Every country has its own holidays. They reflect the history of the country and its cultural and religious traditions. Some religious holidays are common in different countries. They are Christmas and Easter.
Americans celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December. They buy a lot of presents for each other, for their parents, children and friends.
The New Year's day, the 1st of January is not so widely celebrated in the United States as we do it in Russia. Of course, the most important holiday in America is the 4th of July, The Independence Day. People like to watch colourful fireworks in the evening. The 4th of July lis the day-off and people don't go to work.
The holidays when people don't go to work are: Mar-rcin Luther King's day on the 20th of January, Labour Day Jon the 7th of September and Thanksgiving on the last Fri-Pday of November. On Thanksgiving Americans usually leat turkey. This holiday reminds the time when the first i colonists (pilgrims) from England came to America in 11620 and could survive in the unknown land. There is still a big white stone on the shore in Plymouth in Mas-* sachusetts, that the pilgrims landed on. It is called The Plymouth Rock.
The 31st of October is the children's most favourite... holiday Halloween. On this day children, dressed in
funny dresses visit their neighbours and say Trick or treat! and get sweets.
The rest of the holidays are usually on weekends. They are: the Flag's Day, Mother's Day, Armed Forces Day. Americans also celebrate Lincoln's birthday, Washington's birthday, President's Day in February.
The 14th of February is Valentine's day or as it is called All lovers day.
Words
to reflect
Christmas
Easter
widely celebrated
day-off
fireworks
turkey
to remind
to survive
Questions
1) What do the holidays reflect?
2) When do Americans celebrate Christmas?
3) Is 1st of January widely celebrated?
4) What is the most important holiday in USA?
5) What are the holidays when people stay off work?
6) What is and where is Plymouth Rock?
7) What's children most favourite holiday?
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
The United States of America lies in the central part of the North American Continent between the two oceans: the Atlantic ocean in the East and the Pacific Ocean in the West.
Canada in the North and Mexico in the South are the only countries that have borders with the USA.
The USA consists of three separate parts.'They are the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean, Alaska and the main part. There are fifty States in the USA. They are very different in size, population and economic develop-ment.'The smallest state is Rhode Island and the biggest' is Texas. The total area of the USA is about 9 million square kilometres. The population is about 230 million people.
The USA is a big country and the climate conditions I are very different in different places.
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There are many big cities in the United States: New York, Philadelphia, Houston, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles are the biggest of them.
The USA economically is the most powerful country in the world.
' The USA is a parliamentary republic The government has three branches: the Congress, the President and the Supreme Court.
There are two political parties in the United States: the Democratic Party, their Symbol is a donkey, and the Republican Party, their symbol is an elephant. The president is elected for a 4-year term and not more than two times.
The Congress has two houses; the Senate and the house of Representatives. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the country.
Words
borders separate
climate conditions parliamentary republic
branches
donkey
term
House of representatives
Supreme court
Questions
1. What is the size of United States?
2. What is the smallest state in United States?
3. What is the largest state in US?
4. What are the biggest cities of the Unites States?
5. What are the three branches of US government?
6. What is the political system of United States?
WASHrNGTON D.C.
Washington, the capital of the United States is situated on the Potomac River in the District of Columbia. The district is a piece of land which does not belong to any one state but to all the States. The district is named in honour of Christopher Columbus, the discoverer of America. It is very interesting that Americans never say simply Washington. They always add D.C. as the indication of the location. It is important because there are many towns with the same name all over the country and even one large^state in far north-west.
Washington was founded in 1791 as the capital of the United States of America. Washington is quite a new city. The population of the city is nearly one million people. It is not a very large city, but it is very important as the capital of the USA. There is a law in Washington against building structures higher than the Capitol.
Washington has many historical places. The largest and tallest is the Capitol, where the Congress meets. It is a very beautiful building with white marble columns. Not far from the Capitol is the Library of Congress. It holds five million books.
The White House, the residence of the president is the oldest public structure in the capital and one of the most beautiful. It was built in 1799. It is a two storied white building. Not far from the Capitol is the Washington monument, which looks like a very big pencil. It rises 160 metres and it is empty inside. A special lift brings visitors to the top in 70 seconds, from where they can enjoy the view of the city.
The Jefferson Memorial was built in memory of the third President of the USA Thomas Jefferson, who was also the author of the Declaration of Independence. The Memorial is surrounded by cherry trees.
The Lincoln Memorial is devoted to the memory of the sixteenth President of the USA, the author of the Emancipation Proclamation, which gave freedom to Negro slaves in America.
Words
District of Columbia piece of land nearly , marble two storied
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Declaration of Independence
Questions
l.When was Washington D.C. founded?
2.Where is Washington situated?
3.What state does the District of Columbia belong to?
4.What are the most important places of interest in Washington?
5.What is the nickname of the Washington memorial?
6.What is the design of the Lincoln memorial?
7.What is the population of Washington?.
8.Are there any specific laws about building of the structures in Washington D.C?
NEW YORK
New York, one of the largest cities in the world, was founded three hundred years ago in the mouth of the Hudson River.
The centre of New York is Manhattan Island. In 1626 it was bought from the Indians for a sum of twenty-four dollars. Today Manhattan is the centre of business and commercial life of the country. There are many skyscrapers, banks and offices of American businessmen in Manhattan. Broadway begins here, the Stock Exchange is located here. Very few people live in Manhattan, although the majority work here. Numerous bridges link Manhattan Island with the other parts of New York.
New York is inhabited by people of almost all nationalities. It is even called Modern Babylon. At the turn of the 20-th century a lot of people came to the USA from different countries of the world. They entered the USA through New York the Gateway of America.
. New York is one of the leading manufacturing cities in the world. The most important branches of industry are those, producing paper products, vehicles, glass, chemicals, machinery. The city traffic is very busy.
Words
mouth
Stock Exchange -
majority
numerous to link to inhabit Babylon
vehicles ( . .)
gateway
skyscrapers
branches of industry
city traffic
Questions
1. When was New York founded?
2. What was the price of Manhattan Island in 1626?
3. What is Manhattan today?
4. Do many people live in Manhattan?
5. What is Broadway famous for?
6. Why is New York called Modern Babylon?
7. What are the most important branches of industry in New York?
THE PROTECTION OF NATURE
Since ancient times Nature was the source of people's life. For thousands of years people lived in harmony with environment and they thought that natural riches were unlimited. The development of civilisation increased man's harmful interference in nature.
Large cities with thousands of smoky industrial enterprises pollute the air we breathe and the water we drink. Every year world industry pollutes the atmosphere with about 1000 million tons of dust and other harmful substances. Many cities suffer from smog. Beautiful old forests disappear forever. Their disappearance upsets the oxygen balance. As a result some rare species of animals, birds, fish and plants disappear forever, a number of lakes and rivers dry up.
The pollution of air and destruction of the ozone layer are the results of man's attitude towards Nature.
The protection of the environment is a universal concern. We must be very active to create a serious system of ecological security.
Words
ancient
source
natural riches
harmful interference
to increase
industrial enterprises
to pollute
substances
suffer
to upset .
rare
to dry up
ozone layer
attitude
universal concern
Questions
1. What is the main reason of ecological problems?
2. What are the main ecological problems?
3. Why should the ecological problems should be a universal concern?
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4. What steps are taken to fight ecological problems?
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