There are fifty states in the United States of America. Two of these states, Alaska and Hawaii, are not geographically connected to the other states. The US is washed by the Pacific Ocean on the west coast, by the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast, by the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico in the south. In the north are the Great Lakes.
More than 250 million people live in the United States. The United States is a young country. Its written history is only a few hundred years old. It is sometimes called the "New World". Over the last 400 years millions of people have come to start a new life in this "New World".
The people of the United States are a mixture of many different nationalities. These different people brought to their new land a wonderful mixture of customs and traditions. The German brought Christmas trees. The Irish brought St. Patrick's Day celebrations. The Scots brought Halloween.
The US government has three branches. The 1st branch is the Congress. The Congress is a legislative body of representatives from all 50 states. The people elect these representatives. The Congress makes laws that everybody must obey. The Congress meets in the US Capitol in Washington, D.C. The Congress is divide d into two parts, the Senate and the House of Representatives. Every state, no matter how large or small, sends two people to the Senate. These public officials are called senators. There are one hundred senators in the Senate. A senator's term is six years. Each state also sends people to the House of Representatives. They are called congressmen or congresswomen. The number of congressional representatives from each state depends on the number of people who live in the state. All in all there are 425 representatives in the House of Representatives. A representative's term is two years. The Constitution gives many powers to the Congress. One important power of the Congress is the power to declare war.
The 2nd branch of government is the President and his administration. They carry out the laws that the Congress makes. The President signs bills and then they become law. The Vice President and members of the Cabinet support the President in making decisions. The US President is the Commander in Chief of the country's armed forces. A person who wants to become President must be at least 35 years old and must live in the United States for at least 14 years before becoming President. The President's term is four years and one can be President for one or two terms, but not longer.
The 3rd branch of government is the Supreme Court [ sju:pri:m ko:t]. It is made up of nine judge s [dзаdз], the most important judges in the land. They have to make sure that the President, the Congress and citizenry follow the Constitution. Americans are very proud of their Constitution. It was written more than 200 years ago and it is still working!
Vocabulary:
Western – западный
Eastern - восточный
Highland regions - возвышенность
Lowland regions - низменность
Development – развитие
Coast - побережье
To consist - состоять
To be washed by -омываться
Separate - отдельный
To divide - разделять
Legislative - законодательный
Executive - исполнительный
Judicial - судебный
To represent – представлять
Major - главный
Main - основной
The USA-2
1. powerful
2. highly
3. de`veloped
4. country
5. world
6. `continent, `continental
7. western coast
8. western coast
9. washed [ - St]
10. Pacific ocean [pә`sifik әuSәn]
11. Gulf of Mexico [`galf әv `meksikәu]
12. separate parts [`seprit]
13. Hawaiian Islands [`ailәnd]
14. the rest major [`meidЗә]
15. consists
16. the highland regions
17. lowland regions
18. Cordillera
19. the District of Columbia
20. in honour of … [in `onә ov]
21. Chicago [Si`ka:gәu]
22. Government [`gavnmәnt
23. branches [bra:ntSiz]
24. legislative [`ledЗislәtiv]
25. executive [ig`zekjutiv]
26. judicial [dЗu(:)`diSәl]
27. Supreme Court [sju(:) `pri:m ko:t]
28. democratic [`demә`krætic]
29. represent [repri`zent]
30. colonies [`kol әni:z]
31. independent [`indi`pendent]
Exercises:
I. Where is the USA situated?
What kind of state is the USA?
What is thye USA washed by in the east and in the west?
What is the main rivers of the USA?
Where is the capital of the country situated?
What are the major political parties?
Who is the US president now?
What is the political structure in the country?
What is the capital of the USA?
What is the name of the american flag?
II to consist, continental, of, the, two, the USA, lowlands, the, of, highlands.
Of, world, developed, most, highly, powerful, the, country, USA,, is, the.
By, its, washed, Atlantic, western, the, ocean, coast, is,
Was, in, name, president, the, George, of, whose, was, Washington, named, it, honor, first.
III. true or false
The eastern coast of the USA is washed by the Atlantic ocean.
The capital of the USA is New York.
The Goverment of the USA is divided into two branches.
The USA is monarchy republic.
The flag of the USA is called Union Jack.
IV.
The goverment of the USA is divided into three branches.
The capital of the USA was named in honour of the first president.
The USA is the most powerful and highly developed country of the world.
Its western coast is washed by the Pacific ocean.
The population of the USA is about 250 million people.
The continental part of the USA consists of the highland regions and two lowland regions.
Text 22 Kazakhstan
1. The Republic of Kazakhstan is an independent state, situated in the central part of Euroasia.
2. Its territory is 2727 thousand square km. Population is about 15 million people. Kazakh is the official language.
3. The Republic of Kazakhstan is a secular, democratic and unitary state. The capital is Astana. The Head of State is President. The highest legislative organ is Parliament consisting of the Senate and the Majilis.
4. The executive power belongs to the Government. The currency is tenge.
5. The territory of Kazakhstan stretches 3000 km from west to east and 1000 km from north to south. In the west and north Kazakhstan borders on Russian Federation, in the south - on Turkmenia, Uzbekistan, Kirgizstan, in the east – on China. The total length of state borders is over 15000 km. It is the ninth biggest country in the world with the territory 2,7 million square km.
6. The relief of the country varies very much. If you look at Kazakhstan from the space, you will see high ice-covered mountains, hills and highlands. Vast plains and lowlands stretch like green lines. The country spreads from Western-Siberian plain in the north to the Tian Shan Mountains in the south and from the Lower Volga in the west to the Altai in the east. There is Precaspian lowland and the Mangistau peninsular in the west. The southern parts of the Urals and the Mugodzhar lie in the north-west. To the north-east of the Mugodzhar we can find the vast Turgai plateau, turning into the Turan Lowland with the Kyzylkum desert in the south.
7. The central part of the country is the Kazakh low hills (Saryarka), with not very big mountains. The southern chains of the Altai Mountains are in the east and southeast. The south is covered with the Betpak-Dala and Moiyncum desrets
8. There are quite a lot of rivers and lakes in Kazakhstan. The main rivers are the Irtysh, the Ural, the Chu, and the Syrdarya. The main lakes are the Balkhash, partly Aral and the Caspian Sea. All in all there is a great number of rivers in Kazakhstan but only 228 of them are more than 100 km long. There are also very many lakes, but most of them are situated in the flood-lands. Only 21 lakes have area more than 100 square km. Besides mentioned above lakes there is Lake Zaisan, Tengiz, Kushmurun and others.
Climate. The country is situated far from the oceans. The climate is sharply continental and zonelike due to its vast territory. In the north winters are cold and long. As a result of arctic air frosts can reach 40-45 C below zero. The average winter temperature in the north about – 20 C. Summer is dry; in the south it is hot. The summer temperature in the north is about +20 C, in the central parts it is + 30 C. In the south it can reach + 45 C.
Administrative division
The Republic of Kazakhstan consists of 14 regions and 2 cities of republican submission. Nowadays it has 85 cities, 169 regions 195 settlements and 2150 districts.
The capital of Kazakhstan - Astana – is located in Northern Kazakhstan, with the population of more than 400 thousand people and the city has the status of republican submission.
Northen Kazakhstan covers 440 square km. About 2,6 million people live here. It includes Northern- Kazakh, Akmolinsk and Kostanai regions.
The powerful stimulus in the growth of its economy and culture was the development of virgin lands in 1954. The region has vast arable lands, favourable to grow various agricultural crops. Tselinograd became the center of this area, quickly growing town former known as Akmolinsk. These days the northern part of Kazakhstan is the main country’s supplier of grain, meat and milk.
Kokshetau is the centre of Akmola region. It got its name as the mountains were always surrounded by blue mist. In Kazakh Kokshetau means a blue mountain. This place is one of the most picturesque places in Kazakhstan. The area is full of rivers, lakes with salt water. This allows building health resorts here. Borovoe is one of the most famous resorts. An outstanding Birzhan-sal – folk singer and poet Birzhan Kozhamkulov lived and worked here. Shokan Valikhanov, the first Kazakh scientist, geographer, writer worked there too.
Vocabulary:
Stretch простираться
low низкий
Border граница
hill холм, гора
Total целый, полный
chain цепь
Length длина
cover покрывать
Highlands плоскогорье
lake озеро
Plain равнина
flood наводнение. половодье
Lowland низменность
sharply резко
Peninsular полуостров
vast огромный
Desert пустыня
due to обусловленный
Exercises:
I. Answer the questions.
1. What countries does Kazakhstan border?
2. Are there any deserts in Kazakhstan?
3. Are there any mountains in the country?
4. What are the main rivers and lakes in Kazakhstan?
5. Is the country situated far from the oceans?
6. Who is the Head of State?
7. What does the Parliament consist of?
8. What part of Kazakhstan do you live in?
II. Open the brackets using the necessary form of the verb.
If you (to look) at Kazakhstan from the space you (to see) high ice-covered mountains. If you (read) much on history you (to become) a good historian. When you (come) to Borovoe you (to see) picturesque places.
IV. Write down the following numbers.
3000, 15000, 228, 100, 21, 169, 2150.
1954, 1998, 1930, 1991.
V. Copy out from the text the sentence about the countries bordering on Kazakhstan.
VI. Translate in written form the 1 st and the 2 nd passages of the text.
VII. Memorize the following pairs of derivatives.
N_____V V______N
Inhabitant --- to inhabit To arrive ---arrival
Departure --- to depart to invade ____invasion
Domination ----to dominate to resist _____resistance
Development ----to develop to conquer _____conquest
Text 23 Almaty
Some Chinese and Arabic sources tell that on the territory of modern Almaty there were ancient Sacks settlements of the III – VI centuries B.C. Over here the archaeologists found the ruins of usuni settlements – early people lived in the first century A.D. In the VIII – X centuries A.D. the town of Almaty served as a stanitsa on the trading way from Europe to China. Then Chingis khan came and everything was over… In 1854 Russia spreading its economic and political interest to the south found a military fortification Zailiyskoe there. Soon after it got the name of Vernoe and in 1867 it became a city. In 1921 Verny was renamed into Alma-Ata. And in 1929 Alma-Ata became the capital of Kazakhstan. When Kazakhstan gained its independence the city got its historical name Almaty.
The city is situated at 700-900 metres above the sea level and occupies the territory of about 300 square km. 1200 thousand people live here. As it is located in the seismic zone it felt Vernensk (1887) and Keminsk (1910) earthquakes and powerful mudflows by the Bolshaya (1977) and Malaya (1921, 1973) Almatinka rivers. Because of the urbanization the city is often covered with smog.
Many unique buildings and constructions were erected in Almaty. Mountain ice sport centre “Medeu”, mountain- skiing centre “Chimbulak”, museums and theatres are here, too. There is National Academy of Sciences, a number of universities and institutes in Almaty. As the capital was transferred to Astana, Almaty got a special status – a political, financial, scientific and social-cultural centre of the state.
Today Almaty is the main transport centre with two railway lines, five motorways; there is an international airport. The chief industry is machinery engineering and food one. Thanks to its unique location - among emerald- blue snow-covered tops of Zailiysky Alatau Mountains – Almaty is really a pearl of Kazakhstan.
Vocabulary
Ruins руины
Settlement поселение
Fortification крепость
Occupy занимать
Earthquake землетрясение
Mudflows сель
Unique уникальный
Erect воздвигать
Exercises:
I. Answer the question:
1. What settlements were there on the territory of modern Almaty?
2. What country founded a military fortification there?
3. When did Almaty become the capital of Kazakhstan?
4. Are there any unique buildings and constructions?
5. Why did Almaty get a special status?
II. Open the brackets using the necessary form of the verb
Over here the archaeologists (to find) the ruins of usuni settlements – early people (to live) in the first century A.D. The town of Almaty (to serve) as a stanitsa. In 1929 Almaty (to become) the capital. When Kazakhstan (to gain) its independence the city (to get) its historical name Almaty. The city (to be situated) at 700 – 900 metres above the sea and (to occupy) the territory of about 300 square km. Many unique buildings (to erect) in Almaty.
III. Make a short summary of the text. Do it according to the following plan.
1. The title of the text is …
2. The text is devoted to …
3. It consists of...
4. The first passage deals with …
5. The second (third) passage deals with…
III. Insert prepositions or adverbs where necessary.
__ the day ___ their departure __ Almaty quite a few __ their friends came to say goodbuy __ them. The stewardess announced that the temperature __ the plane was ___ 45 C.The teacher told Asem to make a list ___ students who wanted to go __ the sport center “Medeu”. The chief industry __ Almaty is machinery engineering and food one. Almaty is the first city __ Kazakhstan __ size, an important political, financial, scientific centre and one __ the most beautiful cities __ Kazakhstan.
V. What would you say if you took part in the following dialogues? Act them out.
1. A: Excuse me. Is this the way to Republic Square?
B: …
A: Thank you very much.
2. A: Excuse me, can you tell me the best way to Almaty University?
B: …
A: Can I get there by bus?
B: …
A: Thank you.
3. A: Is there a bus from here to the Almaty Library?
B: …
A: All right. I take bus 19 to Peace Avenue and then change for the tram.
B: …
A: So I shall have to change again at the next stop. What did you call it?
B: …
A: Thank you.
VI. Roleplaying
a) American students are staying in Almaty. They ask your advice what to see first (next) and how to get there.
b) You are in a strange city. Ask a passer-by, a policeman how to get to …
Text 24 Astana
Akmolinsk steppes were always the territory of interethnic ties. even Herodotus mentioned Great Silk way, which lay through these steppes in the middle of the first millennium B.C. Many caravan ways gave life to the cities with flourishing trade.
In the 19-th century Akmola was a popular trading and economic center. Its history started in 1830 when the Russian Empire founded a fortress by the Karaotkel River. From 1832 the fortress began to be called Akmolinsk and by the end of the 19-th century it became a town with the population of about 6428 people. It had three churches, 5 schools and colleges and 3 factories.
The next step in the development of this city was cultivating virgin lands. By 1960 the city having the population 100 thousand people became the centre of the north region of Kazakhstan.It was renamed into Tselinograd and became a modern city with the population 250 thousand people. Many volunteers from the whole USSR came here to build the city and to live there. Many institutes, hospitals, museums, theatres were built here. The virgin area became an agricultural centre with the developed machinery engineering, cattle-breeding and poultry-keeping. After Kazakhstan gained its independence the city got its former name- Akmola. But in 1998 when the capital was transferred from Almaty, the city got a symbolic name-Astana. The decision to transfer the capital depended on some economic, ecological and geographical factors. The main arguments in choosing the place for the capital were in general condition of the city, territory and well-developed transport system. Besides it stimulates the flourishing of the northern, central and eastern regions even development of the state economy will be reached. For the last few years Astana has changed. It became a beautiful city of Kazakhstan. The city centre impresses especially. Grand building of the Government and Parliament Houses, other administrative establishments meet all modern requirements. Music College, Opera House, the central square are marked by magnificent architectural items.The Republic Avenue is wonderful at night.
After a working day citizens and guests love walking alonh the embankment of the Ishim river with attractions, parks and cafes working half the night.
Exercises:
I. Answer the questions.
What way lay through Akmolinsk steppes in the middle of the first millennium B.C.?
When did the history of Astana start?
What was the next step in the development of Akmola?
When was the capital transferred from Almaty to Astana?
What were the main arguments in choosing Astana for the capital?
What are the sights of Astana?
II. Read and learn the following dialogues by heart.
Getting Around in Town
1.
Excuse me. Is this the way to Almaty University?
Yes. Go straight ahead for two blocks and turn right.You can't miss it.
Thank you very much.
B: It's nothing.
2.
A: Excuse me, can you tell me the way to Republic Square?
B: I'm sorry. I'm afraid I can't help you. I am new here myself
A: Thank you, anyway.
3.
A: Excuse me, can you tell me the way to sport centre ''Medeu''?
B: Sure. Go straight ahead for three blocks. Turn right on Kabanbai Batyr street and you can go there by bus?
A: Thank you very much.
4.
Policeman: Just a minute, sir. Didn't you see that signal?
Samat: Yes, I did, officer.
P: Then why did you cross the street?
S: There were not any cars coming, and I thought it was safe.
P: That doesn't make any difference. ''Don't walk'' means ''Don't walk.'' Even if there is no traffic
coming.
S: You are absolutely right, officer. I know that.
P: Well, don't let it happen again. If you do, you might be fined for jaywalking.
S: I won;t, officer. You can be sure of that.
III. Read and translate these sentences. Transform the reported questions into direct speech:
He asked me if Republic Square was far from there. She asked him whether that bus would take her to ''Medeu''. Marat asked her if she could tell him the best way to the Opera theatre. Asem asked me if I had visited the Picture Gallery. I asked him where he wanted to go that day. He asked them how long they had stayed in Almaty. she asked me what time it was.
IV. Дополните и разыграйте следующие диалоги.
(Complete these dialogues. Act them out.)
A: …
B: Sorry, I'm afraid I can't help you. I am new here myself.
A: ….
B: It's three blocks from here. Cross the street, turn left and walk straight ahead for three blocks.
A: …
B: It's on the left hand side.
A: …
B: It's nothing.