Vocabulary

valley – долина

tributory – приток реки

grassland – пастбище, сенокосное угодье

scrub – кустарник

oats – овёс

the legislative power – законодательная власть

the executive power – исполнительная власть

the judicial power – судебная власть

the Senate – Сенат

the House of Representatives – Палата Представителей

the presiding officer – председатель

standing committees – постоянные комитеты

to convene – созывать, собирать

to nominate – выставлять, предлагать кандидата на должность

to vote for (against) smth. (smb.) – голосовать за или против

to assemble – собираться

to vest – облекать властью, наделять правом

to veto a law – наложить вето на закон

to impeach the President – подвергнуть Президента импичменту

to settle a dispute between the states – решать спор между штатами

to contradict – противоречить

bill – законопроект, билль

a Justice – Судья

tripartite division – тройственное деление

Secretary of State – Государственный Секретарь

Secretary of Treasury – Министр Финансов

Secretary of Defence – Министр Обороны

Exercise 2. Answer the following questions:

1. Where is the United States of America situated?

2. What is the territory and population of the country?

3. What climatic zones are there in the USA?

4. What mountains in the USA do you know?

5. Why is the USA called a land of rivers and lakes?

6. What natural and mineral resources is the USA rich in?

7. How can you characterize the economy of the USA?

8. What are the largest cities of the USA?

9. How many states does the USA include?

10. How many branches are there in the government of the USA? Name them.

11. What does the Federal Government consist of? Where is it situated?

12. When was the USA Constitution adopted?

13. What is the legislative branch of the US government?

14. What do you know about the Senate and the House of Representatives?

15. Whom does the executive power belong to in the USA?

16. For how long is the President elected?

17. What is the “Cabinet”?

18. Does each state have its own legislative, executive power and judicial system?

19. What is the judicial branch and what is its job?

20. What does the US national flag represent?

Exercise 3. Give Russian equivalents of the following words and phrases:

The fourth largest country in area; are crowded with people; in different time zones; hot winds blowing from the Gulf of Mexico; the climate along the Pacific coast; west coast winters; mild and rainy except in southern California; very changeable in winter; to vary from region to region; the average daily temperature; cool along the western coast; on the border with Canada; the largest and the deepest in the USA; grassland and scrub; covers the eastern part; rich in natural and mineral resources; a highly-developed industrial and agricultural coun­try; to grow wheat, oats, cotton, tobacco, all kinds of ve­getables and fruit; to hold the leading position in the production of aircraft; household machinery; the armaments, furniture, paper industries and other goods; the seat of the national government; it is important to recognize; consisting of three levels; executive, legislative and judicial branches; to consist of the President and the Congress and the Federal Court; to create Federal legislation; to belong to the Congress which consists of the Senate and the Ho­use of Representatives; to comprise 435 members elected for a two year term; to have at le­ast one Representative in the House; the presiding officer of the Senate; the work of preparing and considering legislation; to assemble at least once a year; on extraordinary occasions; to convene both Houses or either of them; the executive body of the Government; the heads of the ten executive departments; to settle disputes between states; to veto any law passed by the Congress; law enforcement agency such as the police; the government of counties; as the example of the tripartite division; based primarily on a two-party system; from time to time; a permanent influence in the political system; to represent the current number of states.

Exercise 4. Read and translate the sentences into Russian. Comment on the use of Tenses and Voices:

1. Washington was built in the late eighteenth century especially as the center of the Government.

2. The USA became the world leading country at the beginning of the twentieth century.

3. Across the middle of the USA lies the prairie – a vast, flat, dry and windy area known as the Great Plains.

4. If you want to go from San Francisco to New York by train, you will ride more than three thousand miles.

5. Since 1872 the system of national parks has grown steadily.

6. Where Americans live and where they are moving also reveals how America has changed and is changing.

7. From its very beginning as a nation, the “population center of gravity” has been moving westwards.

8. The USA borders on Canada in the North and on Mexico in the South and has a sea-border with Russia.

9. By the beginning of the 18^th century most of the lands on the Potomac had been taken up and peopled by some of the most aristocratic families of the South.

10. The President is elected every four years and cannot serve more than two terms.

11. The legislative power of the US is vested in the Congress of the USA.

12. The Congress was created by Article I of the Constitution, adopted in 1787.

13. A Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776.

14. The Justices are appointed for life.

15. A senator must be at least 30 years old, a citizen of the United States for nine years and live in the state she or he will represent.

16. A Representative must be at least 25 years old, a citizen for seven years and live in the state.

17. The President can veto a bill.

18. The House of Representatives can impeach the President.

19. The President must live in the USA for at least 14 years and be a civilian.

20. The Supreme Court may veto any law passed by the Congress if it contradicts the Constitution of the USA.

21. A Declaration of Independence said that Americans should be free from Britain.

22. The President must do his job according to the Constitution, or he may be impeached.

23. When the President receives a bill from the Congress, he must sign it and then bill becomes a law.

24. In Philadelphia, you can touch Liberty Bell, which was rung after the Declaration of Independence was read.

Exercise 5. Insert the missing words from the text:

1. The USA lies in the … part of the North American continent with the Atlantic Ocean to the East.

2. Some parts of the country are crowded … people, while … areas are deserted.

3. … is higher in the East than in the West.

4. In central and eastern regions the weather is very … in winter.

5. Summers are very hot and humid on the … coast.

6. The political power in the United States can be viewed as consisting of three …, each of them having executive, … and judicial branches.

7. One thi­rd of the Senate is elected every … years.

8. The Senators and Repre­sentatives must be …of the state from which they are cho­sen.

9. The President holds his office during the term of …years, together with the Vice President.

10. The Suprene Court which settles disputes between ….

11. Each state differs in terms of their legislature and the executive power which is held by the … of the state.

12. … … each state has its own law enforcement agency such as the police.

Exercise 6. Translate the following sentences into English:

1. США расположены в центральной части Северной Америки и омываются Тихим и Атлантическим океанами.

2. Самые высокие горы в Америке: Скалистые Горы, Кордильеры и Сьера-Невада, крупнейшие реки: Миссисипи, Миссури, Рио-Гранде.

3. США – высокоразвитая промышленная и аграрная страна с богатыми природными ресурсами.

4. США богаты полезными ископаемыми: углём, медью, железной рудой и нефтью.

5. США состоит из 50 штатов и независимого округа Колумбия.

6. Самые крупные города США: Нью-Йорк, Чикаго, Лос-Анджелес, Филадельфия, Детройт, Хьюстон.

7. Чикаго – один из крупнейших промышленных центров США. В нём находятся штаб-квартиры многих американских промышленных корпораций.

8. Законодательная власть США, или Конгресс, состоит из Палаты Представителей и Сената.

9. Исполнительная власть состоит из президента, вице-президента и кабинета министров.

10. Исполнительная власть претворяет в жизнь законы.

11. Президент, глава высшей исполнительной власти, избирается на 4 года и назначает членов кабинета.

12. Президент подписывает закон и может наложить на него вето.

13. Вице-президент является президентом Сената, а выборный Спикер – председатель Палаты Представителей.

14. Верховный суд решает спорные вопросы между штатами и может наложить вето на закон, если он противоречит Конституции.

15. Правительство штата во главе с губернатором занимается местными вопросами.

Exercise 7. Read and translate the text about Washington: