America in the Past and Today

Many hundred years ago on the territory of the present day America the redskin Indians lived. They hunted animals and fished, grew corn and tobacco.

In the middle of the 15th century Christopher Columbus from Spain sailed with his crew on 33 small ships. They thought it was India. But Columbus was mistaken. It was an island near North America. This discovery took place on the 12th of October 1492. But this new land got its name “America” a little later when an Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci described it in his writings in 1499.

In 1620 more than one hundred Englishmen left their country forever and went to America on board the ship “Mayflower” to live and work there. Later on, more and more people from many countries came to live in America. England considered these new territories as its colonies and soon the newcomers began to fight for their independence. The biggest war lasted from 1775 up to 1783. Commander-in-Chief of the North American Army was George Washington. His troops won this War for Independence and on July 4, 1776 the famous Declaration of Independence was signed by 13 United States of America. George Washington was elected to be the first American President.

At present the USA is a highly developed industrial and agricultural country. The population of the USA is about 250 million people of many nationalities.

Some of the biggest cities are New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco and others.

The capital of the country is Washington. The American parliament (called Congress) has two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate.

The flag of the USA has 13 red and white stripes representing the original 13 states and 50 stars – for each of the 50 states of the country. Each state has its national motto, bird and flower as its symbol.

newcomers – вновь прибывшие

Commander-in-Chief – главнокомандующий

the House of Representatives – палата представителей

a motto – девиз

Задание № 11. Перепишите вопросы к тексту и письменно ответьте на них.

1. Who lived on the territory of America many years ago?

2. Was America discovered by Columbus or Vespucci?

3. People from many countries came to live in America, didn’t they?

4. How long did the biggest war last?

5. What chambers has Congress?

Вариант № 3

Задание № 1. Перепишите и письменно переведите следующие предложения, подчеркните неопределенные местоимения.

1. When arriving in a foreign country one goes through the customs.

2. Speaking on TV the Prime Minister said that the Government would take some

practical steps to increase competition and improve the work of public services

(средства общественного транспорта и связи).

3. MP’s proposal (MP–член парламента) doesn’t seem to have aroused anybody’s

interest.

4. She didn’t tell anyone about her secret. Not a person.

Задание № 2. Выберите прилагательное в соответствующей степени сравнения. Перепишите и переведите предложения на русский язык.

1. Love is (precious, more precious, the most precious) than money.

2. To violate traffic regulations is very (dangerous, more dangerous, the most dangerous).

3. Interrupting people is (bad, worse, the worst) of all.

4. The House of Lords is (large, larger, the largest) in membership but the House of Commons has nearly all the power.

Задание № 3. Выберите нужную форму глагола to be. Перепишите и переведите предложения на русский язык.

1. The weather promised to be fine. There (are; were; will be) many stars in the sky.

2. Buckingham palace (will be, was, is) the place where presidents, kings and politicians go to meet the Queen.

3. The yesterday commercial program on TV (was, will be, is) of little artistic value.

4. Competition (was, is, will be) a good stimulus in the young managers’ future work.

Задание № 4. Вставьте there’s или it’s. Перепишите и переведите предложения на русский язык.

1. …an awful day. Everything goes wrong.

2. …a big crowd at the discotheque tonight.

3. …the British Prime Minister’s residence in Downing Street 10, London.

4. …high time the children go to bed.

Задание № 5. Перепишите предложения, переведите их на русский язык. Поставьте предложения в вопросительную и отрицательную формы.

1. A year ago she had long fair hair.

2. Buckingham Palace has a police station, two post offices, a hospital, a bar, two sports clubs, a disco, a cinema and a swimming pool.

3. In the nearest future London will have a population of nearly 10 million people.

Задание № 6. Поставьте глаголы, данные в скобках, во времена групп Simple (Indefinite) или Continuous. Перепишите и переведите предложения на русский язык.

1. The police (stop) me on my way home last night.

2. The Smiths have bought a new house. They (move in) at the moment.

3. Your dad (meet) you at the airport. Don’t worry.

4. All the evening yesterday we (listen) to the old records.

Задание № 7. Поставьте глаголы, данные в скобках, во времена групп Perfect или Perfect Continuous. Перепишите и переведите предложения на русский язык.

1. Some time ago Jill’s hair was short but now it is long. She (grow) it again.

2. Tomorrow the terrorists (hold) the hostages for three days.

3. We were late for the station. The train (start) two minutes before we came.

4. Are you still watching television? You (watch) it since I left for work in the

morning.

Задание № 8. Перепишите и переведите предложения на русский язык. Выпишите из каждого глагол – сказуемое и определите его видовременную форму. Напишите форму инфинитива глагола.

1. The situation calls for immediate actions.

2. This is the third time Bill has phoned his friend this evening.

3. Parliament resumed the emergency debate last Friday.

4. The introduction of new technologies will promote economic development.

5. I had never seen Mr. Johnson so sad before our last meeting.

6. The population of the world is rising very fast.

Задание № 9. Перепишите и переведите предложения на русский язык.