III. Read the text and do the tasks following it

The United States of America is the 4th largest country in the world after Russia, Canada and China. The country consists of 3 parts: the continental part is in the center of the North American continent. The outlying territories are Hawaii and Alaska. The total area of the United States is over 9 mln sq. km. The country borders on Canada in the north and on Mexico in the south. It also has a sea-border with Russia.

The country is washed by 3 oceans: The Arctic, the Atlantic and the Pacific. The country has many lakes, including the Great Lakes and many rivers, the longest of which are the Mississippi, the Missouri, the Columbia and others. The highest mountains are the Rocky Mountains, the Appalachian, the Cordillera and the Sierra Nevada. The highest peak, Mount McKinley, is in Alaska. The climate conditions are rather various. The country is rich in natural and mineral resources: oil, gas, iron ore, coal and various metals. The USA is a highly developed industrial and agricultural country. The main industrial branches are aircraft, rocket, automobile, electronics, radio engineering and others. Americans are made up from nearly all races and nations. The country population is over 250 mln. The official language of the state is English. The national symbol of the USA is the national flag «Stars and Stripes», having 50 white stars and 13 white and red stripes on its field, symbolizing the number of the original and present day states. Officially the country comprises 50 states and 1 District of Columbia. The states differ in size, population and economic development. Each state has its own capital. The capital of the USA is Washington. It is situated in the District of Columbia on the banks of the Potomac River and is named after the 1st US President — George Washington. There are many large cities in the country: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit, San Francisco, Boston and some others. The United States of America is a federal state, headed by the President. According to the US Constitution the powers of the Government are divided into 3 branches: legislative, executive and judicial. The legislative power belongs to the Congress consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Senate represents the states while the House of Representatives — population. The executive power belongs to the President and his Administration (Vice-President and Cabinet of Ministers). The judicial power belongs to the Supreme Court and the system of federal courts. There are several political parties in the USA. The largest of them are the Republican (symbolized by a donkey) and the Democratic (symbolized by an elephant).

Nowadays the USA is one of the leading powers of the world due to its economic, political and military influence.

IV. Comprehension Check.

Find the English equivalents for the following words and word combinations in the text.

1. крупнейшая англоязычная страна, 2. иметь морские границы, 3. занимать центральную часть континента, 4. омываться тремя океанами, 5. страна рек и озер, 6. различные климатические условия, 7. богата различными минеральными ресурсами, 8. высокоразвитая промышленная держава, 9. разные расы и нации, 10. официальный язык государства, 11. звездно-полосатый флаг, 12. назвать в честь первого президента страны, 13. исполнительная / законодательная / судебная власть, 14. Сенат / палата представителей, 15. система федеральных судов, 16. вице-президент / кабинет министров, 17. ведущая держава.

Read the text again to decide if the statements are true or false. Correct the false ones with the facts from the text.

1. The USA is the largest English speaking country.

2. It occupies the whole North American continent.

3. The country borders on Russia, Canada and Mexico.

4. The US territory is over 9 mln. sq. km.

5. There are many lakes and rivers on the territory of the country.

6. The country climate is rather different.

7. The US is one of the highly developed industrial powers of the world.

8. There are 2 official languages in the country — English and French.

9. The national symbol of the USA is the donkey.

10. The capital of the USA is New York.

11. The head of the state is the President.

12. The legislative branch of the US Government is the Congress consisting of 2 chambers: the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

13. The President controls all the government branches.

Make a plan to the text.

V. Discuss the following with your groupmates.

Why is the USA considered one of the highly developed industrial countries?

State Structure of the USA

I. First thoughts. Is the USA a part of the British Commonwealth? Who is the Head of the State?

II. Study the words. Make sure you know them. Practice the pronunciation.

to consist of, to sign, amendment, according to, officials, citizen, to violate, to proclaim, to issue money, to regulate the trade, to locate, to vest, legislative, executive, judiciary, to enforce, commander-in-chief, armed forces, to veto, bill, overrule, chairman, to assume, Cabinet, Department Secretaries, Secretary of State, Federal District Court, Supreme Court, to appoint, to abolish, slavery.