TEXT 15. Read and translate the text. Be ready to speak on the topic.

The USA

The United States of America is the fourth largest country in the world (after Russia, Canada and China). It occupies the central part of North America and stretches from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean. It also comprises Alaska and Hawaii. The total area of the country is about nine and a half million square kilometres. The USA borders on Canada in the north and on Mexico in the south. It also has a sea-border with Russia. The USA is a federal republic consisting of 50 states and the District of Columbia, a special federal area where the capital of the country, Washington, is situated.

Each of the states has its own government. The seat of the central (federal) government is Washington, DC. According to the US Constitution the powers of the government are divided into 3 branches: the executive, headed by the President, the legislative, represented by the Congress, and the judicial, exercised by the Supreme Court. The Congress consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives. There are two main political parties in the USA: the Republican and the Democratic.

The population of the country is more than 280 million. They are the people of all races and nationalities, including African, European Americans, Chinese,etc. The largest cities are: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit, San-Francisco, Washington and others.

People live within four time zones. If we look at the map of the USA, we can see lowlands and mountains. The highest mountains are the Rocky Mountains, the Cordillera and the Sierra Nevada. The highest peak is Mount McKinley which is located in Alaska.

America's largest rivers are the Mississippi, the Missouri, the Rio Grande and the Columbia. The Great Lakes on the border with Canada are the largest and deepest in the USA. One of the most fascinating places is the Niagara Falls. The climate of the country varies greatly. The coldest regions are in the north. The climate of Alaska is arctic. The climate of the central part is continental. The south has a subtropical climate. Hot winds blowing from the Gulf of Mexico often bring typhoons.

The USA is a highly developed industrial country and the world’s greatest economic power. The American economy produces and Americans consume more than any other economy in the world. It also plays a great role in a global economy. The nation’s wealth depends on its rich natural resources, its agricultural output and technology industries. Among the most important manufacturing industries are aircraft, cars, textiles, armaments, furniture and paper. The USA is the world’s leader in biochemical and genetic engineering, aerospace development, communication, computer and information services and other high-technology fields.

UNIT 3. THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

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