The Discovery of America (1)

America was founded by Columbus in 1492. Columbus fled to this country because of persecution by Ferdinand and Isabella, who refused to believe the world was round. Before Columbus reached America he cried "Ceylon! Ceylon!" because he wanted to see India. When he arrived, he cried again. This time he cried "I have found it!"

Columbus was mistaken in thinking he had reached India. There is still a great deal of confusion about the East and the West. As Columbus discovered, if you go west long enough you find yourself in the east and vice versa. In the New World most of the eastern half of the country is called the Middle West although it is known as the East by those who live in the Far West.

Columbus, who was as confused as anybody who has been at sea for a long time, called the first people he saw "Indians". Accompanied by his followers, Columbus made several other voyages in search of India. Try as he might, however, he kept discovering America and finally returned to Spain to die.

Questions: Who discovered America?

2. Did Columbus intend to reach America or India?

3. Is there any confusion about the East and the West?

4 How did Columbus call people in America?

5. Did he make other voyages in search of India?

Vocabulary: persecution - преследование to reach - достигать confusion - путаница voyage - путешествие

Открытие Америки (1)

Америка была открыта Колумбом в 1492 году. Колумб бежал в эту страну из-за преследования Фердинанда и Изабеллы, которые отказались поверить, что земля круг­лая. Перед тем как Колумб достиг Америки, он восклик­нул: "Цейлон! Цейлон!», потому что хотел увидеть Индию. Когда он прибыл, то закричал вновь. На этот раз он крик­нул: "Я открыл ее!" Колумб ошибался, когда думал, что достиг Индии. До сих пор существует путаница с нахождением востока и запада. Согласно открытию Колумба, если вы долго идете на запад, вы окажетесь на востоке и наоборот. В Новом Свете большая часть страны называется Средний Запад, хотя он известен как Восток для пя кто живет на Даль­нем Востоке.

Колумб, который был запутан как никто другой, кто провел много времени в море, назвал первых людей, кото­рых увидел, индийцами. Со своими последователями Ко­лумб совершил несколько путешествий в поисках Индии. Стараясь изо всех сил, он, однако, подтвердил открытие Америки и в конце концов вернулся в Испанию, чтобы умереть.

The Discovery of America (2)

Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492. He was born in Italy. His father and both grandfathers were

cloth makers. Columbus was a seaman and made many sea voyages.

Most people in Columbus's days thought that the earth was flat and they did not believe that beyond the Atlantic Ocean lay India. In 1492 the King and the Queen of Spain gave him money to go to India. He decided to sail west as he was sure that our planet was round. There were 3 caravels: the Santa Maria, the Nina and the Pinta. After sailing 4000 miles he reached some land. The crew saw something like a white cliff and cried out: «Tierra! Tierra!". Columbus thought 'that it must be India but it was not. It was a new land - a new continent. It was America. Columbus named the land they had reached San Salvador ("Holy Saviour"). People began to speak about the land as "The new World".

European people came to the New World for many reasons. Some hoped to find gold and silver. Priests and missionaries came to bring the Christian religion to the Indians. Among those who came for freedom was a small group of English people called Pilgrims. They wanted to start a new life and to have no religious problems they had in England. In 1620 on the ship "Mayflower" they landed in the north-east of America. They set up a colony and called that part of the country "New England".

Questions: 1. Who discovered America?

King and Queen of what country gave Columbus money for voyage?

3. How many caravelas were there?

4. How did Columbus name the land he had reached?

5. What reasons did European come to New Land for?

6. What do you know about Pilgrims?

Открытие Америки (2)

Христофор Колумб открыл Америку в 1492 г. Он ро­дился в Италии. Его отец и оба дедушки занимались ши-

тьем одежды, Колумб был моряком и совершил много путешествий.

Большинство людей в дни Колумба полагали, что Зем­ля плоская, и они не верили в то, что за Атлантическим океаном лежит Индия. В 1492 году король и королева Испании дали ему деньги на поездку в Индию. Он решил плыть на запад, так как был уверен, что Земля круглая. В путешествие отправились 3 каравеллы: "Санта Мария", "Нина", "Пинта". После того, как они проплыли 4 000' миль, они достигли какой-то земли. Команда увидела что-то похожее на белую скалу и закричала: "Земля! Земля!'" Колумб подумал, что это должна быть Индия, но это была не она. Это была новая земля, новый континент. Это была Америка. Колумб назвал землю, которой они достигли, Сан Сальвадор ("Святой спаситель"). Люди стали говорить об этой земле как о Новом Свете.

Европейцы приезжали в Новый Свет по разным причи­нам. Некоторые надеялись найти золото или серебро. Свя­щенники и миссионеры приезжали, чтобы принести хрис­тианство индейцам. Среди тех, кто приезжал за свободой, была маленькая группа англичан, прозванных пилигрима­ми. Они хотели начать новую жизнь и начать ее без рели­гиозных проблем, с которыми они столкнулись в Англии. В 1620 на корабле "Мэйфлауэ" они высадились на северо-востоке Америки. Они основали колонию и назвали эту часть страны Новая Англия.

American Homes (1)

The majority Americans live in or near large cities, but small living-town is still widespread. A suburb (a small community near a big city) offers the advantages of safer, more intimate small-town life with the recreational and cultural activities of the big city nearby. For the typical American family, home may be at different place every five or six years. Most moves relate to new job opportunities, but sometimes the American pioneering spirit and desire for adventure inspire the move.

About two-thirds of Americans live in homes or apartments that they own. But many people rent their living quarters. Some high-rise apartments are very expensive and elegant, but many are built for moderate or even law-income families. Many apartment buildings are condominiums or cooperative apartments, which means that each family owns the unit it lives in. More than million Americans live in mobile homes, living quarters built on wheels. They can be moved, but are generally brought to a site that becomes more or less permanent. Then the wheels are removed and the home is attached to the ground. Because they cost less than conventional homes, mobile homes are especially popular with young couples and retired couples with a limited incomes.

Questions:

1. Where do the majority of Americans live?

2. What is a "suburb"?

Do many people rent their living quarters? What can you tell about mobile homes? 5. Why are mobile houses so popular with young couples?

Vocabulary: majority - большинство suburb ■ —пригород to inspire - вдохновлять living quarter - жилая площадь mobile house - подвижный дом permanent - постоянный income - доход