- •1. The reasons for ethnic and social diversity of American society.
- •2. America as a country of immigrants. Change of immigration patterns throughout history.
- •3. The geographical reasons for diversity in America. The main cultural regions: the location, the most important cities, places of interest, the most interesting cultural facts, the people.
- •4. The development of American culture in the 20-s of the XX-th century.
- •5. American society in the second half of the XX-th - the beginning of the XXI centuries.
- •6. American Constitution, its role and characteristic features
- •7. The three branches of power. The way they interact with each other.
- •8. The structure and functions of the American government.
- •9. The most important political parties. Presidential elections. Congressmen and senators – their powers and duties.
- •10. American economy.(лекция) The way Americans understand competition. The Invisible hand.
- •11. The role of the government in American economy.
- •12. The most important American values. The history of the nation reflected in them.
- •1. Geography of the United Kingdom (General Characteristics. The Relief and Borders of the Country. Climate. Mineral and Energy Resources. Environmental Issues)
- •2. Demographic and Religious Diversity in the United Kingdom.
- •3. The Political System of the United Kingdom (The Government. The Monarchy)
- •4. The Constitution of the United Kingdom.
- •5. The Economic System of the United Kingdom
- •6. Cultural symbols of the United Kingdom.
- •7. National symbols of the United Kingdom (flag, coat-on-arms, anthem)
- •8. British music.
- •9. British art
- •10. British cinema
- •14. The structure of the Federal Government. The system of checks and balances.
- •15. The Congress of the us. Supreme legislative body.
- •16. President as the head of the Executive power, the us administration.
6. Cultural symbols of the United Kingdom.
Buckingham Palace is the Queen's official and main royal London home. It has been the official London residence of Britain's monarchy since 1837. Queen Victoria was the first monarch to live there. Buckingham Palace is used also for the administrative work for the monarchy. It is here in the state apartments that Her Majesty receives and entertains guests invited to the Palace. History of Buckingham Palace was originally a grand house built by the Dukes of Buckingham for his wife. George IV began transforming it into a palace in 1826. Public Houses. There are over 60,000 pubs in the UK (53,000 in England and Wales, 5,200 in Scotland and 1,600 in Northern Ireland). One of the oldest pubs, Fighting Cocks in St. Albans, Herts, is located in a building that dates back to the eleventh century. Pubs often have two bars, one usually quieter than the other, many have a garden where people can sit in the summer. Children can go in pub gardens with their parents. Big Ben is the nickname for the great bell of the clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London, and is generally extended to refer to the clock or the clock tower as well. Some believe this extension to be incorrect, but its usage is now entirely commonplace. It is the largest four-faced chiming clock and the third-tallest free-standing clock tower in the world. It celebrated its 150th anniversary in May 2009, during which celebratory events took place. The clock was finished being built on 10 April 1858. The clock tower has become one of the most prominent symbols of both London and England, often in the establishing shot of films set in the city.
7. National symbols of the United Kingdom (flag, coat-on-arms, anthem)
The Flag of England is the St George's Cross. The red cross appeared as an emblem of England during the Middle Ages and the Crusades and is one of the earliest known emblems representing England. It also represents the official arms of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, and it achieved status as the national flag of England during the sixteenth century. England flag is St. George's Cross, the patron saint of the country. It was adopted as the national flag of England during the 16th century AD and is a red color cross on a white background. The proportion of the England flag is 3:5 where cross has a width equivalent to 1/5th of the height of the flag. The origin of the flag of England is obscure. The first recorded use of the flag of England is believed to have been during the Welsh War of 1275. However, since the merger of Scotland and Wales with the country to form the United Kingdom, this flag is not used as a official flag of England Union Jack, the flag of United Kingdom is the official flag of England and St George's cross forms a significant part of that flag. The Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom is the official coat of arms of the British monarch, currently Queen Elizabeth II. These arms are used by the Queen in her official capacity as monarch of the United Kingdom, and are officially known as her Arms of Dominion. The shield is quartered, depicting in the first and fourth quarters the three passant guardant lions of England; in the second, the rampant lion and double tressure fleury-counter-fleury of Scotland; and in the third, a harp for Northern Ireland. The crest is a statant guardant lion wearing the imperial crown, himself on another representation of that crown. The dexter supporter is a likewise crowned English lion; the sinister, a Scottish unicorn. According to legend a free unicorn was considered a very dangerous beast; therefore the heraldic unicorn is chained, as were both supporting unicorns in the Royal coat of arms of Scotland. The coat features both the motto of English monarchs, Dieu et mon droit (God and my right), and the motto of the Order of the Garter, Honi soit qui mal y pense (Shamed be he who thinks ill of it) on a representation of the Garter behind the shield. England has no official national anthem of its own; generally the United Kingdom and Commonwealth anthem, "God Save the Queen", is used. There have been calls for a unique national anthem to be adopted for England specifically. The patriotic song in 1745. It became the national anthem at the beginning of the 19th century.