CELEBRATION in the USA
THE USA
1. Read and translate the text given below:
The United States of America is the fourth largest country in the world (after Russia, Canada and China). It occupies the southern part of North America and stretches from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean. It also includes Alaska in the north and Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean. The total area of the country is about nine and a half million square kilometers. The USA borders on Canada in the north and on Mexico in the south. It also has a sea-boarder with Russia.
The USA has 50 states and the District of Columbia, a special federal area where the capital of the country, Washington, is situated. The population of the country is more than 270 million.
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.
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 climate along the Pacific coast is much warmer than of the Atlantic coast.
The USA is a highly developed industrial country. It's 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, arms, furniture and paper.
Though mainly European and African in origin, Americans are made up from nearly all races and nations, including Chinese and Native Americans.
The largest cities are: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit, San-Francisco, Washington, DC and others.
The United States is a federal union of 50 states, each of which 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, exercised by the Congress, and the judicial. 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, though there's hardly any difference between their political lines.
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2. Give Russian equivalents:
Occupies, stretches, total area, borders on, varies greatly, subtropical climate, bring typhoons, world’s second producer, branch, political parties
3. Translate into English:
Квадратные километры, морская граница, население, низменности, умеренный климат, развитая страна, побережье Тихого океана, мировой лидер по добыче нефти, вооружения, коренные американцы, Вашингтон, округ Колумбия.
4. Answer the questions:
1) Is the USA the largest country in the world?
2) How many states does the country have?
3) What are the farthest states?
4) What are the Great Lakes famous for?
5) Say some words about the climate of the country.
6) What are the reasons of typhoons?
7) What does American industry produce?
8) Name the largest cities of the States.
9) What is the difference between Washington and Washington, DC?
10) Where is the seat of the government situated?
11) How many branches are there in the government? Name them.
5. Complete the dialogue:
A: Hi! Is it your first visit to the USA?
B: Hello! Yes, I have never been to America before. It’s huge!
A: Да, конечно, ведь Соединенные штаты – четвертая по величине страна после Канады, России и Китая. Наше население более 270 миллионов человек.
B: You know, in Russia we have so to say regions. How is the USA divided?
А: У нас штаты, всего 50. Гавайи и Аляска самые удаленные штаты. Также у нас есть один округ – округ Колумбия, где расположена столица Штатов – Вашингтон.
B: What are the geographical sights in your country?
А: О, у нас много всего интересного. Здесь есть Великие Озера – цепь самых глубоких озер, самая высокая вершина – гора Мак-Кинли, длинные реки Амазонка, Миссисипи, Рио-Гранде.
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B: And what about the climate?
А: Климат такой же разнообразный как и в России - континентальный, арктический, субтропический. Климат на побережье Тихого океана теплее, чем климат на побережье Атлантического.
B: What does the USA produce?
А: Америка является мировым производителем меди, железной руды, вооружения, автомобилей.
B: Tell me some words about the population.
А: Население страны крайне разнообразно, есть люди со всех частей света, но также есть и небольшое количество коренных жителей.
B: Is the political structure as complicated as in my country?
А: Политическая система такая же сложная как и в Российской Федерации, в США 3 ответвления власти – исполнительная, законодательная и юридическая.
B: Well, it’s so interesting. Now I can see that though our countries have much in common, still there are so many differences. Thank you for your narration.
A: You’re always welcome.
CELEBRATION in the USA
1. Read and translate the text given below:
The population of the USA is made up of people of different nationalities. Centuries ago they brought with them their native celebrations. Some holidays which are marked in the United States originated in America. The number of holidays is different in different states — from 8 in the District of Columbia to 20 in Oklahoma. But the most important holidays are celebrated throughout the USA. They are: New Year's Day (January 1), Lincoln's Birthday (February 12), Washington's Birthday (February 22), Independence Day (July 4), Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November), Christmas (December 25). Here are a few words about them.
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On New Year's Day people see the old year off and the New Year in. Most people stay up all night, even children. At midnight many people go outside and shout "Happy New Year"! Some people set off fireworks and blow automobile horns which are heard everywhere. Everybody exchanges presents and good wishes. Offices, factories, banks and stores do not work on this day.
Lincoln's birthday is celebrated every year on February 12. Abraham Lincoln was President during the Civil War (1861 — 1865) He led the fight to keep the nation together and to free the slaves. His life ended tragically. He was killed at the theatre during the performance soon after the victory of the North. In honour of this great man a beautiful memorial has been built in Washington, D.C. Lincoln's birthday is celebrated every year on February 12.
Washington's birthday is marked on February 22. George Washington led the American Army to victory in the War for Independence. Later he was elected President of the United States and was in office for 8 years (1789 — 1797). The national capital of the United States, a state and several towns are named after George Washington.
One of the greatest holidays is Independence Day. On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was signed. It proclaimed independence of the thirteen British colonies from Great Britain. July 4 has become the greatest holiday since. In the past this day was marked with big parades and fireworks, but now it is celebrated more quietly. Cities and towns are decorated with flags on that day, there are parades in some places, but most people just go on picnics to the countryside.
Labour Day is celebrated on the first Monday in September. On this day workers make a public show with marches, meetings, etc. It also marks the beginning of the school year and the end of summer.
Thanksgiving Day is marked on the fourth Thursday of November. On this day the Americans honour the memory of the first settlers. It also marks the end of the harvest season. It is a long-standing tradition to make a festive meal with a fried turkey on this day.
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Christmas is a religious holiday which symbolizes the birth of Jesus Christ. By this day people decorate fir trees with toys and candies. Children wait for Santa Claus who comes to every house and brings them presents. Before going to bed, children leave their shoes to find in them what they want most of all the next morning. Some people, especially young people, like to Celebrate it in restaurants and cafes and pubs, but most people prefer to stay at home with their family on this day.
2. Learn the vocabulary:
a native celebration национальный праздник
to originate in происходить из возникать в
New Year's Day Новый год
to stay up all night не спать всю ночь
to set off fireworks запускать фейерверки
to lead the fight возглавлять борьбу
to keep the nation together сохранять единство нации
the victory of the North победа северян
Washington's birthday день рождения Вашингтона
to lead the army to victory привести армию к победе
to be in office находиться на посту, служить
to be named after smb. быть названным в честь кого- либо
Independence Day День независимости
to go on picnics to the countryside отправиться на пикник за город
to make a public show проводить акцию
Thanksgiving Day День Благодарения
to honour the memory of smb. увековечить память кого-либо
a long-standing tradition старая традиция
to make a festive meal устроить праздничный обед
Christmas Рождество
to symbolize the birth of Jesus Christ символизировать рождение Иисуса Христа
3. Give Russian equivalents:
To be celebrated throughout the USA, to be made up of smb., smth., to see the old year off, the Civil War, to exchange presents and good wishes, to free the slaves, in honour of smb., the War for Independence, to proclaim independence, to be signed, to be marked with parades and fireworks, to prefer to stay at home.
4. Translate into English:
Bстречать Новый год, день рождения Линкольна, закончиться трагически, быть избранным президентом, Декларация независимости, быть украшенным флагами, День труда, первые поселенцы, сезон сбора урожая, старая традиция, украшать елку игрушками и сладостями, религиозный праздник, отмечаться
5. Answer the questions:
1. Why is the number of holidays different in different states?
2. What kind of holiday is New Year's Day?
3. Birthdays of what political figures are national holidays?
4. What is Independence Day?
5. What is Thanksgiving Day?
6. What kind of holiday is Christmas?
6. Translate into English:
1. Люди разных национальностей принесли с собой свои национальные праздники.
2. Общенациональные (national) праздники справляются на всей территории США.
3. Но время общенациональных праздников все банки, офисы и магазины не работают.
4. Новый год — это праздник, когда люди провожают старый год и встречают новый; они обмениваются подарками и пожеланиями.
5. Несколько общенациональных праздников — это дни рождения политических деятелей США.
6. Вашингтон возглавлял американскую армию в войне за независимость. После победы он был избран президентом США.
7. Линкольн был президентом США, был у власти во время Гражданской войны и возглавлял борьбу за освобождение рабов.
8. День независимости отмечается в честь подписания (signing) Декларации независимости.
9. Большинство праздников отмечается парадами и фейерверками, многие устраивают праздничные обеды и отправляются на пикники за город.
10. В День. Благодарения американцы чтят память первых поселенцев
11 Рождество символизирует рождение Иисуса Христа.
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