Раздел 1. Страноведение. Англоязычные страны.

Тема 9. Праздники США.

THE USA. Holidays

Упражнение 6. Read the passage and complete the table. The first is done for you.

Holiday	Date	What do people do	Is it a national holiday?
New Year's Day	January, 1st	Have parties, go to clubs, meet their friends, greet the New Year in.	YES

HOLIDAYS IN THE USA

American holidays are days off from work just like ours. The main holidays in the USA are:

New Year's Day, January, 1^st.

People stay awake until after midnight on December 31^st. They have parties, go to night clubs, meet their friends. Many people greet the New Year in.

Valentine's Day, February, 14th:

Valentine's Day is not a national holiday. Banks and offices do not close, but many people celebrate Valentine's Day. They exchange cards and spend their time together with the loved ones.

Washington's Birthday, February, 22nd.

George Washington's Birthday is not a national holiday. It's a great day for shoppers. Many shops have sales marked by unusual bargains. People usually go shopping on this day.

Easter.

People celebrate Easter on the first Sunday after the first full moon between March, 22, and April, 25. Pupils usually have spring vacation at this time. Easter is a church holiday, and many people go to churches on this day. People give each other eggs.

Memorial Day, May, 30th:

Memorial Day is a national holiday. Schools, banks and offices close for the day. On that day, Americans honor the soldiers who gave their lives in past wars. Schools, clubs and churches decorate the cemeteries. They put up the flags on the graves of the army, navy and airmen.

Independence Day, July, 4th:

Independence Day is a national public holiday. On this day, in 1776, America signed the Declaration of Independence. People have picnics and parties and meet their friends on this day.

Halloween, October, 31st:

On this day Americans just have a nice holiday. It is not a national holiday. Children dress up as ghosts and witches and go out into the streets to beg. They go from house to house and say: «Trick or treat!».

Thanksgiving Day, the fourth Thursday in November:

In the USA Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday. All members of the family gather at the house of their parents. The family has a large traditional dinner, usually with turkey, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie.

Christmas Day, December, 25th:

It is usually a one-day official holiday. Christmas is a family holiday. Schools and colleges close between Christmas and New-Year's Day. People stay at home and spend the time with their families.

Summary

Упражнение 7. Do you think this statements are true or false? Correct the false statements.

1. The United States of America is also called the USA or the UK.

2. The capital of the USA is EDINBURG.

3. The Great Lakes are in the north-east of the country.

4. The USA consists of 13 big states and 50 small states.

5. The national flag of the USA is also called UNION JACK.

6. The national bird of the USA is the Bald Eagle.

7. Independence Day is a national public holiday.

8. Alaska was bought from Russia in 1867.

9. Most of the world's tornadoes occur in the USA.

10. English is the most commonly spoken language in the US, followed by Spanish.

11. The first man to walk on the moon was American George Washington.

12. The most popular sports in the US are American football, baseball and basketball.

 

Раздел 1. Страноведение. Англоязычные страны.

Тема 10. США. Крупные города США

Ex.1   The Text:     

The USA

The United States of America is one of the greatest countries in the world. It is situated on the North American continent and is washed by three oceans: the Pacific, the Atlantic and the Arctic. The USA only borders on two countries — Canada and Mexico. This great country has a lot of mountains, rivers, lakes.

The main mountains are the Appalachians and the Cordilleras. The longest rivers are the Mississippi and the Missouri. The climate of the country is very changeable. In the southern part it is subtropical while the northern part has very cold weather in winter. America has fifty states and one federal District of Columbia where the capital of the country is situated. The capital of the USA is Washington. It stands on the Potomac river in the eastern part of the country. The main cities are located on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts. New-York is the largest city of the country. Other large cities are San- Francisco, Los-Angeles, Detroit, Chicago, Phoenix and Dallas. The USA is a country of highly developed industry and agriculture. The main industrial centres are Chicago and Detroit, with their greatest automobile company “General Motors”. There are many farms with various agricultural products. Grain, fruit and vegetables are grown on numerous fields especially in the South. The USA is a country with great holidays, customs and traditions. It is one of the most beautiful and interesting countries in the world.

Ex.2             Answer the following questions:

1. Where is the USA situated?

2. What are the main mountains in the USA?

3. What are the main rivers in the USA?

4. Where are the main cities located?

5. What kind of country is the USA?

Task 1. “Geography” You know some information about the USA. You can see some figures and geographical names. Write 6 sentences down using the figures and geographical names. 1. Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean 2. 9,5 millions square kilometers 3. 50 states 4. 270 million people 5. the Mississippi 6. the Rocky Mountains, the Cordillera Mountains, the Appalachian Mountain

Task 2 “Names of the states” You know that the USA consists of 50 states. Each of them has several unofficial name or nickname. You can see the names of 6 states of the USA. Answer the questions.