TOPIC № 5 THE USA

I. Vocabulary:

1.border – граничить

2. district – округ

3. executive – исполнительный

4. Great Lakes – Великие озера

5. House of Representatives – палата представителей

6. include – включать

7. judicial – судебный

8. legislative – законодательный

9. lowlands – низменности

10.occupy - занимать

11. original – первоначальный

12. publishing – издательское дело

13. radio broadcasting - радиовещание

14. Rocky Mountains – Скалистые горы

15. Stars and Stripes – звезды и полосы

16. Supreme Court – Верховный суд

17. wash – омывать

II. Read the text:

The United States of America is the fourth largest country in the world (after Russia, Canada and China). It occupies the southern part of North America. It is washed by the Atlantic Ocean in the east and by the Pacific Ocean in the west. It also includes Alaska in the north and the Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean. The total area of the country is about nine and a half million square kilometers. The USA borders on Canada in the north and on Mexico in the south. It also has a sea-border with Russia.

The USA is made up of 50 states and the District of Columbia, a special federal area where Washington, the capital of the country, is situated. The population of the country is more than 270 million. The first people on the American continent came from Asia. It was more than 40.000 years ago. They had red skin. When the white men came to North America, they called them Red men or Indians. The Indians lived in wigwams. They hunted, went fishing and grew corn for their food. There were many Indian tribes at that time. Many Indians were killed by the white men. Today there are about 1.5 million Indians in the USA.

If we look at the map of the USA, we can see lowlands and mountains. The highest mountains are the Rocky Mountains, the Cordilleras and the Sierra Nevada. The highest peak is Mount McKinley which is located in Alaska.

America's largest rivers are the Mississippi (it is the second largest river in the world after the Nile), the Missouri, the Rio Grande and the Columbia. The Great Lakes on the border with Canada are the largest and deepest in the USA.

The USA is a highly developed industrial country. It's the world's leading producer of copper and oil and the world's second producer of iron ore and coal. Among the most important manufacturing industries are aircrafts, cars, textiles, radio and television sets, furniture and paper.

Though mainly European and African in origin, Americans are made up of nearly all races and nations, including the Chinese and Native Americans. The official language of the state is English. The national symbol of the USA is the national flag "Stars and Stripes", having 50 white stars and 13 white and red stripes on its field, symbolizing the number of the original and present day states. Washington D. C. is the capital of the USA. It is one of the most beautiful and unusual cities in the USA. It has little industry. There are no skyscrapers because they would hide the city's monuments from view. The federal government and tourism are the mainstays of the city's economy. Thousands of tourists visit Washington every day. The second largest city is New York. It is situated in the southern part of New York State. It is the world leader in finance, arts and communications. The city is also the center of fashion, publishing and radio broadcasting in the US.

The United States is a federal state, headed by the President. According to the US Constitution the powers of the Government are divided into 3 branches: the executive, the legislative and the judicial. The legislative power belongs to the Congress consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Senate represents the states while the House of Representatives – population. The executive power belongs to the President and his Administration (Vice-President and Cabinet of Ministers). The judicial power belongs to the Supreme Court and the system of federal courts. There are two main political parties in the USA: the Republican and the Democratic, though there's hardly any difference between their political lines.

Nowadays the USA is one of the leading powers of the world due to its economic, political and military influence.

III. Say if the sentences are true/false:

1. The USA is the largest English speaking country.

2. It occupies the whole North American continent.

3. The country borders on Russia, Canada and Mexico.

4. The US territory is over 9 million square kilometers.

5. There are many lakes and rivers on the territory of the country.

6. There are 2 official languages in the country – English and French.

7. The first people on the American continent came from England.

8. The head of the state is the President.

9. The capital of the country is New York.

10. The legislative branch of the US Government is the Congress consisting of

2 chambers: the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

IV. Answer the questions:

1. Where is the USA situated?

2. What is the total area? What about the population of the USA?

3. What oceans is the USA washed by?

4. What countries does the USA border on?

5. What are the highest mountains of the USA?

6. What rivers of the USA can you name? Which is the longest?

7. How many stripes and stars are there on the US flag?

8. Who discovered America?

9. Who were Native Americans?

10. What happened to the Indians?

11. How many states does the USA consist of today?

12. What is the capital of the USA?

13. What are the big cities of the USA?

14. Who is the President of the USA now?

15. How many political parties are there in the USA?

V. Find the English equivalents in the text:

крупнейшая страна в мире, имеет морскую границу, американский континент, индейские племена, занимались рыболовством, высокоразвитая промышленная держава, официальный язык государства, звездно-полосатый флаг, исполнительная власть, система федеральных судов, вице-президент.

VII. Speaking:

1. Do you agree that the USA is one of the leading powers of the world?

2. What do you think of the modern American foreign policy?

3. How do you think the advanced power can influence a policy of less developed countries?

4. If you were elected to be leader of a foreign country tomorrow, what country would you want it to be and what would be your first official act?

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