5. Read and translate the text Golden Gate City

Before you read

1. From the heading, what city is the text about?

2. What do you know about this city?

3. Where is it situated?

4. What are some of its famous sights?

5. Have you ever been there? What impressed you most?

San Francisco is one of the most beautiful cities in America. It first became famous when gold was discovered in the nearby Sierra Hills in 1848. Of course, people don't come to San Francisco for gold anymore. They come for the warm weather, the friendly people and the wonderful sights.

San Francisco was built on hills, just like Rome, and it overlooks a beautiful bay. One of the world's most famous bridges, the Golden gate Bridge, crosses this bay. San Francisco has a population of about 1 million people, so it is not very big. This means you can walk around the city quite easily. Or , if you prefer, you can take a cable car – San Francisco is famous for the little cable cars that climb the steep hills of the city.

San Francisco is an exciting city. There is always something to see or do. You can walk along Fisherman's wharf and buy souvenirs, be entertained by jugglers, musicians and clowns and, most important of all, eat delicious, fresh sea food. You can go to Chinatown for a tasty Chinese meal and you might be lucky enough to see a golden dragon dancing in the streets or a large kite flying high overhead. You can listen to a street band or go to a symphony orchestra. You can watch theatre in the street or see a serious play at one of San Francisco's theatres. Or you can simply admire the view from one of San Francisco's many hills. Day or night the views are spectacular.

Two of the most popular tourist sights in the city are the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island. Until 1964 the Golden Gate Bridge was the longest, single span suspension bridge in the world. For this reason, people like to come and look at it – even though it isn't made of gold! It was designed by Joseph Strauss and cost 35 million dollars to build. It was opened in 1937.

Alcatraz Island is an island in the middle of San Francisco Bay. It was named after the pelicans that used to live there (in Spanish alcatraz means pelicans). From 1934 to 1963 there was a prison on Alcatraz Island where the most dangerous prisoners were kept. It was America's most feared prison and none ever escaped. Now only tourists go there – but don't worry, they all come back from the island!

William Saroyan, a famous writer, said: “You can’t get bored in San Francisco”. Why not come and see for yourself?

Questions

Why did San Francisco become famous?

What is the population of the city?

Where is the city situated?

What are the sights of the city?(Find as many as possible)

How does the Golden Gate Bridge look like?

Who was the designer?

When was it opened?

What is Alcatraz?

What was it famous for?

6. Read and translate the text The White House

In Washington, D.C., 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is a very special address. It is the address of the White House, the home of the president of the United States.

Originally, the White House was gray and was called the Presidential Palace. It was built from 1792 to 1800. At this time, the city of Washington itself was being built. It was to be the nation’s new capital city. George Washington, the first president, and Pierre-Charles L’Enfant, a French engineer, chose the place for the new city. L’Enfant then planned the city. The president’s home was an important part of the plan.

A contest was held to pick a design for the president’s home. An architect named James Hoban won. He designed a large three-story house of gray stone.

President Washington never lived in the Presidential Palace. The first people to live there were John Adams, the second president of the United States, and his wife, Abigail. Abigail Adams did not really like her new house. In her letters, she often complained about the cold.

Fifty fireplaces were not enough to keep the house warm!

In 1812, the United States and Britain went to war. In 1814, the British invaded Washington. They burned many buildings, including the Presidential Palace.

After the war, Hoban, the original architect, partially rebuilt the president’s home. To cover the marks of the fire, the building was painted white. Before long it became known as the White House.

The White House is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the United States. Every year more than 1.5 million visitors go through the rooms that are open to the public.

Questions

1. Who lives in the White House?

2. Why was the White House built in Washington?

3. Why did the original home of the president need to be rebuilt?

Read and circle the letter of the best answer.

1.The __________is 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

1. address of Washington, D.C.

2. address of the White House

3. original name of the White House

2.Originally, the Presidential Palace was __________

1. white

2. black

3. gray

3.The president’s home and the city of Washington were built __________

1. by the British

2. at the same time

3. by the French

4. The first president to live in the Presidential Palace was___________.

1. George Washington

2. Abigail Adams

3. John Adams

5.The Presidential Palace was burned down by____________.

1. Abigail Adams

2. James Hoban

3. the British

6.The new presidential home was painted white to___________ .

1. attract tourists

2. cover the marks of the fire

3. please Abigail Adams