12. Washington d.C.

The United States is a federal union which is made up of fifty states and one independent district - the District of Columbia. The District of Columbia is the territory of the national capital of the USA, Washington, with its own laws and regulations. Washington, D.C. is situated on both banks of the Potomac River, between the two states, Maryland and Virginia.

This place was chosen by the first American President George Washington. The plot of land of a hundred square miles was bought from private owners by the state. In 1790 George Washington laid the corner-stone of the Capitol where the Congress sits. The place was called the District of Columbia in honor of Columbus, the discoverer of America. The capital got the name of Washington after the name of its founder. Washington has been the federal capital since 1800.

Washington is sometimes called the heart of America. It is the place where the federal government works and where each President of the United States lives. Washington is smaller in size than the largest cities of the USA, such as New York, Chicago, Detroit or Los Angeles. The population of Washington is about 11 million people. The buildings in Washington are not very tall because no building must be taller than the Capitol. But in political sense Washington is the centre of the country and the most important city of the United States.

Topical Vocabulary

to be made up of smth. – состоять из чего-либо

independent - независимый

the District of Columbia – округ Колумбия

with its own laws and regulations – со своими собственными законами и установлениями

to be situated on both banks of the river – быть расположенным по обеим берегам реки

a plot of land - участок земли

the state - государство

to lay the corner-stone – заложить (о городе)

the Capitol - Капитолий

the Congress - конгресс

in honor of smb. – в честь кого-либо

a discoverer - первооткрыватель

after the name of smb. – по имени кого-либо

a founder - основатель

the federal capital – федеральная столица

to be smaller in size than - быть меньше по размеру, чем

in political sense – в политическом смысле

Answer the questions:

1. How many parts is the USA made up of?

2. What is the District of Columbia?

3. How was Washington, D.C. founded?

4. What is Washington famous for?

5. In what sense is Washington the most important city in the USA?

Translate into English:

1. США состоят из 50 штатов и независимого округа Колумбия.

2. Округ Колумбия имеет собственные законы и установления.

3. Место для Вашингтона, расположенного по обoим берегам реки Потомак, было выбрано Джорджем Вашингтоном.

4. Город получил свое название в честь Джорджа Вашингтона.

5. В Вашингтоне работает правительство США и живут американ­ские президенты.

6. С 1800 года Вашингтон является федеральной столицей.

7. Вашингтон - политический центр США.

II. Education

13. Education in Russia

Russians have always shown a great concern for education. The right to education is stated in the Constitution of the Russian Federation. It is ensured by compulsory secondary schools, vocational schools, and higher education establishments. It is also ensured by the development of extramural and evening courses and the system of state scholarships and grants.

Education in Russia is compulsory up to the 9th form inclusive. The stages of compulsory schooling in Russia are: primary education for ages 6-7 to 9-10 inclusive; secondary education including intermediate school for ages 10-11 to 12-13 inclusive, and senior school for ages 13-14 to 14-15 inclusive. If a pupil of a secondary school wishes to go on in higher education, he or she must stay at school for two more years. Primary and secondary school together comprise 11 years of study. Every school has a «core curriculum» of academic subjects, such as Russian, Literature, Mathematics, History, a foreign language and others. Lyceums and gymnasiums offer programs giving a profound knowledge in some field of study.

After finishing the 9th form one can go on to a vocational school which offers programmes of academic subjects and a programme of training in a technical field, or a profession.

After finishing the 11th form of a secondary school, a lyceum or a gymnasium one can go on in higher education. All applicants must take competitive examinations. Higher education institutions, that is, institutes or universities, offer a 5-year programme of academic subjects for undergraduates in a variety of fields, as well as a graduate course. If one finishes a graduate course and writes a thesis, he or she receives a candidate's degree or a doctoral degree.

Higher educational establishments are headed by Rectors. Prorectors are in charge of academic and scientific work. An institute or a university has a number of faculties, each specializing in a field of study. Faculties have specialized councils which confer candidate and doctoral degrees.

The system of secondary and higher education in Russia is going through a transitional period. The main objectives of the reform are: to decentralize the higher education system, to develop a new financial mechanism, to give more academic freedoms to faculties and students. All secondary schools, institutes and universities until recently have been funded by the state. Now there is quite a number of private fee-paying primary and secondary schools; some universities have fee-paying departments.