as a matter of fact - фактически.
according to - согласно. Rockefeller Centre was built according to a general plan.
at first glance - на первый взгляд. At first glance he is a yesman (подха-
лим).
Text 1
Washington - the Capital of the USA
Washington, the capital of the United States, is situated on the Potomac River in the District of Columbia. The terms Washington and District of Columbia are practically synonymous.
The federal district is a piece of land ten miles square; it is neither north nor south, and it does not belong to any other state, but to all the states. The District is named in honour of Columbus, the discoverer of America.
The capital owes a great deal to the nation’s first President, George Washington. Washington took an active part in selecting the site of the District of Columbia and laid the cornerstone of the Capitol Building, where Congress meets. Washington is not the largest city in the United States, as it cannot be compared in size with cities like New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit, and Los Angeles, which have more than a million inhabitants.
In the political sense, however, it is the most important city in the United States.
The centre of the city is the Capitol, with its great Hall of Representatives and Senate Chamber.
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Four sections radiate out from the Capitol dividing the District of Columbia into North-East, NorthWest, South-East, SouthWest. From the Capitol to the White House runs broad Pennsylvania Avenue about a mile and a half in length. This avenue is used for all processions and parades.
The Capitol is the highest building in
Washington, which is known as an American city without skyscrapers. Washington is today
one of the world’s most beautiful capitals, not only the centre of the National Government, but also it has become a great cultural, educational and scientific centre, with its museums, art galleries, libraries, institutions,
parks and monumental buildings, such as the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial and others.
Text 2
New York
New York, one of the largest cities of the world, is situated in the natural harbour of the mouth of the Hudson River. In the year 1626 the Dutch Trade
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Company bought Manhattan Island from the local Indians for twenty-four dollars.
Here the Dutch founded their colony and gave it the name New Amsterdam. Forty years later the English fleet entered the harbour, captured the city and renamed it New York.
At present Manhattan Island is the centre of New York and at the same time the business section.
The 39-storey skyscraper of the United Nations Organization is situated on the bank of the East River. The two narrow side walls of the building have no windows at all. But the front and the back walls are made almost entirely of glass.
New York is considered to be the city of skyscrapers. As a matter of fact, most of the skyscrapers are mainly in the lower part of Manhattan. The highest of them is the Empire State Building. It has 102 storeys and its height is 380 metres. The Empire State Building was constructed in 1931. Not far from the Empire State Building there in an interesting architectural ensemble - Rockefeller Centre. It was built according to a general plan. Rockefeller Centre consists of 15 skyscrapers. Rockefeller Centre houses all kinds of offices, enterprises, theatres and music halls.
The Statue of Liberty greets everybody who comes to New York by sea. Millions of emigrants from all parts of the world cross the ocean, hoping to find a better and happier life, hoping to find liberty.
The National City Bank and other big offices are located in the famous Wall Street.
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Broadway is the longest street in the city. It is 29 kilometres long. Many businessmen make money here. They own this main trading street of New York with all its bars, restaurants, music halls, theatres, cinemas and various stores and shops. When it gets dark the lights of the electric advertisements flash out along Broad-
way.
By eight o’clock in the morning New York streets are crowded with clerks and office employees. When they start work, there is nobody in the streets
but those who have no work.
Such is New York at first glance, the largest city with a population of more than 10 million.
Послетекстовые упражнения
(The exercises to be done after reading the text)
XII. Переведите на русский язык
1.We know Manhattan to have been bought from the local Indians.
2.New York is considered to be a city of skyscrapers.
3.It is dark and late to go out.
4.I hope you to find a better and happier life.
5.It is not easy to find a job in New York.
6.He is said to own this house.
7.Washington is known to be an American city without skyscrapers.
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8.I want you to tell me the truth.
9.Americans are known to be proud of the Statue of Liberty.
XIII. Составьте пары слов, имеющих противоположное значение, и переведите их на русский язык.
1.large, 2. cold, 3. wrong, 4. near, 5. good, 6. hot, 7. far, 8. bad, 9. small,
10.long, 11. right, 12. short, 13. high, 14. low.
XIV. Составьте пары предлогов, имеющих противоположное значение.
Придумайте предложения, используя эти предлоги.
1. inside, 2. above, 3. up, 4. into, 5. in front of, 6. under, 7. out of, 8. outside, 9. behind, 10. down.
XV. Заполните пропуски артиклями, где это необходимо.
Washington is ... capital of ... United States of America. It is situated on ...
Potomac River in ... District of ... Columbia. ...federal district is ten miles square. ... district is named in honour of ... Columbus. George Washington was
... first President of ... America. ... city was named after ... first President. Washington is not ... largest city but it is ... most important city in ... country. ... Pennsylvania avenue runs from ... Capitol to ... White House. All kinds of ... processions and ... parades took place in ... avenue. Washington is ... centre of ... National Government and it is also ... cultural, educational and scientific centre.
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XVI. Переведите на русской язык, обратите вниманиенавыделенные слова.
1.It is neither north, nor south.
2.Neither Tom, nor Mary will go there.
3.He will go either to New York, or to Washington.
4.Both Pete and Mary speak English well.
5.Both cities are beautiful.
6.By eight o’clock in the morning New York streets are crowded both
with clerks and with people who have no work.
XVII. Переведите предложения на английский язык, используя слова, данные в скобках.
1.У меня много друзей. Эта фирма принадлежит государству. Кто владеетэтим домом? (to own, to have, to belong to)
2.От Капитолия до Белого Дома идетширокий проспект. (to run, road,
avenue)
3.Капитолий является самым высоким зданием в Вашингтоне, в кото-
ром нетнебоскребов. (to be, there are, skyscrapers)
4.Нью-Йорк - это город небоскребов. (to be, skyscrapers)
5.Эмпайер Стэйт Билдинг имеет 102 этажа, и его высота составляет
380 метров. (to have, to be, height)
6.Бродвей является самой длинной улицей в Нью-Йорке. Ее длина равна 29 километрам. (to be, street, long)
7.Утром улицы Нью-Йорка заполнены клерками и служащими офи-
сов. (to be crowded, clerks, office employees)
8.Таков Нью-Йорк на первый взгляд. (such, at first glance)
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XVIII. Найдите в текстах ответы на вопросы.
1.Where is Washington situated?
2.Why was the city named in honour of the first President?
3.What is situated in the centre of Washington?
4.What Avenue runs from the Capitol to the White House?
5.What is Pennsylvania Avenue famous for?
6.What historical places do you know in Washington?
7.Is Washington the city of skyscrapers?
8.What river is New York situated on?
9.What is the centre of New York?
10.Where is the skyscraper of the United Nations Organization situated?
11.Is New York the city of skyscrapers?
12.What is the highest of them?
13.How many storeys has it?
14.What is the Rockefeller Centre?
15.What street in the longest in the city?
XIX. Переведите пословицы и поговорки. Сравните с русскими пословицами.
Better late than never. Лучше поздно, чем никогда. Сравните: Лучше поздно, чем никогда.
Least said, soonest mended. Чем меньшесказано, тем быстрееисправлено. Сравните: Меньше слов, больше дела.
The more haste, the less speed. Чем больше спешка, тем меньше скорость.
Сравните: Тише едешь, дальше будешь.
Two heads are better than one. Две головы лучше, чем одна.
Сравните: Ум хорошо, а два лучше.
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