Flag of the United States
T
he
national
flag
of
the
United
States
of
America
consists of thirteen
equal horizontal stripes
of red
(top and bottom) alternating with white,
with a blue
rectangle in the canton
bearing fifty small, white, five-pointed
stars
arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and
bottom) alternating with rows of five stars.
The fifty stars on the flag represent the 50 states and the 13 stripes represent the original thirteen colonies that rebelled against the British monarchy and became the first states in the Union. Nicknames for the flag include the Stars and Stripes, Old Glory, and The Star-Spangled Banner. (also the name of the national anthem).
Vocabulary
alternating - чередующийся
rectangle ['rektæŋgl] - прямоугольник
Old Glory - "Доблесть прошлого". Первоначально название конкретного флага, который 10 августа 1831 был вручен капитану брига "Чарлз Даггетт" У. Драйверу. При подъеме флага на мачте судна капитан объявил: "Именую тебя "Доблесть прошлого"" [" I name the Old Glory"].
anthem [ænθəm] – гимн
Mark the statements true (T) or false (F) according to the text.
The national flag of the United States of America consists of thirty stripes fifteen stars.
The fifty stars on the flag represent the 50 states.
The 13 stripes represent the original thirteen colonies.
There is only one nickname for the flag.
Usa Climate
USA is a big country, it varies tremendously in climate conditions. Generally the western and southern half of the USA has an overall warmer weather, as compared to the eastern and northern half. Eastern/Northern half is extremely cold in winters accompanied by heavy snowfall, and has pleasant summers. Whereas the Western/Southern part has extremely hot summers and comparatively tolerable winters.
USA can be divided into six climate regions, excluding Alaska, Hawaii and outlying territories. The climate varies considerably between different regions.
Northwest Pacific. Includes states like Oregon and Washington to the crest of the Cascade Mountains. This is the wettest part of the country. The moisture is generally year round, more often in the form of a light drizzle. Temperatures are mild all the year round, averaging around 40 degree F. (32.2 degree C). The summer months are pleasantly warmer but never too hot. You can see fogs along the coast during the warmer weather, which disappears by the mid-day.
Mid/South Pacific Rockies. Includes states like California, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and Nevada. These states have generally dry and delightful summers.
California has excellent weather all the year round, with the northern part of the state somewhat cooler (quiet chilly in the winter but seldom freezing). There are very few places in California which experience snow, mostly all the cities have quite tolerable winters.
The winter months in the other states like Montana, Idaho and Wyoming can be very cold, with temperatures dropping well below 0 degree F. Colorado, Utah and Nevada are noted for their excellent skiing.
Midwest. Includes states like Dakotas, Kansas, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Indiana. This region is moderately dry. Precipitation occurs mainly in late spring and early summer. All have excellent summer weather, but the winters are bitterly cold, with quite a lot of snow and heavy chilly winds. Extremes within the Midwest can drop down to -50 degree F.
Northeast. Includes states like Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington DC, Maryland. This entire area is moderately rainy. In winter, the area experiences a heavy snow and freezing rain. Summers are usually pleasantly sunny and warm. The fall is especially beautiful in wooded areas.
Southeast. Includes states like portions of Arkansas and Louisiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia and below. Like the Northeast, this entire area experiences moderate rains fairly evenly throughout the year. The spring, summer and fall seasons are all very pleasant. Some snow and freezing rain will fall in winter, but, for the most part, the winters are quite mild and short lived. Southern Florida, like California, usually has excellent weather all the year round.
Southwest. Comprising Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma and western portions of Arkansas and Louisiana. This is the hottest and high rainfall region of the US.
One must be prepared to face heavy rains accompanied with severe thunder storms, dangerous lightening and occasional tornadoes. The winters are generally short in duration, but some freezing rains do occur. The spring and fall seasons are quite long and temperatures are generally excellent. The summers are very hot with temperatures approaching and exceeding 100 degree F. on many days.