Соединенные Штаты Америки.

На сегодняшний день, США — самая мощная и высокоразвитая страна в мире. Она расположена в центральной части Северной Америки. Ее западное побережье омывается Тихим океаном, а восточное — Атлантическим океаном и Мексиканским заливом.

США отделяется от Канады на севере 49-й параллелью и Большими озерами, от Мексики на юге — линией, проходящей вдоль реки Рио Гранде и через нагорные районы к Тихому океану. Общая площадь США — около 9 млн. квадратных километров.

Континентальная часть США состоит из возвышенностей и двух низменностей. Возвышенности — это Аппалачи на востоке и Кордильеры, расположенные на западе.

Между Кордильерами и Аппалачами находится Центральная низменность, которая называется прериями, и восточная низменность, называемая долиной Миссисипи. Главные реки США — Миссисипи, самая длинная река в мире (7 330 км), и Гудзон. Климат в США сильно отличается в разных частях страны. Самый холодный климат в северной части, где температура может опускаться до 40 градусов ниже нуля. На юге климат субтропический, летом температура повышается до 49 градусов.

Население Соединенных Штатов Америки составляет около 250 млн. человек. Большинство людей живет в городах, а население в сельской местности уменьшается.

В течение многих десятилетий США являются страной, куда приезжают люди, которые ищут убежище от преследований за политические и религиозные убеждения. Поэтому в Америке имеются представители практически всех рас и национальных групп. В стране живет около 25 млн. негров и чуть больше полумиллиона индейцев.

Столица США — Вашингтон. Он расположен в округе Колумбия. Вашингтон — красивый административный город, практически без промышленности. США — высокоразвитая индустриальная страна. В Кордильерах есть угольные шахты. Около Великих озер добывается железная руда. В США имеются богатые месторождения нефти на территории Калифорнии, в Техасе и других регионах. Штаты занимают одно из первых мест среди стран мира по добыче угля, железной руды, нефти.

В США высокоразвитая автомобильная промышленность. Не будет преувеличением сказать, что автомобили стали символом американского образа жизни. Машины, производимые такими компаниями, как "Форд" и "Дженерал Моторс", известны во всем мире. Автомобильная промышленность сосредоточена в Детройте и вокруг него. Кораблестроение развито вдоль побережья Атлантики и в Сан-Франциско. На северо-востоке и юге страны сосредоточена текстильная промышленность.

В США высокоразвитая система железных дорог. Здесь также находится одна из лучших в мире сеть автомобильных дорог. Их называют автострадами.

США — федеральное государство, состоящее из 50 штатов и округа Колумбия. В политической жизни страны всегда занимали ведущее место две основные партии: демократическая и республиканская. Во время выборов они всегда оспаривают президентство и большинство мест в конгрессе. Конгресс — высший законодательный орган страны. Он состоит из двух палат — палаты представителей и сената. Президент, избираемый всей нацией на 4 года, является главой государства и правительства.  

8) Humor. Read, understand, and enjoy the humor =)

There were three restaurants on the same street. One day, one of them put up a sign said, "The Best Restaurant in the City. " The next day, the second restaurant put up a larger sign which said, "The Best Restaurant in the World. " On the third day, the smallest restaurant put up a small sign which said, "The Best Restaurant on this street. "

PART 2.

Discussion.

1. The “why”-questions. Provocative thinking.

1. Why does the American capital need a separate district for its location?

2. Why was is difficult for African-Americans to enjoy equal rights with the white population?

3. Why has it become possible for America to have an African-American president?

2. Research questions. Choose the issue that interests you most and search for more information. Prepare a report and deliver it to your classmates.

1. The Legislative Branch.

2. The Executive Branch.

3. The Judiciary Branch.

4. The President of the US.

5. The Constitution.

6. The Bill of Rights.

7. The Amendments to the Constitution.

8. House of Representatives.

9. Congress.

10. Elections in the US.

3. Here are the names of some notable presidents throughout the USA.

-) put the presidents in the correct order

-) explain what each of them is notable for

1. Thomas Jefferson

2. Abraham Lincoln

3. George Washington

4. Bill Clinton

5. Ronald Reagan

6. John Quincy Adams

7. Gerald Ford

8. Theodore Roosevelt

9. Richard Nixon

10. George H. W. Bush

11. Ulysses S. Grant

12. Barack Obama

13. Dwight D. Eisenhower

14. Franklin D. Roosevelt

15. John F. Kennedy

16. Harry S. Truman

4. Choose any two presidents of the USA and arrange a dialog between them.

5. If you decided to write a letter to American president, what would you write there? Write a 200-250 letter to the present American president.

6. Write a composition named: “The USA – country of diversities.”

FOLLOW-UPS.

Supplementary reading.

On emancipation. "A man cooking meals and a woman using tools"

There is a certain sort of a man in the world, a man who can be a good cook. If he marries a woman, who is a good cook too, there will be no harmony in their family. The man will always interfere in the kitchen. The woman will shout and drive him away. It is generally assumed that cooking is the housewife's job. Take for example, different advertisements. You can see a certain picture: a hungry man is sitting and looking expectantly at table, meanwhile his wife is bustling to and from the stove. Then she gives her husband a dish which ensures his adoration for ever.

Does he want to cook after this? Many people will reply: "He even shouldn't". The idea that a woman should always cook is completely wrong. A man should be able to cook too, at least when his wife is out or seriously ill. So if a man can't cook, he should ask his wife to teach him.

And what about a woman who can't use tools? Sometimes her disability to handle a screwdriver can cause the same problems as a man's being unable to boil an egg. The woman living in a manless household is often in panic when a fuse burns out, a door handle comes off, a tap leaks, and a wash basin refuses to empty freely. She has to call in an electrician, who sends in a bill, which exceeds his real deeds. Actually at such a time a woman may realize that a short course of training in the use of tools would have saved her time, her money and her temper.

Provocative thinking:

1. How do you understand the term: “emancipation”?

2. Is it ok to pay compliments to a woman at work in Russia? In the US?

3. What is the difference between gallantry and abuse?

4. Is there “emancipation” in Russia?

5. Are Russians different in terms of treating women from other countries?

President's Day

American's two most popular and famous Presidents were both born in February. Until very recently, the birthdays of each President were officially celebrated but the holidays occurring in the middle of the week disrupted the full workweek. So ten years ago the Congress reformed the entire system of American Holidays to make them more convenient for both business and individuals.

Thus, the two holidays celebrated in honour of President Washington and Lincoln were joined into one and celebrated on the second Monday of February. Various communities observe the holiday by staging important achievements in Washington's life. Many shopping malls and stores are open this day and run sales to attract shoppers who have the day off from work or school. For owners of shops President's Day is the chance to make more profit.

Vocabulary:

to occur — случаться, происходить to disrupt — нарушать, разрушать entire — целый, полный convenient — удобный to join — присоединять, объединять community — сообщество to stage — ставить, инсценировать (пьесу) achievement — достижение shopping mall — торговый центр to run sales — проводить распродажу to make profit — получать прибыль

 Provocative thinking:

1. What makes Washington and Lincoln the most popular presidents?

2. What is this holiday made for? Who likes to celebrate it most of all?

3. Do you think the holiday as such might be celebrated in Russia? Why or why

not?

 

Political Parties

There are two major political parties, the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. Other parties have occasionally challenged these two but without permanent success. One reason for their failure is that in order to win a national election, a party must appeal to a broad base of voters and a wide spectrum of interests. The two major parties thus tend to be moderate in their programs, and there may often be little difference between them on some issues. Each has a conservative wing, and each has a wing that is considered liberal. The conservative Democrats tend to be more conservative on racial issues, for example, than their Republican counterparts; the liberal Democrats are more radical on economic issues than the liberal Republicans. The national parties contest presidential elections every four years. In elections for president and vice president, voters actually choose among electors committed to the support of a particular candidate, a system called the Electoral College. Each state is allotted one electoral vote for each senator and representative in Congress.

At the state level, political parties reflect the diversity of the population. Large urban centres are more likely to support a Democratic ticket, whereas rural areas, small cities and suburban areas tend more often to vote Republican. In many states rural areas and smaller towns control the state legislatures, even though the more populous city areas provide the greater proportion of tax revenue. A Supreme Court ruling in 1964 sought to remedy this situation by ordering states to reapportion their legislatures. Some states have traditionally given majorities to one particular party. Until the mid-20th century, for example, the 11 Southern states of the old Confederacy voted almost solidly for Democratic candidates; in other states, such as Maine and South Dakota, Republicans are more likely to win.

Municipal political parties have a pyramidal structure based, at the lowest level, on districts or precincts. The leaders of these units are responsible to ward leaders, who form the governing body of the municipal party. All of these party functionaries are responsible for getting their voters to the polls at election time, often on the basis of a return for services rendered. It is to them, after all, that voters have gone with requests for better municipal services, jobs and assistance in minor difficulties.

As society has become increasingly urban, politics and government have become more complex. Many problems of the cities, including the problems of transportation, housing, education, health and welfare, can no longer be handled entirely on the local level. Since even the states do not have the necessary resources, cities have often turned to the federal government for assistance.

Translate this text “Political Parties” in good Russian.

Elections in the USA

The US Constitution includes some general provisions on the franchise. It sets forth certain requirements for candidates running for a post of a president, vice-president, senator or member of the House of Representatives. Requirements usually concern age, residence and citizenship. The candidates who meet all these requirements are considered eligible for office. A residence qualification requires a permanent residence of an individual in order to get the right to vote.

The duration of the residence qualification is, in general, a few months though it may substantially vary from state to state.

Besides, some states have the so-called literacy qualification (the voter should be able to read and speak English, he (she) must know how to interpret the US Constitution, etc.

And at last it should be mentioned that in some states a poll tax is levied upon everyone who votes and this certainly discourages poor citizens and Negroes from voting. In this context, it is not surprising that not all the Americans participate in elections, including congressional or presidential elections.

The voters are registered by clerks of counties or towns and by local election commissions. When registering, the voter must produce an identification card. This is done to prevent fraud. The administration of elections is vested in an election commission which ordinarily is composed of two commissioners, one representing each of the major parties, and a third ex officio member, usually a sheriff, a county judge, or a clerk.

Prior to holding primary or general election, the commission appoints election officers for each precinct and also arranges for polling places. After the ballots have been cast, they are counted and the results obtained are tabulated and returned to the election commission which officially counts the precinct tally sheets.

 

Vocabulary:

general provisions - общие положения on the franchise - по избирательному праву residence qualification- ценз оседлости clerk - чиновник identification card - удостоверение личности polling place, the polls - место голосования salary - зарплата (оклад) 

Answer these 7 “what” questions.

Now prepare 7 “who, where, when, why” questions for your classmates to answer.

1. What does the US Constitution set forth?

2. What do requirements usually concern?

3. What does a residence qualification require?

4. What is meant by literacy qualification?

5. What is levied upon everyone who votes?

6. What is done to prevent fraud?

7. What does the election commission do?

The Fifty States

The fifty states have joined to make one nation. The United States did not always have fifty states. At first there were thirteen. As the United States grew, more states joined the union. The last two states to join were Alaska and Hawaii. They both joined in 1959.

In the area of the United States covers every type of land, there are forests, deserts, mountains, and flat land. The area of the United States also covers every type of climate. The size of each state is different, too. Alaska is the biggest state. Rhode Island is the smallest one. Alaska is 500 times bigger than Rhode Island. About 250 million people live in the United States. The people of the United States come from all over the world.

People often name new cities after those where they come from. For example, in the United States you will find Paris, Rome, Delhi, Frankfurt, and Moscow. The state with the highest population is California. The state with the lowest population is Alaska.

Each state has its own name. More than a half of the states have names of American Indian origin. Each state also has a flag with colors that have a special meaning for the state. The flag is the symbol, of the state. There are also state flowers, trees, and birds.

Here is a list of states.

Choose a state and make a little report about the symbols of this state and its history.

ALABAMA	ALASKA	ARIZONA	ARKANSAS	CALIFORNIA
COLORADO	CONNECTICUT	DELAWARE	FLORIDA	GEORGIA
HAWAII	IDAHO	ILLINOIS	INDIANA	IOWA
KANSAS	KENTUCKY	LOUISIANA	MAINE	MARYLAND
MASSACHUSETTS	MICHIGAN	MINNESOTA	MISSISSIPPI	MISSOURI
MONTANA	NEBRASKA	NEVADA	NEW HAMPSHIRE	NEW JERSEY
NEW MEXICO	NEW YORK	NORTH CAROLINA	NORTH DAKOTA	OHIO
OKLAHOMA	OREGON	PENNSYLVANIA	RHODE ISLAND	SOUTH CAROLINA
SOUTH DAKOTA	TENNESSEE	TEXAS	UTAH	VERMONT
VIRGINIA	WASHINGTON	WEST VIRGINIA	WISCONSIN	WYOMING

Take the cities from Unit 1, Part 2, Ex. 4 and tell which states are they located in.

Since Alaska used to be Russian territory, let’s be patriotic and take Alaska quiz =)

1) What two animals are shown on the Great Seal of Alaska?

a. Whale and Fish

b. Grizzly Bear and Bald Eagle

c. Fish and Seal

2) What Ocean borders Alaska on the north?

a. The Bering Sea

b. Pacific Ocean

c. Arctic Ocean

3) In what year did the United States purchase the Alaska Territory?

a. 1867

b. 1902

c. 1850

4) According to the 2000 Census, how many people are there per square mile in Alaska?

a. About 4

b. Less than 1

c. About 1

5) What visitor to Alaska has a glacier named after him?

a. John Muir

b. Jack London

c. Sheldon Jackson

6) What is the Official State Motto of Alaska?

a. To the stars through difficulties

b. North to the future

c. The star of the north

7) What is the Official State Insect of Alaska?

a. Honeybee

b. Four-Spot Skimmer Dragonfly

c. Four-dotted Alpine Butterfly

8) What is another name for the highest point in Alaska, Mt. McKinley (20,320 feet)?

a. Minchumina

b. Kuskokwim

c. Denali

9) What does the Big Dipper, depicted on the Alaska State Flag represent?

a. Providence

b. Strength

c. Opportunity

10) What is the capital of Alaska?

a. Juneau

b. Anchorage

c. Fairbanks

Top of Form 1

Bottom of Form 1

Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty National Monument officially celebrated her 100th birthday on October 28,1986. The people of France gave the Statue to the people of the United States in recognition of the friendship established during the American Revolution.

Over the years, the Statue of Liberty has grown to include freedom and democracy as well as this international friendship. The sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi was commissioned to design a sculpture to commemorate the centennial of the American Declaration of Independence. The Statue was a joint effort between America and France and it was agreed upon that the American people were to build the pedestal, and the French people were responsible for the Statue and its assembly in the United States. However, lack of funds was a problem on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.

In France, public fees, various forms of entertainment, and a lottery were among the methods used to raise funds. In the United States, benefit theatrical events, exhibitions, auctions assisted in providing needed funds. Meanwhile in France, Bartholdi required the assistance of an engineer to design such a colossal copper sculpture. Alexandre Gustave Eiffel (designer of the Eiffel Tower) was commissioned to design the massive iron pylon and secondary skeletal framework.

Back in America, fund raising for the pedestal was going particularly slowly, so Joseph Pulitzer (noted for the Pulitzer Prize) opened up the editorial pages of his newspaper, «The World» to support the fund raising effort. Pulitzer used his newspaper to criticize both the rich who had failed to finance the creation of pedestal construction and the middle class who were content to rely upon the wealthy to provide the funds. Pulitzer's campaign of harsh criticism was successful. They got the money.

The Statue was placed upon a granite pedestal inside the courtyard of the star-shaped walls of Fort Wood (which had been completed for the War of 1812.) The United States had responsibility for the operation of the Statue of Liberty. After 1901, the care and operation of the Statue was placed under the War Department. A Presidential Proclamation declared Fort Wood (and the Statue of Liberty within it) a National Monument on October 15th, 1924.

 The President of the United States

Do you want to be President of the United States of America? Maybe you can apply for the post. Answer these three questions:

-) Are you a US citizen?

-) Are you thirty-five years old or older?

-) Have you been a resident of the United States for fourteen years or longer?

Did you say "yes" to all three questions? Then you can take the first steps to the White House. You become President for a term. A term is four years. You can only serve two terms. This means that you can only be President twice. This law was adopted in 1951. Before that the law was different. In fact, Franklin D. Roosevelt became President in 1933. He was still President when he died in 1945. He was President for twelve years. No one was President longer than he was.

As President of the United States, you earn $ 200,000 a year. You also get an extra $ 50,000 for expenses, tax free. You have your own limousine, jet, and housekeepers, all free. You also live rent free, in the White House in Washington, D.C. And you are the head of the richest country in the world!

Presidents of the United States were people of very different professions. Twenty-two were lawyers, four — soldiers, four — farmers, four — teachers, two — writers, two — businessmen, one — engineer, one — tailor, and one — actor. Eight of them did not have a college education!

Write an essay titled either way:

“I Wish I could President of the United States!..” or

“I Would Never Ever Become President of the United States!”

giving well grounded reasons for your choice.

Keys to Alaska quiz: 1-c; 2-c; 3-a; 4-c; 5-a; 6-b; 7-b; 8-c; 9-b; 10-a.

Part 3. Media. How is America influenced?

Pre-reading task. Discussion club.

Get in pairs and discuss:

-) Do you agree with an opinion that media is the 4^th power?

-) Should there be some ethical restrictions on media?

-) Freedom of speech – a myth or reality in Russia?

Reading. Read the text carefully and retell it close to the original. Be ready to discuss it.