Places and capitals of english-speaking countries

MODULE 4.

PLACES AND CAPITALS OF ENGLISH-SPEAKING COUNTRIES

WASHINGTON D.C.

Here is the story of Washington D.C.

Once it was little village on the Potomac River. About two hundred years ago, when the United States was a young country, people began to talk about where the capital should be and where the President should live.

While Congress discussed what to build and where to build it. The first American President, George Washington picked a patch of land/клаптик землі on the Potomac River. The land was on the border/на кордоні of Maryland and Virginia. George Washington named the land the District of Columbia (D.C.) after Christopher Columbus. It was founded in 1790. By 1800 the north section of Washington was completed and Congress moved from Philadelphia to the new capital. The city was named in honour of the first President George Washington.

Washington D.C., is one of the only cities in the world that was designed before it was built

The city is well planed. The heart of the city is the Capitol.

George Washington decided to put the Capitol Building on a hill at one end of the city, and the president's house on a hill at the other end. Nowadays the Capitol is the best starting point for sightseeing about the city. In Washington D.C. there are memorials to the most famous American Presidents. The Washington Monument, the 555-foot-high obelisk honours the first U.S. President. It is called the "Pencil" because of its shape.

The Lincoln Memorial is just opposite Washington Monument. The Lincoln Memorial is devoted to the memory of the 16-th President of the US, the author of the Emancipation Proclamation, which gave freedom to Negro slaves in America. Inside the Lincoln Memorial there is the Statue of Abraham Lincoln, the nation's 16^th President.

The Jefferson Memorial was built in memory of the third President of the USA, Thomas Jefferson, who was the author of the Declaration of Independence. The memorial is surrounded by cherry-trees.

Outside the city there is the Arlington National Cemetery. One can see the eternal flame on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier here.

John F.Kennedy, the 35^th American President, whose death shocked everyone in America, was buried in the Arlington National Cemetery. Americans remember and honour their national heroes.

2. Answer the questions:

1. What is the capital of the USA?

2. When was it founded?

3. Where is the capital situated?

4. What differs Washington from others cities in the USA?

5. What is the Library of the USA Congress famous for?

6. Where does the President of the USA work and live?

7. What story stands behind the name of the White House?

8. What are the places of interest in Washington.

URBAN AND RURAL LIFE.

Part I. Living in the city

VOCABULARY 1

cab

five / ten, etc. minutes walk / drive

double-decker

fare

the Underground / the Tube (BrE)

the Subway (AmE)

to get on / off the bus

to get in / out of the car

ticket subway

kerb

pavement

congestion

day / season / monthly / weekly ticket

hold-up

rush hour

traffic

pedestrian /zebra /pelican crossing

traffic lights

traffic jam

traffic warden

Exercise 1. Read and translate the text.

Living in the City

Living in a city has both advantages and disadvantages. On the plus side, it is often easier to find work, and there is usually a choice of public transport, so you don't need to own a car. Also, there are a lot of interesting things to do and places to see. For example, you can eat in good restaurants, visit museums, and go to the theatre and to concerts. What is more, when you want to relax, you can usually find a park where you can feed the ducks or just sit on a park bench and read a book. All in all, city life is full of bustle and variety and you need never feel bored.

However, for every plus there is a minus. For one thing, you might have a job, but unless it is very well-paid, you will not be able to afford many of the things that there are to do, because living in a city is often very expensive. It is particularly difficult to find good, cheap accommodation.

What is more, public transport is sometimes crowded and dirty, particularly in the rush hour, and even the parks can become very crowded, especially on Sundays when it seems that every city-dweller is looking for some open space and green grass. Last of all, despite all the crowds, it is still possible to feel very lonely in a city.

In conclusion, I think that city life can be particularly appealing to young people, who like the excitement of the city and don't mind the noise and pollution. However, many people, when they get older, and particularly when they have young children, often prefer the peace and fresh air of the countryside.

 

City life

high pollution levels, noise, traffic jams, easy to find a job, open-minded people

good public transport system, many schools, hectic lifestyle, lots of entertainment facilities, high crime rate, unfriendly people, many hospitals, small houses, stressful, etc.

Country life

healthy, picturesque surroundings, poor entertainment, monotonous, poor public transport system, relaxing, friendly people, intruding people, low crime rate, low pollution levels, few schools/hospitals, larger houses, isolated, no variety of jobs, etc.

Useful expressions: although, unfortunately, whereas it is, both, compared to, generally, on the contrary, different from, however, too, also, in comparison with, etc

 

e.g. Life in the city is very different from life in the country. Life in the city is more stressful in comparison with life in the country, etc.

Exercise 6. More and more young people are leaving their villages for towns and cities. Why is this happening? What should be done to encourage them to stay? Look at the notes, then discuss the problems and the solutions in pairs. You may add your own ideas.

THE GREEN CROSS CODE

□ STAND ON THE PAVEMENT NEAR THE KERB.

Don't stand near the edge of the pavement. If there is no pavement, stand back from the edge of the road but where you can still see traffic coming.

□ FIRST FIND A SAFE PLACE TO CROSS, THEN STOP.

It is safer to cross at subways, footbridges, islands, zebra and pelican crossings or where there is a police officer, school crossing patrol or a traffic warden. If you can't find any good crossing places like these, choose a place where you can see clearly along the roads in all directions. Try not to cross between parked cars Always STOP at the kerb to give yourself lots of time to have a good look all round.

□ LOOK ALL ROUND FOR TRAFFIC AND LISTEN.

Traffic may be coming from any direction, so take care to look along every road, and listen too, because you can sometimes hear traffic before you can see it.

□ IF TRAFFIC IS COMMING, LET IT PASS. LOOK ALL ROUND AGAIN.

If there is any traffic near, let it go past. Then look round again and listen to make sure no other traffic is coming

□ KEEP LOOKING AND LISTENING FOR TRAFFIC WHILE YOU CROSS.

Once you are in the road, keep looking and listening in case you did not see some traffic - or in case other traffic suddenly appears

□ WHEN THERE IS NO TRAFFIC NEAR, WALK STRAIGHT ACROSS THE ROAD

If there is something in the distance, do not cross unless there is plenty of time to reach the other side.

 

Part II. Asking the way

ASKING FOR DIRECTIONS

Exercise 3. Read the directions and write the name of the places in the blanks

1. Excuse me,how can I go to the _______________?

Walk along Violet Street.Take the first turning on the right.Go straight on.It's on your left between the restaurant and the hospital.

2. Sir,can you tell me the way to the ______________?

Of course.Walk along Lily Street.Turn left into Daisy Street.Go straight on.Take the second turning on the left.It's on your left between the amusement park and the greengrocer.

3. Can you help me,please? I want to go to the _______________?

Certainly.Walk along Violet Street.Take the first turning on the left.It's on your right opposite the park.

4. Excuse me,is there a _______________ near here?

Yes.Walk along Lily Street.Take the first turning on the left.It's on your right next to the bank.

5. Excuse me,how can I go to the _______________?

Walk along Violet Street.Take the second turning on the left.It's on your left.

6. Sir,can you tell me the way to the ______________?

Of course.Walk along Lily Street.Turn left into Daisy Street.Go straight on.Take the first turning on the left.It's on your left between the bookshop and cafe.

7. Can you help me,please? I want to go to the _______________?

Certainly.Walk along Violet Street.Take the first turning on the right.Walk along Rose Street.Turn left into Daisy Street.It's on your right opposite the amusement park.

8. Excuse me,is there a _______________ near here?

Yes.Walk along Violet Street.Take the first turning on the right.It's on your left opposite the bookshop.

Exercise 4

You may use the following

Take the first turning on your left

You’ll see....opposite you.

When you reach... turn right.

Cross the road and then...

Take the second turning on your right.

It's just to the left of...

Go past the.... and then, you can't miss it.

Go straight on until...

 

 

MODULE 4.

PLACES AND CAPITALS OF ENGLISH-SPEAKING COUNTRIES

WASHINGTON D.C.