Text 2

Pre- reading Task

Read the text given below and find the answers to the following questions:

1. What was the population of New York in 1875?

2. Did the population of New York grow fast?

3. How did the Government cope with the problem of the rapid growth of population?

4. When did the first sky-scraper appear?

5. What is the highest sky-scraper of New York?

6. Is New York a multinational city?

7. Why are statictics so impressive?

8. Why is it so difficult to be Mayor of New York?

2. New York

New York defies description. You can say anything you like about it and always be right; if you listen to different people talking about it they could each be describing a different town. For some, it’s a center for art, music and theatre; for others, a city of finance and politics. For writers it’s the publishing capital of the world, for manufacturers, a bottomless market, for safe-crackers it’s Ali Baba’s cave, for everyone it’s a city of opportunity.

In 1875 the population of New York was one million; twenty-five years later it was over three and a half million. New inventions were developed to deal with the population expansion. At break-neck speed, New York covered itself with trains, suspension bridges, elevated railways, steam boats and then skyscrapers. The first skyscraper was put up in 1888. It had only thirteen stories, but the next had twenty-two, the Empire State Building- 102, and now the World Trade Center has reached 110. Manhattan solved the space problem by building up. But although the population of New York has stabilized, the city continues to construct and destruct itself. The average lifespan of a Manhattan building is twenty years - some skyscrapers are pulled down after only ten years, while others spring up in only a few weeks. New York is never finished.

If you stop a passing New Yorker and ask where he or she comes from, the chances are that they’ll answer “I’m Irish” - or German. In New York, five people out of every eight are effectively foreigners, or children of foreigners. New York has more Jews than Israel, more Italians than the rest of the world - Italy excepted - and more ethnic minorities than anywhere else. Everyday sixty-seven foreign-language newspapers are published here.

Statistics are impressive. New York City has five boroughs and shelters roughly eight million people - sixteen million if you include the suburbs. But each day the city fills up with another four million who work here but live somewhere else. The subway uses 7,000 cars to transport five million people each day. New Yorkers produce 3 kg of garbage per day - that represents 200,000 tonnes to collect every day from 9,000 km of street and avenues. The police force employs 25,000 officers - the equivalent of the population of Monaco. It’s not surprising that being mayor of New York is supposed to be the most difficult job in the world.

Task 2. Comprehension Check

Exercise 1. Complete the statements given below by choosing the right

variant.

1. By the beginning of the 20th century the population of New York had reached

a) two million people b) over three and a half million

c) five million people

2. The first sky-scraper had

a) thirteen stories b) ten stories c) 100 stories

3. Manhattan solved the problem of accomodation by

a) expanding b) extending c) building up

4. Though the population of New York has stabilized the city continues

a) to build up b) to expand c) to construct and distruct itself

5. The population of New York consists of

a) many nations and national minorities b) born Americans

c) mostly of Jews and Italians

Exercise 2. Look at the text and find words and phrases which mean

opposite to

similar build up poor market majority

low speed precisely destroy easy

Exercise 3. Look at the text and find compound words in it. Translate

them into Russian and use in the sentences of your own.

Exercise 4. Arrange the jumbled text given below.

1. The visitor may be photographed astride a stuffed bucking bronco or, on a Victorian tin-type picture, in the authentic costume of the Gold Rush era - a relic of Bygone Days.

2. Founded in 1858 with discovery of gold at the junction of South Platte River and Cherry Creek, Denver rapidly became the supply center for mining camps in nearby mountains. It remains the largest distribution center in the region extending from Canada to Mexico.

3. Today it is a city, where a nineteenth-century past blends, architecturally, with a skyscraping present. The saloons - the Grubstake Inn, the Glory Hole - have reopened their doors to the tourists. One is disguised as a mine, complete with pit-props and sacking. In another, behind “the only original swimming doors in the country”, tinkles an ancient mechanical piano.

4. Denver - the “Mile High City” (from the sea, not the ground) is the “capital” of the Rockies - the terminus, a century ago, of the Colorado Gold Rush. In those pioneer days it was a rough shack settlement, where it was usual enough to see a man being hanged in the public square, after a trial by the citizens, for murdering his mate with an axe.

5. Since World War II, Denver has become center for smokeless industries. A tourist mecca, it is a gateway to vast recreational areas, including major winter sports resorts and more mountains than Switzerland. Until recently, buildings were limited to 12 stories. In the last 20 years or so buildings of up to 42 stories have been erected, with a 50-story building started in 1970.

Exercise 5. Speak on some other American city. Use the words and phrases from the two texts.

Oral Practice

Asking for Information. Hotel Accomodation

Patterns

Questions Replies

1. How much does a single room cost? 1. It costs 29 pounds.

2. And a double room? 2. We’ve got a double room with twin

beds for 39 pounds and with a

double bed just for the same price.

3. Have the rooms got private 3. Yes, the rooms have bathrooms.

bathrooms?

4. Do you offer full board or half 4. Sorry, only bed and breakfast.

board?

5.Do you offer English breakfast 5. Both. And there is a car park.

or continental one?

6. Can I make a reservation? 6. - Yes, certainly.

- No, sorry, we are full.

7. Do I have to register? 7. - Yes, please. Here are your keys.

Exercise 1. Learn the dialogues by heart and make dialogues of your

own using the patterns.

I

Peter: Hello, is it the Magnolia Hotel?

Receptionist: Yes, it is. Can I help you?

Peter: Yes, could I make a reservation?

Receptionist: Certainly, sir. Do you want a single or a double room?

Peter: I’d like a single room, en suite, for three days starting from

tomorrow.

Receptionist: That’s fine. You are welcome.

II

Ben: How were your holidays?

Susan: Fine, thanks.

Ben: Was the accomodation satisfactory?

Susan: Yes, I had a single, ensuite.

Ben: And what about the food?

Susan: It was half-board, the English breakfast and an excellent dinner.

I didn’t need a lunch in fact. You know these huge English

breakfasts of bacon and eggs, beans, mushrooms and the like.

Ben: And how about the price?

Susan: It was quite reasonable.

Exercise 2. Role-play: you want to stay somewhere in the country.

You don’t know anything about the hotels there. Ring

the Accomodation Agency to ask for help.

Exercise 3. Make a dialogue between a receptionist and a customer at

a two-star and five-star hotels. Ask about all the facilities

(a bar, a restaurant, a swimming pool, etc.) they can offer.