THE USA

To stretch-простираться

Densely-плотно

A canal-канал

Wheat-пшено

Solid-твердый

To adopt- внедрять

Amendment-поправка

Generation- поколение

Ethnic- этнический

Affiliation-присоединение

Especially- особенно

Fertile- плодородный

Tributary- приток

 

The territory of the USA stretches from the Atlantic seaboard, across the central plains, over the Rocky Mountains to the densely populated west coast and then to the island state of Hawaii.

America is the land of physical contrasts including the weather. The southern parts of Florida, Texas, California and the state of Hawaii have warm temperatures year round. The northern states and Alaska have extremely cold winters.

The United States is also a land of rivers and lakes. The northern state of Minnesota is known as the land of 10,000 lakes. The broad Mississippi River is the world’s third river after the Nile and the Amazon. A canal south of Chicago joins one of the tributaries of the Mississippi to the five Great Lakes.

American farmers plant spring wheat on the western plains. They raise corn, wheat and fine beef cattle in the Midwest. Florida and California are famous for their vegetables and food production and the northwestern states are known for apples, pears, berries and vegetables.

A wealth of mineral provides a solid base for American industry.

The United States of America was founded in 1776. The constitution was adopted in 1787. 26 amendments have been introduced since then. The first 10 amendments are known as the Bill of Rights. The Constitution operates today and sets the basic forms of the US government.

At present the population of the USA is about two hundred and thirty nine million. The country was settled, built and developed by generations of immigrants and their children. Many different cultural traditions, ethnic sympathies, racial groups and religious affiliations make up the people of the USA.

There are many big cities in the USA, such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Dallas, Boston, etc.

There is the Federal government which is located in Washington, D.C. and consists of the president and the Congress and the Federal Court. The legislative power belongs to the Congress which consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The House of Representatives comprises 435 members elected for a two year term. The presiding officer of the Senate is the Vice President. The House of Representatives is headed by the Speaker. The executive power belongs to the President of the USA. The President is also the head of Cabinet- the executive body of the Government. The judicial branch of the government is headed by the Supreme Court.

The US national flag- Stars and Stripes- is red, white and blue. Thirteen stripes represent the origin 13 states of the USA, the 50 states represent the current number of states.

Exercise 17. Answer the questions:

1. Where is the US situated?

2. What is the territory and population of the USA?

3. What can you say about the climate of the country?

4. What can you say about the economy of the country?

5. What are the largest cities of the USA?

6. How many branches are there in the government of the USA?

7. Whom does the legislative power belong to?

8. What can you say about the flag of the USA?

Exercise 18. Find in the text English equivalents for these words and word combinations:

Центральные равнины, густо, плотно, температура, крайне, широкий, рогатый скот, ягоды, основные формы, поколение, избираться, орган власти.

Exercise 19. Give Russian equivalents for these words and word combinations:

Seaboard, populate, extremely,join,spring wheat, food production, solid base, develop, make up, comprise, represent.

Exercise 20. Insert the missing words and word combinations:

1. America is the land of … … including the weather.

2. The northern states and … have extremely cold winters.

3. The broad Mississippi River is the … third river after the … and the Amazon.

4. A wealth of mineral provides a … … for American industry.

5. The Constitution operates today and sets the basic forms of the US government.

6. Many different cultural traditions, … sympathies, racial … and religious affiliations make up the people of the USA.

7. There is the Federal … which is located in Washington, D.C.

8. The House of Representatives is headed by the ….

9. The … branch of the government is headed by the Supreme Court.

10. The 50 states represent the … number of states.