Climate in the usa

The overall climate is (умеренный), with notable exceptions. Alaska has Arctic tundra, while Hawaii and South Florida are (тропический). The Great Plains  are dry, (плоский) and grassy, turning into arid (пустыня) in the far West and Mediterranean along the  California  (побережье).

The climate of the South varies. In the summer, it is hot and (влажный), but from October through April the weather can range from 60°F (15°C) to short cold spells of 20°F (-7°C) or so.

The Great Plains & Midwestern states also experience (торнадо) from the late spring to early (осень – ам.), earlier in the south and later in the north. States along the Atlantic (побережье) and the Gulf of Mexico, may experience (ураганы) between June and November. These intense and dangerous storms frequently miss the U.S. (материк), but evacuations are often ordered and should be heeded.

The (пустыни) of the Southwest are hot and dry during the summer, with temperatures often (превышающий) 100°F (38°C). (Грозы) can be expected in the southwest frequently from July through September. Winters are (мягкий), and snow is unusual. Average annual (выпадение осадков) is low, usually less than 10 inches (25 cm).

Cities of the Upper South are known for summers with temperatures reaching into the 90's (32 C) or more, with extremely high (влажность), usually over 80%. This can be a drastic change from the Southwest.

Ex.6. Below is the list of species of plants, animals and birds. Point out those typical of British, US and Australian flora and fauna and give their Russian equivalents.

Birch, beech, ash, eucalyptus, hawthorn, elm, oak, yew, shrimp, pine, chestnut, maple, heather, squirrel, echidna, beaver, hedgehog, elephant, fox, deer, platypus, seal, whale, dolphin, liana, bear, crocodile, wolf, wild boar, parrot, duck, hawk, turtle, eagle, owl, swan, flamingo, pigeon, sparrow, hummingbird, partridge, falcon, kangaroo, snake, lizard.

Discussion

1. Make a comparative analysis of the usa, Australia and uk in terms of :

	The system of government	USA
		Australia
		UK
	The number of states	USA
		Australia
		UK
	The geographical position	USA
		Australia
		UK
	The economy	USA
		Australia
		UK

2. The success of a country’s economic policy greatly depends on the extent to which countries exploit their geographic advantages and their ability to adapt to geographic disadvantages. Below you will find the list of geographic advantages and disadvantages of the UK, the USA and Australia. First decide which of the factors mentioned are advantageous and which are not and group them in three columns corresponding to the three countries analyzed.

1. Quite far from the main world’s markets

2. Situated in the center of Europe

3. Well-established and comparatively short sea-routes with Europe

4. Domestic markets are quiet distant from each other and normally there is only air-connection between them

5. Domestic markets are very well-linked

6. A great amount of rivers in the country

7. Plentiful natural resources of different types

8. Coal, oil, natural gas

9. Relatively good agricultural lands but require regular fertilization

10. Vast lands suitable for agriculture if fertilized

11. Coal, wool, alumina , sheep, lead , refined zinc ores, mineral sands

12. The zone rich in metallic minerals

13. Large deposits of high-quality minerals

14. Coastline very long and mostly favorable for navigation

15. Forestry

16. Densely populated relatively small territory

17. Densely populated territory characterized by certain patterns of industrial specialization

18. Sparsely populated central areas of the country

P.S. Continue the list if you can

3. Both geographic advantages and disadvantages have their impact on a country’s economic development. Below you will find the list of impacts, match them to the advantages and disadvantages given in the previous task, use conjunctions and verbs of reason and result (to cause, to lead to, as a result, therefore, thus, etc)

1. The increased transport costs

2. Difficult to specialize in the activities of comparative advantage as countries with which potential trading relationships might be possible are too far away which significantly increases transportation expenses and reduces trade benefits

3. Low productivity due to limited access to economies of scale (the more a company produces, the cheaper is a unit of commodity)

4. Such a country has to absorb transport costs into producer prices of tradable goods and services in order to remain competitive in world markets

5. Benefit from more effective labour and product markets — as firms locate near to each other they will benefit from having a large pool of suppliers, customers and labour, reducing costs, increasing market size, raising competitive pressures and allowing a greater degree of specialization.

6. Might be exposed to dishonest rent-seeking behaviour by those that control the resources which leads to corruption and misallocation of resources and inefficient income usage.

7. Good accessibility from any part of the world which encourages international trade and increases export.

8. Can grow massive amounts of crops and transport them cheaply and efficiently

9. Well-developed inland maritime transport system which favors trade among domestic markets and encourages specialization

10. Manufacturing core surrounded by the territory's farm population that created the resources and the demand for industrial production. Success in agriculture supported the region's early market centers, and it was the gradual mechanization of agriculture that demanded diversified manufacturing support.

11. Business clusters (close cooperation of companies) that encourage specialization and thus economies of scale

12. Well-established financial center due to its history and historical role in the development of the world’s international finance.

4. During its development any country encounters lots of difficulties that might be solved immediately or might mean social problems many years after. Especially it is true when we refer to the matter of colonization of America and Australia. Below you will find three columns, group them and ground your choice (mind that one activity might lead to different consequences). Text 4 from SUPPLEMENTARY READER may also be helpful to you.

The situation before the arrival of colonists	The influence of colonists in Australia and America	Consequences
Social education taught children their responsibilities to their extended family and the group, the clan, band, or tribe. Vocational education taught children about child rearing, home management, farming, hunting, gathering, fishing, and so forth. Each tribe had its own religion that told the children their place in the cosmos through stories and ceremonies. Members of the extended family taught their children by example, and children copied adult activities as they played. The only areas good for living are situated along the coastline and used to be occupied by around 200 indigenous tribes.	Aggressive warfare of the Europeans Diseases The invasion was the missionary impulse of both Catholic and Protestant Christians. Missionaries did not recognize Indian beliefs and cast the Indian religions as the work of the Christian devil. Thus early efforts by Europeans at Native education by Europeans focused on converting Indians to Christianity. Did not treat indigenous population as equals Schools promised by treaties were often slow in coming, and the quality of the schools that were established was poor. Indians sometimes argued that the schools were only set up to trap into their treaty money. Appropriation of land and water resources, which continued throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries as rural lands were converted for sheep and cattle grazing.	They want political and economic equality, and they want to regain their Native identities, including their languages and traditions that historically were suppressed in schools. Poverty, alcohol and drug addiction Lost identity meaning no sense to contribute personal efforts to the society’s development Schools did not reflect any respect to the native cultures The story of the Indian in America is something more than the record of the white man's frequent aggression, broken agreements, intermittent remorse and prolonged failure. It is a record also of endurance, of survival, of adaptation and creativity in the face of overwhelming obstacles. No place to live, thus massive dying out and for further generations strong sense of revenge

5. Use additional sources of information and prepare a short report (200 words) on the fate of aboriginals (occupation, income, education, position in the society, traditions) both in America and Australia, mind to use a comparative text structure and include information about present state of affairs.

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