THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Geographical position
The United States of America(“Land of opportunity”, “Melting Pot”, “God′s
Country”, often called the United States (US) or America, is a country in North
America. It is made up of 50 states, a federal district, and five territories. It has great
influence over world finance, trade, culture, military, politics, and technology.
The USA is situated in North America between 2 oceans: the Atlantic Ocean to the
East and the Pacific Ocean to the West. The USA borders on Canada in the north and
Mexico in the south. The total area is about 9,363,000 sq. km. which makes it the
forth largest state in the world.
The USA consists of 50 states and the District of Columbia where the capital of the
country, Washington, is situated. The states are Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas,
California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia,
Kentucky, Montana, New York, Washington, etc. Alaska (1,530,700 sq. km.) is
America′s largest state. In 1959 Alaska became the 49th state of the USA. It is called
“the land of icebergs and polar bears”.
The population of the USA is 325 million people (2017). The most populated cities
are New York (8 million people) and Los Angeles (3,7 million). The USA is often
called “a melting pot” //котел, в котором переплавляются нации where economic
and social pressures have forced non-speaking immigrants to drop their native tongue
and habits. People of different nationalities live and work there: Frenchmen, Italians,
Puerto Ricans, Jews, Swedes, Poles, Germans, Ukrainians, Russians, Chinese,
Japanese, etc.
Half the territory of the USA is mountainous with the Appalachian Highland in the
east and the Cordilleran Highland (including the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra
Nevada) in the west. Between them there are vast valleys known as the Great Valley.
America′s largest rivers are the Mississippi (“father of waters”) with its tributary
Missouri (6,4000 km), the Rio Grande (a natural boundary between Mexico and the
USA), the Ohio, the Columbia and the Colorado (“a river of enormous fury ” – wild,
restless and angry).
The USA is famous for its 5 Great Lakes: Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, Lake Huron,
Lake Superior and the Michigan. The first four lakes are on the border with Canada
and are the largest and deepest in the USA. There are also a lot of small lakes. For
example, Minnesota is known as the land of 10,000 lakes.
The USA has several climatic regions: from the continental climate in New England
to subtropical in Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida. The weather ranges from
the warm, wet conditions of the Appalachian Highland to the desert conditions of the
western states.
The USA is rich in mineral resources. It has major deposits of oil and gas in Texas
and Alaska, coal in Virginia and Ohio, gold in Alaska and California, silver in
Nevada, non-ferrous metals in Arkansas and Colorado.
PRACTICE
1. Read the sentences using English equivalents.
1) The USA is situated in North America between 2 oceans: (Атлантическим
океаном и Тихим океаном).
2) The USA (граничит с) Canada in the north and Mexico in the south.
3) The USA is often called (котел, в котором переплавляются нации) where
economic and social pressures have forced non-speaking immigrants to drop their
(родной язык) and (привычки)
4) (Население США) is 325 million people (2017).
5) Half the territory of the USA is (горная).
2. Find English equivalents in the text.
влияние, океан, граничит c, государство, штат, родной язык, долина, горный,
национальность, приток, минеральные ресурсы, цветные металлы, земля
айсбергов и белых медведей
3. Answer the questions.
1) Where is the USA situated? 2) What countries does the USA border on? 3) What is
the total area of the USA? 4) How many states does the USA consist of? 5) What is
the total number of the population? 6) what are the most populated cities of the USA?
7) How is the USA often called? 8) Is the USA mountainous territory? 9) What rivers
are the largest in the USA? 10) What state is known as the land of 10, 000 lakes? 11)
How can you characterize the climate of the USA? 12) What mineral resources is the
USA rich in?
Political System
The USA is a federal presidential democratic
republic. The head of the state is the President.
He is elected for a term of four years and can only
be reelected for one more term. The term of office
of the President begins at noon on January 20.
The President must be a natural-born citizen of the USA, at least 35 years old, and a
resident of the country for at least 14 years. The President of the state is also the head
of the executive power, treaty maker, Commander-in-Chief of the army. He conducts
foreign affairs, signs treaties //договора in the name of the USA, appoints diplomats,
ambassadors, cabinet members, federal judges. The President can forbid (veto) any
bill passed by Congress. The President of the USA is Donald Trump, an American
businessman, television personality, and author. Trump was the Republican nominee
for President of the United States in the 2016 election, having won the most state
primaries, caucuses, and delegates at the 2016 Republican National Convention.
The Constitution was adopted after the War of Independence by the Constitutional
Convention on September17, 1787 in Philadelphia (was a national capital from 1790
to 1800). It consists of the Preamble and 7 articles. 27 amendments //поправки have
been added to its original text. The first 10 amendments are known as the Bill of
Rights (1791) the main principles of which are individuals rights and freedoms to all
people of the State, including freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of
worship, freedom of enterprise etc.
The “Father of the Constitution” was a rich plantation owner from Virginia, James
Madison who proclaimed that “a private property is the backbone of liberty”.
The legislative branch of the government is the Congress, which has 2 houses: the
Senate (that represents the states) and the House of Representatives (that represents
the population according to its distribution among states). Powers granted to Congress
under the Constitution include the power to levy taxes, borrow money, regulate
interstate commerce, declare war, seat members, control the nation′s finances, to hold
foreign policy, to change the State Budget, to provide for military forces. The House
of Representatives has a special power of its own. Only a member of the House can
introduce a bill to raise money, but it must be praised by the Senate before it can
become a law.
The Supreme Court is the highest court in the country and the head of the judicial
branch of the US government. The Supreme Court Building is a beautiful building of
white marble in Washington, D.C. The figures over the entrance represent the national
ideas of law and liberty – “Equal Justice Under Law”. The US Supreme Court
includes a Chief Justice (главный судья) and eight Associate Justices. One of the
most important duties of the justices is to decide whether laws passed by the Congress
agree with the Constitution. Besides the US Court there are various district courts and
courts of appeals (апелляционные суды). These courts handle both civil and criminal
cases.
Today the USA has 2 major political parties:
the Democratic Party (its emblem is the
Democratic donkey) and the Republican
Party (its emblem is the Republican elephant).
There is very little ideological difference
between them. Both parties defend the free-
enterprise capitalist system as the basis of American society.
The main religion is Christianity. The official language is English. The monitory
unit is dollar ($). Dollars became America′s official currency in 1792. American
money comes in bills (paper money) and coins. A slang word for a dollar is “buck”.
It’s interesting that whatever the domination is all bills are of the same colour and
size. The American dollar is an important currency that is used for trade between
countries all over the world; the world price for gold is given in dollars. It is the
world’s primary reserve currency. It is the most used currency in the international
transactions. With Americans the most common way of making payment is by credit
card, the major ones being Visa, American Express, and Master Card. Other ways of
completing business transactions or making a purchase is by means of a check book
and a banking card. Credit and banking cards are commonly called “plastic money”,
or just plastic.
PRACTICE
1. Match English words with their Russian equivalents.
1 to elect 2 executive power 3 Commander-in-Chief 4 amendment 5 judicial branch 6
legislative branch 7 monitory unit 8 currency 9 to forbid 10 to adopt a constitution
a) главнокомандующий b) судебная власть c) избирать d) денежная единица e)
запрещать f) принять конституцию g) валюта h) поправки, изменения i)
законодатльная власть j) исполнительная власть
2. Read the sentences using English equivalents.
1) The USA is a (федеральная президентская демократическая республика). 2)
(срок правления) оf the President begins at noon on January 20. 3) The legislative
branch of the government is (конгресс), which has 2 houses: (сенат) and (палата
представителей) (that represents the population according to its distribution among
states). 3) (Верховный суд) is the highest court in the country and the head of the
judicial branch of the US government. 4) Today the USA has 2 major political
parties: (демократическая партия) (its emblem is the Democratic donkey) and
(республиканская партия) (its emblem is the Republican elephant). 5) The
American dollar is an important (валюта) that is used for trade between countries all
over the world.
3. Find Russian equivalents to the following.
a natural-born citizen, a resident of the country, to appoint, ambassador, to win,
worship, enterprise, to levy taxes, borrow money, to regulate, state budget,
government, duty, free-enterprise capitalist system, to make payment, transaction, to
make a purchase, primary reserve currency
4. Answer the questions to the text.
1) Is the USA a republic or a monarchy according to the Constitution? 2) Are there
any requirements for being elected for the post of the president? 3) What are the main
functions of the president? 4) When and where was the Constitution of the USA
adopted? 5) What are the main principles of the American constitution? 6) Who is the
father of the constitution? What did he proclaimed? 7) How many branches of power
in the USA? 8) What are the main functions of the legislative, executive and judicial
branches? 9) What is the main religion? 10) What is the official language? 11) What
is an official monitory unit in the USA? 12) What can you say about the importance
of the dollar in the world economy?
National Symbols
The National Flag of the USA is red, white and blue. The red
stripes proclaim courage, the white – liberty, the field of blue
stands for loyalty. The 50 stars represent the 50 states. The 13
red and white stripes represent the first 13 colonies. The Flag
symbolizes American people, American land, and American way of life. The first
American flag was approved by the Continental Congress in Philadelphia on June 14,
1777. The US flag is known as “Old Glory”, “The Stars and Stripes”, “Star-Spangled
Banner” («Звездное знамя»). Americans enjoy their flag. They sometimes use the
stars and stripes as popular designs on shirts, shoes, hats, jeans, but there are laws that
prohibit using the flag in appropriate ways. The Stars and Stripes are flown on
government offices and public schools, they stand by the president’s desk. The flags
hang in every classroom in America, and every day children salute it before the school
day begins. On the 4th of July, Independence Day, the Stars and Stripes can be seen
everywhere – on the streets, on the houses and big parades.
The official emblem of the USA is the American eagle. It appears
on the Presidential flag and on some coins. The coat of arms of
the US represents an eagle with wings outspread, holding a
bundle of rods (symbol of administering) in the left claw and an
olive twig (the emblem of love and peace) in the right claw. The
motto on the coat of arms is “E Pluribus Unum” // Едины в
многообразии.
The National Anthem of the USA was written by Francis Scott Key during the war
of 1812 between the USA and Great Britain.
The symbol of freedom is the Statue of Liberty. It
is a 225-ton steel female figure, 150 ft in height, facing the ocean from Liberty Island
in New York Harbor. The right hand holds a torch and the left hand carries a tablet
upon which is written: ”July 4, 1776”. The Statue symbolizes the alliance of France
and the USA in the American Revolution and their friendship.
PRACTICE
1. Match English words with their Russian equivalents and learn them by heart.
1) to proclaim 2) courage 3) liberty 4) state 5) star-spangled banner 6) to prohibit 7)
independence 8) eagle 9) coat of arms 10) a bundle of rods 11) olive twig 12) claw
13) female 14) torch
a) свобода b) независимость c) оливковая ветвь d) провозглашать e) герб f)
женский g) фонарик h) звездное знамя i) лапа j) орел k) запрещать l) пучок
стрел m) мужество, смелость n) штат, государство
2. Answer the questions.
1) What colours are in the USA flag? 2) What do the colours symbolize? 3) When was
the first American flag approved? 4) Do the Americans enjoy their flag? 5) How is the
flag called? 6) What is the official emblem of the USA? 6) When was the national
anthem written? Who wrote the anthem? 7) What does the Statue of Liberty
symbolize?
Economy and Industry
The USA has one of the strongest economies in the world, with a national market of
about 265 million people. It is the world leader in aeronautics, space technology,
electronics, computer hardware and software. One-fifth of the world’s cars are
produced there (General Motors, Ford, Chrysler all with headquarters in Detroit –
automobile city). Many Americans work in the service sector. They also provide
services ranging from banking to transportation and tourism. About a quarter of jobs
are in construction and manufacturing industries such as chemicals, clothing and
textile, and machinery. Less than 4% of working population are in mining,
agriculture, fishing, forestry //лесное хозяйство.
The US economy is based on three-enterprise system: private businesses compete
against one another with relatively interference from the government.
The USA is rich in natural resources: oil, natural gas, coal. It is a leading producer
of copper, gold, silver, aluminum, iron, and lead. The USA grows wheat, corn, and
other crops and raises many cows, pigs, and chickens.
International trade is very important for the USA. Major exports include machinery
and high technology equipment, chemicals, cars, aircraft, and grains. Major imports
include machinery and telecommunications equipment, oil, cars, metals, and
chemicals.
Financial markets are big business for the USA. Over 90 million shares are bought
and sold on the New York Stock Exchange every day.
The most important cities in the USA are the following: New York is the largest city
and seaport in the USA. It’s a city of skyscrapers and business center of the
shipbuilding, machine building, aircraft, electronics, chemical, light and food
industries. About 5 hundred transatlantic airplanes come to and leave New York every
day.
Chicago is a center of industry for the middle of the country. Chicago is a Great
Central Market of the USA; it is an important center of heavy industry, the rail-road,
meat-packing and grain center of the nation.
Chicago is an industrial center of Illinois. Illinois leads all other states in the
manufacture of farm machinery, electronic parts, diesel engines, railroad cars and
food products. It’s a leading steel producing state and is the fourth in coal production.
World War made the city a center of aircraft manufacturing and shipbuilding. Other
important industries today are food processing, chemical products, metal goods,
machinery and aerospace production. The Boeing Company is the largest employer
in the area. The Boeing heavy bomber airplane became a symbol of Seattle.
Engineering occupies the leading position in the USA economy. Automobile industry
with the main center of Detroit, aviation and rocket industries in San Diego, Los
Angeles, Dallas, New York, Baltimore, shipbuilding industry in Boston, New York,
Philadelphia, San Francisco, Los Angeles contribute a great deal to the development
of industry of means of transport and communication.
The agricultural regions are the prairies and the Midwest part of the USA where
wheat, maize and other crops grown. Cotton is grown in the Mississippi valley.
Virginia and Maryland are well known for their tobacco plantations. Rice is grown in
the south of the Gulf of Mexico. Cattle-farming is developed in the prairies, sheepfarming is developed in the western region of the country.
The Midwest is often called the Corn Belt. Farming is the Midwest leading industry.
Corn is the pioneer American crop. The Indians taught the early settlers how to grow
it. As the pioneers began to move westward, corn moved with them. In the Midwest
these pioneers found an ideal climate for growing corn.
California is now the country’s most important cotton-producing state. Only Texas
grows more cotton.
PRACTICE
3. Match English words with their Russian equivalents.
1) aeronautics 2) hardware 3) software 4) headquarter 5) manufacturing industry 6)
chemicals 7) clothing 8) textile 9) mining 10) forestry 11) interference 12) food
processing 13) aircraft 14) sheep-farming 15) rocket industry
a) программное обеспечение b) обрабатывающая промышленность c) одежда
d) лесное хозяйство e) пищевая обработка f) текстиль g) химические препараты
h) ракетостроение i) аппаратное обеспечение j) авиация k) овцеводство l)
авиация o) вмешательство p) угольная промышленность q) центр
4. Continue the sentences.
1) The USA has one of the strongest … . 2) The US economy is based on … . 3) The
USA is rich in natural … . 4) Major exports include … . 5) New York is a business
center of … . 6) Chicago is an important center of … . 7) Engineering occupies the
leading … . 8) Cotton is grown in … . 9) The Midwest is often called … . 10) … is
the pioneer American crop.
5. Translate the following words and word combinations into English.
Предоставить услуги, сельское хозяйство, угольная промышленность,
основываться на, частный бизнес, высокотехнологичное оборудование, пищевая
промышленность, сталь, медь, золото, алюминий, свинец, зерно, кукуруза,
сделать вклад, автомобильная промышленность
6. Answer the questions.
1) What kinds of industries are developed in the USA? 2) What city is considered to
be automobile? 3) What system is the US economy based on? 4) What natural
resources is the USA rich in? 5) What are the major imports and exports in the USA?
6) What are the most important industrial cities in the USA? 7) What regions are
agricultural?
BIG CITIES OF THE USA
The United States today is a nation of urban dwellers. About 80% of the population
lives in cities. There are many big cities and towns in the USA. New York, San
Francisco, Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles are the biggest.
The largest and the most famous city
is New York (population 7,868,000). It is the gateway to the USA. It is also a window
through which the life of the whole nation may be observed. It is also called the Big
Apple or the city that never sleeps, because it is never quite and many people either
work or go out to enjoy themselves at night. The first view to the city can never be
forgotten. It is represented by Liberty Island with the bronze Statue of Liberty (a
symbol of American Independence), presented to the USA by France in 1876. The
statue is about 50 meters high and stands on a pedestal of almost the same height. Its
torch towers about 200 feet (60 meters) above the harbour and can be seen at night for
many miles. New York is a national leader in business, finance, manufacturing,
communications, service industries, fashion and arts. “Money-making” is the main
law of life in New York. New York is a city of contrasts. The richest people in the
USA work and live there, earning millions of dollars. And at the same time the
poorest people inhabit a part of New York called Harlem. New York consists of 5
boroughs//районы: Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn and Richmond.
Brooklyn is the largest in population (3,000,000). It is even called “bedroom of New
York”.
The heart of the city is Manhattan, a rocky island. It is the center of American finance,
advertising, art, theater, publishing, fashion – and much more. Perhaps nowhere are
New York′s extreme contrasts more obvious than in the Times Square area, around
42nd Street and Broadway. Many big plays and musicals open there. Beneath the
bright neon signs of Times Square, you will find the most elegant theaters some of its
sleaziest “adult” shows and shops.
Chicago is the thirdlargest city in the USA and one of the busiest airport, country′s leading industrial,
commercial, financial and transport centers. It has the world’s Chicago-O’Hare
International Airport. It is also the most important rail and haulage center and a
significant port handling both domestic and international trade. The city is first in the
nation in manufacturing of machinery and electronic parts. It is often called the “Great
Market of the USA”. Chicago is the railroad and grain center of the nation. It is also
called “Cross-Roads of the Continent”. It is served by 19 trunk lines and handles
50,000 freight cars daily. More airlines converge//сходятся on Chicago than any
other city of the USA. Lakes freighters and river barges deliver bulk //насыпной или
наливной груз commodities such as iron, ore, limestone, coal, chemicals, oil, and
grain.
Chicago is a major center of higher education with numerous colleges and
universities. It is a leader in nuclear research.
The world’s first skyscraper was constructed in Chicago in 1885. The central part of
the city has one of the tallest building – the Sears Tower at 110 storeys high.
Philadelphia
(often
called
“Philly”) is the 4 largest city in the USA (1,5million people). For 10 years
Philadelphia was the 1st national capital of the USA (1800). That city was the place of
the First and Second Continental Congresses, and the Constitution of the USA was
also adopted here on June 4, 1776.
th
Philadelphia is known as an important industrial and financial center, it is also an
important international port on the Delaware River. The leading industries are
shipbuilding, printing, publishing, textile, machinery. The city is also famous for its
ice-cream, pepper-pot soup and a sausage-like product called scrapples //кушанье из
свинины с кукурузной крупой.
Washington, D.C. is one of
the few capitals in the world that was specially built to house the American national
government. The terms Washington and the District of Columbia are practically
synonymous. Washington was named after the first US President – George
Washington. It is not the largest city in the USA. Its population is about 900 thousand
people, but it is the largest “one-industry” city in the world. That industry is
government. The city’s main product is law and government decisions. The center of
the city is the Capitol Building which dominates all Washington. It is the place where
the US Congress meets to discuss the nation’s affairs, place where the inaugurations
of the President and Vice-President are held. On the dome of the Capitol there is a
bronze Statue of Freedom which symbolizes the main idea of the US Сonstitution that
free people may govern themselves. Pennsylvania Avenue joins the Capitol and The
White House which is the President′s Residence. It has 107 rooms and 31 bathrooms.
All American presidents have lived there except George Washington as the White
House was not yet built at that time after damage by fire in 1814.
Washington is a wonderful city. You can hardly find a park, a square or an open area
in it without a monument or memorial. The most impressive are the Washington
Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. The Washington Monument looks like a big
pencil. Its height is 160 meters and it is hollow inside. A special lift brings visitors to
the top in 70 seconds and from it they can enjoy a beautiful view of the whole city.
The Lincoln Memorial is built in the style of a Classic Greek Temple. It has 36
columns that show the number of states in the Union in Lincoln′s time. Inside the
Memorial there is a large white marble statue of the 16th President of the USA who
was loved by supporters and hated by enemies who killed him in 1865.
Washington is a city of museums, art galleries, theatres. It is an important scientific
center. There are 5 universities there, National Academy of Science, the famous
Library of Congress, one of the largest in the world. George Washington University,
Howard University are the most popular.
There are no skyscrapers in Washington, because they would hide the city′s numerous
monuments from view. Besides, no building in the city may be no more than 40
meters tall, i.e., It cannot be higher than the White House.
Los Angeles
The city was founded in 1781
by Spanish colonists who came to the west coast of America from Mexico. The
village built by them was called “The Town of Our Lady, The Queen of Angeles”. It
is a city of many beaches, with surfers, volleyball players, and people getting tan. It is
also the center of the movie industry home to many movie stars. LA has money and
glamour; the Beverly Hills neighborhood, for example, is famous for its mansions and
high-priced shops. LA is a city of fads//прихоть, фантазия and trends. Clubs,
restaurants, shops, and styles have been known to appear and disappear overnight. LA
is not only a center for entertainment and tourism, but also for manufacturing,
business and finance, aerospace, oil, and trade.
LA faces some serious problems. With so much traffic. LA has the dirtiest air in the
USA; too often sunshine is hidden by smog. Crime and violence are also major
problems. Police say there are at least 500 gangs in LA. Violence among gang
members has grown with the spread of drugs and drug money. Experts emphasize that
the problems must be solved if LA is to maintain the Southern California lifestyle for
which it’s famous.
Las Vegas
Las Vegas is a center of gambling in
America. For this reason, some say the name Las Vegas comes from a
mispronunciation of the phrase “lost wages”. In reality, “Las Vegas” is Spanish for
“meadows”. Early settlers were impressed by the fact that Las Vegas was an oasis of
green grass in the middle of the desert.
Today Las Vegas is still an oasis – not of grass, but of neon lights. Its hotels and
gambling casinos, shows use so much neon that Las Vegas has been nicknamed the
City of Lights. In fact, all the entertainments of Las Vegas are open 24 hours a day.
Las Vegas is like an “adult Disneyland”, a fantasy oasis in the Nevada desert.
Detroit
Detroit is the world’s car
manufacturing center, giving Detroit its nickname the Motor City. It is also one of the
nation’s leading industrial centers. Detroit produces steel, metal products, machine
tools, chemicals, office machines, and pharmaceuticals. The metropolitan area
contains the international headquarters of such major motor-vehicle firms as General
Motors Corporation, Ford Motor Company, and Chrysler Corporation. The first motor
car factories were founded in Detroit in 1899 and 1903 by Ransom Olds and Henry
Ford.
San Francisco
The city is surrounded on three
sides by water. It is famous for its bridges, fog, and foghorns. San Francisco has 40
hills. It is famous for its cable cars, which climb these hills, and for its steep and
narrow streets. San Francisco is a wonderful city to explore on foot. San Francisco
also has a reputation as an intellectual, liberal, and slightly crazy city – a city where
new and different ideas can be explored. Don’t leave San Francisco without seeing the
symbol of the city – the Golden Gate Bridge – a beautiful orange suspension bridge.
The city has the largest Chinese neighborhood – Chinatown, a genuinely ethnic area
Hollywood. An area of the city of Los Angeles famous primarily for its association
with the film industry, Hollywood was originally a small independent agricultural
community. It merged with Los Angeles in 1910 in order to obtain an adequate water
supply. At approximately the same time, the film industry began to locate in the
region, seeking to take advantage of natural sunlight that allowed year-round filming
and a diverse southern California landscape that provided cheap scenery. In 1914, the
director Cecil B. DeMille decided to locate his studio in Hollywood permanently, and
other companies followed. By the 1920s, Hollywood had beaten out rivals such as
Culver City and Burbank as the place most associated with the film industry, although
in fact movie lots were scattered throughout the Los Angeles area. The growing
power and romance of film made Hollywood a cultural icon and a major tourist
attraction. In the 1950s and 1960s, Hollywood also began to attract television studios
and record companies. While still home to many entertainment-related companies and
remaining a popular destination for starstruck visitors, the area's actual role in film
production began to lag in the 1970s. Soaring production and living costs in Los
Angeles led many companies to seek opportunities elsewhere, and Hollywood itself
struggled with problems associated with urban blight.
Hollywood is a district in Los Angelis, California, the United States of America.
Hollywood is known as a center in the cinema industry. A great number of movie
studios are situated here as well as many movie stars have their houses in Hollywood.
The Academy Awards are annually held in Hollywood in late February or early
March. The main sightseeing of Hollywood is Hollywood Walk of Fame. It consists
of more than 2400 five-pointed stars on the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood
Boulevard. The stars are permanent public monuments for achievements in the
entertainment industry. The stars have the names of actors, musicians, directors,
producers, musical groups and even fictional characters. Hollywood is a very popular
tourist destination.
PRACTICE
1. Test your knowledge and choose the right variant.
1. The center of financial markets is …
a) Los Angeles b) New York c) Detroit
2. The main centre of the automobile industry is …
a) Dallas b) San Diego c) Detroit
3. The country’s most important cotton-producing state is
a) California b) Virginia c) Alaska
4. What city is called “Big Apple”?
a) Chicago b) Las Vegas c) New York
5. … is the railroad and grain center of the nation. It is also called “Cross-Roads
of the Continent”. It is served by 19 trunk lines and handles 50,000 freight cars
daily.
a) Chicago b) Philadelphia c) Los Angeles
6. The 1st national capital of the USA (1800) was …
a) Philadelphia b) Washington c) New York
7. … is famous for its ice-cream, pepper-pot soup and a sausage-like product
called scrapples // кушанье из свинины с кукурузной крупой.
a) Philadelphia b) Los Angeles c) Washington
8. It is a city of many beaches, with surfers, volleyball players, and people getting
tan.
a) Los Angeles b) Las Vegas c) Chicago
9. … is like an “adult Disneyland”, a fantasy oasis in the Nevada desert. It is a
center of gambling in America.
a) Detroit b) Las Vegas c) Florida
10. … has the largest Chinese neighborhood – Chinatown, a genuinely ethnic
area
a) San Francisco b) Chicago c) New York
11. … is a wonderful city. You can hardly find a park, a square or an open area
in it without a monument or memorial.
a) Washington b) Los Angeles c) Miami
12. … is the world’s car manufacturing center, giving … its nickname the Motor
City.
a) California b) Detroit c) Dallas
13. The city is surrounded on three sides by water. Don’t leave … without seeing
the symbol of the city – the Golden Gate Bridge – a beautiful orange suspension
bridge.
a) San Francisco b) Chicago c) California
2. Match the English words with their equivalents and learn the words by heart.
1 urban dwellers 2 population 3 Liberty Island 4 manufacturing 5 to earn 6 advertising
7 publishing 8 adult 9 haulage center 10 to handle 11 domestic trade 12 to converge
13 freighter 14 bulk commodity 15 bulky 16 scrapples 17 monument 18 to get tan 19
gambling 20 headquarter 21 suspension bridge 22 neighborhood
a) реклама b) взрослый c) центр перевозок, вывоза d) население e) внутренняя
торговля f) памятник g) сходиться в одной точке h) громоздкий, объемистый i)
центр, штаб j) городские жители k) кушанье из свинины с кукурузной крупой l)
остров свободы m) грузовое судно, грузоотправитель o) азартный
p)
зарабатывать q) производство r)насыпной груз s) подвесной мост t) район
u)издательское дело v) загорать w) управлять, торговать, регулировать
HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE USA
The first American
college was Harvard, which was founded in 1636 by the graduates of Cambridge
University. Later, in 1693, the college of William and Mary was founded in
Williamsburg, Virginia, with Yale soon following in 1701. By 1776, there were 9
colleges in the colonies, including Princeton, Pennsylvania, Columbia, Brown,
Rutgers. Today these universities are among the most respectful not only in the USA
but all over the world. They are very selective and very expensive. The most
outstanding of them are called the Ivy League (группа старейших университетов):
Brown, Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Cornell, Darmouth College, Princeton and
Pennsylvania.
American higher education always presupposes that a student has undertaken 12
previous years of study. About 40% of high school graduates go to college. Students
pay tuition to study at state and private universities. Some of them have scholarships
to help with the cost of tuition. Even with scholarship, higher education is very
expensive; many families take out loans to pay for their children’s college education.
The USA now has about 3,350 accredited colleges and universities. They offer a great
variety of requirements for admission and so many different types of programs that
foreign visitors usually have some difficulty identifying American colleges and
universities with those of their own countries.
College-bound students generally take college admission tests during their last two
years of high school.
The terms “college” and “university” are often used interchangeably, although the
former often is a part of the latter.
An American college offers a blend of natural and social sciences and humanistic
studies. Students, traditionally from 18 to 22 years old, attend classes for about 4
years to receive, if they successfully complete all requirements, a bachelor’s degree in
arts or in sciences. A university is usually composed of an undergraduate college of
arts and sciences, plus graduate schools and professional schools and facilities.
A student can accumulate credits at one university, transfer them to a second and
ultimately receive a degree from there or a third university.
American universities and colleges are usually built as a separate complex, called
“campus”, with teaching blocks, libraries, dormitories, and many other facilities
grouped together on one site, often on the outskirts of the city.
A student starting high school is called a freshman and becomes a sophomore in the
second year. Eleven-grade students are called juniors, and twelfth-grade students are
seniors. There are eight classes a day, usually from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The academic year begins in late August or early September and ends in May or June,
for most colleges and universities. The semester system divides the academic year
into two equal terms of approximately 16 weeks each. Usually there is also a fourth
“summer quarter” for students who choose summer school and earn units which may
help them to complete their degree work in a shorter length of time than normally is
required.
At the end of term students get a grade of A/A- (outstanding/ extremely good work),
B+/ B/ B- (very good work/ good work/ a bit better than average), C+/ C/ C- (better
than average/ satisfactory/ almost satisfactory), D+/ D (not good/ barely passing), or F
(fail) for each subject. As they finish each class, students get a credit. When they have
enough of these, they can graduate.
Most colleges and universities in the United States have established “honor codes”
«кодекс чести» – statements of certain rules students must follow in their academic
year. Ignorance of the rules is not usually accepted as an excuse. You may be expelled
from your school. There is a US idiom that applies here: “It is better to be safe than
sorry”.
Cheating is a failure of honesty. In the USA cheating means getting unauthorized help
on an assignment, quiz or examination. You must not use unauthorized sources for
answers during exam. You must not take notes or books to the exam if this is
forbidden.
Plagiarism is a failure to do your own original work in written assignments
(письменные задания). Plagiarism is using someone else’s words or ideas as though
they were own. It is literary “theft”. If you commit any act of dishonesty even for the
first time:
▪You will certainly receive an “F” (failing grade) for the assignment;
▪You will probably receive an “F” for the entire course;
▪You may be expelled from the school.
Methods of instruction: Lecture is the most common method of instruction at U.S.
colleges and universities. Usually lectures are supplemented by an extra “discussion”
class, reading assignments and periodic written assignments. Class discussion is
regarded as a healthy sign of interest, attention and independent thinking. Seminars
where students prepare presentations based on independent reading and research.
Laboratories, esp. for science courses where theory learned in the classroom is
applied to practical problems. Term papers are based on researches students have
done in the library or the lab. The professor usually assigns a term paper early in the
course and near the end of the course. All papers must be typewritten.
PRACTICE
Text 1
1. Learn the following words and word combination by heart.
accreditation – аккредитация
graduate – выпускник, аспирант
to graduate from – окончит учебное заведение
respectful – почтительный, уважающий
selective – избирательный, выборочный, отборный
to go to college – поступить в колледж
to pay tuition – оплачивать обучение
scholarship – стипендия
cost of tuition - стоимость обучения
requirement – требование
admission – допуск, принятие
admission test – вступительный тест
natural sciences – естественные науки
social sciences – общественные науки
humanistic studies – гуманитарные науки
dormitory – студенческое общежитие
facility – приспособления
on the outskirts of the city – на окраинах города
Bachelor’s degree – степень бакалавра
Arts – гуманитарные науки
to accumulate credits – накопить кредиты
to receive a degree – получить степень
academic year – учебный год
to complete a degree work – завершить дипломную работу
satisfactory – удовлетворительно
to get a grade – получить оценку
honor code – кодекс чести
to expel – исключить
cheating – списывание
assignment – задание
quiz – опрос, экзамен, проверочные вопросы, проверка знаний
to forbid – запрещать
independent thinking – независимое мышление
term paper – семестровая работа
to do research work - заниматься исследовательской работой
department- отделение
faculty – факультет
education – образование
to study at – учиться в
to provide training – предоставлять обучение
Master’s degree – степень магистра
2. Decide whether the following statements about the USA higher education are
true or false.
1) Higher Education is accessible and free for every citizen of the USA.
2) Students don’t pay tuition to study at state universities.
3) Higher education is not very expensive. Everybody can afford to pay for it.
4) The terms “college” and “university” are often used interchangeably, although the
former often is a part of the latter.
5) Students don’t have the opportunity to accumulate credits at one university, transfer
them to a second and ultimately receive a degree from there or a third university.
6) American universities and colleges are usually built as a separate complex, called
“campus”.
7) The semester system divides the academic year into 4 equal modules.
8) Most colleges and universities in the United States follow certain rules that cannot
be broken.
TEXT 2
Many students, upon finishing high school, choose to continue their education.
The system of higher education includes 4 categories of institutions.
The community college, which is financed by the local community in different
professions. Tuition fees are low in these colleges, that's why about 40 per cent of all
American students of higher education study at these colleges. On graduation from
such colleges American students get "associate degree" and can start to work or may
transfer to 4-year colleges or universities (usually to the 3rd year).
The technical training institution, at which high school graduates may take
courses ranging from six months to three-four years, and learn different technical
skills, which may include design business, computer programming, accounting, etc.
The best-known of them are: the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the
Technological Institute in California.
The four-year college, which is not a part of a university. The graduates receive
the degree of Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS). There are also small
Art Colleges, which grant degrees in specialized fields such as ballet, film-making
and even circus performance. There are also Pedagogical Colleges.
The university, which may contain: several colleges for students who want to
receive a bachelor's degree after four years of study; one or more graduate schools for
those who want to continue their studies after college for about two years to receive a
master's degree and then a doctor's degree. There are 156 universities in the USA.
Any of these institutions of higher education may be either public or private. The
public institutions are financed by state. Most of the students, about 80 per cent, study
at public institutions of higher education, because tuition fees here are much lower.
Some of the best-known private universities are Harvard, Yale and Princeton. It is not
easy to enter a college at a leading university in the United States. Successful
applicants at colleges of higher education are usually chosen on the basis of: their
high-school records which include their class rank, the list of all the courses taken and
all the grades received in high school, test results; recommendation from their highschool teachers; the impression they make during interviews at the university, which
is in fact a serious examination; scores on the Scholastic Aptitude Tests. The
academic year is usually nine months, divided into two terms. Studies usually begin in
September and end in July. Each college or university has its own curriculum. During
one term a student must study 4 or 5 different courses. There are courses that every
student has to take in order to receive a degree. These courses or subjects are called
major subjects or "majors".
At the same time there are subjects which the student may choose himself for his
future life. These courses are called 'electives". A student has to earn a certain number
of "credits" (about 120) in order to receive a degree at the end of four years of college.
Credits are earned by attending lectures or laboratory classes and completing
assignments and examinations. Students who study at a university or four-year college
are known as undergraduates. Those who have received a degree after 4 years of
studies are known as graduates. They may take graduate program for another 2 years
in order to get a master's degree. Further studies are postgraduate which result in a
doctor's degree.
1. Learn the following words and word combination by heart.
institution — учебное заведение
community college — колледж, в котором учатся студенты, живущие дома, и где
учеба дешевле, так как часть расходов берут на себя местные органы власти
tuition fee — плата за обучение
graduation — окончание (учебного заведения)
associate degree — степень ассоциата, первоначальная ученая степень,
присваиваемая после двух лет обучения
to transfer — переходить
graduate — выпускник
to include — включать
accounting — бухгалтерское дело
to receive — получать
to contain — содержать, включать
either... or — как ... так и, или ... или
public — государственный
private — частный
successful — успешный
applicant — кандидат, претендент
grade — оценка, отметка
impression — впечатление
scores — баллы
Scholastic Aptitude Test — тест на проверку способностей ученика: экзамен из
двух частей, предлагаемый поступающим в университет
term — семестр
curriculum — учебный план, программа
major subjects — профилирующие предметы
electives — предметы по выбору, факультативные предметы
credit — балл или зачет за прослушанный курс
to earn — зарабатывать
to attend — посещать
to complete — выполнять
assignment — задание
further — дальнейший
2. Answer the following questions
1. What kind of institutions are there in the American system of higher education?
2. Is it easy to enter university in the USA?
3. What is necessary for a school graduate to get a place at a university?
4. Are all subjects compulsory for university students?
5. What degrees can students get at the university?
6. Can you compare Russian and American universities?
7. What is necessary for a Russian student to go to university in the USA?
8. Would you like to study in one of American universities? Why?
3. Match English words with their Russian equivalents.
1 dormitory 2 to accumulate 3 to expel 4 cheating 5 assignment 6 to pay tuition 7
admission 8 curriculum 9 applicant 10 department 11 to forbid 12 honor code 13
tuition fee 14 graduate 15 grade
a) задание b) оплачивать обучение c) допуск d) запрещать e) исключать f)
учебный план, программа g) кодекс чести h) студенческое общежитие i)
отделение j) выпускник k) оценка l) списывание m) плата за обучение n)
накопить o) кандидат, претендент
4. Fill in gaps.
1) The first American college was …, which was founded in 1636 by the graduates of
… University. 2) Students pay … to study at … and … universities. 3) Higher
education is very …; many families take out … to pay for their children’s college
education. 4) The terms … and … are often used interchangeably. 5) A student can …
credits at one university, … them to a second and ultimately … a degree from there or
a third university. 6) The semester system divides the … year into two equal terms of
approximately … weeks each. 7) Most colleges and universities in the United States
have established … – statements of certain rules students must follow in their
academic year. 8) Tuition fees are low in … colleges, that's why about 40 per cent of
all American students of higher education study at these colleges. 9) The …
institution, at which high school graduates may take courses ranging from six months
to three-four years, and learn different technical skills. 10. Some of the best-known
private universities are …, …, … .
ECONOMY OF THE UNITED STATES
The economy of the United States is the world's largest national economy and the
world's second largest overall economy, the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of the EU
being approximately $2 trillion larger. The U.S. is one of the world's wealthiest
nations, with abundant natural resources, a well-developed infrastructure, and high
productivity. The U.S. is the world's third-largest producer of oil and second-largest
producer of natural gas. It is the largest trading nation in the world. Its four largest
export trading partners are as of 2011: Canada, China, Mexico and Japan.
The United States has a mixed economy and has maintained a stable GDP growth
rate, a moderate unemployment rate, and high levels of research and capital
investment. It has been the world's largest national economy (not including colonial
empires) since at least the 1890s. As of 2010, the country remains the world's largest
manufacturer, representing a fifth of the global manufacturing output. Of the world's
500 largest companies, 132 are headquartered in the United States. This is twice the
total of any other country. The labor market in the United States has attracted
immigrants from all over the world and its net migration rate is among the highest in
the world. The U.S. is one of the top-performing economies in studies such as the
Ease of Doing Business Index, the Global Competitiveness Report, and others. The
United States is ranked first globally in the IT (Information Technology) industry
competitiveness index.
About 60% of the global currency reserves have been invested in the United States
dollar, while 24% have been invested in the euro. The country is one of the world's
largest and most influential financial markets. The New York Stock Exchange
(formally known as NYSE Euronext) is the world's largest stock exchange by market
capitalization. Foreign investments made in the United States total almost
$2.4 trillion, which is more than twice that of any other country. As of 2010, the
European Union as a whole was the largest trading partner of the U.S., whereas
Canada, China, and Mexico were the largest individual trading nations.
Overview
A central feature of the U.S. economy is the economic freedom afforded to the private
sector by allowing the private sector to make the majority of economic decisions in
determining the direction and scale of what the U.S. economy produces. This is
enhanced by relatively low levels of regulation and government involvement, as well
as a court system that generally protects property rights and enforces (приводить в
исполнение) contracts. Today, the United States is home to 29.6 million small
businesses, 30% of the world's millionaires, 40% of the world's billionaires, as well as
139 of the world's 500 largest companies.
From its emergence as an independent nation, the United States has encouraged
science and innovation. As a result, the United States has been the birthplace of Great
Inventions, including items such as the airplane, internet, microchip, laser лазер,
cellphone сотовый телефон, refrigerator, email, microwave, Personal Computer,
LCD (Liquid Cristal Display) and LED (Light Emitting Diode) technology, air
conditioning, supermarket, bar code штрих-код на продукции, electric motor, and
many more.
The United States is rich in mineral resources and fertile farm soil, and it is fortunate
to have a moderate climate. It also has extensive coastlines on both the Atlantic and
Pacific Oceans, as well as on the Gulf залив of Mexico. Rivers flow from far within
the continent and the Great Lakes – five large, inland lakes along the U.S. border with
Canada provide additional shipping access. These extensive waterways have helped
shape the country's economic growth over the years and helped bind America's 50
individual states together in a single economic unit.
The number of workers and, more importantly, their productivity help to determine
the health of the U.S. economy. Throughout its history, the United States has
experienced steady growth in the labor force, a phenomenon that is both cause and
effect of almost constant economic expansion. Until shortly after World War I, most
workers were immigrants from Europe, their immediate descendants потомки, or
African Americans who were mostly slaves taken from Africa, or slave descendants.
Labor mobility has also been important to the capacity of the American economy to
adapt to changing conditions. When immigrants flooded labor markets on the East
Coast, many workers moved inland, often to farmland waiting to be tilled
обрабатывать землю. Similarly, economic opportunities in industrial, northern cities
attracted black Americans from southern farms in the first half of the 20th century, in
what was known as the Great Migration.
In the United States, the corporation has emerged as an association of owners, known
as stockholders, who form a business enterprise governed by a complex set of rules
and customs. Brought on by the process of mass production, corporations, such as
General Electric, have been instrumental in shaping the United States. Through the
stock market, American banks and investors have grown their economy by investing
and withdrawing capital from profitable corporations. Today in the era of
globalization, American investors and corporations have influence all over the world.
The American government is also included among the major investors in the
American economy. Government investments have been directed towards public
works, military-industrial contracts, and the financial industry.
Employment
There are approximately 154.4 million employed individuals in the US. Government
is the largest employment sector with 22 million. Small businesses are the largest
employer in the country representing 53% of US workers. The second largest share of
employment belongs to large businesses that employ 38% of the US workforce.
The private sector employs 91% of Americans. Government accounts for 8% of all
US workers. Over 99% of all employing organizations in the US are small businesses.
The 30 million small businesses in the U.S. account for 64% of newly created jobs
(those created minus those lost). Jobs in small businesses accounted for 70% of those
created in the last decade.
Amongst large businesses, several of the largest companies and employers in the
world are American companies. Amongst them are Walmart, the largest company and
the largest private sector employer in the world, which employs 2.1 million people
world-wide and 1.4 million in the US alone.
Research, development, and entrepreneurship
The United States has been a leader in scientific research and technological
innovation since the late 19th century. In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell was awarded
the first U.S. patent for the telephone. Thomas Edison's laboratory developed the
phonograph, the first long-lasting light bulb лампочка, and the first viable
жизнеспособный movie camera кинокамера. Nikola Tesla pioneered the AC
induction motor and high frequency power transmission used in radio. In the early
20th century, the automobile companies of Ransom E. Olds and Henry Ford
popularized the assembly line. The Wright brothers, in 1903, made the first sustained
and controlled heavier-than-air powered flight.
The late Steve Jobs and Bill Gates were two of the best-known American
entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship is the act of being an entrepreneur, which can be
defined as "one who undertakes браться за innovations, finance and business acumen
деловая хватка in an effort to transform innovations into economic goods".
Venture capital, as an industry, originated in the United States and it is still dominated
by the U.S. Americans are “venturesome рискованный consumers” who are
unusually willing to try new products of all sorts, and to pester manufacturers to
improve their products.
Although most of the U.S. economy is composed of services, the United States is the
world's largest manufacturer, with a 2009 industrial output of US$2.33 trillion. Its
manufacturing output is greater than of Germany, France, India, and Brazil combined.
Main industries include petroleum, steel, automobiles, construction machinery,
aerospace, agricultural machinery, telecommunications, chemicals, electronics, food
processing, consumer goods, lumber, and mining. The US leads the world in airplane
manufacturing, which represents a large portion of US industrial output. American
companies such as Boeing, Cessna, Lockheed Martin, and General Dynamics produce
a vast majority of the world's civilian and military aircraft авиация in factories
stretching across the United States.
The U.S. produces approximately 18% of the world's manufacturing output, a number
that has declined as other nations developed competitive manufacturing industries.
The job loss during this continual volume growth is the result of multiple factors
including increased productivity, trade, and secular economic trends. In addition,
growth in telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, aircraft, heavy machinery and other
industries along with declines in low end, low skill industries such as clothing, toys,
and other simple manufacturing have resulted in U.S. jobs being more highly skilled
and better paying. There has been much debate within the United States on the decline
in manufacturing jobs are related to American Unions and lower foreign wages.
Although agriculture comprises less than two percent of the economy, the United
States is a net exporter of food. With vast tracts участки of temperate arable
культивированный land, technologically advanced agribusiness, and agricultural
subsidies, the United States controls almost half of world grain exports. Products
include wheat, corn, other grains, fruits, vegetables, cotton; beef, pork, poultry
домашняя птица, dairy products; forest products; fish.
Energy, transportation, and telecommunications
The United States is the second largest energy consumer in total use. The U.S. ranks
seventh in energy consumption per-capita на душу населения after Canada and a
number of other countries. The majority of this energy is derived from fossil
ископаемый fuels: in 2005, it was estimated that 40% of the nation's energy came
from petroleum, 23% from coal, and 23% from natural gas. Nuclear power supplied
8.4% and renewable energy supplied 6.8%, which was mainly from hydroelectric
dams дамбы although other renewables are included.
American dependence on oil imports grew from 24% in 1970 to 65% by the end of
2005. In 2011, the United States imported 3,324 million barrels of crude сырая oil,
compared to 3,377 million barrels in 2010. While the U.S. is the largest importer of
fuel, the Wall Street Journal reported in 2011 that the country was about to become a
net fuel exporter for the first time in 62 years. The paper reported expectations that
this would continue until 2020. In fact, petroleum was the major export from the
country in 2011.
International trade
Тhe United States is the world's largest trading nation. There is a high amount of U.S.
dollars in circulation all around the planet. The dollar is also used as the standard unit
of currency in international markets for commodities such as gold and petroleum.
The United States had a $168 billion surplus on trade in services, and $803 billion
deficit on trade in goods in 2010. China has expanded its foreign exchange reserves,
which included $1.6 trillion of U.S. securities as of 2009. In 2010, the ten largest
trading partners of the U.S. were Canada, China, Mexico, Japan, Germany, the United
Kingdom, South Korea, France, Taiwan, and Brazil.
Currency and central bank
The United States dollar is the unit of currency of the United States. The U.S. dollar is
the currency most used in international transactions. Several countries use it as their
official currency, and in many others it is the de facto на деле, фактически currency.
The federal government attempts to use both monetary policy (control of the money
supply through mechanisms such as changes in interest rates) and fiscal policy (taxes
and spending) to maintain low inflation, high economic growth, and low
unemployment. A private central bank, known as the Federal Reserve, was formed in
1913 to supposedly provide a stable currency and monetary policy. The U.S. dollar
has been regarded as one of the more stable currencies in the world and many nations
back their own currency with U.S. dollar reserves.
The U.S. dollar has maintained its position as the world's primary reserve currency,
although it is gradually being challenged in that role. Almost two-thirds of currency
reserves held around the world are held in US dollars, compared to around 25% for
the next most popular currency, the Euro. Rising US national debt and quantitative
easing has caused some to predict that the US Dollar will lose its status as the world's
reserve currency, however these predictions have not come to fruition.
PRACTICE
1. Learn the following words and word combination by heart.
overall economy – общая экономика
Gross Domestic Product(GDP)  внутренний валовый продукт (ВВП)
wealthy – богатый
abundant natural resources – богатые природные ресурсы
a well-developed infrastructure – хорошо развитая инфраструктура
high productivity – высокая производительность
to maintain a stable GDP growth rate – сохранить стабильный темп роста
внутреннего валового продукта
unemployment rate – уровень безработицы
capital investment – капиталовложение
manufacturer – производитель, предприниматель
manufacturing output – производство, выработка продукции
net migration rate – чистый уровень миграции
competitiveness index – показатель конкурентоспособности
influential financial markets – влиятельные финансовые рынки
stock exchange - фондовая биржа
to enhance - увеличивать
to protect property rights – защищать права собственности
to enforce - приводить в исполнение
to encourage – поощерять, поддерживать, воодушевлять
bar code  штрих-код на продукции
fertile farm soil – плодородная почва
extensive coastlines – обширная береговая линия
shipping access – доступ к судоходству
productivity – производительность
steady growth – устойчивый рост
descendants  потомки
labor mobility – мобильность рабочей силы
to adapt – адаптировать, приспосабливаться, применять
to till  обрабатывать землю
economic opportunities – экономические возможности
to emerge – появляться, возникать
stockholder – акционер
to withdraw capital – вывести капитал
profitable – прибыльный
all over the world по всему миру
employer – работодатель
scientific research – научное исследование
viable  жизнеспособный
to pioneer – направлять, руководить, прокладывать путь
to sustain – поддерживать, подкреплять
entrepreneur – предприниматель
entrepreneurship – предпринимательство
to undertake – предпринимать, гарантировать, ручаться
venturesome - рискованный
to improve – улучшать
military aircraft – военная авиация
to decline – уменьшаться, ухудшаться, отказывать
competitive – конкурентоспособный
pharmaceuticals - фармацевтика
wages - зарплата
vast tracts – обширные участки участки
arable  культивированный land
subsidy – денежное ассигнование, дотация
energy consumption – потребление энергии
to estimate – оценивать
hydroelectric dams – гидроэлектрические дамбы
renewable – возобновляемый
business acumen  деловая хватка
free enterprise - свободное предпринимательство
financial activities - финансовая деятельность
labour force - рабочая сила
Gross National Product - валовой национальный продукт
dairy products – молочные продукты
per year – за год
2. Fill in gaps using the text.
1) The U.S. is one of the world's … nations, with abundant natural …, a welldeveloped …, and high productivity. 2) The U.S. is the world's third-largest producer
of … and second-largest producer of … … . 3) The United States is rich in … … and
… … soil, and it is fortunate to have a moderate climate. 4) The United States has
been a leader in scientific … and technological … since the late 19th century. 5) The
dollar is also used as the standard unit of … in international markets for commodities
such as … and petroleum. 6) The U.S. dollar is the currency most used in
international … . 7) The late … … and … … were two of the best-known American
entrepreneurs.
3. Match the words with their synonyms.
1 risky 2 to master 3 to guarantee, to promise 4 to decrease, to reject 5 producer 6
practical, realistic 7 to increase 8 lucrative 9 to launch, to establish 10 abundant 11
businessman
a) wealthy b) to undertake c) venturesome d) to improve e) to decline f) manufacturer
g) entrepreneur h) to pioneer i) viable j) profitable k) to enhance
4. Give English equivalents.
внутренний
валовый
продукт,
предпринимательство,
рискованный,
конкурентоспособный, деловая хватка, свободное предпринимательство,
валовой национальный продукт, прибыльный, экономические возможности,
уровень безработицы
5. True or false?
1) The United States has a market economy. 2) The country is one of the world's
largest and most influential financial markets. 3) The dollar is used as the standard
unit of currency in domestic markets for commodities. 4) The United States has been
the birthplace of Great Inventions, including items such as internet, microchip, laser,
cellphone сотовый телефон, email, microwave, etc. 5) A central feature of the U.S.
economy is the economic freedom afforded to the private sector by allowing the
private sector to make the majority of economic decisions in determining the direction
and scale of what the U.S. economy produces.
What Are Americans Like?
The United States is always compared with a 'melting pot' as people of
different nations have immigrated to the USA. In 2000, white Americans were
about 75% of the population, blacks or African Americans — about 12% of the
population, Asians and Pacific Islanders — nearly 4 %, and American Indians
and Alaska Natives — about 1%. About 8% were of mixed race and other races.
Between 1492 and 1880 many immigrants came from Britain, Ireland, and
Northern Europe. In the 19th and early 20th century European immigration to the
USA increased massively, and another era of heavy immigration is occurring
right now. The USA still accepts more immigrants each year than any other
country in the world. People come to the USA as they all see this country as a
land of hope and opportunity. The term 'melting pot' implies that all immigrants
have become alike and have adapted to their new homeland.
In the USA the aim of upbringing is to raise a responsible, self-reliant
individual. At the age of 18 young people usually move out of their parents'
house and live independently. A grown-up person who is still living with his or
her parents may be considered 'immature', or 'tied to the mother's apron strings'.
Americans believe that all men are created equal. It means that one tends to
treat other people as peers, and that everyone expects to have equal opportunities
to achieve his or her goals of life. As a result Americans are quite informal in
their general behavior and in their relationships with other people. People of high
standing can be seen in public wearing jeans, sandals, or other informal clothes.
Americans call each other by their first names irrespective of a person's social
position or age. When people talk, they usually smile a lot and use a lot of jargon
and slang. Americans always feel uncomfortable with silence. They prefer to talk
in order to fill the pause.
Working hard is greatly valued in the United States. Americans respect
doers, problem solvers and achievers. Great importance is attached to such
qualities as efficiency, punctuality and practicality. Self-improvement is very
important to any American. Idleness is considered to be shameful. Americans
can't afford to waste time, to daydream, or to do nothing. There are many
workaholics and people who are addicted to their work in the USA. Such people
think constantly about their job and feel frustrated if they are kept from it, even
during weekends and holidays. Americans see as heroes those people who have
overcome a great number of obstacles in order to succeeded in life.
In the USA the words 'This is a self-made man' are the best praise. People
are placed in the stratification structure based on their individual merits or
achievements. Americans are individualists. They consider themselves as
separate individuals who are responsible for their own lives. Americans value
privacy and personal space.
Americans seem to be constantly in a hurry. They are extremely punctual
and well-organized and hate to be late for meetings. Americans often say that
'time is money'. They become quite irritated if they have to wait more than 15
minutes beyond the scheduled time for appointments.
Americans like to be open and honest. They ask direct questions and expect
'straight' answers. But at the same time, they are reluctant to discuss financial and
health matters or to talk about their private life. Americans hate to argue or to
refuse point-blank. Instead of saying 'no' directly, an American will say
something like 'it is not convenient now'.
Many Americans know very little about other cultures and the world beyond
the borders of the USA. They are sure that their country is superior, probably the
'greatest' country in the world. Americans don't like foreigners and they tend to
think that people born in other countries are not so lucky as they are. Most
Americans are proud of their political system and they believe that it has
advantages which other political systems lack. Democracy has become a
synonym
for
the
American
way
of
life.
1. Read the following sentences and circle TRUE or FALSE:
1) In 2000, white Americans were about 45% of the population. T|F
2) In the 19th and early 20th century European immigration to the USA
increased massively. T|F|
3) At the age of 21 young people usually move out of their parents' house and
live independently. T|F|
4) Americans believe that all men are created equal. T|F|
5) Americans are very formal in their general behavior and in their relationships
with other people. T|F|
6) Self-improvement is considered to be shameful in the United States. T|F|
7) Americans see as heroes those people who lead a modest life. T|F|
8) Americans ask direct questions and expect 'straight' answers. T|F|
9) Americans usually say 'no' directly. T|F|
10) Americans are sure that their country is superior, probably the 'greatest'
country in the world. T|F|
2. Complete each sentence (A—J) with one of the endings (1-10):
1. Between 1492 and 1880
2. The USA still accepts
3. The term 'melting pot' implies that
4. A grown-up person who is still living with his or her parents may be
considered
5. Americans call each other by their first names irrespective of
6. When people talk, they usually
7. Great importance is attached to such qualities as
8. Americans can't afford to
9. People are placed in the stratification structure based on their
10. Americans are reluctant to discuss
A. individual merits or achievements.
B. 'immature', or 'tied to the mother's apron strings'.
C. efficiency, punctuality and practicality.
D. more immigrants each year than any other country in the world.
E. financial and health matters.
F. all immigrants have become alike and have adapted to their new homeland.
G. waste time, to daydream, or to do nothing.
H. a person's social position or age.
I. many immigrants came from Britain, Ireland, and Northern Europe.
J. smile a lot and use a lot of jargon and slang.
3. Answer the questions
1) Why is the United States compared with a 'melting pot'?
2) Why do many immigrants come to the USA?
3) What is the main aim of upbringing in the USA?
4) What do Americans think of people's equality?
5) What do you know about Americans' behaviour in public?
6) What kind of person is respected by Americans? Why?
7) How can you describe a typical American workaholic?
8) What is the best praise in the USA? Why?
9) What do Americans think about other countries?
10) What are Americans especially proud of? Why?
4. Summarize all the information you have learnt and make up a short
description of a typical American (10-12 sentences)
5. Read what other people think about Americans and comment on their
opinions. Are there any statements you can't agree with?
Americans are so dedicated to their jobs.' (Jamelia)
'Too many of us look upon Americans as dollar chasers. This is a cruel libel,
even if it is reiterated thoughtlessly by the Americans themselves.' (Albert
Einstein)
'Americans are very friendly and very suspicious, that is what Americans are and
that is what always upsets the foreigner, who deals with them, they are so
friendly how can they be so suspicious they are so suspicious how can they be so
friendly but they just are.' (Gertrude Stein)
Americans love to fight. All real Americans love the sting of battle.' (George S.
Patton)
Americans are so enamored of equality that they would rather be equal in slavery
than unequal in freedom.' (Alexis de Tocqueville)
'As one digs deeper into the national character of the Americans, one sees that
they have sought the value of everything in this world only in the answer to this
single question: how much money will it bring in?' (Alexis de Tocqueville)
'I think the American Dream says that anything can happen if you work hard
enough at it and are persistent, and have some ability. The sky is the limit to
what you can build, and what can happen to you and your family.' (Sanford I.
Weill)
6.
A. What is a typical American like? Describe him using some adjectives
from the table if you find them suitable.
responsible, self-reliant, independent, hard-working, ambitious, informal,
punctual, friendly, efficient, practical, persistent, well-organized, open, honest,
patriotic, diligent, active, pushy, realistic, egocentric, self-confident
B. Read the text 'What Are Americans Like?' What is the main difference
between Americans and other nations?