5.2. Тексты для самостоятельной работы по теме «Our Country and the World»

ТЕМАТИКА ОБЩЕНИЯ: 1. Выдающиеся памятники культуры в различных странах мира.

2. Национальные традиции России и других стран мира.

3. Родной край. Достопримечательности разных стран.

4. Выдающиеся деятели искусства разных эпох, стран и культур.

TRANSLATION

The United States of America (the usa)

The United States of America is the fourth largest country in the world after Russia, Canada and China. The USA occupies the southern part of North America and stretches from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean. The total area of the country is 9 million square kilometres. The population is about 230 million people.

The country is washed by three oceans: the Arctic, the Pacific and the Atlantic. The country has many lakes, including the Great Lakes and many rivers, the longest of which are the Mississippi, the Missouri and others. The highest mountains are the Rocky Mountains.

The USA is rich in natural and mineral resources: oil, gas, iron ore, coal and various metals.

The USA is a highly developed industrial and agricultural country. The main industrial branches are aircraft, automobile, electronic, metallurgical, chemical and many others.

The United States of America is a federal state and a parliamentary republic, headed by the President. The President is elected for a 4-year term and not more than two times.

The USA is made up of 50 states and the District of Columbia, a special federal area where the capital of the country, Washington, is situated. Washington is the center of federal government but each state has its own capital and its own government. The highest legislative power belongs to the Congress, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The highest executive power belongs to the President.

There are two main political parties in the United States: the Democratic Party (their symbol is a donkey), and the Republican Party (their symbol is an elephant).

Christopher Columbus discovered the American continent in 1492. But for the Europeans the history of America started in the 17th century when in the year 1620, a ship named the “Mayflower” brought 102 Englishmen, women and children to the rocky coast. The Pilgrims landed and founded the colony they called Plymouth. The ship’s passengers were Puritans (Pilgrims – as they are usually known) members of a religious sect which was unpopular in Britain because its members wanted to reform the Church of England. They came to America to found a community where they could practice their religion without interference. The people living there were Native Americans (American Indians).

The Declaration of Independence was proclaimed in 1776. The war with Britain lasted eight years. The Louisiana region was bought from France in 1803. California was taken from Mexico in 1848. Alaska was bought from Russia in 1867.

Thirty-five million immigrants from Europe went to the United States in the nineteenth century. Slavery grew in the South. There was the Civil War between North and South for five years. By the end of the nineteenth century the United States became an industrial nation.

An American dream is to start with nothing, to work hard, and than to make a fortune and to be successful. The famous Americans are Abraham Lincoln – the man who freed the slaves; Charlie Chaplin – the man who makes you laugh; Ernest Hemingway – the man of letter and adventure; Martin Luther King – the man who was proud to be black; David Rockefeller – the man who made money from nothing; John F. Kennedy – the President whose murder shocked the world.

WRITING TASK

Write about one of the states of the USA (its geographical position, economy and the administrative structure). What country would you like to visit the UK or the USA? Give your reasons.

TRANSLATION

Canada

Canada occupies a great part of the North American Continent. The area is 9 million square kilometres and is the second largest country in the world. The population of Canada is 24 million people. English and French are the official languages of Canada and have equal rights. Canada is a federation of ten provinces and two northern territories. Ottawa is the capital of the country.

There are many lakes in Canada. The biggest of them are the Great Lakes which are on the US-Canada border. Niagara Falls attract a lot of tourists from all over the world.

Canada is a highly developed industrial and agricultural country. It is a world leader in the production of nickel, asbestos and other minerals. Canada has an ideal climate for growing wheat and barley. It is among the world's leading wheat producers and is second in the export of wheat.

WRITING TASK

Write about Canada's political status. Would you like to visit Niagara Falls?

TRANSLATION