Vocabulary:

powerful — мощный western — западный eastern — восточный highland regions — возвышенность lowland regions — низменность prairie — прерии to seek (sought, sought) refuge — искать убежище persecution — преследование political and religious beliefs — политические и религиозные убеждения rich oil fields — богатые месторождения нефти California — Калифорния It would be no exaggeration to say — не будет преувеличением сказать, что symbol — символ textile — текстильная промышленность network of roads — сеть дорог to contest presidency — оспаривать, претендовать на пост президента the majority of seats in the Congress — большинство мест в Конгрессе the highest legislative body — высший законодательный орган 19. chamber — палата

QUESTIONS:

1. What kind of state is the USA?

2. Where is it situated?

3. What is the USA washed by in the east and in the West?

4. What is the USA separated from Canada by?

1. What is the total area of the country?

5. What are the principal rivers of the USA?

6. What is the population of the country?

7. Where do most people live?

8. What did many people seek in the USA?

10. Why are there representatives of all racial and national groups in America?

11. Where is the capital of the country situated?

12. Is the agriculture in America highly mechanized?

13. What raw materials is America rich in?

14. What has become the symbol of American way of life?

15. Where is the motor-car industry situated?

16. Where is the textile industry to be found?

17. Has the USA a highly developed railway system?

18. How many states are there in the USA?

19. By what party has the political life in America been dominated?

20. What do the two parties contest at an election time?

21. What is the highest legislative body of the country

Translate into english:

1. США расположена в центральной части Северной Америки.

2. Между Кордильерами и Аппалачами находится Центральная неизменность, которая называется прериями, и восточная неизменность, называемая долиной Миссисипи.

3. Столица США Вашингтон расположен в округе Колумбия.

4. Штаты занимают одно из первых мест среди стран мира по добыче угля. Железной руды, нефти.

5. Президент, избираемый всей нацией на четыре года. Является главой государства и правительства.

WASHINGTON, D. С.

Washington is the capital of the United States of America. It is located in the District of Columbia. The district is named in honour of Columbus, the discoverer of America.

Washington was founded in 1791 for the purpose of serving as the capital of the United States of America. Many people consider Washington to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. There are many parks, wide streets and impressive buildings in it. In the centre of the city, there is Capitol Park, where visitors' eyes focus on the Capitol, the home of American Congress.

Many visitors come to Washington D.C to see the White House. It is the oldest public structure in the capital, built in 1799. The White House is the official residence of the President of the United States. It is situated at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. There are more than hundred rooms in the White House. The largest room in this building is the East Room, the scene of many state receptions and dances. Other famous rooms are: the Green Room, the Вlue Room, the Red Room, which are used for afternoon tea and for receptions held before state dinners. The Blue Room, the most formal among all «colors» room is an oval-shaped room connecting the Green and the Red Rooms. On the second floor, one can find the Lincoln Room, which once served as an office for President Lincoln but today it serves as an honour guest's room. In this room, Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863, which gave freedom to black slaves in the States.

Other landmarks of Washington are memorials, dedicated to three American Presidents. They are the Washington Memorial, built in honour of the first American President, the Lincoln Memorial, which is devoted to the memory of the sixteenth President of the USA, the author of the Emancipation Proclamation and the Jefferson Memorial which was built in honour of the third President of the USA, who was the author of the Declaration of Independence.

The Library of Congress, which holds five million books, the National Gallery of Art, the Capitol are also the sightseeing of Washington.

The Capitol is located in the very centre of Washington, not far from the Library of Congress.

It is situated on the Capitol Hill, the highest point of the city. The Capitol is the highest building in Washington.

There is a law in Washington not to build buildings higher than the Capitol.

George Washington laid the corner stone of the Capitol on September 18, 1793. The Capitol is the home of the United States government.

VOCABULARY:

to be located, to be situated — быть расположенным

in honour of — в честь

to found — основать

to consider — считать, полагать

impressive — впечатляющий

state reception — государственный прием

slave — раб

to devote — посвящать

sightseeing — достопримечательности

government — правительство

QUESTIONS:

1. Where is Washington located?

I When was the city founded?

8. Why do many people consider Washington to be of the most beautiful cities in the world?

4. How many rooms are there in the White House?

5. What are the famous rooms?

6. What can one find on the second floor?

7. Who is the Washington Memorial devoted to?

8. Why was the Jefferson Memorial built?

9. Where is the Capitol situated?

10. Who laid the corner stone of the Capitol?