What to visit

If you go to Hong Kong you will immediately notice the architecture – modern glass and concrete skyscrapers, traditional Buddhist Temples and colorful street markets.

Central Plaza is the tallest building here. It has 78 storeys and neon lights at the top which change color every fifteen minutes.

You can buy souvenirs, antiques and traditional Chinese medicines in the area called Sheung Wang and Western. It is a busy, exotic place; you can even find bird’s nests for soup!

Hong Kong really is where East meets West.

WORDLIST

antique – антикварная вещь

concrete – бетонный

skyscraper – небоскрёб

souvenir – сувенир

temple – храм

Answer the questions.

1. When did the British government give Hong Kong to China?

2. How many official languages are there in Hong Kong? What languages?

3. What is the tallest building in Hong Kong?

Sum up what the text says about the city.

CHICAGO

Read and translate the text. Say which facts given in the text were known to you.

Chicago is the state of Illinois on Lake Michigan. The city’s shoreline is 30 miles long, half of which are beautiful beaches. Chicago’s close proximity to the lake makes water sports a popular feature among the city’s inhabitants.

The Windy City

Because of the lake, the weather in Chicago tends to be rather windy. That is why some 100 years ago someone called it The Windy City. And although nobody is sure who invented the term it remains the city’s nickname.

Chicago is big! Chicago is said to be one of the most successful metropolises in the world. It is a huge city of high skyscrapers, over 40 museums, 6000 restaurants and over 200 annual street parades. Chicago also has the largest building in America – the Merchandise Mart (Аукционный Зал Товаров), with more than 90 acres of floor space.

WORDLIST

annual – ежегодный

floor space – площадь (торгового зала, здания)

huge – огромный

to invent – выдумывать, изобретать

metropolis – крупный город, столица

nickname – прозвище

proximity – близость, соседство

shoreline – береговая линия

to tend – иметь склонность, стремиться

Answer the questions.

1. What is the name of the lake near Chicago?

2. What is the nickname of Chicago and why?

3. How many museums are there in Chicago?

Sum up what the text says about the city.

BIRMINGHAM