Famous people of America

The fate of many famous people of America has very much in common. Thus, one of the most well-known statesmen of the USA, Abraham Lincoln, was born on a farm in 1809.

His father was a poor farmer and the boy had to work much on their small farm. But he read a lot, too. When he grew older he felt a strong interest in law. He became a lawyer and he always tried to use the law to defend peo­ple. In 1846 he was elected to Congress. There he said he was against slavery. In 1860 he became Presi­dent of the USA. In 1864 Abraham Lincoln was elected President again, but a year later he was killed by his ene­mies in a theatre in Washington.

The American inventor, Thomas Alva Edison, was born in Ohio in 1847. His family was notch and the boy's education was limited to three months in the public school. When he was he started work. Several years later Edison learned telegraphy and became a telegraph operator. He wanted to improve the telegraph system and worked very hard at it. After a few months of work, he built a transmitter of a new head. This was his first important invention. The other two of Edison's greatest inventions were the gramophone and the electric lamp. Edison believed that only work could bring success. So did many of the famous American writers.

O Henry, for instance, a well-known short-story writer had to earn his living from the age of fifteen and he edu­cated himself with the help of friends.

Another famous American novelist, Theodore Dreiser had to leave school and work at a factory when he was still a boy. 23. Later he became a newspaper correspondent and then he began to write books. 24. He wrote such popular novels as "Sister Carrie", "Financier", "Titan", etc.

 

2. Ответьте на вопросы:

When, where and in what family was Abraham Lincoln born?

Why did Abraham Lincoln become a lawyer?

Was he against slavery?

How long did Alva Edison, the American inventor, study at school?

What did Alva Edison invent?

 

3. Составьте вопросы четырех типов к каждому предложению:

We write dictations and do exercises at our Russian lessons.

Pete did not get a “five” because he knew his lesson badly.

After the second lesson we shall go to the canteen.

She was eating a sandwich when he saw her.

For the whole next evening we shall be preparing for exams.

 

4. Образуйте множественное число существительных:

Hour cup peach baby brush box mouse life child bag

 

5. Образуйте сравнительную и превосходную степени прилагательных:

 

A popular actor a light room a busy person a green leaf a small garden a wide street a dirty yard a fat pig

 

6. Выберите и вставьте глагол в нужном времени:

 

My brother (trains, is training) at the stadium from 6 till 8.

When Tom (come, came) from school, his friends (played, were playing) in the yard.

Your mother (has returned, returned) from work?

I never (have been, was) to the USA

ВАРИАНТ № 8

1. Переведите текст на русский язык.