Is it Easy to be a New Yorker?

I. Pre-reading activities:

1. Are there any features typical of the citizens of New York or any other city?

2. How can you imagine an average New Yorker?

II. Read out the text and find out if your guesses are true.

Visiting New York is like unpacking your first computer: you find yourself surrounded by lots of expensive pieces that don't seem to fit together. The parts make no sense. Nothing works unless it's hooked up to something else. That, in my view, in a nutshell, is New York.

The key to understanding New York is first to understand New Yorker. The typical New Yorker is either Chinese, Jewish, African American, Italian, Greek, Dutch. Irish. German or Ukrainian. In other words, like the unicorn, there is no such creature.

Nothing about New Yorkers is typical except their attitude. The New Yorker Attitude hangs over the city like a London fog. The New York Attitude Literally stops traffic. It can keep you from getting where you want to go. It can give you headaches, and make your blood pressure rise. Try to ignore it and, no matter how many maps you might have, you won't get anywhere.

Spend a few minutes understanding it, and you're on your way to conquering the city. The key ingredient in the New York Attitude is money, if New York had hills, they would be alive, I think, with the sound of money. This is the city that invented, along with '"power lunches" and "street smarts", the phrase 'time is money". In New York City everything is money. It costs money just to stand still. Can you believe $10 - 15 per hour to park your car in midtown? That's why if somebody threatens you. "Your money or your life", you may be absolutely sure that he is out-of-towner, because in New York your money is your life.

Being a New Yorker is something that New Yorkers do better than anyone else. It's an around-the-clock business and they work hard at. Whatever you want to say about them, New Yorkers do their homework. It doesn't matter how much they earn or how much they're going to spend: everyone is an expert. They all know where to get the greatest hot dog in town, find the cheapest florist, which movie theatre has the best sound system, and which hit is worth seeing on Broadway. Not that any two lists are ever the same. No one is supposed to agree. That is the fun! The important thing is having an opinion.

So, knowing where to go and how to get there is an integral part of the New York Attitude.

Stop someone on the street and ask direction - it's as through you, a total stranger, had walked into his private office in the middle of a conference he was having with himself.

New Yorkers value their privacy as fanatically as Italians or the Spanish their siestas.

Privacy is for New Yorkers what "saving face'' is for Asians - a technique for survival in a crowded environment. It has nothing to do with being cold or unfriendly.

It's hard being a New Yorker. On a daily basis, the city streets are littered with far more than old cans and gum wrappers. After the exodus of the middle class to the suburbs, New York became a city of extremes, people say. Extremes like characters in a soap opera "The Rich and the Homeless". The truth really, in my view, is that a city with all the brightness of New York can't help casting a few shadows. The homeless are a sad fact of life today, something you come upon in Paris, Hong Kong or London; New York isn't alone in not knowing how best to handle the situation, but in New York it strikes you harder than elsewhere.

The city is also noisy and expensive, its people are pushy and rude, the weather is awful (especially in summer), the traffic is impossible and you often can't find a cab when you need one. Everybody knows that, because people have been saying these things for years, and New York is still the most-visited city in the world.

Still, there must be something that attracts everyone - something in New York you can't find any place else.

Unless you're in town to visit relatives. New York means Manhattan. The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island are not visited as tourist attractions despite every New Yorker having a favourite restaurant, bakery, park, or museum in one of the other four boroughs. Local people travel back and forth across the rivers and bridges to visit family or the ethnic delights of, for example, Italian Arthur Avenue in the Bronx. The so-called "outer" boroughs are culturally - rich outposts that offer entertainment. But there are so many interesting sights in New York that it's really very hard for a New Yorker to know all of them.

That is another reason for the statement that it is not easy to be a New Yorker.

If you are going to do business with New Yorkers here are some tips on the business protocols of New York.

Because to New Yorkers time is money, do not be surprised if a New Yorker asks you: What's in this deal for me? or What will I get out of this? Just make sure that you are prepared to answer the question.

New Yorkers rarely work as a team in business. Individual performance is what counts, and officers are rewarded according to their individual contribution to an organisation. Rank and status are not acquired at birth or with age; they are given to the individual who proves to be the best.

You will have to be very punctual with any appointment you make. Executives often schedule appointment within twenty minutes of each other. If you are late, you may have missed an opportunity to meet with the necessary party.

Schedules are planned weeks in advance and it may be difficult to reschedule on short notice.

In business New Yorkers do not spend much time on pleasantries. Once you shake hands and exchange business cards get right to the point of your visit. Within the first five minutes, an executive will determine whether or not your proposal has merit, is right for the company, or is interesting enough to pursue further.

Business is often discussed socially: at breakfast, lunch, dinner, cocktail parties, golf outings, on tennis courts, or at health and fitness clubs.

It is not considered impolite for an executive to take calls while you are having a meeting in his/her office. In addition, many executives also carry a beeper which signals them they should call in.

New Yorkers love to conduct business over meals. It is very fashionable to have meetings over a "power breakfast" from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Business lunches usually begin at 12:30 p.m. and end no later than 2 p.m. Business dinners are usually scheduled early, around 7 p.m., since many New Yorkers commute to the city from surroundings suburbs and wish to return home in time to be with their families before it gets too late.

Gifts are usually not exchanged when conducting business. Strict rules and policy in American corporations may prohibit or discourage the exchange of gifts. An executive must report any gift received and in most cases will not be allowed to accept these valued over twenty dollars.

III. Answer the following questions:

1. Is there such a creature as the typical New Yorker? Why?

2. What is the most important or key ingredient in the New York Attitude? Why?

3. WЪat technique for survival in New York is mentioned in the text?

4. Why is New York a city of extremes?

5. What boroughs does a New Yorker often visit and why?

6. Are there any rules in conducting business with a New Yorker?

7. Do individual performances matter more than working in a team in New York?

8. Why is it important to be punctual with one's appointment in New York?

9. How are you recommended to start your business meeting?

10. Where do many New York businessmen discuss business?

11. Is it all right to take a call during a business appointment?

12. When do business meals usually take place?

13. What can you say about exchanging gifts with a New York businessman?

IV. Look through the text once again, divide it into logical parts and entitle each part.

4. Complete the sentences:

1. It is hard being a New Yorker because _____________.

2. New York is the most-visited city in the world in spite of the fact _____.

3. There are so many interesting sights in New York that _______.

4. Schedules are planned weeks in advanced that is why ______ .

5. New Yorkers love to conduct business over meals so ______ .

4. Make up a dialogue between natural-born New Yorker and a Russian businessman who has come to New York. Discuss some peculiarities.

Education

I. Pre-listening activity: look up in the dictionary and check the pronunciation of the following words:

Legitimize proficiency

access familiarize curriculum prestige

de-emphasise competence

noteworthy

II. Look through the text once again, divide it into logical parts and entitle each part.

Over 57 million students are enrolled in American schools, which range from kindergartens to high schools, small colleges, large universities, as well as a variety of institutions for adult education and vocational training. Americans place a high value on education for themseives and their children, and universal access to quality education has been one of the nation's historic goals.

More than 100 years before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, European settlers on Massachusetts passed laws requiring all communities to hire schoolmasters; larger towns had to establish grammar schools to train children for the university. America's first college, Harvard, was founded in Massachusetts in 1636, and the second William and Mary, was established in Virginia in 1693.

Higher education was revolutionised in 1862 by the Morrill Act, which granted federal lands to each state for the creation of agricultural and mechanical colleges. These "land - grant" institution legitimised vocational and technical education.

By the end of the Civil War in 1865, education was becoming available to all, and educational institutions began to shape a distinctive American culture. In the late 19th and early 20th century, the schools were instrumental in "Americanising" the massive numbers of immigrants who arrived in the United States. Indeed, 20th century America is the product of a nationalism defined in large part by its schools.

Perhaps the most noteworthy feature about American education is the absence of a national administration or structure. Each of the 50 states controls and directs its own schools. Most states require that children attend school from the time they reach six or seven years old until they are 16 or 17. Educational requirements are set by the state legislatures, and public schools are managed by local communities, divided into about 15.500 state school districts.

But what do American public schools teach? Public school education is consciously debated, continually evolving. In the late 1960s, public schools experimented with the curriculum and expanded the number of "elective" subjects, de-emphasising the traditional "three Rs" - reading, writing and arithmetic. During the mid-1970s, schools moved back to an emphasis on the basics, and many states began to administer proficiency tests to students graduating from high school. And in the 1980s schools have supplemented the basics with new programs to familiarise students with such rapidly changing fields as computer technology.

There is no uniform school organisation or curriculum throughout the nation, but certain common features exist. Pre-school education consists of nursery schools and kindergartens, although in recent years the latter is usually part of the elementary schools. Elementary and secondary schools together consist of 12 years of classes (not counting kindergarten) which meet for about 10 months a year, five days a week and five hours a day. Almost every elementary school curriculum includes English, mathematics, science, social studies, penmanship, music, art and physical education. Many include classes teaching basic computer skills. Most secondary schools have a "core curriculum" of English, mathematics, science, social studies and physical education as well as a variety of elective subjects.

About 85 percent of American students attend public schools, which are supported by state and local taxes. The other 15 percent attend private schools, for which their families chose to pay special attendance fees. Four out of five American private schools are run by churches, synagogues or other religious group. In addition, schools have for many years received federal aid for special purposes, such as vocational training and school lunches. In 1965 Congress approve a major program of federal support for public schools, and federal aid was extended to private schools for the first time.

After graduating from secondary school, a growing number of Americans go on to higher education. The percentage of high school graduates enrolling in public and private colleges, for instance, has increased from 40,4 percent in 1960 to 54,3 percent in 1984. American institutions of higher education include technical training schools, which offer programs in fields ranging from hairstyling to computer programming; community colleges, which provide two years of semi-professional training for some students and the first two years of college for others; colleges, offering four-year bachelor degree programs; and universities, which contain one or more colleges and graduate schools offering master's or doctoral degree programs. The factors determining an institution's prestige are the quality of the teaching faculty; quality of research facilities; amount of funding available; and the competence and number of applicants for admission.

III. Find the answers for the following questions in the text.

1. What has been one of the nation's historic goals?

1. What laws concerning education were passed more than 100 years before signing of the Declaration of Independence?

2. When was Harvard founded?

3. What did the Morrill Act grant?

4. What role did the schools play in the late 19^th and early 20^th century?

5. What is the most noteworthy feature about American education?

6. What do American public school teach?

7. What did Congress approve in 1965?

8. What do American institutions of higher education include?

IV. Read the sentence below and say if they are true or false:

1. Elementary and secondary schools together consist of 13 years of classes.

2. About 50 per cent of American students attend public schools.

3. In 1965 education was becoming available to all.

1. The second American college was established in Virginia in 1693.

V. Give Russian equivalents to the following word combinations.

to be enrolled in schools to place high value on education

quality education uniform curriculum

educational institutions secondary schools

to attend schools for special purposes

high school years of semiprofessional training

vocational training research faculties

to pass laws social studies

to establish grammar schools to shape a culture

VI. Give English equivalents to the following word combinations:

государственное законодательство частные школы

открыть грамматические школы школьная программа

тест на профессиональную пригодность детские сады

подписание Декларации Независимости дошкольное образование

с/х колледж начальное образование

отличительная черта среднее звено

посещать школу высшее образование

Don’t Miss Your Class

I. Pre-reading activities:

1. Would you like to study in the USA?

2. What are the differences in learning process between America and Russia?

II. Read the text. Divide it into logical parts. Give each part a title.

The academic year has just begun, but it seems that it has already been going on for years! Probably this is the common thought of all students all over the world. In spite of this, I am going to tell you now about studies in the USA. Maybe, after reading this article, you will feel better about being a student in Russia, or may be you feel a bit envious of American students and start searching for the grant. So, what is it like to study in America?

Any person after high school or college may enter a university, but all high education here is paid for, though some students can get grants for a successful learning. To enter a university you do not need to take any more exams; if you are an international student you only need to pass an ACT test in English (if TOEFL is not enough in the place where you want to study). In general, ACT (American College Testing) and SAT (Stanford Achievement Test) are taken in high school; you must have no less then a required number of points on them. As soon as you are finished with registration papers and all other formal procedures you may choose your schedule. This also has its own rules. First, you should decide what will be your "major" and "minor"(the former is the main specialisation you will have after graduating, the letter is a kind of an additional specialisation). In your first year you may not know it yet, but beginning with the second year you have to make up your mind. If you have done this already, you will have to take program subjects: this is a certain minimum of subjects necessary in every major. For example, you are supposed to take Oral Interpretation or Fundamentals of Acting if you are majoring in Theatre. On the other hand, there are some subjects that you may take only after studying some others. For instance, you cannot take Composition II without finishing Composition I in English, or Colour Photography before Photo Journalism in Mass Communications. There are also a certain number of" credit" hours which you should neither exceed nor reduce; if you want to take more hours, you need the permission of your tutor, and usually you will pay for them separately. At SAU (Southern Arkansas University) the minimum is 12 and the maximum is 18 (these are the hours included into your record). Well, finally, you choose the subjects (they are called "classes" here) and get your schedule. You also choose the convenient times for you, thought in some cases there are only one or two possibilities.

A normal class lasts 50 minutes (one academic hours) or 1 hour 20 minutes (an hour and a half). Students are supposed to read a lot in order to study. The books are really very heavy and dig (500-1000 pages). The advantage of American textbook is that they are re-published every one or two years, especially in such subjects as Computer Science, History, American Foreign Policy, and others, so the information is always relatively new. Homework usually comprises a chapter from a book and/or some writing; it depends on the subject. Books contain many pictures (all education is based on visual aids), so that students have good examples in front of them.

In every class the teacher hands out a schedule with the information on the course at the beginning of the semester. All the tests are included there and the dates are indicated. You may also read about class policies in the schedule; they are almost the same for every class, and are based on university policy. Some of them are really severe for those who are not used to them. The most important items concern "academic honesty" and include plagiarism and cheating; they are serious offences that, in accordance with the policy of SAU, can result in failing the course, as well as expulsion from the university. On the other hand, there may be some others, less serious. The university staff follows these policies strictly. Even if a student was absent from a class only once, he has to bring an explanation. Coming late to class may be regarded as an offence by the teacher and influences the grade at the end of the course; several such cases may become an "absence", several absences- failing the course...So, as you see, it is in the students" interests to attend all classes and behave properly.

The majority of the students also work, but there is a certain limit of hours for them: around 15 per week. It is mainly work on campus, such as in the office, cafeteria campus police or post- office. There is not difficult, but it is helpful to earn a bit of money to pay for their education. (Of course, it is not enough.) There is another opportunity to combine work and studies: sports. Members of university teams get scholarship for participation in the various sports. Sometimes a university invites a student just a play; in such case studies are not the main goal, though the situation may change in time. After the student starts his academic year he may change his mind.

There are different kinds of students at SAU: most of them are Americans, certainly; but there are also some internationals from various parts of the world, and several non- traditional ones: those above 30 years old. There are no privileges for any of them; the same rules are applied to everybody, though non- traditional students have more opportunities to get scholarships. In fact, if you study well, you have many chances; this may be another way to find money for studies.

What really make the learning process pleasant are the learning facilities. Here everything is computerised; teachers may use different aids to present their materials, and students have unlimited access to the internet and computers, to all the libraries in the USA, and many order books, films and CD-ROMs from the university library. This eases work on projects and homework, and helps to search for information. You can also ask your teacher for some materials, he or he is sure to help. They like to be asked questions and to be of help. There are also student assistants in every subject, who give extra consultations for those who need them.

Personally, I like the relationship between students and teachers in the university: you may always come to see a teacher in his office, or phone or e- mail him. You meet your teachers and all the staff, even the President of the University, everywhere on campus: you have lunch with them, play tennis together . go to football matchers. In class, teachers address students as "guys" and tell jokes from time to time. All this makes you good friends!

In any case, though the system of education are different in the USA and Russia they both are good in their own ways. Students should just choose what they need and decide which system is better for them.

Enjoy your university years wherever you are!

III.Give English equivalents to the following word combinations.

превышать количество «зачетных» часов завидовать

поступить в университет наглядные пособия

необходимое количество баллов списывание

серьезные нарушения расписание

поиск информации стипендия основная и дополнительная специальность

IV. Read the text once again and answer the questions.

1. How is it possible to enter American university?

2. What are the rules of choosing a schedule?

3. What should the student do to get a "credit"-test?

4. What are the peculiarities of American textbooks?

5. What is understood by "academic honesty"?

6. Why do many students combine work and study?

7. Who are non-traditional students?

8. What information sources do the students use in the study?

9. How can you characterize the relations between teachers and students? Do like them or not?

V. Make up a dialogue: you have just returned from the USA, where you studied at the university. Your friend wants to know everything about it. You are to compare Russian and American system of education.

Campus: On and Off

I. Pre-listening activities:

1. Can you guess what "campus" is?

2. Would you like to live in campus in the USA?

3. Do you think it is different from life in a hostel in Russia?

II. Read the text. Divide it into logical parts. Give each part a title.

What is it like to live on campus in the USA? What privileges does it give? What obligations? How different is it from the life off campus? I will try to answer these questions...

Every university has its grounds, where all its buildings are situated. Usually they include halls with classrooms and offices, dorms, a canteen, campus police, library and some others. Such an area resembles a small town with its own life and inhabitants, and also its own rules, which you may like or not but have to obey. In the US most students live cn campus in dorms (dormitories); men's and women's are separated for the purpose of discipline. Still there are people who live off campus in private houses, or at their parents' places; but they have no problems with getting to classes as almost everybody, as I have already said, has a car. By the way, cars here have numbers only on the back, while on the front there may be an emblem of a university or the name of the owner. Many teachers also live on campus, but they have special houses, though not very big.

Common obligations for the members of such a community include discipline, mutual respect and obedience to university policy (it is describe in special university books that they give to every freshman. Besides, there are dorm rules: ail visitors have to leave before 12 a.m.; "quite hours" should be observed (from 10 p.m. to 9 a.m.); there must be no rubbish in the halls; etc. For violation on the rules students are fined approximately $ 10, but it depends on the violation.

Every student and teacher has an ID (Identification Card) - a pass to everywhere on campus; it allows them to go to the cafeteria, library, computer lab, other dorms. These cards have electronic codes on them and are carefully checked. In fact, I was a bit surprised by the number of documents Americans ask for. During the registration (necessary for every student at the beginning of the new academic year) you are asked to present all possible papers with which you still have to spend quite a lot of time queuing: passport, 1-20, 1-94 (for international students), medical documents, insurance, social security number (SSN). ID... In fact, it is worth doing, because when you are finished with the paper work, and may breath freely, you get many privileges: computer lab with unlimited Internet access and ability to use all campus facilities including gyms, swimming pool, tennis courts. It is very convenient, especially in the USA, where almost all young people try to go in for at least one kind of sport. Sport is so popular that members of university teams can even be allowed to miss classes if they have some matches, competitions or training, and each university has got several teams: football, baseball, basketball, etc. For example, the Southern Arkansas University (SAU) American football team is called Muleriders. They got such a name because they used to ride mules when they went to play in other towns. Besides, all the team members get scholarships for participation in this kind of sport.

As for the bookstore, it has all of the necessary textbooks, but few of fiction or classics: Americans themselves admit that they read very little, especially young ones, so they compensate for it by watching TV or sitting at the computer. Generally they spend around 5 -7 hours at the TV-set watching "soaps" (serials, or soap operas, which take the most part of broadcast time). Other favourite programs are TV-shows (e.g., "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" where most of questions are connected with films, "stars" and songs). You know, some time ago I thought that the amount of commercials (advertisements) on Russian television was huge, but in comparison with the USA it is rather small.

I would like to speak separately about American food. Maybe it is my subjective opinion, but it seems that they add sugar to almost all dishes. Fast food is very popular; here you may have different hamburgers, hot dogs, sausages, etc. In connection with this there are very many fast food "restaurants" everywhere, such as "McDonald's", "Taco Bell" (Mexican), "Burger King". "Pizza Hut" and others. Probably this is the reason why so many people in the US have problems with weight and figure. But water here is really good, you need not be afraid of drinking it from under the tap. The first time I boiled it to death in order to feel safe. I was then told about it and realised its advantages. There are a lot of water fountains in almost every hall where you can have a mouthful of cool water. This is actual in such a hot climate. For those who love coffee I have unpleasant news: the beans are ground rather coarsely, that's why the taste is no so good. In any case, it is a question of habits: every cuisine is good in its own way.

During the long holidays the-cafeteria does not work at all, only during short ones, like Labour Day, for example (September 4). In fact, at such periods everything is closed: the computer lab, the library, swimming pool... Most of the students leave even for the weekend for their native towns, their friends' places, or somewhere else. The campus seems to be dead: it becomes so quiet and desolated... To tell you the truth, in working day it is not too noisy here either: SAU has neither a night club nor a bar: there is a "dry law" in Magnolia; in other towns one may buy anything he or she wants, but on campus alcoholic beverages are prohibited. To my mind, this is good: students have more time for studies, but about studies 1 will tell you next time.

III. Match the words and the definitions given below:

desolate broadcast time dormitory prohibit scholarship

a large building in a college or university where students live; an amount of money that is given to someone by educational organization to help them pay for their education; a period of time when the programme is on radio or television; a place which looks sad because there are no people there and not very much activity; to stop an activity officially by making it illegal

IV. Read through the text and answer the questions.

1. What is campus?

2. Do student give a possibility to live off campus?

3. What are common obligations for people who live in dorms?

4. What is the reprimand for the violation of the rules?

5. What privileges does live in the campus give?

6. How do American students spend their free time?

7. What peculiarities does American cuisine have?

8. How does campus look like during holidays?

V. Use the expressions from the text in the sentences of your own.

for the purpose of discipline to be carefully checked

mutual respect to miss classes

obedience subjective opinion

to be fined to have problems with weight

VI. Make up a dialogue: an American student came to Russia. Share your opinions about life of students in the USA and Russia.

American Holidays

I. Pre-reading activities:

1. What holidays can be called uniquely Russian?

2. How are they celebrated?

II. Read the text Divide it into logical parts. Give each part a title.

Besides Thanksgiving Day there are seven other major holidays which might be considered uniquely American. These holidays are not national holidays: they are federal holidays. That is, there are special days, set aside by an act of Congress and signed into law by the president, on which the federal government and its agencies conduct no business. A number of federal holidays such as Independence Day are recognised by and observed in the states: but because no provision is made for national holidays in the Constitution, each state decides which holidays to observe and when state offices and schools may be closed. In addition to the widely recognised holidays listed below, two Sundays are also observed in very special ways. One is the second Sunday in May, which is always Mother's Day, a day on which children honour their mothers. The other is the third Sunday in June, which is Father's Day, and children honour their fathers in some special way. These holidays are included in any holiday list.

The seven major "American" holidays in calendar order are: Martin Luther King Day. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a black clergyman who is ranked among the greatest of black Americans because of his crusade during the 1950s and 1960s to win full civil rights for his people. The world was shocked when Dr. King was assassinated in 1968. Ever since, special memorial services have marked his birthday on January 15. By vote of Congress, the third Monday of every January, beginning in 1986, is now a federal holiday in Dr. King's honour.

Presidents' Day. Until the mid-1970s, the birthday of George Washington, the first president of the United States (February 22) was observed as a federal holiday. In addition, the birthday of Abraham Lincoln (February 12), president during the civil War (1861-1865). was observed as a holiday in most states. In the 1970s Congress declared that in order to honour all past presidents of the United States, a single holiday, to be called Presidents' Day, would be observed on the third Monday in February. In many states, however, the holiday continues to be known as George Washington's birthday.

Memorial Day. This holiday, on the forth Monday of every May, is a day on which Americans honour the dead. Originally a day on which flags or flowers were placed on graves of soldiers who died in the American Civil War, it has become a day on which the dead of all wars and all other dead are remembered the same way. In many communities, special ceremonies arc held in cemeteries or at monuments by veterans of military services. Some hold parades and other hold memorial services or special programs in churches, schools or other public meeting places.

Independence Day. This day is regarded as the birthday of the United States as a free and independent nation. Most Americans simply call it the "forth of July", on which date it always falls. The holiday recalls the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. At that time, the people of the 13 British colonies located along the eastern coast of what is now the United States were involved in a war over what they considered unjust treatment by the king and parliament in Britain. The war began in 1775. As the war continued the colonists realised that they were fighting not just for the better treatment but for freedom from England's rule. The Declaration of Independence, signed by the leaders from the colonies was referred to as the United States of America.

Generally, picnics with patriotic speeches and parades are held all over the United States on the Forth of July. In 1876 and 1976, special centennial and bicentennial celebrations of Independence Day were held across the nation.

Labour day. This holiday, which is always observed on the firth Monday of September, has been a federal holiday since 1894, but was observed in some places before that date as a result of a campaign by an early organisation of workers called the knights of Labour. Its purpose is to honour the nation's working people. In many cities the day is marked by parades of working people representing the labour unions.

Columbus Day. This day commemorates Italian navigator Christopher Columbus' landing in the New World on October 12, 1492. Most nations of America observe this holiday on October 12, but in the United States, annual observances take place on the second Monday on October. The major celebration of the day takes place in New York City, which holds a huge parade each year.

Veteran's Day. This day was originally called Armistice Day and was established to honour those Americans who had served in the First World War. It falls on November 11, the day on which that was ended in 1918. It honors veterans of all the wars in which the United States has been involved. Organisations of war veterans hold parades or other special ceremonies, and the president or other high official places a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery outside Washington, D. C. There are soldiers buried mere from each war the United States has fought in since World War.

III. Tell whether these statements are true or false. Explain your choice.

1. Martin Luther King's day is observed on the first Monday of January.

2. On Memorial Day people honour all the dead.

3. The Declaration of Independence was signed in 1775.

4. Columbus Day commemorates British navigator Christopher Columbus.

5. Veteran's Day was originally called Memorial Day, to honour those Americans who had served in the First World War.

IV. Give English equivalents to the following word combinations.

празднование двухсотлетия чего-либо профсоюзы

общепризнанные праздники День Перемирия

получить гражданские права быть втянутым в войну

подписание Декларации Независимости священник

политическое убийство возлагать венок

общественные места праздновать по всей стране мир был потрясен

V. Choose one of the American holidays. Make up a report about its origin and the way it is celebrated.

American Family

I. Pre-reading activities:

1.1. How do you think, what is a traditional American family?

1.2. How can you define a traditional Russian family?

1.3. Do they have something in common?

1.4. What are the factors, which cause the changes of family patterns

II. Read the text. Divide it into logical parts. Find a key sentence for each part.

Belonging to a family is one bond almost everyone in the world shares, but family patterns vary from country to country. The United States has many different types of families. While most American families are traditional, comprising a father, mother and one or more children, 22.5 percent of all American families in 1983 were headed by one parent, usually a woman. In a few families in the United State, There are no children. These childless couples may believe that they would not make good parents; they may want freedom from the responsibilities of chilled-rearing; or, perhaps they are not physically able to have children. Other families in the United State have one adult who is stepparent. A stepmother or stepfather is a person who joins a family by marrying a father or mother.

Americans tolerate and accept these different types of families. In the United States, people have the right to privacy and Americans do not believe in telling other Americans what type of family group they must belong to. They respect each other's choices regarding family groups.

Families are very important to Americans. One sign that this is true is that Americans show great concern about the family as an institution. Many Americans believe there are too many divorces. They worry that teenagers are not obeying their parents. They are concerned about whether working women can properly care for their children.

Families give Americans a sense of belonging and a sense of tradition. Families give Americans strength and purpose.

Families serve many functions. They provide a setting in which children can be born and reared. Families help educate their members. Parents teach their children values - what they think is important. They teach their children daily skills, such as how to ride a bicycle. They also teach them common practices and customs, such as respect for elders and celebrating holidays. The most important job for a family is to give emotional support and security.

III. Complete the phrase, using the information from the text.

1. Some couples do not have children because ______.

2. American people have a right to privacy, which consists in _______.

3. The sign that a family is very important to Americans is _______.

4. Many Americans believe there are too many divorces because ______.

5. Families serve many functions such as _______.

3. Use the expressions from the text in the sentences of your own.

responsibility of child-reading daily skills

step parent emotional support

the right to privacy vary from country to country

V. Make up a dialogue. Compare American and Russian families. What similarities and differences do they have?