The United States of America. In 1492 Christopher Columbus discovered a new continent

In 1492 Christopher Columbus discovered a new continent. Making his voyage he wanted to reach India by sailing to the west. Spanish government gave him ships and men because they were interested in shorter trade routes to India. The men must have been astonished when they saw land after so many days at sea. Colum-bus named this island San Salvador, he didn't know that he had discovered a new continent.

America was named after the famous Italian navigator Amerigo Vespucci. But the continent was not named America until 1506, in the year when Columbus died forgotten and in poverty.

The United States of America is so big that in many ways it is more a continent than a country. The area of the USA is over 9,4 million square kilometres. The USA is situated in the central and in the southern parts of continent of North America. The state of Ala-ska and the Hawaii Islands in the Pacific Ocean are also parts of the USA. In the east the US is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and in the west by the Pacific. In the north the USA borders on Canada and in the south - on Mexico.

The population of the USA is more than 236 million people; most of the population lives in towns and cities.

The USA is a federation of states (50 states now). It was established by the Constitution in 1787. The Hawaii Islands became a state in 1959. Each state has its own government and its own capital city.

The flag of the USA popularly called "the Stars and Stripes and Old Glory" was adopted in 1777. It consists of 13 horizontal stripes red and white equal to the number of the original states with a blue union marked with white stars equal in number to 50 states today. The red stripes proclaim liberty the field of the blue stands for loyalty.

The national emblem of the USA represents an eagle with wings outspread holding a bundle of rods, the symbol of administration, in the left claw and olive twig in the right claw. The motto on the national emblem is "E Pluribus Unum" - "one out of many" in Latin.

It was in 1812 when the nickname of the USA "Uncle Sam" appeared. Uncle Sam Wilson of New York supplied beef to the US Army during the war of 1812 stamping his barrels with the letters "U.S.". This beef became known to the Army as Uncle Sam's and later this familiar name became associated with the US Government.

The USA is a very large country, so it has several different climatic regions. The coldest regions are in the north and in the north-east. The south has a subtropical climate.

The United States is a land of rivers and lakes. The northern state of Minnesota is the land of 10 000 lakes. The longest rivers in the USA are the Mississippi, the Missouri and the Rio Grande. The highest mountains are the Rocky Mountains, the Cordillera and the Sierra Nevada.

The United States is rich in natural and mineral resources. It produces copper, oil, iron, ore and coal. It is a highly developed industrial and agricultural country.

There are many big cities in the USA, such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and others. The national capital is Washington D.C.

The USA became the world leading country at the beginning of the twentieth century.

Answer the following questions:

1. When was America discovered?

2. Why did Columbus decide to sail across the Atlantic Ocean?

3. What name did Columbus give to discovered land?

4. Where did Columbus get ships and men? Why?

5. How did the name of the continent appear?

6. What is the total area and the population of the United States?

7. How many states are there in the USA?

8. When was the flag of the USA adopted? How is it popularly

called?

9. What does the American flag look like?

10. How did the nickname of the US appear?

11. What does the national emblem of the USA represent?

12. What is the motto on the national emblem?

13. What is the climate of the United States?

14. Why are the USA called a land of rivers and lakes?

15. How can you characterize natural and mineral resources of the

country?

16. What are the major cities of the United States?

WASHINGTON, D.C.

The nation's capital and the seat of the government of the United States, Washington, D.C. is a city rich in history, with impressive monuments, majestic buildings, spacious parks, wide avenues and best of all, friendly people, who bring a touch of Southern hospitality to the hustle and bustle of a major world capital. But what's the meaning of D.C. after the name of the US capital? It stands for District of Columbia. The District of Columbia doesn't belong to any of 50 States of the USA. It is a track of land about 70 square miles (181 square kilometres) on the east bank of the Potomac River. The city was founded in 1790 on a site chosen by George Washington, the first President of the USA. Maryland and Virginia granted land on each side of the river.

The population of the city is about one million.

The city was built according to a preliminary plan. There is a law that forbids building structures more than 90 feet (27,4 metres) high in the city. There are no skyscrapers in Washington. The White House, the official name of the President's executive mansion, is only four stories high. It is the oldest building in Washington. It is located on the south side of the Pennsylvania Avenue.

The first President who lived in the White House was Adams. It was back in 1800.

During the war of 1812-1814 the British soldiers burned most of the public buildings in Washington including the White House and the Capitol. In 1814 the brown stone walls of the President's home were painted white and it has been the "White House" ever since. It contains 132 rooms. Large receptions are held in the East Room. The elliptical Blue Room is for different social, diplomatic and official receptions.

The great landmarks of the U.S. capital: the White House, the Capitol, the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, the moving Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Tomb of the Unknown. One can see the U.S. Government in action when the Senate and House are in session, tour the newsroom and printing presses of the Washington Post, visit the crime laboratories of the FBI and watch more than 7 000 sheets of money roll off high speed presses every hour at the Bureau of Engravings and Printing where security understandably tight.

Washington is a large scientific and cultural centre where many research institutes are concentrated. There are five Universities the-re. D.C. includes the world's largest museum complex, the Smithsonian, consisting of 14 museums and the National Zoo, among them Sculpture Garden, the National Museums of American Art, African Art, American History and Natural History. Included in the Smithsonian family is, of course, the National Air and Space Museum, the most visited museum in the world. You can see items like the original Wright flyer, John Glenn's Friendship Seven space capsule and the Apollo 11 Command module. The National Museum of American History highlights the nation's scientific, cultural, political and technological development, with exhibits ranging from the gowns of the First Ladies to Ford's original Model T.

Answer the following questions:

1. What is the capital of the USA? When was the city of Washington

founded?

2. What is the District of Columbia?

3. How did the name of the capital appear?

4. What is the oldest of the public buildings in Washington?

5. What is the population of Washington?

6. Are there any skyscrapers in Washington?

7. Why is the President's residence called the "White House"?

8. Who was the first person who lived in the White House?

CANADA

Canada is a vast country, bigger than the United States, bigger than the continent of Australia. Canada extends for thousands miles from the Arctic Ocean to the US and from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. All kinds of weather conditions and scenery are to be found there.

The word "Canada" comes from one of the Red Indian languages - "Kannata", meaning "a number of huts". Canada is often called "The Land of the Maple Leaf". The maple leaf is the national emblem of Canada.

Canada has an area of nearly ten million square kilometres. There are many islands in the north of Canada. It has mountains, high plains and low plains. East of Rocky Mountains are the high plains. The low plains lie in the region of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River. Canada is a country of lakes. Besides the Great lakes there are many other very large lakes, for example, the Great Bear Lake, the Lake Winnipeg. Canada has also large rivers which flow from the Rocky Mountains into the Arctic Ocean. The St. Lawrence River flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The Niagara Falls is one of the most splendid sights in the world. Thousands of tourists come from all over the world to see them. Some people try to swim in the fall, seeking notoriety. The noise of the falling water is so great that it is heard as far as 25 kilometres away. The water of the Niagara River is falling from a hill 57 metres high. Today the Niagara Falls make electricity which goes to towns and cities in the USA and in Canada.

The population of Canada is over 26 million people. In the country there are 330.000 Indians and 25.000 Eskimos who live mostly in the North. More than 40 per cent of Canadians came originally from Britain, about 30 per cent from France and 20 per cent from other countries. The State Languages are English and French. The capital of Canada is Ottawa. Other large important towns are Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton and others. Canada is rich in iron, ore, oil and gas. The metal, machine-building, motor-car and ship-building industries are highly developed.

Canada's main agricultural products are wheat, some kinds of fruit, especially apples, meat and dairy products. The provinces of Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia with their great forests produce wood for paper making and building.

Answer the following questions:

1. What can you say about the geographic position of Canada?

2. What is the origin of the word "Canada"?

3. What is the Canadian national emblem?

4. What kinds of scenery are there in Canada?

5. What is the Niagara Falls?

6. What is the ethnic composition of Canadians?

7. Enumerate the most important towns of the country.

8. Prove, that Canada is a highly developed industrial and agricul-

tural state?

BRITAIN'S UNIVERSITIES

There are about 90 universities in Britain. They are divided into three types: the old universities (Oxford, Cambridge and Edinburgh Universities), the 19^th century universities such as London and Manchester, and the new universities. Some years ago there were also polytechnics. After graduating from a polytechnic a student got a degree, but it was not a university degree. 31 former polytechnics were given university status in 1992.

Full courses of study offer the degree of Bachelor of Arts or Science. Most degree courses at universities last 3 years, language courses 4 years (including a year spent abroad). Medicine and dentistry courses are longer. They last 5-7 years.

Students may receive grants from their Local Educational Authority to help pay for books, accommodation, transport and food. This grant depends on the income of their parents.

Most students live away from home, in flats or halls of residence.

Students don't usually have a job during term time because the lessons, called lectures, seminars, classes or tutorials (small groups) are full time. However, many students now have to work in the evenings.

University life is considered "an experience". The exams are competitive but the social life and living away from home are also important. The social life is excellent with a lot of clubs, parties, concerts, bars.

There are not only universities in Britain but also colleges. Colleges offer courses in teacher training, courses in technology and some professions connected with medicine.

Answer the following questions:

1. What are three types of universities in Great Britain?

2. What degrees do students get after finishing full courses of

study?

3. What grants do students receive?

4. Why don't students have jobs during term time?

5. Why is the university life considered "an experience"?

6. What courses do colleges offer?