State Technical University of Orel

The State Technical University of Orel takes its beginning in 1954 as an educational(training) and tutorial station. Now it is one of the largest higher schools in Orel.

Today there are 10 faculties in our University, for example, electronics and instrument engineering faculty, transport and civil engineering faculty,etc. The university has several buildings for training and laboratory works, a computer centre, a scientific and technical library, a canteen, two hostels and a camp for phisical recreation and sports.

The Technical University trains engineers for different branches of industry. The future specialists for the national economy are trained by experienced professors and tutorial staff.

The academic year begins as a rule on the first of September and ends in June. It lasts ten months.

The academic year has two terms: the autumn term and the spring term. The autumn term begins in September and ends in December. It lasts about four months. The spring term begins early in February and ends in May. This term is shorter. It lasts only three months. Each term ends with examinations and credit tests, which take place in January and June.

Students go to the University every day except Sunday. As a rule students have two, three or four lessons a day. They attend the lectures, seminars and tutorials(practical classes).Classes at the University begin at a quarter to nine in the morning and are over at half past three in the afternoon.

In the first and second years of studies students take a foreign language- English, German or French, general engineering subjects such as technology of materials, drawing, descriptive geometry, strength of materials, machine elements, theoretical mechanics as well as higher mathematics, physics and chemistry. Students study also philosophy, the Russian History and Culture of Speech.

Professors and tutorial staff carry on research in different fields of science and technology. The results are put into practice. Many students also take part in research work. Some seniors and post-graduates make reports on their research at various conferences held in the State Technical University of Orel and in other universities and Research Institutes of the Russian Federation. The best students take part in different olympiads and winin them.

The University has a camp for physical recreation and sports not far from Orel in the forest near the river.

After graduation from the State Technical University of Orel its graduates work in industrial firms, design offices and research institutes, joint stock companies, private firms, construction and assembly firms.

The course of training of engineers at the University lasts five years. At the end of the training course all graduates prepare their diploma projects. Those graduates who have keen interests in research are recommended for further study at post-graduate courses.

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

The United States of America, popularly called "The States". "U.S.A", "The Land of Liberty" is a vast country stretching across the middle of North America. This country which at one time inhabited by Red Indians, is now the home of "nation of nations". as people from every part of the world have gone to live in this land of wealth and promise. These settlers met, mingled, and worked with great enterprise, and as a result of their efforts, the United States has become one of the most important countries in the world.

In 1620 the; Pilgrim Fathers, a band of Puritans in England who sought freedom of worship, set forth for America in the sailing-ship Mayflower. Three months after leaving Plymouth Harbour, they reached the shores of what is now called new England, and Founded the America township of Plymouth. Although they often had difficult times with the native Red Indian tribes, the colony soon prospered and more and more settlers joined them. The Indians used a new kind of grain, which the settlers called "Indian corn" (now termed maize) and they ate strange birds called turkeys. On the fourth Thursday of November the Americans celebrate Thanksgiving Day with a feast of turkey and Indian corn.

A great many emigrants went from European countries to America and thirteen colonies were formed, all of them under English rule. The government in England, however, took little interest in the American colonies, except from the point of view of trade. When certain taxes and laws were ordered by the English Parliament, the colonists opposed them and it gradually led to war. At first the colonists fared badly, but later they rallied and eventually won final victory, under the able leadership of George Washington.

Shortly after the discovery of the New World by Columbus, many Spaniards travelled northward from Mexico and settled along the western coast of America. That is why many places in this area such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sacramento, and Santa Barbara have Spanish names. In 1849 the chance discovery of gold brought many people to California and numerous mining towns sprang up in a very short time. "The Golden Gate" (the channel connecting the harbour of San Francisco with the Pacific Ocean) was so called because many of the seekers of the precious yellow metal passed this way to and from the rich gold-fields.

In American cities, men have built huge buildings (skyscrapers) some as many as fifty flats high. The national capital of the United States is Washington and the White House is the home of the President. The famous Statue of Liberty in New York harbour was a gift from France.

While English is the national language of the country, some immigrants have continued the manners, customs, and even tongue of their homeland, and newspapers, in all languages, may be seen in the book-stalls. Here are some common English words, for which the Americans have different names: sweets-candies, shop-store, motor-car-automobile, pavement-sidewalk, petrol-gas, lift-elevator, dust-bin, garbage-can, holiday-vacation, trousers-pants, waistcoat-vest, a jug-pitcher. There are also differences in the spelling of certain words: colour-color, honour-honor, programme-program.

The national banner of the United States of America, commonly known as "The Stars and Stripes" or "Old Glory", is a flag bearing 50 stars and 13 stripes. Each star represents a present-day state and each stripe stands for one of the original colonies. The national anthem is the "Star Sprangled Banner" and the national emblems are the eagle and the buffalo. The national sport may be said to be baseball.

Washington

Washington, the capital of the United States is situated on the Potomac River in the District of Columbia. The district is a piece of land which does not belong to any one state but to all the states. The district is named in honor of Columbus, the discoverer of America.

Washington was founded in 1791 for the purpose of serving as the capital of the United States of America. George Washington chose the place located midway to keep at close touch as possible between the states. Washington is quite new as it didn't exist for two hundred years. The population of the city is nearly million people. It is not a very large city, but it is very important as the capital of the USA. There is a law in Washington against building structures higher than the Capitol; therefore it presents a different appearance from New York with its skyscrapers.

Washington has many historical places. The largest and tallest is the Capitol, where the Congress meets. It is a very beautiful building with white marble columns. Not far from the Capitol is the Library of Congress. It holds five million books.

The White House, the residence of the president is the oldest public structure in the capital and one of the most beautiful. It was built in 1799. It is a two storied white building. It is said that in 1812 when England was at war with America the British entered the city and some of the buildings, including the Capitol and the house of the president were set on fire. Two years later in order to hide the marks of the fire, the brown stone walls of the president's home were painted white and it has been the White House ever since.

Not far from the Capitol is the Washington monument, which looks like a very big pencil. It rises 160 meters and it is empty inside. A special lift brings visitors to the top in 70 seconds from where they can enjoy a view of the city.

The Jefferson Memorial was built in memory of the third President of the USA Thomas Jefferson, who was also the author of the Declaration of Independence. The Memorial is surrounded by cherry trees.

The Lincoln Memorial is devoted to the memory of the sixteenth President of the USA, the author of the Emancipation Proclamation, which gave freedom to Negro slaves in America.