Дослідження американського континенту. Політична система країни та економічний розвиток США.

The United States of America

. America is a young, but powerful and rich country

Geography. Language. Nationalities. Symbols. The geographical position of the country is also very remarkable. It is a country of contrasts in landscape and climate. There are elevated and lowland regions. It has every kind of climate – from that of the tropic to that of Arctic regions and Alaska. There are also very long rivers (the Colorado, the Alabama, the Mississippi) and very large lakes in the country.

American English is different from British English. Americans say “last name”, British say “surname”; Americans say “fall”, British say “autumn”, etc. To say the truth, 30 mln Americans speak a language other than English at home. They speak Spanish, German, Chinese, Japanese, etc. It happens because America is a nation of immigrants. It was founded by immigrants and nowadays it continues to take in more immigrants than any other country in the world. In the second half of the 20^th century it took in more people from Asian countries, but before it took in mainly people from Europe. There are many nationalities nowadays, that’s why it is very important in America to be “politically correct”. For example, you should say “black person”, “native American”.

The USA is an urban nation. 2/3 (two thirds) of the population live in urban areas. There are many big cities such as New York (NY), Los Angeles (LA), Philadelphia (PA), Detroit, San Francisco and others.

The flag of the USA is called “the Stars and Stripes”. The 50 stars in the US flag stand for the 50 states; the 13 stripes (7 red and 8 white) stand for the 13 original states. The red in the flag means courage, the blue justice, the white innocence.

The government of the United States represents, serves, and protects the American people at home and in foreign countries. From the nation's capital in Washington, D.C, the U.S. government's activities and influence reach every part of the world.

The three branches of the United States government - executive, legislative, and judicial - are usually represented by the President, Congress, and the Supreme Court. Generally speaking, the President enforces the laws that Congress passes and the Supreme Court interprets these laws if any question arises.

Географічне розташування та політична система України. Київ.

1) What is the territory of Ukraine?

2) What place does Ukraine occupy in the world as to its territory?

3) What countries does Ukraine border with?

4) What is the climate of Ukraine?

5) What Ukrainian rivers do you know?

6) What have the Black Sea and navigable rivers promoted in Ukraine?

7) What can you say about the landscape of Ukraine?

8) Why is the geographical position favorable for the development of Ukraine’s industry?

Learn by heart: the national emblems of Ukraine are the coat of arms, the flag, and the seal. The President is the highest official of the Ukrainian state. The only legislative body of Ukraine is the Parliament – The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Legislative power is exercised by a single-chamber Parliament which comprises 450 deputies. The main function of the Verkhovna Rada is making laws. The cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine is the supreme executive authority. The highest judicial body is the Constitutional Court. Ukraine consists of 24 regions and the Crimean Autonomous Republic. Ukraine has a multy-party system. The Party of Regions and Yulia Tymoshenko’s block enjoyed support of the majority of Ukraine’s population.

1) What are drawn on the walls of Saint Michael’s Cathedral?

2) Who gave money to restore the statue of Saint Michael?

3) Who are the patron saints of Kyiv?

4) What do you know about Desyatinnaya Church? Why was it called so?

5) Where is Andreyevskiy Slope situated and why is it called so?

6) What are the museums of Kyiv?

7) Why do a lot of people gather at Maidan Nezalezhnosti?