The United States of America

The Unites States of America are situated in the central part of the North American continent. Its western coast is washed by the Pacific Ocean and its eastern coast — by the Atlantic Ocean. The total area of the USA is over nine million square kilometers. The population of the USA is about 250 million people; most of the population lives in towns and cities. The capital of the USA is Washington. It was named in honor of the first President, George Washington. Washington is located on the Potomac River in the District of Columbia.

In the political life, it is the most important city in the United States. The law-making center of the United States is the Capitol, with its great Hall of Representatives and Senate Chamber. Today Washington is one of the world’s most beautiful capitals. It has become a great cultural, educational and scientific center, with its art galleries, museums, libraries, parks and monumental buildings.

 The principal rivers of the USA are the Mississippi, the longest river in the world (7,330 km) and the Hudson River.

The climate of the USA differs greatly from one part of the country to another. The coldest climate is in the northern part, where there is heavy snow in winter and the temperature may go down to 40 degrees below zero. The south has a subtropical climate, with temperature as high as 49 degrees in summer.

There are many big cities in the country. They are Washington (the capital of the country), New York (the city of contrasts and the financial and business center of the USA), Boston (which has three universities), Chicago (one of the biggest industrial cities in the USA), San Francisco, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Detroit (one of the biggest centers of the automobile industry) and Hollywood (the center of the US film industry).

The USA is a federal country of 50 states and the District of Columbia. The political life of the country has always been dominated by the two major parties: the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. The Congress is the highest legislative assembly of the country. It consists of two chambers - the House of Representatives and the Senate.

It is a highly developed industrial country. The USA is rich in minerals resources, such as aluminum, salt, zinc, coppers and others. The country is rich in coal, natural gas, gold and silver, too. It holds one of the first places in the world for the production of coal, iron, oil and natural gas.

I. Vocabulary

Coast [kǝʋst] (n) – 1. Shore – побережье, морской берег;

2. плавать вдоль по побережья

Honour [‘ɒnǝ] (n) – 1. Honor – честь, репутация;

2. честность, благородство

Law [lɔ:] (n) 1. Jus – закон;

2. право, юриспруденция

Scientific [saiǝn’tifik] (a) – научный

To differ [‘difǝ] (v) – различаться, отличаться;

2. не соглашаться, расходиться

To dominate [‘dɒmineit] (v) – 1. To prevail – господствовать, властвовать, преобладать;

2. иметь влияние на кого-либо

Legislative [‘ledʒislǝtiv] (a) – Legislation – законодательный

To consist of [kǝn’sist] (v) – 1. Состоять из;

2. заключаться в

Representative [repri’zentǝtiv] (n) – 1. Представитель, уполномоченный;

2. характерный, показательный

Coppers [‘kɒpǝ] (n) – Cuprum – медь;

2. медная или бронзовая монета

To hold [hǝʋld] (v) – 1. To take – держать, занимать;

2. выдерживать

II. Comprehension

Ex. 1. Answer the questions.

1. Where is the United States of America situated?

2. What is the total area of the USA?

3. What is the capital of the USA?

4. Where is Washington located?

5. Call the principal rivers of the USA.

6. What is the climate?

7. What are the biggest cities of the USA?

8. How many states are there in the USA?

9. What is the USA rich in?

10. Would you like to visit the United States of America?

11. Do you want to live in the USA?

Ex. 2. Translate the next words and word combinations.

Североамериканский континент; западное побережье; восточное побережье; быть названным в честь; район Колумбия; зал представителей; образовательный и научный центр; здания; отличаться от; северная часть; субтропический климат; доминировать; законодательное собрание; состоять из; высоко развитая страна; медь; уголь; занимать первое мнсто.

III. Word study

Ex. 3. Match the words in column A with the words in column B to form phrases.

     A                                                                                                                                                                       B    

1. Eastern                                                                   a. resources

2. Scientific                                                                b. Chamber

3. Senate                                                                    c. gas

4. Film                                                                        d. climate

5. Rainy                                                                     e. snow

6. Mineral                                                                   f. center

7. Natural                                                                   g. parliament

8. Rich in                                                                    h. coast

9. American                                                                i. industry

10. Political                                                                j. gold

11. Heavy                                                                   k. parties

 

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11

 

Ex. 4. Complete the table, using the information from the text.

The name of the country	capital	population	main rivers	climate	politics	main cities	mineral resources

Ex. 5. True or False. If the statement is wrong correct it.

1) The USA is washed by Pacific and Indian Ocean.

2) The capital of the USA is New York.

3) The USA was discovered by Columbus.

4) The Statue of Liberty was presented to the Americans by Italy.

5) The USA has 62 states.

6) Chicago is the center of the US film industry.

7) The Congress is the highest legislative assembly of the country.

8) The Hudson River is the shortest river in the world.

9) Cambridge University is the oldest University in the USA.

10) Washington is located on the Mississippi River in the District of Columbia.

11) The state Nevada is the largest state in the USA.

12) The first President of the USA was Abraham Lincoln.

13) There are three political Parties in the USA.

14) The USA is a federal country.

Ex. 6. Find 10 names of the towns in the USA.

 

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IV. Speech practice

Ex. 6. Retell the text according to the following plan using the words and expressions given below.

The central part; the North American continent; to be washed by; the total area; the population; the capital; cultural and educational center; the main rivers; the climate in the North and the South parts; big cities; federal country; two political Parties; to be rich in; coal; silver.

V. Grammar review

Gerund