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| 1) ϳ , - , . 2) 1507, ͳ , ϳ "" . 3) 19- . 4) ' , - . 5) , . | a) The United States has been a leader in scientific research and technological innovation since the late 19th century. b) Today Santa Clara Valley is the most important center of Americas computer and electronics industry, and Hewlett- Packard is one its major firms. c) The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its forty-eight contiguous states and Washington, D.C. d) In 1507, German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller produced a world map on which he named the lands of the Western Hemisphere "America" after Italian explorer and cartographer Amerigo Vespucci. e) The Statue of Liberty is a symbol that expresses freedom to people all over the world. |
Exercise II. Complete the sentence, with the best answer (a, b or c) according to the information in the text:
1. The Seal of the United States is put on all official documents
a) signed by the Chief Justice of the USA
b) signed by the President
c) approved by the Congress
2. In 1818 Congress passed a law providing
a) that the flag of the United States be 13 stripes and 20 stars symbolizing the 20 American states
b) that the Union Jack be preserved in the American flag
c) that the flag of the United States be displayed on all governmental buildings
3. It was decided that on the admission of each new state to the
union
a) another stripe was to be added to the flag
b) a new stripe and star was to be added to the flag
c) a new star was to be added to the flag
4. By a special Act of Congress in 1931
a) the famous song The Star-Spangled Banner became the national anthem
b) the "Stars and Stripes" became the official flag of the USA
c) Alaska became the 49th state of the USA
5. The verses of the national anthem
a) were written in 1814 by Francis Scott Key
b) were written in 1931
c) were written during the war between France and America
6.The Americans also have their official Creed which
a) was accepted by the American Congress in 1800
b) expresses their attitude to their country and its political system
c) was written by Francis Scott Key during the war against Britain in 1814.
Exercise III. Divide into groups. Find out information on the project topic American Culture. Distribute the roles. Present your project in class at the end of the course. Give your opinions about your groupmates projects. Choose the best one.
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Exercise IV. Choose one of the symbols of the country in the text and tell about it.
Washington DC
WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (the boundaries of the two are identical) can be unbearably hot and humid in summer, and bitterly cold in winter. It was chosen as the site of the capital of the newly independent United States of America because of a compromise between the northern and southern states and, basically, because George Washington wanted it there 16 miles upstream from his Mount Vernon estate. The other side of DC, with a majority black population, is run as a virtual colony of Congress, where residents have only non-voting representation and couldnt vote in presidential elections until the 23rd amendment was passed in 1961 the citys official license plate reads Taxation Without Representation.
The best times to come are during Aprils National Cherry Blossom Festival and the more temperate months (MayJune and Sept). The nations showcase puts on quite a display for its guests, and, best of all, admission to all major attractions on the National Mall is free; the most famous sites include the White House, memorials to four of the greatest presidents and the superb museums of the Smithsonian Institution. In recent years, even the once-blighted area known as Old Downtown (north of the eastern side of the Mall), has had a dramatic uptick in visitors and nightlife around its Penn Quarter, centred round 7th and F streets. Still, youre more likely to spend your evenings in the hotels and restaurants of the citys most vibrant neighbourhoods: historic Georgetown, arty Dupont Circle and funky Adams Morgan.
