russian equivalents: США граничит с Канадой на севере; США граничит с Мексикой на юге; США поделены на 50 штатов; местонахождение правительства; согласно конституции США; исполнительная власть; законодательная власть; судебная власть; символ американской демократии.
E. Make up questions to the given answers.
1) Alaska and Hawaii.
2) Canada in the north.
3) 50 states and the District Columbia.
4) 3 branches.
5) The Senate and the House of Representatives.
6) In the District Columbia.
F. Explain the meaning of the italicized words and word combinations from the text.
1) It also has a sea border with Russia.
2) The seat of the central government is Washington DC.
3) According to the US Constitution there are three powers of the government.
4) It has 13 horizontal stripes which stand for the 18 states.
5) The national anthem of the USA is “The Star Spangled Banner”.
H. Study the US Government structure and describe it. Use the language given below. Consult the dictionary if necessary. You may start with: The USA is a constitution-based federal republic…
I. What are the largest cities in the USA? What is the Big Apple?
Read the following e-mail and choose the correct words.
From: Helen Petrova Subject: New York
Hello/Goodbye from New York I arrived/left here on Friday. I caught the train/plane to Grand Central Terminal/Victoria Station and then the tube/subway to my hotel. It is next to Hyde park/Central Park in the centre of the city. The views/sights from my window are wonderful. Yesterday I went for a walk/ride on the Staten Island ferry/train to see the Statue of Liberty/Eifel Tower. The people of Britain/France gave it to the Americans. For lunch we had a sandwich/afternoon tea in a famous New York deli. Last night I went to a famous theatre on Broadway/Six Avenue, and I saw a very exciting play. After the play I took a yellow/red cab back to my hotel. Tomorrow I am going to see/watch movies/paintings at the Louvre/Metropolitan Museum of Art. Then I am going shopping in Harrods/Macy’s. New York is the most exciting city in the world! People often call it “The Big Apple”/ melting port. Why? In the 1920s and 1930s, jazz musicians/rappers in the United States all wanted to work in New York. “There are a lot of apples on the tree”, they said, “but when you take New York City, you take the Big Apple!” On Monday I am coming home.
See you soon. Helen |
The Government of the United States
According to It is interesting to note that So Besides the fundamental law of the US to be divided |
To be called to be most powerful to have the responsibility to carry out the law to be headed by To make up |
to be in charge of to have political independence from each other to sign bills passed by the Congress to veto the bill to ratify the bill to be proud of |
Before
you read Discuss
the following with your partner. Do
you know much about American economy? How
do you understand this economists’ proverb “When the United
States sneezes, the rest of the world catches a cold”?
Do
you agree with it?
