Тексты для первого задания экзаменационного билета

 

Australia

Australia is a large country lying between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Australia is an island, like Britain, but unlike Britain it is vast. It is, in fact, nearly twenty-five times as large as the British Isles. Its area is about 8,000, 0002 km. The population of Australia is about 18 mln. Most of Australia is semi-desert. People cannot live where is no water, and so most of people in Australia live in the richer south-east. The first Australian people were dark-skinned Aborigines, and though the coming of the white settlers destroyed their tribal lives, some sixty thousand still survive in Australia today. Their account for about 1 percent of the population. They may be found in the island areas of the country. Some live in modern cities but it is not really easy for them. They have to fight for their rights. The first Europeans to land in this country were Dutch sailors. The national holiday, Australia Day, is now celebrated on or near January 26th in memory of landing of the British in 1788. The young country grew very fast. Today Australia is an independent federative state consisting of 6 states and 2 territories. It is a member of the Commonwealth headed by the British Queen. The national language is English. The capital of Australia is Canberra; the largest cities are Sidney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.

 

Canada

Canada is a vast country, bigger than the United States, bigger than the continent of Australia. It is in fact one of the world's largest countries. Its area is about 10 mln sq km. As Canada extends for thousands of miles from the Arctic Ocean to the United States and from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, all kinds of weather conditions and scenery are to be found there. The population of Canada is 29 mln people. The capital is Ottawa; the main cities are Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. The word Canada comes from one of the Red Indian languages - "Kannata", meaning "a number of huts". Canada is often called the "Land of the Maple Leaf". The maple leaf is the national emblem of Canada. The story of Canada goes back over 400 years. The French were the first settlers to this country. In 1759 Canada became part of the British Empire. In 1931 was Independence from Britain. Today Canada is an independent federative state, consisting of 10 provinces and 2 territories. It is a member of the Commonwealth, headed by the Queen of Great Britain. The two official languages are English and French. But many other languages are spoken: Italian, Chinese, German, Polish and Greek. Canada is a country with a very high standard of living. This country is particularly advanced in the areas of health, education, social protection and human rights.

 

New Zealand

New Zealand, an independent state and a member of the Commonwealth, is situated south-east from Australia. The country consists of three large islands and also many small islands. New Zealand is a mountainous country. New Zealand's rivers are short. The climate in New Zealand is warm and the greater part of the country is well watered. There are good forests of evergreen trees and large areas are rich grasslands. New Zealand has very few native animals. The kiwi, a bird which lives in the forest and does not fly, is found nowhere else in the world. The kiwi is the national emblem of New Zealand. The main cities in North Island are Auckland, the largest city and port, and Wellington, the capital. Christchurch and Dunedin are the most important towns in South Island. New Zealand is sometimes called "The Britain of the Pacific", because the cities and towns of the country resemble very much those of England. New Zealand's climate with rainfalls all the year round, is very favorable for dairying, sheep-farming and cattle-farming, as well as growing fruit, vegetables and flowers. The population of New Zealand is over three million people, more than two thirds of whom live in North Is-land. The Maori people make up eight per cent of the total population. The Maoris are famous for their folk-songs, music and dances, they are very skilled in wood-work. New Zealand is a self-governing state and a member of the Commonwealth. The Governor-General represents the King or Queen of England. The Parliament of the country consists of one house only, the House of Representatives. The Prime Minister heads the cabinet. The main political parties are the Labor Party and the National Party of New Zealand.

 

English-speaking countries

Great Britain, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are English speaking countries. They are situated in different parts of the world and differ in many ways. The nature of these countries, their weather and climate and way of life of their people differ. Each country has its own history customs, traditions, its own national holidays. But they all have a common language. English, the language of the people who left England to make their names in new countries. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and North Ireland consists of 4 parts: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland. The British Isles are group of islands lying off the north-west coast of the continent of Europe. There are no high mountains, no very long river, no great forest in U.K. The population of the U.K. is almost fifty-six million. Great Britain is a capitalists country. The USA is situated in the central part of the North American continent. The population of the USA is more then 236 million people. The USA is a highly developed industrial country. In the USA there are two main political parties, the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. Canada has area of nearly 10 million square kilometers. Its western coast is washed by the Pacific Ocean and its eastern coast by the Atlantic Ocean. The population of Canada is over 26 million people. Canada is a capitalist federal state and a member of the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth of Australia territories are the continent of Australia, the island of Tasmania and number of smaller islands. Australia has an area of nearly eight million square kilometers. The population of Australia is over sixteen million people. The Commonwealth of Australia is a capitalist self- governing federal state. New Zealand is situated south-east of Australia. The country consists of the large islands called North Island, South Island and Stewart Island and also many small islands. The population of New Zealand is over three million people. New Zealand is a capitalist self-governing state and a member of the Commonwealth.

 

Customs and Traditions of English Speaking Countries

Every country and every nation has its own traditions and customs. It's very important to know traditions and customs of different people. It will help you to know more about the history and life of different nations and countries. One cannot speak about England without speaking about its traditions and customs .They are very important in the life of English people .Englishman are proud of their traditions and carefully keep them up. There are six public holidays a year in G.B. Christmas day is one of their favorite holidays .It's celebrated on the 25-th of December. There are some traditions connected with it. One of them is to give presents to each other. It is not only children and members of family. It's a tradition to give Christmas presents to the people you work with. Another tradition is to send Christmas cards. All these cards are brightly and colored. Most of big cities of G.B., especially London, are decorated with colored lights and Christmas trees. On Trafalgar Square, in the center of London stands a big Christmas tree. It is a gift from the people of Oslo. It is over 50 feet high. Many families celebrate Christmas day in the open air near the Christmas tree in order to catch the spirit of Christmas. Children find Christmas presents in their stockings. The traditional English dinner on Christmas is turkey and pudding. Other great holidays are: Father's day, Mother's day, Halloween and others.

 

The Republic of Bashkortostan

The Bashkir Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was formed on the 23^rd of March, 1919. It received its sovereignty on the 12^th of October in 1990. Our republic is one of the largest sovereign republics among other republics within the Russian Federation. The head of the state is the president. The first president of our republic is Murtaza Rakhimov. The legislative power is Kurultai. The deputies of kurultai are elected by the people every five years. Our republic is situated at the foot of the South Urals. Its total area is 143 thousand square kilometers. In the south Bashkortostan borders on the Orenburg region, in the west it borders on the Tatar Republic, in the north-east – Sverdlovsk region, in the north – Udmurt Republic and the Perm region, in the east – Chelyabinsk region.

 

The Yangantau Resort

Yangantau is a unique resort. The Earth itself, its riches, beautiful nature with crystal-clear air and water serve the noblest task of preservingand improving public health.

The world-famous resort originated at and derives its name from the Yangantau Mountain meaning "The Burning Mountain".

The legend says that the first person to discover the miraculous powers of this mountain was a shepherd, who perceived warmth coming from under the ground. Warming himself in a hole on a mountain slope, he noticed that pain in his joints started to soothe.

The start of the Yangantau Resort dates back to 1937, when G.N.Teregulov initiated an experimental 20-bed clinic where 67 patients were taken care of during the summer season. Since 1957 the Resort has accepted patients andholiday-makers round the year.

 

The Yangantau Resort

The principal medicinal factor of the Yangantau Resort is miraculous hot dry gas and steam issuing from cracks in the ground and drilled wells. These thermal springs 755 degrees F hot at the depth of about 300  feet containcarbon dioxide, nitrogen, heavy water, organic substances, active micro-elements, traces of radon. They possess really unique medicinal properties.Taking baths at steam and dry-air facilities of the resort enables to efficiently treat locomotor system, peripheral nervous systems, kidney and

urinary tract, respiratory tract, and gynecological conditions.

For tens of thousands of people the resort enabled to regain and promote health, restore vigor and vitality. On many occasions patients had to discard their crutches and canes after undergoing treatment at Yangantau.

Yangantau steam gives peace and purity to the soul, warmth and kindness to the heart, cleanliness and health to the body.

The Yangantau Resort

Whatever good Yangantau can give comes from Mother Nature. Clean mountain air ranks equal, in terms of ionization, to best Caucasian and Crimean spas. White-trunk birch tree woods and evergreen coniferous forests

are abundant in berries, healing herbs, mushrooms, birds and animals.

The Yuryuzan - one of the cleanest and fish-rich rivers of the South Urals - contributes to the beautiful natural scenery of the place. But a special place in this splendor is occupied by Kurgazak springs, whose water is supplied to all the wards of the spa's dormitory. Ten million liters of water from this spring daily pour out of the Karatau Mountain spurs. According to its chemical composition, Kurgazak spring water is sparsely mineralized, contains hydrocarbon, calcium and magnesium, biologically active micro-elements,organic substances, humin acids. It is successfully used for treating chronic pyelonephritis, urolithiasis, cystitis, prostatitis.

 

Ufa - the capital of Bashkortostan

It is a large city in the South Urals surrounded by three rivers: the Belaya, the Ufa and the Dyoma. The population of Ufa is over 1 million people.

Ufa is a very old city - it is four hundred and thirty-five years old. Ufa was founded by Czar Ivan the Terrible on the high right bank of the Belaya river. It was a fortress at first with towers and high walls. Many buildings in Ufa can tell stories from the past. There is a house where writer Aksakov lived; a hall where Chaliapin sang; the Nesterov Picture Gallery and the Lenin Museum in Ufa.

Ufa is a large industrial centre of the Republic. There are many chemical plants, oil refineries, machine- and instrument- building factories, power stations in the city. Ufa produces many goods - petrol and other fuels, oils, machines, instruments, medicines, food products.

Ufa is a major scientific and cultural centre. Many scientists work in the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Bashkortostan at universities and institutes, training specialists of various professions.

Ufa's cultural life is very rich with many theatres, cinemas, museums, libraries and clubs. Many famous singers and actors come to Ufa.

Having many stadiums and sports grounds Ufa is a big athletic centre. Many people go in for sports and physical culture. Ufa is proud of its famous sportsmen - world and Russian champions - speedway racers Farit Shainurov, Gabdrakhman Kadyrov, tennis player Andrei Cherkasov, ice-hockey players Andrei Zyuzin, the Ghimayev brothers, Alexander Semak and others.

Visitors to Ufa can see many places of interest in the city: the Monument to Salavat Yulayev, the Victory Park, the Nesterov Picture Gallery, the Monument to Friendship.

 

Educational System in Bashkortostan (1)

Each principal educational stage is represented in Ufa: secondary schools, vocational schools, technical colleges, higher educational institutions. Secondary schools have all the training facilities and teaching aids, language laboratories and computer classes. Schools are becoming increasingly autonomous, economically independent. Curricular take into account the ethnic peculiarities of the Republic and include subjects dedicated to culture, history, geography and ecology of Bashkortostan. A number of schools have turned into gymnasiums and lyceums. Along with basic subjects, their curricular comprise marketing and management, politology and sociology, psychology and basic ethics. A special emphasis is giving to foreign languages studies.

About two dozen of Ufa technical colleges and vocational schools train future construction and petrochemistry specialists, instructors and musicians, cooks and dress-makers, hair-stylists and public transport, co-operative, forestry colleges. There is a ballet school, teachers’ training schools and a college of arts.

 

Educational System in Bashkortostan (2)

The principal higher educational institutions of Bashkortostan are concentrated in Ufa. The major one – the Bashkir State University – was established in 1957. Its students study economics, physics, biology, law, foreign languages and many other subjects.

Very well known beyond the republic’s borders are the other two largest institutions: the Aviation Technical University and the Oil Technical University.

The Academy of Arts named after Z. Ismagilov initiated over a quarter of a century ago trains future singers, musicians, painters, actors and stage directors.

There is also a Higher School of the Ministry for Internal Affairs and Flying School (trains helicopter pilots).

Large scientific establishments are primarily represented by the branches of the two. Academics – the Ufa Research Center of the Russian Academy of Science and the Academy of Science of the Republic of Bashkortostan started in 1991.

 

Education in Russia

People in our country have the right for education. It is our constitutional right. But it is not only a right, it is a duty, too. All children in Russia must go to school, that is, they must get a full secondary education. So, when they are 6 or 7 years old they begin to go to school. There are thousands of schools in Russia. There are schools of gener­al education, where the pupils study Russian (or a na­tive language), Literature, Mathematics, History, Biology, and Foreign Languages. There is also a number of specialized schools, where the pupils get deep knowledge of foreign languages, or Maths, or Physics.

After finishing 9 classes of secondary school young people can continue their education at different kinds of technical schools or colleges. They not only learn general subjects, but also receive a specialty there. Having finished a secondary school or a technical school, young people can start working, or they may enter an Institute or a University. Professional training makes it easier to get a higher education. As for Institutes or Universities, there are a lot of them in our country. Some of them train teachers; others train doctors, engineers, architects, actors and so on. Many institutes have evening and extra-mural departments. That gives the students the opportunity to study at the Institute without leaving their jobs at plants or factories.

 

British Education (1)

British education helps us to develop fully the abilities of individuals, for their own benefit and of society as a whole. Compulsory schooling takes place between the ages of 5 and 16, but some pupils remain at school for 2 years more, to prepare for further higher education. Post school education is organized flexibly, to provide a wide range of opportunities for academic and vocational education and to continue studying through out life.

Administration of state schools is decentralized. The department of education and science is responsible for national education policy, but it doesn't run any schools, if doesn't employ teachers or prescribe curricular or textbooks. All schools are given a considerable amount of freedom. According to the law only one subject is compulsory. That is religious instruction. Children receive preschool education under the age of 5 in nursery schools or in infant's classes in primary schools.

Most pupils receive free education finest from public funds and the small proportions attend schools wholly independent. Most independent schools are single-sex, but the number of mixing schools is growing.

 

British Education (2)

Education within the maintained schools system usually comprises two stages: primary and secondary education. Primary schools are subdivided into infant schools (ages 5-7) and junior schools (ages 7-11). Infant schools are informal and children are encouraged to read, write and make use of numbers and develop the creative abilities. Primary children do all their work with the same class teacher except for PT and music. The junior stage extends over four years. At this stage of schooling pupils were often placed in A, B, C and D streams according their abilities. The most able children were put in the A stream, the list able in the D stream. Till recently most junior school children had to seat for the eleven-plus examination. It usually consisted of an arithmetic paper and an intelligent test. According to the results of the exam children are sent to Grammar, Technical or Secondary Modern schools. So called Comprehensive schools began to appear after World War 2. They are mixed schools which can provide education for over 1000 pupils. Ideally they provide all the courses given in Grammar, Technical and Secondary Modern schools.

Education in Britain (3)

By the law all children must receive full-time education between the ages of 5 and 16. Formally each child can remain a school for a further 2 or 3 years and continue his studies in the sixth form up to the age of 18 or 19. The course is usually subdivided into the lower 6 and the upper 6. The curricular is narrowed to 5 subjects of which a pupil can choose 2 or 3. The main examinations for secondary school pupils are general certificate of education (the GCE) exam and certificate of secondary education (the CSE) exam. The GSE exam is held at two levels: ordinary level (0 level) and advanced level (A level). Candidates set for 0 level papers at 15 - 16 years away. GCE level is usually taken at the end of the sixth form. The CSE level exam is taken after 5 years of secondary education by the pupils who are of average abilities of their age.

 

K.E. Tsiolkovsky

Konstantin Eduardovich Tsiolkovsky was born on September,5, 1857 in the village of Izhevskoye, Ryazan Guberniya. At the age of 10 he lost his hearing as the result of scarlet fever. After that he couldn’t attend school, and he never received any formal education. The knowledge and education he attained were acheived by himself. His books were his teachers, and he read every book in his father’s library. Tsiolkovsky later remember that his hearing loss greatly influenced his future life: all his life he tried to prove to himself and to others that he was better and more clever than others, even with his disability.  At the age of 16 he went to Moscow and lived there from 1873 to 1876. During this time he visited the main Moscow libraries, among them the well-known Pashkov House Library where he met the brilliant Russian philosopher and a leading proponent of Russia Cosmism Nikolai Fedorovich Fedorov. 

 

M.V. Lomonosov

Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov was a famous Russian writer, chemist, and astronomer who made a lot in literature and science. Lomonosov was born on November, 19, 1711, in Denisovka (now Lomonosov), near Archangelsk, and studied at the University of the Imperial Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg. After studying in Germany at the Universities of Marburg and Freiberg, Lomonosov returned to St. Petersburg in 1745 to teach chemistry and built a teaching and research laboratory there four years later. Lomonosov is often called the founder of Russia science. He was an in innovator in many fields. As a scientist he rejected the phlogiston theory of matter commonly accepted at the time and he anticipated the kinetic theory of gases. He regarded heat as a form of motion, suggested the wave theory of light, and stated the idea of conservation of matter. Lomonosov was the first person to record the freezing of mercury and to observe the atmosphere of Venus during a solar transit.

 

D.I. Mendeleyev

Dmitry Iyanovich Mendeleyev is a famous Russian chemist. He is best known for his development of the periodic table of the    properties of the chemical elements.  This displays that elements properties are changed periodically when they are arranged according to atomic weight. Mendeleyev was born in 1834 in Tobolsk, Siberia. He studied chemistry at the University of St.  Petersburg, and 1859 he was sent to study at the University of Heidelberg. Mendeleyev returned to St. Petersburg and became Professor of Chemistry at the Technical Institute in 1863. He Professor of General Chemistry at the University of St. Petersburg in 1866. Mendeleyev was a well-known teacher and, because there was no good textbook in chemistry at that time, he wrote the two-volume Principles of Chemistry which became a classic textbook in chemistry.

 

Russia

The Russian Federation, or Russia, is one of the largest countries in the world. It occupies a vast territory of Eastern Europe and part of Northern Asia which are separated by the longest mountain chain, the Urals. The total area of Russia is about 17 million square kilometers. Russia is washed by numerous seas and three oceans: the Atlantic, the Pacific and the Arctic. It borders on Norway and Finland in the north-west, Estonia, Latvia, Belarus and the Ukraine in the West, Georgia and Azerbaidzhan in the south-west and Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China in the south. Russia has also a sea-border with the United States of America.

Russia’s land is noted for a great variety of scenery. There are two plains, Great Russian Plain and West Siberian Lowland on which the country is located. Nowhere else in the world one can find so many forests situated mainly in the north and known as taiga. There are also deserts, valleys and quite a number of mountains in the Urals and the North Caucasus. The longest river is the Volga in Europe but such rivers as the Ob, the Yenisei and the Lena flowing in Asia are of great importance as well. Lake Baikal with the purest water on earth is a pearl of the country and is also the deepest lake in the world.

Due to the large territory of Russia there several types of climate in the country. In the north it’s arctic, in the south – subtropical and in the central part it’s temperate and continental.

The population of Russia is about 140 million people.

Russia’s industry is very well developed because the country is rich in such mineral resources as oil, natural gas, coal, iron, zinc, lead, nickel, aluminium, gold and other non-ferrous metals. A greater part of them is concentrated in Siberia and Far East. Russia’s agriculture is on a high level as well growing and exporting grain, meat and other products.

The capital of the Russian Federation is Moscow with the population of approximately 10 million people.

Russia is a federal republic where President is the Head of State. The legislative powers are exercised by the State Duma.

 

Moscow

Moscow is the capital of Russia and its political, industrial, scientific, financial and cultural centre. It is the seat of President of Russia and the Russian Federal Government. The city is situated on the banks of the Moskva River. Its total area is about 900 square km. The population of the city is over 8 million people.

Moscow was founded in 1147 by Prince Yury Dolgoruky. The heart of Moscow is Red Square where masterpieces of ancient Russian architecture, the Kremlin and St. Basil’s Cathedral are situated. The Kremlin was built as a fortress. Its main tower, the Spasskaya Tower, is the symbol of the country. Now the Kremlin is the seat of President of Russia. But a part of it is open for tourists. On the territory of the Kremlin one can see four cathedrals, the Bell Tower of Ivan the Great, the Palace of Congresses, the Tsar-Cannon and the Tsar-Bell, which are the biggest cannon and bell in the world.

St. Basil’s Cathedral in Red Square  was built in the mid-16^th century in memory of the victory over Kazan. There is a legend, that Ivan the Terrible blinded the architects Barma and Postnik, because he didn’t want them to create another masterpiece. In Red Square  one can also see the Lenin Mausoleum and a monument to Minin and Pozharsky who led the army that liberated Moscow from Polish invaders in 1612.

Not far from the Kremlin there is the world`s tallest Orthodox Cathedral of Christ the Saviour built in memory of the 1812 victory over Napoleon.

Moscow is the main cultural centre of Russia. It’s the seat of the Academy of Sciences. Moscow is the city of students. There named after Mikhail Lomonosov is also situated in Moscow. Besides, there are numerous research institutions.

There are more than 80 museums in Moscow. The most widely-known are the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts and the State Tretyakov Gallery. Moscow is famous for its theatres. The most famous one is the Bolshoi Opera House.

Moscow is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Its metro is a real masterpiece of architecture. There are a lot of parks and boulevards in Moscow.

 

The United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is situated on the British Isles lying off the north-western coast of Europe.

Its area is about 244, 000 square kilometers. The country is washed by the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea and the Irish Sea which is between Great Britain and Ireland. The English Channel separates the British Isles from the European continent.

The UK consists of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Their capitals are London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.

There are many mountains in Great Britain. The highest mountains are in Scotland, in Wales and in the north-west of England. The rest of the territory consists of flat plains in the east and of lowlands in the south. There are many rivers in Britain.  The Severn is the longest river. The Thames on which London is situated runs into the North Sea.

The warm current of the Gulf Stream keeps Britain warm in winter and cool in summer. So, the climate is basically mild. Snow never lies for long, however, there is much rain and fog instead.

The population of  the UK is about 59 million people.

Great Britain was originally an agricultural and sheep-farming country. Now it’s a highly-developed industrial country. It exports machinery, vessels, motors and other goods. The chief industries are shipbuilding and textile.

Great Britain is also a country of long-lasting traditions, customs and rich culture. The education received in such universities as Oxford or Cambridge is recognized as one of the best in the world.

The UK is a constitutional monarchy with the Queen being the head of State. However, her powers are limited by the Parliament which consists of the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The main political parties are the Conservative Party and the Labour Party.

 

London

London is the capital of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is the economic, political and cultural centre. London is the largest city in Europe with a population of about 10 million people. It is also the chief port of the United Kingdom. London is situated upon both banks of the Thames. Many bridges cross this river.

London can be divided into four main parts: the City, Westminster, the West End and the East End.

The City is the oldest part of London. It is the financial centre of the UK. There are biggest banks, companies and offices. The Royal Exchange and the Bank of England are here, too. Only a few thousand people live there but more than half a million come to the City in order to work.

The West End is the centre of London where only wealthy people can afford to live. Hotels, supermarkets, best cinemas, theatres and concert halls can be found in this part of the city. It also has many beautiful parks, full of trees, flowers and grass. The most famous one is  Hyde Park with its Speaker`s Corner.

Westminster is the administrative centre of London where most of government buildings are situated. Westminster Palace is the seat of the Houses of Parliament. On one of its two towers there is the largest clock of the country known as Big Ben. The official residence of the Queen is Buckingham Palace which was built in the 18th century.

The most famous masterpieces of architecture are the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey and St. Paul’s Cathedral. There are many museums and picture galleries.  The National Gallery is in Trafalgar Square.  Trafalgar Square was named in memory of the battle of Trafalgar won by Admiral Nelson. The British Museum is famous for its exhibits and the largest library. Masterpieces of modern art can be found in the Tate Gallery

The East End of London is the industrial area of London inhabited mostly by the working people. This district is full of factories, workshops, slums and docks.

 

The USA

The United States of America is the fourth largest country in the world with the population of about 280 million people. The total area of the country is about 9.8 million square kilometers.

Its territory covers the southern part of North America and extends from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean. It also includes Alaska which is separated from Russia by the Bering Strait and Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean. The USA borders on Canada in the north and on Mexico in the south. It also has a sea-border with Russia.

There are lowlands and mountains in the US among which the highest ones are the Rocky Mountains, the Cordillera and the Sierra Nevada. America’s most important rivers are the Mississippi which is one of the longest rivers in the world, the Missouri, the Rio Grande and the Columbia. There are the well-known Great Lakes located on the border with Canada.

The climate of the country differs a lot. The climate of Alaska is arctic, that of the central part is continental and the south with its hot winds blowing from the Gulf of Mexico has a subtropical climate.

The USA is one of the most developed industrial countries. It is rich in coal, oil, iron and other minerals which form a solid base for the development of America’s industry. The United States is one of the leading countries in the world economy in such industries as mining, metallurgy, electronics and space engineering, chemicals, textiles, leather and footwear. As for agriculture the US has the developed animal husbandry and arable farming.

Though mainly European and African in origin, there are people of nearly all races and nations in the US.

The US is a federal Union of 50 states and a District of Columbia where the capital of the country, Washington, is situated. The US Constitution divides the government into three branches: the executive branch headed by the President, the legislative one exercised by the Congress and the judicial branch. The Congress includes the Senate and the House of Representatives.

 

Washington

Washington is the capital of the United States of America. It is located in the District of Columbia which got its name in honour of Columbus, the discoverer of America. Washington, D.C. is situated on the banks of the Potomac River between two states, Maryland and Virginia. The city was founded in 1791 by George Washington, who became the first American President, and since that time the city has been the federal capital.

The population of Washington of nearly 1 million people.

The Capitol is the seat of American Congress. It’s the highest building in Washington as there is a law restricting to build anything higher than the Capitol.

The official residence of the President of the USA is the White House It is the oldest capital’s building.

There are memorials dedicated to the three American Presidents. They are the Washington Memorial built in honour of the first President, the Lincoln Memorial devoted to Abraham who was the author of the Emancipation Proclamation and the Jefferson Memorial devoted to the third President who published the Declaration of Independence.

Tourists often visit the National Gallery of Art, the National Museum of Natural History and the Library of Congress which holds nearly five million books.

 

 

New York City

New York is the biggest and most important city of the United States. New York is situated on the Atlantic coast, in the North-East of the country, in the state of New York at the mouth of the Hudson River. It is the financial and media capital of the world, the center of the American cultural life. The “Big Apple” is nickname of the city. New York, with the population of 16 mln people, is the second largest city and the biggest sea port in the world. It was founded in 1613 by Dutch settlers and then seized by the English. It consists of 5 large boroughs: Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn and Richmond.  Manhattan is an island. It is 13 miles long and 2 miles wide. It is the center of American finance, advertising, art, theatre, publishing, fashion.

There are a lot of places of interest in New York. The most famous of them is the Statue of Liberty, given to the USA by France in 1886. It is the largest statue in the world. New York is a city of contrasts. There are many skyscrapers and low buildings. The Empire State Building used to be the first, but now it is only the third tallest building in the world. It is a 102- storied building. Avenues and streets are numbered. Avenues run north and south but streets run east and west. Broadway is the longest street in the world. It is 12 miles long. Broadway is the center of theatres, entertainments and night life. The Metropolitan Opera is the world famous opera house. There are a lot of museums and art galleries in New York.  The Metropolitan Museum in Times Square is the richest art museum in the world. The Central Park is the largest park in the world. Wall Street is the center of finance, banks and stock exchanges. New York is a city of immigrants, an ethnic melting pot. There are many Italians, Irish, Chinese as well as the largest Jewish population of any city in the world. The most famous ethnic districts are Harlem, Little Italy, Chinatown and Brighton Beach. Brooklyn Bridge over the East River joins Manhattan and Brooklyn. The United Nations Building is also on the bank of East River. New York is the center of education and science. It can boast of Columbia University, New York Public Library and many other institutions. There is a subway in New York.