Сидоркина Е.В. Английский язык для юристов. Ч. 1

READING

1. Read and translate the following international words:

2.Read and translate the text. Then answer the following questions:

-When the USA was founded?

-How many parts does the USA consist of?

The United States of America was founded in 1776. Today the USA is the fourth largest country in the world (after Russia, Canada and China). It occupies the southern part of North America and stretches from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean. It also includes Alaska in the north and Hawaii Islands in the Pacific Ocean. The total area of the country is about nine and a half million square kilometers. The USA borders on Canada in the north and on Mexico in the south. It also has a sea-border with Russia.

The population of the country is about 250 million. The USA is made up of 50 states and the District of Columbia where the capital of the country, Washington, is situated. This District is a special federal independent area with its own laws and regulations.

If we look at the map of the USA, we can see lowlands and mountains. The highest mountains are the Rocky Mountains, the Cordillera, and the Sierra Nevada. The highest peak is

Mount McKinley, which is located in Alaska.

AЦОЫТМК’Ь ХКЫРОЬЭ ЫТЯОЫЬ КЫО ЭСО MТЬЬТssippi, the Missouri, the Rio Grande, and the Columbia. The Great Lakes, a group of five lakes (Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario) along the border between the USA and Canada are the largest and deepest in the USA. The lakes and especially Niagara Falls are popular with tourists.

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The climate of the country varies greatly from one part of the country to another. The coldest regions are in the north. The climate of Alaska is arctic. The climate of the central part of the country is continental. The south has subtropi-

cal climate. Hot winds blowing from the Gulf of Mexico often bring typhoons. The climate along the Pacific coast is much warmer than that of the Atlantic coast.

The USA is a highly developed industrial country. It is the leading producer of copper and oil and the аШЫХН’Ь second producer of iron

ore and coal. Among the most important manufacturing industries are aircrafts, cars, textiles, radio and television sets, weapon, furniture and paper.

Though mainly European and African in origin, the Americans are made up from nearly all races and nations, including the Chinese and the native Americans – Indians.

The largest cities of the USA are New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit, San Francisco and others.

The United States is the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln, George Washington,

O’HОЧЫв, MКЫЭТЧ LЮЭСОЫ KТЧР КЧН ЦКЧв ШЭСОЫ ПКЦШЮЬ ЩОШЩХО.

Vocabulary notes:

1.to border –

2.independent –

3.law –

4.to vary –

5.coast –

6.copper –

7.iron ore –

8.weapon –

VOCABULARY WORK

3. Find in the text the English equivalents for the following Russian wordcombinations given below:

8.

9.

10.

11.

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12.

4. Find synonyms for the following words:

5. Complete the text using the proper words in the box and then translate

them:

freedom tourists monument include island government

The Statue of Liberty is one the most famous_________ in the world. It is a symbol of ________ in America. It is a bronze figure (almost 46 meters high) of a woman holding up a torch, on Liberty Island in New York Harbor which is a gift from the French __________ sent to America in 1884. The statue was created by French artist Frederic Auguste Bartholdi. Thousands of ___________ visits the statue every year.

Ferries leave for the __________ every half hour. Prices __________ admission to the statue.

6.Find in the texts words or phrases which mean the following:

1.A ЬМСОЦО ШЫ ЩХКЧ ШП ЭСО ОКЫЭС’Ь ЬЮЫПКМО ШЫ part of it, showing countries, towns, rivers, etc.

2.The line that divides two countries or areas.

3.The whole system of rules that citizens of the country must obey.

4.Large movable objects such as chairs, tables and beds.

5.A very high hill.

6.A large group of people of the same race and language.

7.An important town or city where the central government of a country, state

is.

8.A very violent storm in tropical areas.

9.Something that you use to fight with, such as a knife, bomb or gun.

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Text II

7.Read and translate the text. Then answer the following question:

-What is Washington, D.C. famous for?

Washington was founded in l791 for the purpose of serving as the capital of the United States of America. (Do not confuse it with the State of Washington, which is located in the northwest of the USA). It is situated on the north bank of the Potomac River. The city was named after the first president George Washington. He picked this place for the capital city near his home.

Washington, D.C. does not belong to any of the fifty states. It is located in the District of Columbia, which is on the east coast of the Atlantic Ocean. The district was named in honor of Columbus, the discoverer of America.

Washington, D.C. has no industry; it is a government center of the USA. Many people consider Washington to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. There are many parks, wide streets and impressive buildings. Many visitors come to Washington to see the White House. It is the oldest public structure in the capital, built in 1799. The White House is the official residence of the President of the United States. It is situated at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. There are more than hundred rooms in the White House.

Other landmarks of Washington are memorials, dedicated to three American Presidents. They are the Washington Memorial, built in honour of the first American President, the Lincoln Memorial, which is devoted to the memory of the sixteenth President of the USA, the author of the Emancipation Proclamation and the Jefferson Memorial which was built in honour of the third President of the USA, who was the author of the Declaration of Independence.

Other important buildings are the Capitol where Congress meets to make the laws and the Supreme Court, the citadel of the justice. The US Supreme Court looks like a Roman temple. The Capitol is located in the very centre of Washington, not far from the Library of Congress. It is situated on the Capitol Hill, the highest point of the city. The Capitol is the highest building in Washington. There is a law in Washington not to build buildings higher than the Capitol.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is located in Washington too. It was created in 1908. It concerns domestic security and federal crimes. The FBI motto is Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity.

Washington, D.C. is sometimes called the heart of America. It is the place where the federal government works and where each President of the United States lives. The city is not so great as New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, but it has homelike atmosphere.

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15.to concern –

16.crime –

VOCABULARY WORK

8. Find in the text the English equivalents for the following Russian wordcombinations given below:

1.

2.

3.

4. -

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

9. Find synonyms for the following words:

10. Find in the texts words or phrases which mean the following:

1.The official home of the American President in Washington, D.C.

2.The building in Washington, D.C. where the US Congress works.

3.A short statement giving a rule on how to behave, which expresses the aims of a person or institution.

4.A building or room where all the information is given so that it can be

judged.

5.The state of being protected from the bad things that could happen to you.

6.The police department in the USA that is concerned with crimes in more than one state.

7.The group of people who have the power to control an organization or coun-

try.

COMPREHENSION

11. Say if the following statements are true or false. Comment on the true statements and correct the false ones:

1.The United States of America was founded in 1776.

2.The USA is situated in the southern part of North America.

3.New York is the capital of the USA.

4.The population of the USA is less than 200 million people.

5.Alaska is the coldest state in America.

6.The Great Lakes is a group of five lakes.

7.The Potomac River is the longest river in the USA.

8.There are a lot of skyscrapers in Washington, D.C.

9.The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is located in Chicago.

10.Abraham Lincoln was the first American President.

11.Americans celebrate the Independence Day on the 4th of July.

12.The Statue of Liberty is situated in New York.

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12. Choose the correct alternative in each case to complete the sentence:

1.The USA was founded in __________. a) 1791

b) 1776 c) 1777 d) 1789 e) 1764

2.The USA consists of _________ states. a) 50

b) 60 c) 48 d) 54 e) 52

3.The USA flag is called ____________. a) Union Jack

b) Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity c) In God We Trust

d) Stars and Stripes e) The Melting Pot

4.Washington, D.C. is situated on the bank of the ________ River. a) Potomac

b) Thames

c) Mississippi d) Missouri e) Columbia

5.The biggest US state is _________.

a)Texas

b)Washington

c)Maryland

d)Virginia

e)Alaska

6. The Capitol is the seat of _________.

a)the FBI

b)the Pentagon

c)Congress

d)military administration

e)the US Supreme Court

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7.The FBI deals with ____________. a) international crimes

b) federal crimes

c) secret information about other countries d) violent crimes

e) organized crimes

8.George Washington chose the place for__________. a) the State of Washington

b) New York

c) Washington, D.C.

d) the District of Columbia e) Chicago

9.Washington, D.C. has no___________. a) museums

b) parks c) rivers

d) skyscrapers

e) governmental offices

10.Golden Gate is one of the most famous ________ in the world. a) buildings

b) memorials

c) National parks d) bridges

e) natural sights

11.The Statue of Liberty was a present to the USA from ________. a) England

b) Spain c) France d) Ireland e) Russia

DISCUSSION

13. Answer the following questions:

1.Who discovered America?

2.Why is America called America?

3.Who was the first President of the USA?

4.What is the capital of the USA?

5.What is the name of the national flag of the USA?

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6.When do Americans celebrate Independence Day?

7.What territory does the USA occupy?

8.How many parts does the USA consist of?

9.What countries does the USA border on?

10.How can you characterize the USA economy?

11.What are the largest cities of the USA?

12.What famous Americans do you know?

13.What is Washington, D.C. famous for?

14.What is New York famous for?

15.What is Chicago famous for?

14. Combine the whole information of the previous lessons and make a topic about the USA geography and sights.

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READING

1. Read and translate the following international

2. Read and translate the text. While reading the text try to find answers to these questions:

-What does the term «constitutional monarchy» mean?

-What differences are there between the Parliament and the Government?

THE UK POLITICAL SYSTEM

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a constitutional monarchy. This means that Great Britain is governed by the Parliament and a hereditary sovereign.

The monarch has the title of a King (or Queen). The sovereign is the arbiter of last resort in some matters. These matters can be the dissolution of the Parliament and invitations to form a government when there is no clear majority.

The legislative power in the country is exercised by the Houses of Parliament. The British Parliament is often called Westminster because it is housed in a building in central London called the Palace of Westminster.

The British Parliament – like most in the world – is bicameral, that is there are two houses or chambers. The only exceptions to this practice around the world are some countries such as Israel and New Zealand. The British Parliament consists of two chambers: the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

The House of Lords consists of the Lords Temporal and the Lords Spiritual. The Lords Spiritual are the Archbishops of York and Canterbury, together with twen- ty-four senior bishops of the Church of England. The Lords Temporal consist of hereditary and life peers and peeresses. The House of Lords serves as the ultimate court of appeal.

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