Exercises

I. Consult a dictionary, transcribe the following words and practise their pronuncia­tion; suggest Ukrainian equivalents:

countless, adj. dumb, adj. queue, n

simultaneous, adj. regard, n

teenager, n literally, adv.

lounge, n leisure, n bunch, n

commuter, n equivalent, n convenience, n advertisement, n linguistically, adv.

aisle, n garbage, n certificate, n predict, v draw apart, v

2. Answer the following questions:

   1. Why more British English is taught in the world than American English? Will it always be so?

   2. What has caused so many American words and phrases to become part of the British English dictionary? (Without consulting the text, name at least 10 of them).

   3. How would you characterise general tendency in characteristics of American Eng­lish: simplification or complication?

   4. Why might you get into trouble in the USA if you know the British English meaning of "pavement", but not the American English meaning of the word?

   5. Where will an American tourist find himself if he knows only American meaning of the word "subway"?

   6. How would you feel if an American called you "dumb"?

   7. Why has German had such a big influence on American English?

   8. When are words borrowed from one language into another?

   9. Why might it upset you if your American bank manager told you that you were badly "in the red"?

10. What do you mean when you say "it was a misunderstanding"?

2. Without consulting the text, give the American English for the following British English words and phrases:

biscuit — curtain — to fill in a form — rubbish — from Monday to Friday — bill (in a shop, restaurant etc.) — to queue — What's the time, please? — twenty-five past six — How do you do? — at the moment.

2. I. Read the dialogue between Peter and Brian on difference between British and American English. Fill in the gaps with the corresponding American equivalents of the English words:

• Brian, I feel confused sometimes. Which is British and which is American?

• Don't worry. It doesn't really matter very much.

• But sometimes people don't understand me. And yesterday I had a problem. I got the wrong floor.

• Did you really?

vcs consists of 435 members. A state's representation iber of representatives changes as population changes, ges of impeachment against high federal officials. It

Exercises

I. Consult a dictionary, transcribe the following words and practise their

United States is the highest court in the land. It has a i justices. The President appoints all justices with the tices hold office for life.

)urts are located in various cities. Above the district ippeals, often called Circuit courts. Above the courts t. Decisions of a district court may be appealed to an ;als court to the Supreme Court. Federal courts decide ition and federal laws. Judges of these courts hold ipoints them with the approval of the Senate, a strong voice in their government. They can exercise ! in national, state, and local elections, and by working ;ns.

■ United States has two major political parties, the l. Members of these two parties hold almost all the d local governments.

e United States rarely elect candidates to government I attention to problems that the major parties may have f the major parties may then attempt to solve such a hich brought attention to the problem, may disappear, a President and vice-President are held every four the first Monday in November. All members of the about one-third of the members of the Senate are •ii the Presidential elections, all of the representatives lalors are elected. This election is held on the same tcrcd years.

I.He elections and the qualifications of voters. Most which party members nominate candidates for state use primary elections to nominate candidates for pronunciation:

executive, adj. unitary, adj. foreign, adj. approval, n

II. Check on your knowledge of the text by answering the following questions:

1. How does the United States government differ from most other national governments?

2. What are the three branches of the United States government?

3. What are two exclusive powers of the House of Representatives?

4. Who enforces the laws that Congress passes?

5. What body interprets the laws if the necessity arises?

6. How many levels of government operation are there in the USA?

7. What powers does the federal government exercise?

8. What are the powers of states?

9. What bodies exercise concurrent powers?

10. What are the duties of the President?

11. Where are federal laws made, repealed and amended?

12. How many members are there in the Senate and the House of Representatives?

13. How are the justices of the Supreme Court appointed?

14. What other courts besides the Supreme Court are there in the US judicial branch?

15. How would you characterise the US party system?

16. How often are national elections held?

III. Retell the text according to the outline: