42.Home ownership in us.(архитектура)

• Architecture characteristic of the U.S. is a regional diversity; it was formed under the influence of many external forces. So we can say that American architecture is eclectic (historical) that is not surprise for a multicultural society. For instance, in the former French colony of Louisiana French architecture is remained. Villages in the south-west, which was under a Spain power, have a distinctive appearance. In general by the end of XIX century architecture has imitative character of the country.

• Professional architecture in the American colonies, which appeared in the middle of the XVII century, had an influence of English neoclassicism. It served rational methods of construction.

• Only in XIX century when so-called "Chicago School" appeared US got rid of the architecture of European influence and began to affect the architecture of other nations.

• The founder of the school was Louis Sullivan. He formulated the principle of "function determines form." At this time in Chicago the first skyscrapers appeared - tall buildings with steel frames, the building which caused extreme high prices of land. Appearance of buildings reflects their frame structure. Architects could build complex buildings because construction machinery was developed.

• America became the largest industrial nation in the world and this fact had an influence on the appearance of the buildings. The building became an object of buying and selling, and its appearance became advertising. During this period a unique look of the American city was formed - super urban canyons of skyscrapers downtown, combined with low-density suburbs.

• In the first half-century buildings were built with smooth surfaces of glass and concrete. The architecture was developed in terms of simplicity and constructive. The features were completely different shape and size of the buildings. Although, it should be noted, some skyscrapers were subjects of interest in architecture.

• However, since the second half of the 20th century, buildings began to appear in the spirit of «American Neoclassicism». It was a time of construction of the closed complex of buildings around a courtyard.

• After the end of the Second World War a lot of great architects worked there such as Walter Gropius and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.

• Since the 50s the direction of "new baroque" dominated. Especially - expressive curvilinear shapes and designs. For example, terminal of TWA in the form of a slope. (ската)

• Modern American architecture makes the task of building architectural ensembles that are trying to connect with the natural environment.

43.American Traditions and Holidays.

• There are a lot of holidays in the USA. Many of them are associated with the history of the nation. The main holidays of the USA are New Year's Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas.

• The New Year's Eve is a time for merriment. Most Americans spend this night with friends, at home or in restaurants. Thousands of people gather in New York in Times Square to see the New Year in. The Tournament of Roses takes place in Pasadena, California, on January 1 each year. Prizes are given to the cities with the most unusual floral compositions.

• At Easter there is a tradition for people to buy new clothes. After church services many people take walks along the streets of their towns, wearing their new Easter hats and suits. This is usually called the "Easter Parade".

• Memorial Day comes on May 30. It is dedicated to the memory of those who died for America in different wars. The national flags are put on the graves of soldiers on this day.

• The 4th of July, an Independence Day, is the biggest national holiday of the USA. On this day in 1776 a document, known as the Declaration of Independence, was adopted. During this holiday American cities have parades, people shoot off fire-works in parks and fields.

• Thanksgiving Day comes on the fourth Thursday of November. When the first settlers landed in America, their first year was very hard and 50 of 100 people died. But the Indians taught people how to plant corn and wild vegetables and in autumn they got a large harvest. Thanksgiving Day was their holiday, the day of giving thanks to God. It is a family holiday and Americans try to gather all family at home on this day.

• There are also some holidays which are not celebrated nation-wide, but only by each state separately.

44. Leisure and Cultural Activities in US.

45. Sightseeing in US.

• Famous Places for Sightseeing in USA

• USA tops the list of various tourist attractions. Not only entertainment parks, there are many museums, art galleries and cathedrals, which speaks about the history and culture of the country. Few such heritage places for sightseeing in USA are mentioned below:

• Times Square

• Located at New York City, Times Square is one of the most famous places for sightseeing in USA. The place is always crowded with tourists and is known for cinema halls, Broadway theaters and various other means of entertainment. Nearly 2000 tourists visit the city on an average, from various parts of the world. 

• Faneuil Hall Market Place

• Faneuil Hall MarketPlace, situated in Boston. It is one such market place,

• which includes four historic places of interest namely Faneuil Hall, South Market, Quincy Market and North Market. There are more than 100 shops, which is located in this arena and is a shopper’s paradise. You can choose from different varieties of goods, which are sold at these shops. If you feel bored, then you can have a look at the old promenade, where magicians, jugglers and musicians, entertain the shoppers. You can enjoy the shows, by munching your favorite delicacy from the restaurants.

• Niagra Falls needs no special mention. It is one of the most famous waterfalls, and is a known for a popular sightseeing in USA. Located at a convenient place, near to the US- Canadian it is a major tourist draw. If you love adventure and want to have a real feel of the waterfalls, then you can enjoy the boat ride. The ride is full of fun and is thrilling.

• Las Vegas

• If you want to party and have unlimited fun, then you can visit Las Vegas. Las Vegas is an internationally celebrated resort city. It is an important entertainment arena, where you can shop, eat and have fun. There are various spas and casino resorts, which are visited by tourists from all over the world.

• Temple Square

• Temple Square is one of the most famous tourist attractions in USA. Located at Salt Lake City, it is one of the places, which is a preferred destination for sightseeing in USA. The entire church is illuminated at night, and it is one of the best known LDS temples in the region.

• Apart from the places mentioned above, few other places where you can visit for sightseeing in USA are mentioned below:

• Metropolitan Museum

• Grand Canyon

• Sea World

• Navy Pier

46. Sightseeing in G.B.

• Great Britain is rich in world-famous places. Certainly among them there are famous university cities Oxford and Cambridge, Shakespeare's birthplace — Stratford-upon-Avon, towns of Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow.

• Stratford-upon-Avon is a small town with the population about 20 thousand. It is 94 miles northwest of London. Its chief points of interest are associated with the name and life of Shakespeare. In Henley Street stands a one-storeyed wooden house, where the greatest English poet and playwright was born. Now, this house belongs to the British government.

• When Shakespeare won the recognition of his contemporaries and became wealthy he bought New Place, one of the largest houses in Stratford. It was in 1597 but he continued to live and work in London until 1610. Shakespeare died at the age of fifty-two in 1616 at New Place. But in 1759 the house where he died was torn down. Shakespeare was buried in the church at Stratford on the banks of the Avon.

• The Royal Shakespeare Theatre was opened in Stratford in 1932. Only Shakespeare's plays are performed here. The plays staged in this theatre attract people from all over the world.

• Every year on the 23d of April people from all the world come to Stratford to take part in celebrating Shakespeare's birthday.

• Those who come to Oxford certainly are interested in its university most of all. It was founded in the 12th century. But there is no "university" as such in Oxford. The component parts of the University of Oxford are the colleges. Each college is practically autonomous, with its own set of rules of government. But not only this differs Oxford from universities in other countries. Oxford has a "golden heart" — an area of less than half a square mile in which various historic buildings may be found. But they do not stand in isolation; they are mixed together with houses, shops and offices.

• Cardiff is the capital of Wales and its chief port. Cardiff is also a tourist centre. There are some places of interest there: the Castle, National Museum of Wales, New Theatre, Welsh Folk Museum. The Welsh people love singing. That's why Wales is sometimes called "the land of song". One of the Welsh traditions is festivals. Song festivals are very popular and usually gather a lot of people.

• Edinburgh is a city where the historic past lives side by side with the present. The first thing one can see is a very large hill in the middle of Edinburgh — the Rock. Edinburgh Castle stands on the Rock. It is the most famous building in the city.

• Edinburgh is famous for many things: its art galleries, museums, libraries. But it is especially famous for its festivals. In summer there is the Edinburgh 54 Festival. This is Britain's biggest arts festival. The city gets thousands of visitors during the festival period and every theatre, church and school hall is used for drama, music, film or opera. Besides the official festival there is also an unofficial festival. Here the artists are amateurs. Now, the unofficial festival is even bigger and more popular than the official one.

• The best-known monument in Edinburgh is the Walter Scott Monument. The famous English writer of historic novels lived and worked here. The monument is in the form of a Gothic spire 200 feet high with a statue of Sir Walter Scott inside this beautiful structure. In the niches of the monument there are 64 statuettes of well-known characters from Scott's novels and poems.

• 'There is a prehistoric monument in Great Britain which is as interesting to the tourists as the Egyptian pyramids. This is Stonehenge. Stones stand here in circles or are arranged into a horseshoe shape. A great many theories have been advanced but exactly why it was built remains a mystery. Though the scientists consider that Stonehenge was built in order to calculate the annual calendar and seasons.