1. Ask and answer questions about Acropolis, using the following numbers.

Example

twenty-five

How long will it take to build Acropolis? - Twenty five years.

-two thousand million - three hundred thousand

- two kilometers - fifteen

- five hundred - fifteen million

2. Would you like to live in Acropolis? Why/ Why not?

Before you read

1. What would you know about New York City?

2. Where is it situated?

3. What are some of its famous sights?

Text 2. The empire state building

New York is situated at the mouth of the Hudson River on the East coast of the USA. It is made up of five boroughs with a combined population of over 17 million people. The heart of New York City is the island of Manhattan, where, in the Midtown and Downtown districts, the buildings "scrape the sky".

One of these skyscrapers is the Empire State building on Fifth Avenue, between 33^rd and 34^th Street. Like the Statue of Liberty and Brooklyn Bridge, it is instantly recognized as a symbol which captures the power, energy and excitement of one of the world's most-loved and most-hated cities.

When the 102-storey structure was built in 1931, it was the tallest building in the world. From the top, on a clear day, you can see over a 50-mile radius. Its towering height and distinctive Art Deco style made the Empire State Building an instant success with the public.

Its record as the world's tallest building has since been beaten – the World Trade Center in New York and the Sears Tower in Chicago are both taller – but the Empire State Building remains uniquely fascinating.

At night it is floodlit with coloured lights. Some people love the lights but others complain that the favourite New York building has been turned into the Biggest Christmas tree in the world!

EMPIRE STATE FACTS

• the Empire State is "stepped" above a certain height, rather like a pyramid, to prevent it from blocking light and air from the neighbouring area.

• there are 6,500 windows, nearly seven miles of elevator shafts and enough floor space to shelter a town of 80,000 people. The building was first cleaned in 1962. it took thirty people six months to complete the job. They were all experienced at high altitudes, including one who was a former paratrooper.

• in the famous film "King Kong" the giant gorilla, King Kong, has his final battle from the top of the Empire Building.

Words to learn:

district scrape instantly paratrooper

power energy floodlit prevent

1. Read and answer:

1. How many boroughs make up New York City?

2. Where exactly is the Empire State Building situated in Manhattan?

3. When was it built?

4. What happens to the building at night?

5. What happened in 1962?

6. Who was King Kong?

2. Correct the statements:

Example

1. New York City is situated at the mouth of the Mississippi River.

No, New York City is situated at the mouth of the Hudson River

2. In the downtown district of Manhattan the buildings are modern but not so tall.

3. The Empire State Building is the tallest in the world.

4. The Empire State Building was built in the nineteenth century.

5. It has never been cleaned.

6. The Building is shaped like a tall rectangle.

3. Match figures of the left column with the facts of the right column.

17 mln five boroughs between 33rd an 34th Street 102-storey 6500 windows seven miles 80,000 people for six months

the Empire State Building is situated of elevator shafts are in this building structure was built in 1931 is the population of the New York City can shelter in this building are in new York City thirty people first cleaned the building in 1962 are in this building