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.