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Файл:Learning to Speak English. Учебное пособие по разговорному английскому языку
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United States Capitol Building
of the US President, was constructed in
1792 – 1829. The Capitol is the building
where the US Congress meets. The building got its name from the temple in Rome.
There is a law against building structures
more than 90 feet high in Washington,
D.C., so it presents different appearance
from New York with its skyscrapers. Low
buildings and a lot of trees give Washington a pleasant aspect.
There are several universities in the capital. The Congress library is located here.
It contains more than 13 million books
in various languages, more than 19 million manuscripts and a lot of
other items, such as maps, prints, recordings and musical scores. The
Library serves the Congress, the entire governmental establishment
and the public at large.
The impressive national capital, with its many beautiful, treelined streets includes world-known art galleries, museums and monuments. The new National Historical Wax Museum has reproductions of famous persons and famous events in American history. The
Navy Museum displays historic American moments from the earliest
history of the country. The National Gallery of Art, a large museum
of painting, sculpture and other arts, is also situated in the capital. It
is supported by the US government. The Lincoln Memorial is set
high on an artificial plateau at the end of the Mall. It is a big temple
in Greek Style with 36 marble columns to represent the states in the
union at Lincoln’s death. The Arlington National Cemetery is the site
of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The bodies of American soldiers from every war since the Civil War are also buried in it.
Washington, D.C., is the centre of the political life of the United States of America.
14. What would you say if you took part in the following
dialogue? Act it.
A.: When was the capital of USA founded?
B.: … .
A.: What does each star of the USA flag represent?
B.: … .
171
A.: Why does the name of the capital always go with the abbreviation D.C.?
B.: … .
A.: Where is the District of Columbia situated?
B.: … .
A.: Where are all organs of power situated?
B.: … .
A.: Is Washington, D.C., an industrial city?
B.: … .
A.: What is the White House?
B.: … .
A.: What is the Capitol?
B.: … .
A.: Why are all buildings low in Washington, D.C.?
B.: … .
A.: What can you say about the Congress Library?
B.: … .
A.: What museums and galleries is Washington, D.C., famous
for?
B.: … .
A.: What is the Arlington National Cemetery?
B.: … .
15. Put questions to which these are the answers. The im-
portant words in the answer are italicized. Act the dialogue.
A.: …?
B.: Washington, D.C., is situated on the East Coast.
A.: …?
B.: Washington, D.C., was named after the first American
President George Washington.
A.: …?
B.: Washington, D.C., became the capital of the USA in 1800.
A.: …?
B.: The flag of the USA, the Stars of Stripes, has fifty stars on
a blue background.
A.: …?
B.: Washington, the capital of the USA, occupies the District
of Columbia.
A.: …?
172
B.: Another Washington is a state on the Pacific Coast.
A.: …?
B.: The population of Washington, D.C., is over 3.4 million.
A.: …?
B.: The Congress library contains a great number of books,
manuscripts and other items.
A.: …?
B.: The Lincoln Memorial represents the states in the union.
A.: …?
B.: Washington, D.C., is the centre of the political life of the
United States of America.
16. Comment on the picture given in the text.
17. Underline the main ideas of the text and retell it in Eng-
lish.
18. Read Text 10C “The Melting Pot”. Give a brief over-
view of its structure and contents in English.
TEXT 10C
THE MELTING POT
The American Dream, the hope for a better life in a new country, has attracted people from all over the world. Most of them leave
their homeland because they are poor and have few opportunities.
Some are forced to leave because of famines and civil war; others
come for religious freedom.
The number of legal immigrants into the United States is controlled by the immigration quotas. These quotas are constantly
changing. For example, in recent years, the number of Haitians allowed into the United States has increased by 5.2 percent. The quota
for Mexicans has decreased by 19.3 percent.
Some immigrants enter the United States illegally; they cross
the southern border from Mexico or stay after their visas run out.
They live with the fear that they will be found and sent back to their
country. Under the 1986 Immigration Act, a number of illegal immigrants have become legal refugees, because it is too dangerous for
them to stay in their homeland. Immigrants from many different
countries have helped make the United States a land of ethnic diversity. Modern Americans value their ethnic and cultural identity, and
173
practice their traditions openly. A typical American may be a mixture of several ethnic and religious backgrounds.
The present spirit of ethnic pride is quite different from the attitude that Americans had in the past. Before the late 1960s, immigrants were expected to become part of the mainstream of American
culture – this was the idea of the melting pot. Society discourages
immigrants from passing on their language and traditions to their
children.
Recent immigrants now see a value in keeping their own language and cultural traditions, even after they have lived in the United
States for a number of years. In states with a high percentage of immigrants who speak languages such as Spanish and Chinese, bilingual schooling is available; students can continue to study subjects in
their own language while learning English.
After five years of residence in the United States, immigrants
may apply to be naturalized and become American citizens. Every
applicant must pass a test that shows that he or she can read and
write English correctly, and knows about the history of the United
States and its form of government, as well as general information
about the country. There is also a face-to-face interview with an immigration officer to make sure that the applicant can speak English
and meets the requirements for citizenship. Applicants must also
prove that they have not committed any crimes, and support the Constitution of the United States.
19. Answer the following questions.
1. Why do people leave their homeland for the United States of
America?
2. How is the number of immigrant controlled in the USA?
3. What problems can immigrants have?
4. What does the 1986 Immigration Act say?
5. What is the immigrants’ role in the American life?
6. What is a typical American like?
7. What can you say about the present spirit of ethnic pride?
8. What is the idea of the melting pot?
9. Do immigrants try to keep their language and culture in the
American society?
10. What is required to become an American citizen?
11. Can an immigrant who does not know English or the histo-
ry of the USA be naturalized?
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12. What do applicants who want to be naturalized have to
prove?
20. Reproduce the parts of the text in which these words
and phrases are used. Use these phrases in short stories of your
own.
To attract, all over the world, to be forced to do smth, famine,
a quota, to increase, to decrease, to run out, a legal refugee, ethnic
diversity, to be different from smth, to discourage, to pass on smth,
bilingual schooling, to be available, to apply, a face-to-face interview, to make sure, the requirement for smth, citizenship, to commit
a crime.
21. Discuss the text in pairs. Use the pattern below as a
model and guidelines.
A.: It has been stated that recent immigrants see a value in
keeping their own language and cultural traditions.
B.: I think it’s debatable. As a matter of fact immigrants are
still expected to become part of the mainstream of American culture.
A.: I can’t agree with you. As far as I know from the text …,
etc.
22. Find and reproduce the key sentence in each paragraph
expressing the main idea.
23. Retell the text according to the plan made up.
24. Make a story about the United States of America based
on the information given in the above texts.
SECTION 3
SPEAKING
25. Practise dialogue 1.
Dialogue 1
American Cities
Teacher: Can you name the most important cities in the USA?
Student: I think I can, but you’ll have to help me a bit.
T.: Oh, I’m sure you are able to do so without my help. Well,
go ahead!
S.: The capital of the USA, Washington, D.C., should be mentioned first.
175
T.: Right! It’s good that you started with the capital.
S.: Then comes New York, which is the largest city and sea-
port in the USA.
T.: What about Chicago?
S.: Chicago is the second largest city in the US. It’s an im-
portant center of heavy industry.
T.: Do you happen to know what Chicago produces?
S.: It produces different electrical and agricultural machines.
T.: It’s also famous for its tinned meat industry, isn’t it?
S.: Yes, it is. And after Chicago comes Detroit, a large city in
Michigan. Detroit is one of the biggest producers in the motor-car
industry.
T.: You are right! Detroit produces millions of car. Now say a
few words about Baltimore, will you?
S.: Baltimore is a large port city in northern Maryland and a
shipbuilding center.
T.: And it is also a big center of the aircraft, electronics, chemical, electrical and food industries.
S.: I think we should also mention Boston, which is a large
seaport and shipbuilding center.
T.: Boston also produces aeroplanes, chemical, electronic and
other machines.
S.: Another shipbuilding and machine building center of the
USA is Philadelphia.
T.: Philadelphia is also famous for its agricultural and food industries.
S.: San Francisco is a large port and shipbuilding center, the
second largest city in California. Los Angeles is a port in southern
California, the third largest city in the United States.
T.: What is Los Angeles famous for?
S.: It’s famous for Hollywood, the center of the motion-picture
industry in the US.
26. Make up dialogues of your own using dialogue 1 as a
model. Collect the necessary information.
Situations: you meet you friends and talk about:
a) New York;
b) Los Angeles;
c) Chicago.
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27. Practise dialogue 2.
Dialogue 2
Washington, D.C.
A.: What’s the meaning of D.C. after the name of the capital?
B.: Oh, it stands for District of Columbia.
A.: Is it the name of a state?
B.: No, the District of Columbia does not belong to any of the
fifty states of the USA. It is a tract of land about 70 square miles
(181 sq. km) on the east bank of the Potomac River. The city was
founded in 1790 on a site chosen by George Washington, the first
President of the US. Maryland and Virginia granted land on each
side of the river.
A.: What is the population of the city?
B.: About one million.
A.: Is it like other large cities in the US?
B.: No, quite different. The city was built according to a pre-
liminary plan. There is a law that forbids to build structures more
than 90 feet (27.4 metres) high in the city.
A.: You mean, there are no skyscrapers in Washington?
B.: That’s right. The White House, the official name of the
President’s executive mansion, is only four storeys high.
A.: Where is it located?
B.: It’s located on the south side of Pennsylvania Avenue, fac-
ing Lafayette Square.
A.: They say it is the oldest public building in Washington.
B.: Yes, that’s true. The first President who lived in the White
House was Adams. It was back in 1800.
A.: Why is it called “the White House”?
B.: During the war of 1812 – 1814 the British burned most of
the public buildings in Washington, including the White House and
the Capitol. In 1814 the brown stone walls of the President’s home
were painted white and it has been the “White House” ever since.
A.: That’s interesting. You seem to know a lot about the White
House. Do you know anything about the East Room, the Blue
Room? I mean, what are they used for?
B.: Well, I’ve read somewhere that the White House has 132
rooms. Large receptions and news conferences are held in the East
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Room. The elliptical Blue Room is for different social, diplomatic
and official receptions. The Red and Green Rooms are used for private and quasi-official gatherings.
28. Make up dialogues of your own using dialogue 2 as a
model.
Situations: You meet your friend and talk about:
a) the historical background of Washington, D.C.;
b) the places of interest of Washington, D.C.;
c) the White House.
29. Practise dialogue 3.
Dialogue 3
Alaska, the largest state in the US
Teacher: Do you know when Alaska became the 49th state?
Student: In 1959.
T.: Do you know when it was purchased from Russia?
S.: In 1867, if I’m not mistaken.
T.: Do you know how much money the US paid for Alaska?
S.: I’m afraid, I don’t.
T.: Alaska is America’s largest state, isn’t it?
S.: It is, but only half a million people live there.
T.: What can you say about the climate in Alaska?
S.: It’s very cold in Alaska throughout the whole year.
T.: They say the temperature may drop as low as –47º Fahren-
heit in some places. What is the capital of Alaska, by the way?
S.: The capital of Alaska is Juneau.
T.: What other towns in Alaska can you name?
S.: Fairbanks, which is about 600 miles away from Juneau.
Towns are far apart in Alaska. Many people use planes to travel in
the state.
T.: Are there many roads in the state?
S.: No, there aren’t many because long roads cost a lot to build.
Many people travel in boats along the coast.
30. Make up and act dialogues considering the following
assignments.
1. Your friend came back from the United States of America.
You talk about his stay there.
178
2. The teacher conducts the English lesson devoted to the USA
and s/he asks you some questions about the states of the country. Use
the information collected.
31. Fill in the missing remarks of dialogue 4.
Dialogue 4
The Most Populated State
Teacher: Which is the most populated state in the US?
Student: I’m sure anybody can tell you that it’s California.
T.: … .
S.: The population of California is around 25 million people.
T.: … .
S.: It’s over 400 thousand square kilometers.
T.: … .
S.: No, two states – Alaska and Texas – are bigger.
T.: … .
S.: Because gold was found in California over a hundred years
ago.
T.: … .
S.: I’ll try. Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, San Jose
and Oakland, and, of course, its capital Sacramento.
SECTION 4
LISTENING
32. Listen to the Text “New Orleans”. Study the notes and
answer the questions that follow.
Notes
1. Cajun [′keidʒən] – кейджан, житель южных районов штата Луизиана
2. Acadia [ə′keidiə] – Акадия, название французской колонии, существовавшей до XVIII в.
3. Jambulaya – джамбулайя, рагу
4. Gumbo [′gΛmbəu] – суп, приготовленный из мяса или
морских продуктов
5. Okra [′əukrə] – (бот.) окра съедобная, кушанье приго-
товленное из окры
1. Where is New Orleans situated?
179
2. What state is New Orleans located in?
The number of people speaking English in the USA.
The languages from which some new words were absorbed.
Learning native American words by the Europeans.
Dialects of American English.
The language of teenagers.
Some differences between American and British English.
American English
British English
honor
theater
color
traveled
standardize
organize
honour
theatre
colour
travelled
standardize
organise
3. What is New Orleans famous for?
4. Who occupied the territory of this area at different times?
5. Who are the Cajuns?
6. What is the origin of Cajun?
7. What is the music of New Orleans like?
8. What instruments is Cajun music played on?
9. What is the food of the area like?
33. Check your answers with your classmates and
tapescript 10A of the text. Look up the words you do not know in
your dictionary.
34. Retell the text about New Orleans.
35. Collect some more information about New Orleans and
the state it is in and make up a story about them.
36. Listen to the Text “American English”. As you listen,
fill in the chart according to the following headings.
37. Check your answers with your classmates and
tapescript 10B of the text. Look up the words you do not know in
your dictionary.
38. Study some differences in spelling between American
and British English. Give your own examples.
39. Retell the text about American English.
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