Benjamin Franklin – One of the Founding Fathers
The historic Declaration of Independence was signed by many famous people of the time, known as the Founding Fathers, among them Benjamin Franklin and John Adams and Thomas Jefferson who later became the second and third presidents of the USA.
Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), American printer, author, scientist, statesman and diplomat, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, into a poor family. He learned to read at a very early age and was sent to a grammar school. But the expense was too great, and at the age of ten Benjamin began to work in his father’s little soap shop. He disliked it and at twelve was apprenticed to his half-brother James, a printer. Benjamin read all the books he could find, and by 1722 he was writing little essays of his own on various topics.
Constant reading made Franklin one of the most educated men of his time. His activities were varied. In the 1740s he experimented on electricity and invented the lightning-rod for the protection of buildings. In the 1750s Franklin was sent to Britain to defend the interests of the American colonies before the British Parliament. During the War of Independence he helped to frame the Declaration of Independence (1776). That same year he was sent to France, where he enlisted French help for the American Colonies and later negotiated peace with Britain (1783). After the War of Independence Franklin was chosen as a member of the Convention to frame the Constitution of the United States (1787).
Franklin’s literary activities began in 1733 with the issuing of Poor Richard’s Almanac which continued to appear for about 25 years. The almanac was a combination of a calendar, a miniature encyclopedia, and a moral counselor. It noted the holidays, the dates of the fairs and the court sessions, and it contained jokes, poems, recipes and sayings.
In 1771 Franklin began writing The Autobiography but it was not completed and was published after his death. This outstanding literary work combines practicality, common sense, and optimistic faith in the abilities of every person who can rely on his own industry and strength.
B. Franklin was an enlightener and most of his works are written in the form of moral and philosophical parables. He also wrote a lot of political and satirical pamphlets defending the rights of all men, including Negroes and the Indians. His pamphlet On the Slave Trade (1790) became his political testament.
It’s interesting to know
Benjamin Franklin’s Sayings
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Do you know that almost all Franklin’s writings following the traditions of Enlightenment include practical words of advice to the people. Though not always original they are written in simple and humorous manner. Many of them are still quoted today. Here are some of them:
1) He that can have patience can have what he will.
2) Even peace may be purchased at too high a price.
3) A word to the wise is enough.
4) He that falls in love with himself will have no rivals.
5) There never was a good war or a bad peace.
6) All things are easy to industry.
7) Being uneducated is not so dishonorable as being unwilling to learn.
8) He that cannot obey, cannot command.
9) A lie stands on one leg, truth on two.
10) The worst wheel of the cart makes the most noise.
11) A spoonful of honey will catch more flies than a gallon of vinegar.
69. Decide whether these statements are true or false after reading each of the texts.
1. The majority of large lakes of Canada are located far from the borders of the country.
2. Lake Baikal is located in mostly low-lying area.
3. Canada can be fairly called “The Country of Lakes”.
4. Scotland has lots of mountains where as some people think monsters live.
5. There aren’t any lakes in North America.
6. Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in Scotland.
7. Lake Tahoe is rather young.
8. Erie and Great Bear Lake are on the Canada – US border.
1. Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in the North America. This freshwater lake is embraced by mountains. Lake Tahoe fills a basin that formed 2 million years ago. It is fantastically bright blue. Everywhere around the lake you can see wonderful mountains and forests to explore. 2. Lake Baikal is the world’s oldest, largest and deepest freshwater lake, surrounded by mountains covered with multi-coloured taiga. Its vast blue water breathes freely, its waves rise slowly and then wash softly against the stony shore. But behind its leisurely rhythm there lies enormous strength. 3. The main lakes located in Canada (many large lakes are traversed by the Canada-US border) are Huron, Great Bear, Superior, Great Slave, Winnipeg, Erie and Ontario. Great Bear Lake in the Northwest Territories is the largest lake situated entirely in Canada; its area is more than 31,000 square kilometres. 4. The Highlands of Scotland are among the oldest mountains in the world. They reach their highest point in Ben Nevis (1343 m). Many valleys between the hills are filled with lakes, called lochs. The best-known is Loch Ness where some people think a large monster lives.
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70. Read and make a summary with not more than 30 words about each country.
English-speaking Countries
1. Australia is the only country in the world that is also a continent. It is the sixth largest country and the smallest continent. Australia is one of the world's most developed countries. It is the world's leading producer and exporter of wool, minerals and farm goods. Income from the export enables Australians to have high standard of living.
2. Canada is the second largest country in the world. Ottawa is the capital of Canada. Today Canada is one of the most highly developed countries in the world. It is a major producer of electric power and a leading producer of wheat, oat and barley. Canada ranks among the world's top manufacturing countries.
3. New Zealand is an island. The capital of it is Wellington. New Zealand has one of the highest standards of living in the world. About 70% of New Zealand people have their own houses. Almost every family has a car. New Zealand is one of the world's developed countries with such industries as manufacturing and service industries.
4. The USA is the fourth largest country in the world. It is a highly developed industrial country. It is the world's leading producer of copper and oil and the world's second producer of iron ore and coal. Among the most important manufacturing industries are aircraft, cars, textiles, radio and television sets, armaments, furniture and paper.
71. Test your knowledge of English-speaking countries answering these questions. Consult the sites given in References in case of any difficulty.
Country Study Test
1. The wheel of the London Eye carries 32 sealed and air-conditioned ovoid passenger capsules, attached to its external circumference, each capsule representing one of the ____.
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a) London churches;
b) London Royal residences;
c) London Boroughs;
d) England cities.
2. A traditional sweet dessert on Thanksgiving Day in the USA is a ____.
a) rhubarb pie;
b) apple pie;
c) pumpkin pie;
d) cheesecake.
3. The floral symbol of Canada is the ____.
a) Rose;
b) Trefoil;
c) maple leaf;
d) thistle.
4. An English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, who formulated the theory of universal gravitation is ____.
a) Charles Darwin;
b) Isaac Newton;
c) Lord Kelvin;
d) Alexander Fleming.
5. “From sea to sea” is the Canadian … .
a) national song;
b) national emblem;
c) national motto;
d) national flag.
6. “The kirk” is the Scots word for … .
a) church;
b) football;
c) parliament;
d) a piece of an outfit.
7. People consider … to be a distinctly Scottish musical instrument.
a) the harp;
b) the violin;
c) the bagpipes;
d) the trumpet.
8. Eire is … .
a) another name of the Republic of Ireland;
b) a city in Ireland;
c) a typical Irish surname;
d) a river in Ireland.
9. In cricket team there are … players.
a) 8;
b) 10;
c) 11;
d) 12.
10. The full official name of football in Great Britain is .. .
a) soccer;
b) association football;
c) British football;
d) Cup football.
11. The name of the foremost English novelist whose books describe life in Victorian England and show how hard it was especially for the poor and children is … .
a) Charles Dickens;
b) Thomas Hardy;
c) Henry James;
d) Peter Pan.
12. A rural area in North West England famous for its associations with the early 19th century poetry.
a) Peak District;
b) Lake District;
c) Dartmoor;
d) Hamptonshire.
13. The mid-1960s musical “British Invasion” into the US was led by … .
a) the Rolling Stones;
b) the Who;
c) the Scorpions;
d) the Beatles.
14. Mass-circulation popular newspapers are commonly called … in Britain.
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a) tabloids;
b) zines;
c) broadsheets;
d) penny papers.
15. The first English printing press was established by … .
a) John Updike;
b) Johannes Gutenberg;
c) William Shakespeare;
d) William Caxton.
16. The Times, The Guardian and The Financial Times are the examples of … .
a) quality papers;
b) tabloid press;
c) ordinary papers;
d) yellow press.
17. In Scotland the first visitor to enter the house on New Year’s morning is called … .
a) the First Visitor;
b) the First Foot;
c) the Stranger;
d) the Newcomer.
18. December 24th, the day before Christmas Day, is called … .
a) Christmas time;
b) Christmas Eve;
c) Boxing Day;
d) Christmas dinner.
19. The central figure in May Day celebrations is …. .
a) the May Queen;
b) the May Lady;
c) the May Girl;
d) the May Princess.
20. The “Tories” are ancestors of the … Party.
a) Conservative;
b) Democratic;
c) Labour;
d) Liberal.
21. A bill in British Parliament has to go through …. readings to become a law.
a) two;
b) three;
c) four;
d) five.
22. The street in London where Trooping the Colour is yearly held has the name … .
a) Downing Str;
b) Westminster;
c) The Mall;
d) Regent Str.
23. Great Britain consists of:
a) states;
b) counties;
c) regions;
d) lands.
24. On the British Isles there are ____ states.
a) one;
b) two;
c) three;
d) four.
25. The UK is separated from Ireland by _____ .
a) the Irish Sea;
b) the English Channel;
c) the North Sea;
d) the Atlantic Ocean.
26. Lady of the Snows is another name for ____ .
a) Ottawa;
b) Vancouver;
c) Toronto;
d) Montreal.
27. The stories of this man, one of America's most popular short story authors, often have twist ending.
a) Ernest Hemingway;
b) Thomas O’Henry;
c) William Falkner;
d) Scott Fitzgerald.
28. The chairman in the House of Commons of Great Britain is the …
a) Prime Minister;
b) Clerk of the House;
c) Speaker;
d) Lord Chancellor.
29. The top of Christmas pudding in Great Britain is traditionally decorated with …
a) a sprig of holly;
b) fruits;
c) a candle;
d) a sprig of mistletoe.
30. New Zealand is ______.
a) a continent;
b) an island country;
c) a country of lakes;
d) a mainland.
31. New Zealand was discovered and settled more than a thousand years ago by _______.
a) M. Lomonosov;
b) the Scottish people;
c) J. Washington;
d) the Maori people.
32. The United States of America stretches ________________.
a) from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean;
b) from the Indian to the Atlantic Ocean;
c) from the Atlantic Ocean to the North Sea;
d) from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean.
33. Wood to be used for construction work is commonly known as _____ in North America.
a) heartwood;
b) plank;
c) bark;
d) lumber.
34. The jurisprudence of England and America is based upon the judge-made ______ law.
a) civil;
b) common;
c) legal;
d) constitutional.
35. A stage through which a bill has to go before it becomes an Act of the British Parliament is called … .
a) consideration;
b) ratification;
c) reading;
d) consent.
36. The present British Royal Family's surname is … .
a) Stuart;
b) Windsor;
c) Buckingham;
d) Plantagenet.
37. An American writer known as the author of the first detective story «The Murders in the Rue Morgue» is … .
a) Walt Whitman;
b) Agatha Christie;
c) Edgar Allan Poe;
d) Arthur Conan Doyle.
38. _______ is the author of many outstanding plays including Macbeth and King Lear.
a) William Shakespeare;
b) Christopher Marlowe;
c) Bernard Shaw;
d) Oscar Wilde.
39. A famous American humorist and author of popular and outstanding autobiographical works, travel books and novels, whose real name is Samuel Langhorne Clemens, is … .
a) Thomas Mayne Reid;
b) Mark Twain;
c) Daniel Defoe;
d) Henry Fielding.
40. The largest state by area is _____ with 663,268 square miles.
a) California;
b) Alaska:
c) Nevada;
d) Colorado.
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