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Unit VI. The united states of america. Part 1. The usa.

WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS:

The usa.

The United States of America is the fourth largest country in the world (after Russia, Canada and China). It occupies the central part of North America and stretches from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean. It also includes Alaska in the North and Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean. The total area of the country is over nine million square kilometers. 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 made up of 50 states and the District of Columbia, a special federal area where the capital of the country, Washington D. C., is situated. The population of the country is about 250 million. As a result of prolonged immigration in the USA there are 25 mln British Americans, 23 mln African Americans, 25 mln German Americans, more Irish Americans then the whole population of Ireland, many people from the Middle East and the Far East. The native population is only about 1 mln Indians of different tribes. The official language is English.

There are 3 highland regions in the USA: the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada in the west and the Appalachian Mountains in the east. The highest pick is Mount McKinley, which is located in Alaska. There are also two lowland regions – the great plain of the USA called the prairie between the Rocky Mountains and the Appalachians and the Mississippi Valley.

America’s largest rivers are the Mississippi, the Missouri, the Rio Grande and the Columbia. The Great Lakes on the border with Canada are the largest and deepest in the USA. They are – the Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario. The Great Lakes are connected by short rivers and canals cut by rapids. The greatest of the rapids is the Niagara Falls. The Saint Lawrence River joins the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean.

The climate of the country varies greatly. The coldest regions are in the north. The climate of Alaska is arctic. The climate of the central part is continental. The south has a subtropical climate. Hot winds blowing from the Gulf of Mexico often bring typhoons. The climate along the Pacific coast is much warmer than that of the Atlantic coast.

The flag of the USA is called “Stars and Stripes”. The 50 stars – white on a blue field represent the 50 states and the 13 stripes represent 13 original English colonies, which in 1776 became free and independent of England.

Exercise 1. Translate into Russian: the fourth largest country in the world; free and independent; climate along the Pacific coast; on the border with Canada; a subtropical climate; highland regions; the whole population of Ireland; different tribes; the capital of the country; a sea-border with Russia; to stretch from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean; the total area of the country; to occupy the central part.

Exercise 2. Find the equivalents of these expressions in the text:длительный процесс иммиграции; представлять 50 штатов; граничить с Канадой на севере; высокогорные районы; население страны; общая площадь страны; самые большие реки; климат страны; быть независимым от кого-либо.

Exercise 3. Match up adjectives on the left with the nouns on the right to form meaningful phrases.

1. large a) kilometres

2. similar b) patterns

3. dry c) valley

4. natural d) Isles

5. federal e) territory

6. square f) river

7. swift g) language

8. administrative h) machine

9. official i) government

10. British j) channel

Exercise 4. Answer the questions:

1. What are the Great Lakes of America?

2. What is the name of American flag? Explain it.

3. When did America become an independent country?

4. What is the greatest rapid in the USA?

5. What countries have a larger area than the USA?

6. What countries does America border on?

7. What do you know about the climate of the country?

8. What is the highest pick in the USA?

9. What highland and lowland regions of America do you know?

10. What is the official language in the USA?

Exercise 5. Write all the possible questions to which the following sentence is the answer: The Great Lakes on the border with Canada are the largest in the USA.

Part 2. Washington, d.C.

WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS:

Washington, d. C.

Washington is situated on the Potomac River in the District of Columbia. The district is a piece of land 10 square miles and it does not belong to any one state but to all states. The district is named in honour of Christopher Columbus. The city is called Washington after the first President of the USA, George Washington who chose the place for the capital and in 1790 laid the cornerstone of the Capitol where the Congress sits.

The population of Washington is about 1 mln people. Washington is a one-industry city. That industry is government.

Washington has many historical places.

1. The Capitol is the highest building. There are no sky-scrapers in Washington because no other building must be higher than the Capitol.

2. The White House is the President’s residence. All American presidents except G. Washington (The White House was not built at that time) lived in the White House. It was built in 1799. It is a two-storeyed building. In 1814, during the war with England, the White House was burnt down. After the war the charred remains of the building were whitewashed. Since that time it has always been painted white. Hence the name.

3. The Washington Monument looks like a big pencil. It is 160 m high and hollow inside.

4. The Jefferson Memorial is devoted to the third US President.

5. The Lincoln Memorial is devoted to the 16^th US President who abolished slavery.

6. The Arlington National Cemetery lies on the other bank of the Potomac where President Kennedy was buried as well as American soldiers and officers who died in World War I and II and in the Vietnam War.

Exercise 1. Translate into Russian: to be situated; the highest building; a one-industry city; the charred remains; a piece of land; the place for the capital; historical places; on the other bank of the Potomac; to abolish slavery; a two-storeyed building; during the war with England; since that time; high and hollow inside; to be devoted to something.

Exercise 2. Find the equivalents of these expressions in the text:небоскрёб; выше Капитолия; выбрать место; выглядеть как большой карандаш; белить; быть похороненным; американские солдаты и офицеры; население города; назвать в честь кого-либо; исторические места; сжечь что-либо; первый президент США.

Exercise 3. Name all historical places of Washington, D.C. and what they are famous for.

Exercise 4. Write all the possible questions to which the following sentence is the answer: The city is called Washington after the first President of the USA, George Washington.

Exercise 5. Complete the following sentences in a logical way.

1. The USA is …

2. It includes …

3. The USA borders …

4. As a result of prolonged immigration in the USA there are …

5. There are 3 highland regions in the USA …

6. America’s largest rivers are …

7. There are no sky-scrapers in Washington because …

8. All American presidents …

9. The city is called Washington after …

Exercise 6. Decide which word is the odd one out in each of the following groups of words.

1. rivers, rapids, minerals, tributaries.

2. hot, cool, changeable, warm.

3. Huron, Colorado, Erie, Superior.

4. Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri.

5. Las Vegas, New York, Washington, Alabama.

Unit VII. Shopping. Part 1. Shopping.

WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS: