Exercises

1. Practise in reading:

The United States of America, the District of Columbia, Washington, the Potomac river, Maryland, Virginia, American President George Washington, the Capitol, Columbus, New York, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, the Hudson river, Manhattan Island, New York, the Indians, Broadway, “modern Babylon”, the Gateway of America.

2. Prepare the reading of the words:

• with the first syllable stressed:

Private, honour, numerous, skyscrapers, twentieth, the Gateway of America.

• with the second syllable stressed:

The discoverer, political, important, finance, inhabited, majority.

• with the third syllable stressed:

Regulations, nationalities.

3. Give Russian equivalents for:

1. The District of Columbia is the territory of the national capital of the USA, Washington, with its own laws and regulations. 2. The plot of land of a hundred square miles was bought from private owners by the state. 3. Washington has been the federal capital since 1800. 4. The buildings in Washington are not very tall because no building must be taller than the Capitol. 5. In 1626 it was bought from the Indians for a handful of trinkets that cost twenty-four dollars. 6. Numerous skyscrapers house banks and offices of American business. 7. It is called “modern Babylon”.

4. Give English equivalents for:

Пятьдесят штатов; независимый округ; округ Колумбия; собственные законы и предписания; на обеих берегах; участок земли; государство; в честь кого-либо; первооткрыватель; по имени кого-либо; основатель; федеральная столица; в политическом смысле; быть основанным; бесчисленные небоскребы; размещать; быть расположенным; большинство; связывать что-либо с чем-либо; современный Вавилон.

5. Insert prepositions or adverbs where required:

1. The District of Columbia is the territory … the national capital … the USA, Washington, … its own laws and regulations. 2. Washington, D.C. is situated … both banks … the Potomac river, … the two states, Maryland and Virginia. 3. The plot … land … a hundred square miles was bought … private owners … the state. 4. The place was called the District of Columbia … honour … Columbus, the discoverer … America. 5. The capital got the name … Washington … the name … its founder. 6. Washington has been the federal capital … 1800. 7. Washington is smaller… in size than the largest cities … the USA, such as New York, Chicago, Detroit or Los Angeles. 8. In 1626 it was bought … the Indians … a handful … trinkets that cost twenty-four dollars. 9. Numerous bridges link Manhattan … the opposite shores. 10. … the turn … the twentieth century a lot … people came … the USA … different countries … the world.

6. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate word from those given below:

1. … is the territory of the national capital of the USA, …, with its own laws and regulations. 2. In 1790 George Washington laid the corner-stone of … where the Congress sits. 3. The place was called the District of Columbia in honour of …, the discoverer of America. 4. The capital got the name of … after the name of its founder. 5. Washington is sometimes called … of America. 6. It is the place where … works and where … lives. 7. The population of Washington is about … . 8. The buildings in Washington are not very tall because no building must be taller than … .

11 million people, the Capitol, The District of Columbia, Columbus, Washington, the federal government, the heart, each President of the United States.