Fill in the blanks with suitable words.
1. The USA is a … country
a) agricultural
b) highly developed
c) less developed
2. The territory of the USA is … than Russia.
a) larger
b) same
c) smaller
3. The Mississippi River’s main tributaries are the … rivers.
a) Columbia
b) Missouri
c) Colorado
4. Christopher Columbus wanted to reach India by sailing to the…
a) west
b) east
c) south
5. In the fifteenth century people knew nothing about such a big continent as …
a) Asia
b) Australia
c) America
6. In 1502 Columbus made his last …
a) journey
b) voyage
c) trip
Complete the sentences.
1. The federal government is composed of …
2. The executive branch is headed by …
3. The president’s official residence is located in …
4. The legislative branch consist of …
5. Representatives of the House is elected by …
6. The Senate is composed of …
7. First, bills must be passed by …
8. The Supreme Court consists of …
9. The Republican party is considered …
10. The Democratic Party is considered …
Supplementary reading
Read and translate the text
Today the flag of the United States consists of thirteen horizontal stripes, seven red alternating with 6 white. The stripes represent the original 13 colonies, the stars represent the 50 states of the Union. The colors of the flag are symbolic as well: Red symbolizes Hardiness and Valor, White symbolizes Purity and Innocence and Blue represents Vigilance and Justice. Nicknames for the flag include the Stars and Stripes, Old Glory, and the Star-Spangled Banner, also the name of the national anthem. Because of the symbolism, the starred blue canton is called the “union”.
“The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States of America. The lyrics come from a poem written in 1814 by Francis Scott Key, a then 35-year-old amateur poet who wrote "Defence of Fort McHenry"after seeing the bombardment of Fort McHenry at Baltimore, Maryland, by Royal Navy ships in the Chesapeake Bay during the War of 1812.
Questions
What does the American flag look like?
What do colors of the flag symbolize?
What are the nicknames for the flag?
What is the national anthem of the United States?
Read and translate the text
The coat of arms of the United States represents a bald eagle with its wings outstretched (or "displayed," in heraldic terms). From the eagle's perspective, it holds a bundle of 13 arrows in its left talon, (referring to the 13 original states). An olive branch, in its right talon, together symbolizes that the United States of America has "a strong desire for peace, but will always be ready for war." Although not specified by law, the olive branch is usually depicted with 13 leaves and 13 olives, again representing the 13 original states.
The eagle has its head turned towards the olive branch, said to symbolize a preference for peace. In its beak, the eagle clutches the motto E pluribus unum ("Out of Many, One"). Over its head there appears a "glory" with 13 mullets (stars) on a blue field. In the current (and several previous) dies of the great seal, the 13 stars above the eagle are arranged in rows of 1-4-3-4-1, forming a six-pointed star.
Questions
What does the coat of arms of the USA represent?
What does a bundle of 13 arrows mean?
How is the olive branch usually depicted? Why?
What is the motto on the coat of arms?
How are stars above the eagle arranged?
Read and translate the text
The Empire State Building
Before you read
1. What do you know about New York City?
2. Where is it situated?
3. What are some of its famous sights?
4. Have you ever been there? What impressed you most?
New York City is situated at the mouth of the Hudson River on the East coast of the USA. It is made up of five boroughs with a combined population of over 17 million people. The heart of New York City is the island of Manhattan, where, in the Midtown and Downtown districts, the buildings 'scrape the sky.
One of these skyscrapers is the Empire State Building on Fifth Avenue, between 33d and 34th Street. Like the Statue of Liberty and Brooklyn Bridge, it is instantly recognized as a symbol of New York - a symbol which captures the power, energy and excitement of one of the world's most-loved and most-hated cities.
When the 102-storey structure was built in 1931, it was the tallest building in the world. From the top, on clear day, you can see over a 50-mile radius. Its towering height and distinctive Art Deco style made the Empire State Building an instant success with the public.
Its record as the world's tallest building has since been beaten - the World Trade Center in New York was taller and the Sears Tower in Chicago is taller – but the Empire State Building remains uniquely fascinating.
At night it is floodlit with colored lights. Some people love the lights but others complain that their favorite New York building has been turned into the biggest Christmas tree in the world.
Empire State Facts
· The Empire State is «stepped» above a certain height, rather like a pyramid, to prevent it from blocking light and air from the neighbouring area.
· There are 6,500 windows, nearly seven miles of elevator shafts and enough floor space to shelter a town of 80,000 people.
· The building was first cleaned in 1962. It took thirty people six months to complete the job. They were all experienced at height altitudes, including one who was a paratrooper.
· In the famous film «King Kong», the giant gorilla, king Kong, has his final battle from the top of the Empire State.
Questions
1. How many boroughs make up New York City?
2. Where exactly is the Empire State Building situated in Manhattan?
3. When was it built?
4. What happens to the building at night?
5. What happened in 1962?
6. Who was King Kong?
Correct the statements.
1. New York is situated at the mouth of the Mississippi River.
2. In the downtown district of Manhattan the buildings are small and old-fashioned.
3. The Empire State Building is the tallest in the world.
4. The Empire State was built in 1941.
5. It has never been cleaned.
6. The building is shaped like tall rectangle.
Answer the questions about you.
1. Have you ever been to the top of the building? Did you feel any faint or giddy?
2. Does any building or monument in your country fascinate you?
3. Can you name a place or building which is a symbol of your country?
Sort the following into order of:
Height
a) block of flats
b) skyscraper
c) house
d) bungalow
Size
a) detached house
b) cottage
c) palace
d) hut
Privacy
a) semi-detached house
b) terraced house
c) detached house
d) one-bedroom flat
Which is odd one out?
a) warehouse
b) factory
c) villa
d) office block
Source: Brian Abbs & Ingrid Freebairn, New Blueprint Intermediate. Longman, 1995.
Read and translate the text
Statue of Liberty
Before you read
1. From the heading, what is the text about?
2. What do you know about this monument?
3. Where is it situated?
4. Have you ever seen this monument? What impressed you most?
The Statue of Liberty (French: Statue de la Liberté), or, more formally, Liberty Enlightening the World, was presented to the United States by the people of France in 1886. The French people donated about $250,000 for the construction of the statue, and the people of the United States gave about $280,000 for the pedestal. Standing on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, it welcomes visitors, immigrants, and returning Americans traveling by ship. The copper-clad statue, dedicated on October 28, 1886, commemorates the centennial of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence and was given to the United States to represent the friendship established during the American Revolution. Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi sculpted the statue. Maurice Koechlin - chief engineer of Gustave Eiffel's engineering company and designer of the Eiffel Tower - engineered the internal structure.
Description. The statue represents a proud woman, dressed in a loose robe that falls in graceful folds to the top of the pedestal on which the statue stands. The right arm holds a great torch raised high in the air. The left arm grasps a tablet bearing the date of the Declaration of Independence. A crown with huge spikes, like sun rays, rests on the head. At the feet is a broken shackle; which people seldom notice, symbolizing the overthrow of tyranny.
This statue is one of the most celebrated examples of repousse work, which is a process of hammering metal over a mold in order to shape it. The statue is made of more than 300 thin sheets of copper, with a total weight of about 100 tons. The statue stands 151 feet high and weighs 450,000 pounds. The torch rises 305 feet above the base of the pedestal. It gleams at night with powerful incandescent lights as a symbol of liberty shedding light upon the world. Floodlights from the base shine upon the statue throughout the night.
An elevator carries visitors up the pedestal to the foot of the statue. At this point, an observation balcony affords a magnificent view of the harbor and the city. Visitors may climb a steep, narrow, spiral staircase from the pedestal as high as the crown on the statue's head. A ladder inside the arm leads to the torch but this is too narrow and steep for public use.
The floodlights at the base were added in 1916. The statue became a national monument in 1924. It was repaired and strengthened throughout in 1937. Congress changed the island's name to liberty Island in 1956. The National Park Service maintains the Statue of Liberty National Monument.
Source: English Learner’s Digest.
Questions
Where does a model of the Statue of Liberty stand?
What does the statue symbolize?
What metal is the statue made of?
What does a broken shackle symbolize?
Who was the statue designed by?
What country was it designed in?
What did people of France do?
When was the statue unveiled?
When did the statue become a national monument?
When did the Congress change the island’s name?
Read and translate the text
Golden Gate City
Before you read
1. From the heading, what city is the text about?
2. What do you know about this city?
3. Where is it situated?
4. What are some of its famous sights?
5. Have you ever been there? What impressed you most?
San Francisco is one of the most beautiful cities in America. It first became famous when gold was discovered in the nearby Sierra Hills in 1848. Of course, people don't come to San Francisco for gold anymore. They come for the warm weather, the friendly people and the wonderful sights.
San Francisco was built on hills, just like Rome, and it overlooks a beautiful bay. One of the world's most famous bridges, the Golden gate Bridge, crosses this bay. San Francisco has a population of about 1 million people, so it is not very big. This means you can walk around the city quite easily. Or , if you prefer, you can take a cable car – San Francisco is famous for the little cable cars that climb the steep hills of the city.
San Francisco is an exciting city. There is always something to see or do. You can walk along Fisherman's wharf and buy souvenirs, be entertained by jugglers, musicians and clowns and, most important of all, eat delicious, fresh sea food. You can go to Chinatown for a tasty Chinese meal and you might be lucky enough to see a golden dragon dancing in the streets or a large kite flying high overhead. You can listen to a street band or go to a symphony orchestra. You can watch theatre in the street or see a serious play at one of San Francisco's theatres. Or you can simply admire the view from one of San Francisco's many hills. Day or night the views are spectacular.
Two of the most popular tourist sights in the city are the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island. Until 1964 the Golden Gate Bridge was the longest, single span suspension bridge in the world. For this reason, people like to come and look at it – even though it isn't made of gold! It was designed by Joseph Strauss and cost 35 million dollars to build. It was opened in 1937.
Alcatraz Island is an island in the middle of San Francisco Bay. It was named after the pelicans that used to live there (in Spanish alcatraz means pelicans). From 1934 to 1963 there was a prison on Alcatraz Island where the most dangerous prisoners were kept. It was America's most feared prison and none ever escaped. Now only tourists go there – but don't worry, they all come back from the island!
William Saroyan, a famous writer, said: “You can’t get bored in San Francisco”. Why not come and see for yourself?
Questions
Why did San Francisco become famous?
What is the population of the city?
Where is the city situated?
What are the sights of the city?(Find as many as possible)
How does the Golden Gate Bridge look like?
Who was the designer?
When was it opened?
What is Alcatraz?
What was it famous for?
Read and translate the text
The White House
In Washington, D.C., 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is a very special address. It is the address of the White House, the home of the president of the United States.
Originally,the White House was grayand was called the Presidential Palace. It was built from 1792 to 1800. At this time, the city of Washington itself was being built. It was to be the nation’s new capital city. George Washington, the first president, and Pierre-Charles L’Enfant, a French engineer, chose the place for the new city. L’Enfant then planned the city. The president’s home was an important part of the plan.
A contestwas held to picka design for the president’s home. An architectnamed James Hoban won. He designed a large three-story house of gray stone.
President Washington never lived in the Presidential Palace. The first people to live there were John Adams, the second president of the United States, and his wife, Abigail. Abigail Adams did not really like her new house. In her letters, she often complained about the cold.
Fifty fireplaces were not enough to keep the house warm!
In 1812, the United States and Britain went to war. In 1814, the British invaded Washington. They burned many buildings, including the Presidential Palace.
After the war, Hoban, the original architect, partiallyrebuilt the president’s home. To cover the marks of the fire, the building was painted white. Before long it became known as the White House.
The White House is one of the most popular tourist attractionsin the United States. Every year more than 1.5 million visitors go throughthe rooms that are open to the public.
Questions
1) Who lives in the White House?
2) Why was the White House built in Washington?
3) Why did the original home of the president need to be rebuilt?