TEXT B: WASHINGTON D.C

Washington D. C. is the capital of the United States of America. It was founded in 1790. The site of the city was chosen by George Washington as the national capital when he was the President. His choice was accepted by Congress in the act of 1790 having established the Federal District of Columbia. The District of Columbia was named in honour of Christopher Columbus who discovered America. It is a piece of land ten miles square which does not belong to any state. 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 is a beautiful city. The houses of marble and white stone make a great impression on those first visiting it. The city was planned carefully and differs from some other cities of the USA with their sky-scrapers. The buildings are not very high because of the law forbidding to build houses more than 90 feet high. The tallest structures in Washington are the Capitol that houses the Congress and the Washington Monument that is 555 feet (over 180 meters) tall. The oldest building in the city is the White House, the official residence of the 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.

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.

The Arlington Cemetery lies on the other bank of the Potomac river. Here the President Kennedy was buried. American soldiers and officers, who died in the World War I and II are buried too.

The wide avenues are lined with old shady trees and in parks there are many beautiful flowers.

Washington is the residence of the President and the Congress of the United States, of all government departments and other important institutions. The Congress seats in the Capitol. Washington is known to be a centre of culture and science as there are many research institutes, some universities and the National Academy of Science.

The Library of the USA Congress, built to hold five million books, is as known all over the world as the Library of the British Museum. It is famous for its vast collections of books, documents and modern scientific equipment.

Washington is the headquarter of the USA Military Department — the Pentagon. Pentagon is a huge building in the shape of five pentagons. It is situated in the south of the Potomac River. Washington is the centre of atomic, electronic, light and food industries. The places of interest in Washington are the Washington Monument, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, there are many museums and theatres.

In the political scene Washington is the centre and the most important city in the United States. It is the centre of the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the Federal Government of the United States of America.

9. Дайте відповіді на питання:

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. What is the Pentagon?

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

8. Where does the Congress of the USA seat?

9. Why is Washington the most important city of the USA?

10. What are the places of interest in Washington?

10. Доповніть речення:

1. Washington D.C. was founded in ….

2. The District of Columbia was named in honour ….

3. It is a piece of land … miles square which does not belong to ….

4. The buildings are not very high because of … to build houses more than … feet high.

5. The tallest structures in Washington are the … that houses the Congress and the … Monument.

6. The oldest building in the city is the …, the official residence of ….

7. Washington is the … of the President and the … of the United States, of all government … and other important institutions.

8. Washington is the … of the USA Military Department — the ….

9. Pentagon is a … building in the … of five pentagons. It is situated in the south of the … River.

10. Washington is the … of the executive, … and … branches of the Federal Government of the United States of America.

11. Перекажіть діалог:

Діалог

A.: Have you ever been to the USA?

B.: No, I haven’t. I have never been to this country. And you?

A.: I haven’t been to, either, but I’d love to. What cities would you like to visit?

B.: Oh, there are a lot of cities and places to see. Practically every state has much to visit. But I prefer to go first to Washington. A friend of mine has just come from the US and told me about his impressions.

A.: What places did he visit?

B.: First of all, he visited the President’s residence – the White House, the oldest building in the city. Then, he visited the Washington Monument, which looks like a very big pencil. It rises 160 metres and is hollow inside. A special lift brings visitors to the top from where they can enjoy a beautiful view of the whole city.

A.: And what about other places of interest?

B.: He also saw the Jefferson and Lincoln Memorials, the Arlington National Cemetery, where the President Kennedy was buried, and visited the famous Library of Congress.

A.: So, he enjoyed himself, didn’t he?

B.: Yes, he did.

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