Часть II the united states of america

Тема 7. Соединенные штаты америки the united states of america

Task 1. Learn the following words and word combinations:

1.	to possess	иметь, владеть
2.	to remain	оставаться
3.	to recognize	признавать
4.	treaty	договор, конвенция
5.	to acquire	получать, приобретать
6.	to expand	увеличивать, расширять
7.	frontier	граница
8.	powerful	мощный
9.	steady	стабильный, устойчивый
10.	unemployment	безработица
11.	advance	родвижение вперед, улучшение
12.	powerful	мощный
13.	western	западный
14.	eastern	восточный
15.	prairie	прерия, степь
16.	highland regions	возвышенность
17.	lowland regions	низменность
18.	valley	долина
19.	to seek refuge	искать убежище
20.	persecution	преследование
21.	religious beliefs	религиозные убеждения
22.	rich oil fields	богатые месторождения нефти
23.	exaggeration	преувеличение
24.	oil	нефть
25.	to mine	добывать
26.	vehicle	транспортное средство, автомобиль
27.	textile	текстильная промышленность
28.	network of roads	сеть дорог
29.	highway	шоссе, магистраль
30.	to contest presidency	претендовать на пост президента
31.	the highest legislative body	высший законодательный орган
32.	chamber	палата

Task 2. Read the text and translate it.

Brief History of the United States of America

T he history of the USA dates back only to the 15th century. Before the 15th century there was no USA at all. The present territory of the USA was divided among some countries.

In the 15th — 16th centuries some territory of the USA belonged to Great Britain (northern and western lands); southern parts (California, Florida, New Mexico, Texas) belonged to Spain, then — to Mexico; the central part, the territory was called Louisiana — to France; Alaska was possessed by Russia; some territories remained to be under Indians control.

In 18th century there were only thirteen Britain's American colonies and they broke with Great Britain in 1776 and later were recognized as the new nation of the United States of America, following the Treaty of Paris in 1783. During the 19th and 20th centuries, 37 new states were added to the original 13 as the nation expanded their frontiers across the North American continent and acquired a number of overseas possessions.

There were three most dramatic experiences in the nation's history: the Civil War (1861-1865), the Great Depression* of the 1930s and Vietnam War of the 1960s — 70s. After its victories in World Wars I and II and the end of the Cold War in 1991, the USA remains the world's most powerful state. The economy is marked by steady growth, low unemployment and inflation, and great advances in technology.

Nowadays USA is world's third-largest country by size (after Russia and Canada) and by population (after China and India). It is about half the size of Russia or slightly larger than China or Brazil.