Test 2b

Task 1. Study the text.

The usa government

Under the Constitution, the federal government of the USA is divided into three branches, each chosen in a different manner, each able to check and balance the others.

The executive branch is headed by the president, who is chosen in nation-wide elections every four years. The elective process for a US president is unique. Americans vote for slates of presidential electors equal to the number of senators and representatives each state has in Congress. The candidate with the highest number of votes in each state wins all the electoral votes of that state. The presidential candidate needs 270 electoral votes to be elected. Any natural-born American who is 35 years old or older may be elected to this office. The president proposes bills to Congress, enforces federal laws, serves as commander-in-chief of the armed forces and, with the approval of the Senate, makes treaties and appoints federal judges, ambassadors and other members of the executive departments. Each head of an executive department holds the title of a secretary and together they form a council called the Cabinet.

The legislative branch is made up of two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives. The 435 seats in the House of Representatives are allocated on the basis of population; every state has at least one representative. Each state elects two members of the 100-member Senate: a senator’s term of office is six years.

Both houses must approve a bill for it to become law, but the president may veto, or refuse to sign it. If so, Congress reconsiders the bill. If two-thirds of the members of both houses then approve it, the bill becomes law without the president’s signature.

The judicial branch is made up of federal district courts (at least one in very state, total number - 94), 13 federal courts of appeals and, on top, the Supreme Court. Federal judges are appointed by president with the approval of the Senate; the appointments are for life. Federal courts decide cases involving federal law, conflicts between states, between citizens of different states. An American who feels he has been evicted under an unjust law may appeal his case to the Supreme Court, which may rule that the law is unconstitutional.

Each state has its own system of government which consists of the state legislature, executive and judiciary.

Task 2. Translate the marked paragraphs into Russian.

Task 3. Put the questions to the following sentences using prompts in brackets:

1. Each state elects two members of the 100-member Senate. (How many members …? Alternative)

2. The federal government of the USA is divided into three branches. (What government …? Disjunctive)

3. The Cabinet have already been appointed. (What ...? General)

4. The results of the elections will be known on Monday. (When ...? Why ...?)

4. Put the verbs in brackets into required Tense Form (Present Indefinite, Present Continuous, Present Perfect, Present Perfect Continuous Active)

1. I (to go) to buy a new phone tomorrow. 2. Numerous bridges (to link) the banks of the Themes. 3. They (to wait) here for two hours. 4. She (to dance) since she was eight. 5. Someone (to take) my books. I (to look) for them for ages, but I can't find them anywhere. 6. I (to wait) for two hours, but nobody (to arrive) yet. 7. Run downstairs, your uncle … (to wait) for you. 8. Sorry, John (not to be) at home now. He (to travel) in France.

5. Put the verbs in brackets into required Tense Form (Past Indefinite, Past Continuous, Past Perfect, Past Perfect Continuous Active)

1. He (to work) there some time when that dreadful accident (to happen). 2. Where you (to go) when you (to get off) the train? 3. We (to ring) the police because the neighbours (to play) their music too loud. 4. David (to buy) his ticket the week before, so I don’t understand why he (to try) to get in without paying. 5. By the time she (to be) eighteen she (to visit) nearly every capital city in the world. 6. I (to see) my first baseball game while I (to live) in New York. 7. He told us they (to live) in this district since they had left Paris.

6. Put the verbs in brackets into required Tense Form (Future Indefinite, Future Continuous, Future Perfect, Present Perfect Continuous Active)

1. They (to enjoy) the Tahiti sun for two weeks by the time you come there. 2. By next month he (to write) his fourth play. 3. Maybe we (to play) foot­ball tomorrow. 4. You ... (to do) it, even if you hate doing it. 5. I am afraid it (to rain) all day tomorrow. 6. I... (to meet) you here at seven o'clock tomorrow. 7. We (to solve) this difficult problem by the end of the week.

7. Transform the following sentences from the Active Voice into the Passive Voice using the recommended beginnings.

1. They are laughing at her. She …

2. We will not make a decision. A decision …

3. Somebody will show them the way. They …

4. They are painting the walls green. The walls … green.

5. Someone has stolen his bicycle. His bicycle …

6. Nobody asked us to stay. We …

7. The boss has offered her a better job. She …

8. Transform the Direct Speech sentences into the Indirect Speech sentences.

1. He wondered, “Is Jane trying to get a job?”

2. “What sort of heating do you have here?” Sally asked.

3. “I’ve visited several law firms,” he informed.

4. “I’m hoping to go to Perth,” she said.

5. He said, “My company will do it.”

6. “I will probably go abroad,” she informed.

7. “When you are driving look into your driving mirror”, said my instructor.

8. “Take a couple of aspirins,” she recommended.

9. Mother told, “Take it back to the shop where you bought it.”

10. “How often do you want to attend the pool?” Sally asked.

11. “Is there a chance to continue with your studies?” she asked.