Text 1. The american family and the british family

The American family consists of a mother and father and their two children, aged 7 and 10. They are dressed casually but well. They live in a suburban ranch-style house (1)_________it in a town in Texas. The US flag flies on the front of the double garage, between two deer heads, which are hunting trophies. The family owns two smart cars and also a dune buggy. They have a bicycle each.

There are comfortable beds, sofas and chairs, and matching wooden furniture (2)____________. Kitchen appliances include a washing machine, a dryer and a dishwasher, and various electrical gadgets. There are two televisions and a stereo system. Personal possessions used for leisure activities include a piano and a guitar, and two sewing machines. There are various toys including balls and a doll’s house (AmE dollhouse). A display of books around, and more on a bookcase (3)___________. The mother is holding the family’s most valued possession, a Bible. Tied to a fire hydrant, one of the father’s souvenirs is the family’s pet dog.

The British family also consists of two parents and their two children, aged 13 and 15. The parents are dressed in casual but good quality clothes and their children are in school uniform. They live in a suburban semi-detached house (4)____________. They have two cars, and each member of the family has a bicycle.

In the front garden and on the road there is a selection furniture and kitchen appliances, and a television, stereo system and radio. There are also lamps, pictures, ornaments and vases of flowers. A traditional tea with crumpets is laid out on the table. The family has put out many personal possessions, which illustrate their hobbies and interests. The father is holding the tiller (румполь) of his sailing dinghy (шлюпка), which is parked in front of the house next door. This is the family’s most valued possession. Nearby there is gardening equipment and barbecue. A cricket bat and pads and a boogie (=surf) board are displayed (5)___________. There is an exercise machine on the path and a squash racket leaning against the blanket chest. The elder daughter is holding her flute.

1. Вставьте в пропуски (1-5) буквы (a-e), соответствующие данным ниже фразам:

a) in a town in southern England;

b) from each room of the house;

c) in front of the garage;

d) with a garden around;

e) visible inside the house.

2. Отметьте данные ниже предложения как истинные (t) или ложные (f):

1. The US flag flies between the two bear heads. ¨

2. The family has two fine cars. ¨

3. All the members of the American family have bicycles. ¨

4. The British parents are dressed in shabby clothes. ¨

5. The British family has traditional tea with cakes. ¨

6. The British family plays cricket and squash. ¨

Text 2. Washington

1. Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States of America, is situated on the Potomac River. Washington does not belong to a state. It is a city and district, the District of Columbia (D.C.). The district is a piece of land ten miles square. The city is named in honour of the nation's first President George Washington. The district is named in honour of Columbus, the discoverer of America. Don't confuse it with the State of Washington, which is located in the northwest of the United States.

2. The capital owes very much to the first President of the United States, George Washington. It was Washington who chose the place for the District and laid in 1790 the corner-stone of the Capitol, where Congress sits. It was decided that the new seat of government should be situated on the left bank of the Potomac River, between the states of Maryland and Virginia - a compromise area, between the states of the North and of the South.

3. Along the banks of the Potomac River there are many green parks and gar­dens. In 1912 the famous cherry trees were planted in Washington, The 3000 flow­ering cherry trees were a gift from Japan and are still a major attraction for visitors and residents in the early days of spring.

4. The most beautiful park in metropolitan Washington, apart from Rock Creek, is Great Falls Park. This park is split in two by the waterfalls from the Virginia side. .

5. There is the famous Pentagon in Washington. The Pentagon is a building where the headquarters of the Department of Defence, the Army, the Navy and the Air Force are located. It is the military centre of the United States.

Подберите абзацы, содержащие ответы на следующие вопросы:

1. What is Pentagon? ¨

1. What is Washington and in whose honour is it named? ¨

2. Describe the gardens of Washington. ¨

3. Who chose the place for the city and why was it chosen there? ¨

4. What park is the most beautiful? ¨