1. The author's main purpose in this passage is …

1. to provide a detailed study of European place names in America;

2. to give a general explanation to current postal problems;

3. to illustrate the role of the English language;

4. to explain why the people who arrived in America moved to the west.

2. It’s true that …

1. the city of New York was initially founded by the Dutch;

2. New York appeared before New Amsterdam;

3. New Amsterdam was the capital of Holland;

d) the English had no army in New York.

3. Why does the word ‘new’ appear so often in the place names?

1. Because the Duke of York ordered so.

2. According to the European tradition.

3. To facilitate postal services.

4. Because the people who came to America were practical.

4. It’s wrong to say that …

a) place names in the west are completely different from those in the east;

b) there are 5 places called Philadelphia in the USA;

c) America has an established tradition of addressing letters;

d) Plymouth and Boston are English names.

Text 2

The weather may dominate conversation in Britain, but it rarely succeeds in weakening the British love of traditions and outdoor life. Even as late in the year as October and November, people think nothing of lining streets or standing around in parks to watch processions or firework displays. Three big outdoor events are held in this period: they are the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, Guy Fawkes Night celebrations and the historic Lord Mayor’s Procession and Show.

When the veteran cars set out on the London-Brighton run each November, they are celebrating one of the great landmarks in the history of motoring in Britain – the abolition of the rule that every ‘horseless carriage’ had to be preceded along the road by a pedestrian. This restriction imposed by the Locomotives of Highways Act was withdrawn in 1896, and on November 14^th of that year there was a rally of motor-cars on the London-Brighton highway to celebrate the first day of freedom – Emancipation day, as it has been known by motorists ever since.

Emancipation is still celebrated on the Brighton road each November, but nowadays there is an important condition of entry – every car taking part must be at least 60 years old. Hence the annual celebration has become known as the Veteran Car Run. It provides the gayest motoring spectacle of the year and a wonderful opportunity to see these fine old cars of immaculate paint and polish. Since 1930 the event has been organized by the Royal Automobile Club.

On the morning of the first Sunday in November veteran cars – many of them the last remaining examples of their kind in the world – assemble in London’s Hyde Park for the drive to Brighton, 53 miles away on the south coast. You don’t have to be a car enthusiast to find this colourful event fascinating. Many of the participants dress up in costumes to match their vehicles – creating an atmosphere of the past. At 8 o’clock comes the ‘Off’ and one by one they move down Constitution Hill. Through the southern suburbs they go out into the open countryside of Sussex. The Run is not a race. Entrants are limited to a maximum average speed of 20 miles per hour. The great thing is not speed but quality of performance.