Text 3 Great Britain.

The official title of the country is The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The United Kingdom is composed of four parts: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Their capitals are London, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast respectively. England, the southern and central part of the island, forms the main part of the country. Wales lies on the mountainous peninsula in the west. Scotland is in the northern part of the island. Its original inhabitants are of Celtic origin. In the past Scotland was an independent kingdom. Northern Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom as an autonomous region with its own Parliament.

Britain’s flag is called the “Union Jack”. It is really three flags on top of each other- the red cross on white of St George for England, the white “X” on blue of St Andrew for Scotland and the red “X” on white of St Patrick for Ireland.

London, the capital of Great Britain, is the largest city in Europe. The name “London” is of Celtic origin. The Romans called the place “Londinium”, and enclosed it in a wall, parts of which still remain. London may be said to have three distinct parts: the City, the West End, the East End and Westminster. They are very different from each other and seem to belong to different towns and epochs. The oldest part of London is the City with its narrow streets. It is the business and financial centre of the whole country. A lot of banks and offices are situated here.

The name “West End” is associated with the rich. Here are the finest theatres, cinemas and concert halls, the largest department stores, the most fashionable hotels. The East End is unattractive but very important to the country’s economy.

1. Ответьте на вопросы.

1. What is the official name of the country?

2. What parts is the United Kingdom composed of?

3. What can you say about Britain's flag?

4. There are four parts in London, aren’t there?

2. Закончите предложения как в тексте.

1. They are very different from each other…

2. It is really three flags on top of each other-…

3. Here are the finest theatres, cinemas…

4. The Romans called the place…

3. Верно или неверно?

1. The name “West End” is associated with the poor.

2. In the past Scotland was an independent kingdom.

3. London, the capital of Great Britain, is the largest city in Asia.

4. London may be said to have three distinct parts: the City, the West End, the East End and Westminster.

5. Wales, the southern and central part of the island, forms the main part of the country.

Text 4 The United States of America.

The United States of America is situated in the southern half of North America. It occupies a favourable geographical position being washed by two oceans and having various climate zones. Stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean the USA borders upon Canada in the North and upon Mexico in the South. The USA is a federation of 50 states. The United States’ flag is called the “Stars and Stripes”. It has thirteen red and white stripes and fifty white stars on a blue square. One star is for each state of the United States now, and the stripes are for the first thirteen states of the union. Americans enjoy their flag. They use it as a popular design on shirts, shoes, hats-anywhere and everywhere in fact.

The USA is a sports-loving nation. Sports in America take a variety of forms: organised competitive struggles, athletic games played for recreation and fishing. Most sports are seasonal, some sports are commercial and professional.

Americans like both to engage in sports and to watch games being played. They are also fond of reading and talking about sports. Usually, several pages of the daily paper are devoted to discussing sport events, and games are carried on television and radio. Baseball is the most popular sport in the United States. Football is the most popular sport in the fall. It is still played by almost every college and university in the country. There are professional football teams in all major cities of the United States. Basketball is the winter sport in American schools and colleges. Other spectator sports include wrestling, boxing and horse racing.

1. Ответьте на вопросы.

2. Where is the USA situated?

3. Which countries does the USA border upon?

4. What are forms of sports in America?

5. What kinds of sports are the most popular in America?

6. What can you say about the flag of the USA?

II. Расположите в логической последовательности:

1. There are professional football teams in all major cities of the United States.

2. Most sports are seasonal, some sports are commercial and professional.

3. The USA is a sports-loving nation.

4. Other spectator sports include wrestling, boxing and horse racing.

5. Baseball is the most popular sport in the United States.

III. Вставьте слова и словосочетания.

borders upon,union, everywhere, stripes, is situated, stars.

1. The United States of America … in the southern half of North America.

2. Stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean the USA … Canada in the North and upon Mexico in the South.

3. It has thirteen red and white … and fifty white … on a blue square.

4. They use it as a popular design on shirts, shoes, hats-anywhere and … in fact.

5. The stripes are for the first thirteen states of the … .