Words and word combination you may need

state of emergency — чрезвычайное по­ложение suspend v - временно приостанавли-

Ex. 15. a) Read the text, b) Explain (briefly) how the presidential election in the US

differs from ours.

The president of the United States [selected every fourth year in November.

Voters in each state, however, cast their votes for electors previously nom­inated at party conventions held in summer. Electors make up the electoral college. The number of electors equals the number of congressmen and sena­tors. Altogether there are 535 electors.

contradict i¹ - противоречить endorse v — одобрять, принимать (до­кумент)

As electors vote (as a rule) for the candidate who gets the majority of votes in their state, the outcome of the election is generally known in November, though, Ibrmally, the vote takes place in the electoral college in early December.

In early December, the electors cast their votes in their stale capitols. Their votes arc then sent lo Congress where they are counted on January 6.

The president-elect is inaugurated on January 20.

Words and word combinations you may need

capitol n — зд. здание, n котором раз­мещаются органы масти какого-либо штата США

president-elect n - избранный, но еще не вступивший и должность преж­де! it

inaugurate v— пводитьв должность

Ex. 16. Sum up Text С (orally/in writing).

Ex. 17. Discussion questions.

1. What demographic trends have been characteristic of the world lately?

2. What demographic forecasts have been made for the 21" century?

3. Is the social profile of developed countries changing (pattern of employ­ ment, employment of women, family size and structure)?

4. How do you assess the demographic situation in Russia?

5. What factors affect the demographic situation in the world? (Give exam­ ples of different countries.)

6. What state systems exist in the world nowadays?

7. What are the powers of the monarch, the president, the prime minister?

8. What division of powers is most typical for democratic stales? Describe different branches of power and their main functions.

9. How are the Russian legislative and executive branches of power organ­ ised?

10. Does the practice of the Russian parliament differ from that in Great Britain and the US? How aie draft laws made into laws in the Russian Parliament?

11. What is the term of office of the Russian President?

Read for More Information

Ex. 18. a) Read the text aloud.

b) Luok up the words you do nut know in the dictionary.

264

Unit?

I. The Social Profile and State Structure

265

3. Translate the italicised sentence, underline the subject of Ihe sentence with one line and the predicate with two lines.

4. Explain (in writing) why America was and remains a mobile nation.

5. Pick out the sentences describing the American Dream. American Population

1. From its very beginning as a nation the population of the USA has been moving westwards expanding America's territory for future generations.

2. This experience had a deep and lasting influence on the American char­ acter and the way of life. It strengthened the spirit of independence, self- reliance and self-confidence. It helped to develop a characteristic that has been frequently noted among Americans. In bad times and good they tend to move easily from one part of the country to another trying to find a once-in-a-iifetime opportunity.

3. In spite of economic and social changes America remains a highly mobile society.

4. Between 1975-1980, 45 percent of the nation's families changed their residence. In the course of one year (1983-1984) alone, some 39 million Americans moved to a different house.

5. Two million young people cross slate lines each year to go to college and most do not return to settle.

6. There are two noticeable demographic trends: the population moves from the North and East to the South and West, then the population moves from rural to urban areas. Now about three quarters of Americans live in urban areas.

7. Some people like the movement because they have a chance to get to know different parts of the country, a chance to escape frustration. And more im­ portantly they have a chance to broaden economic opportunities and to realise the American Dream, the dream that every citizen has a chance to own a business, to he a boss for himself and to become rich by working hard.

8. Americans believe that it is in private business thai American ideals of free competition, individual freedom and equality of opportunity have their high­ est level of expression. Thus, there are a lot of small businesses.

9. In America there exists a legend of the boy who rose "from rags to riches" and realised the American Dream. Although Americans are likely to be more skeptical about such stories today, the image of the entrepreneur who "makes it on his own" still continues to inspire many. A lot of them change not only their jobs, they change careers during their lifetime in search of success in business.

Ex. 19. a) Read the text and fill each gap with a suitable word from the box. b) Look up the words you do not know in the dictionary, c) Write what new information about Great Britain you have learnt from the text.

constitution	appointed	member	power	issues	laws
relationship	legislative	consists	reigns	head
constitutional	ministers	Union	house	name