Text work

Ex. 1 Translate words and phrases given in brackets.

1.The people of the United States have one of the highest (уровень жизни). 2. The US economy is considered to be (смешанная). 3. Such control, called a (монополия), does away with (конкуренция) and enables controlling companies (устанавливать высокие цены) and reduce the (качество товаров). 4. The US (занимает третье место), after Russia and Saudi Arabia in the production of (нефти). 5. (Огромное количество энергии) consumed by the United States annually (вырабатывается) from various sources. 6. American (изобретатели) and engineers (сконструировали компьютеры) to bring automation to a higher level. 7. The construction industry (насчитывает) 4 percent of the US GDP and (обеспечивает работой) for 4 percent of the work force.

Ex. 2 Insert a necessary preposition and find this verb + preposition phrase in the text. Copy out the sentences where these phrases are used and translate the sentences into Russian.

To do away … … competition to place regulations … economic practices To be based … a free enterprise system to be involved … the construction

To account … 2 percent to extract goods …

To turn petroleum … gasoline to be concerned … house building

Ex. 3 Give the English equivalents to the following words and phrases.

Мировая ведущая индустриальная держава; защищать рабочих; большие залежи угля; антитрестовские законы; зарабатывать прибыль; поддерживать экономику; нефтеперегонный завод; удобрения; конвейер; изобретатель; вырабатывать энергию; давать возможность.

Ex. 4 Ask the questions to the words in bold.

1. The United States economy is based largely on a free enterprise system.

2. The government has placed regulations on economic practices through the year.

3. Beef cattle is the most valuable product of American farms.

4. To meet its needs the US must import additional amounts of iron ore, petroleum, and other materials.

5. Petroleum provides about 40 percent of energy.

6. Secondary economic activities include manufacturing and construction.

7. During the early 1900s US automobile firms introduced the moving assembly line.

Ex. 5 Match the questions to their answers (below).

1. What system is the United States economy based on?

2. What sectors does the US economy consist of?

3. What do primary economic activities include?

4. What part of the US gross domestic product does agriculture account for?

5. What do the US farms produce?

6. What are the most valuable natural resources?

7. What sources are used to generate the energy?

8. What processes have greatly increased productivity?

1. It accounts for 2 percent of GDP.

2. Petroleum, natural gas and coal.

3. It is based on a free enterprise system.

4. They are minerals, soils, water, forests and fish.

5. Manufacturing processes.

6. It consists of three main sectors – the primary, secondary and tertiary.

7. They produce beef cattle, corn, soybeans, vegetables, fruits and nuts.

8. It includes extracting goods from the natural environment, agriculture, forestry, fishing and mining.

Ex. 6 Say if these sentences are true or false according to the article. Correct the false ones.

1. Tertiary activities involve the output of goods.

2. Finance, insurance and real estate rank first among US service industries.

3. Banks finance much of the economic activity in the United States by making loans to both individuals and businesses.

4. Retail trade takes place when buyer purchases goods directly from a producer.

5. Wholesale trade involves selling products to the final consumer.

6. The nation imports goods that it lacks entirely or that producers do not supply in sufficient quantities.

7. During much of the country’s history, the value of US exports has exceeded the value of its imports.

8. Canada and Mexico are the country’s chief trading partners.

9. Local governments spend most of their income on police and fire protection, hospitals, streets and parks.

Ex. 7 Answer the questions.

1. What do tertiary economic activities involve?

2. What businesses does this industry group include?

3. What services rank first among US service industries?

4. Who finances much of the economic activity in the United States?

5. Why is real estate important to the economy of the United States?

6. What is the difference between wholesale and retail trade?

7. What are the main US imports?

8. What does the country export?

9. What are the major US trading partners?

10. What role do Government Services play in the economy?

11. What do state governments spend most of their income on?

Ex. 8 Write a short summary about the economy of the USA (15-20 sentences) and be ready to speak on the topic.