N. Kryazheva - The United States and the United Kingdom. Past and Present (pdf), страница 28

Each of the large cities the US is represented by a team carrying its name.58. But statistics says that bicycling, fishing, swimming, jogging and gymnastics are American's favouriteparticipatory sports.59. Fast food now prevails, but a lot of Americans began to think seriously about their physical state.60. Since the Constitution does not state that education is a responsibility of the federal government, alleducational matters are left to the individual states.61.

High school students are often involved in non-academic activities that their school offers.62. Parents must view schools as a place where their children can gain skills and experience.63. Those children who come from families with better-educated parents often have advantage overthose who don't.64. From elementary school through college Americans believe that everyone deserves an equalopportunity to get a good education.65. There are two main types of higher education: state (or public) and private.66.

The highest body of a college or university is traditionally the board of directors, whose memberscome from outside the institution and belong to industry or the world of finance.67. The president, elected by the board of trustees, is responsible for the administrative running of theinstitution.68. Many institutions of higher education select candidates either on results in the high school diploma orthrough an entrance examination.69. Many universities publish the average scores achieved on these tests by students they admit.70.

Computer laboratories are also often used for science and for language drill.71. Achievements are measured by grades, which are given on papers and tests during the course of thesemester and a final examination at the end of the term.72. The final grade is based on all the work done for the course.73.

Students and lecturers must work hard, if they want good marks.74. College and university campuses are often spread out over the towns in which they are situated.75. Although the United States is young compared to other countries, its culture and traditions are richbecause of the contributions made by many groups of people who have come to its shores over the pasttwo centuries.76. Sometimes people have masquerade balls, where guests dressed up in costumes and cover theirfaces with masks.77.

Many families and friends watch television together enjoying the Tournament of Roses paradepreceding the Rose Bowl football game in Pasadena, California.78. In most cultures, people promise to be better, to change their lives in the following year.79. St.Valentines Day has roots in several different legends that have found their way to us through theages.80. Another Valentine was an Italian bishop who lived at about the same time.81.

Some legends say he was burned at the stake.82. Americans of all ages love to send and receive "valentines".83. Hand-made "valentines", created by cutting hearts out of colored paper, show that a lot of thoughtwas put into making them personal.84. After the students read their "valentines" they have a small party with refreshments.85. Traditionally, many celebrants bought new clothes for Easter, which they wore to church.86.

Other children will give their mothers gifts which they have made themselves or bought in stores.87. It is a interesting to point out that the United States did not even have a standardized flag until 1912.88. Others say the first Father's Day ceremony was held in Vancouver, Washington State.89. The United States is one of the few countries in the world that has an official day on which theirchildren honor fathers.90. When children can't visit their fathers or take them out to dinner, they send a greeting card.91. Traditionally fathers prefer greeting cards that are not too sentimental.92.

Labor Day was originally established to honour workers.93. The neighbors' must either give them a treat (usually sweets) or the children will play a trick on them.94. November 1st is a religious holiday known as All Saints' Day.95. The following spring, the Indians taught them how to grow corn (maize), a new food for the colonists.96. The colonists had learned how to cook cranberries and different kinds of corn and squash dishes fromthe Indians.97. It was George Washington who suggested the date November 26 as Thanksgiving Day.98.

The President must proclaim that date as the official celebration.99. Even if they live far away, family members gather for a reunion at the house of an older relative.100. To people all over the world Christmas is a season of giving and receiving presents.101. It is believed that it brings good luck.102. One of the important customs of Christmas is to send and receive Christmas cards, which helps toexpress the sentiment of the season.103.

No matter where you may be the rest of the year, being at "home" with your family and friends forChristmas is "a must".104. It seems that all America is on the move and Americans are on their way to spend the holidays withtheir loved ones.105. Each child can't wait to open his or her eyes to see what Santa Claus has left in the stocking.106. To get extra money, many students get part-time jobs during December, delivering mail or sellinggifts, trees or greetings.107. Most Americans enjoy sport - both playing sports themselves and watching their favorite sports andteams.108. Many people fly to other cities and countries to visit their friends and relatives.109.

A home owner in Arizona might not have any grass, but rather a gravel "lawn" and a rock garden.110. Other people don't have to change their term windows, because their climate is mild, or because theentire house is air-conditioned.111. The extremes frequently seen in films and on television have little in common with the lives of thevast majority of people, or what average Americans dream about.112. English is the main foreign language taught within most school systems.113.

But the English language began to spread throughout the world only in the 17th centure, when thefirst English settlements arose in North America.114. Nowadays English is the most wide-spread language geographically, second one only to Chinese inthe number of people who speak it.115. One shouldn't forget the problems of English spelling, pronunciation and prepositions.116. Learning any foreign language is not an easy thing.117.

If you want to master a foreign language, you must be ready to make efforts and be patient.118. Modern British English is strongly influenced by American English.119. It is highly advisable for the people who learn English to know both forms of those words which arein most common usage.120. When people from this province came to what they later called Great Britain they found somefamiliar conditions there and first of all its damp climate.121. Since this country was larger than their own Bretaigne they called it "Great Britain".122.

Most English people have been slow to adopt rational reforms such the metric system, which cameinto general use in 1975.123. The English people do not want to trouble of adapting themselves to new.124. The conservatism may be illustrated by reference of the public attitude to the monarchy.125.

The monarchy survives, but has no power and does not want any Parliament to establish its rights.126. Laws passed by two Houses do not become affective until she has signed them.127. Today the Queen is not only the head of state, but also an important symbol of national unity.128. She reigns, but does not rule, although the Queen is the third richest .woman in the world.129.

The life of Parliament is divided into periods called "sessions".130. Parts of the Palace including the Commons Chamber itself were badly damaged in an air raid madeby fascists in 1941, and have been rebuilt since 1945.131. The party, which has the largest number of members in the Parliament, is called the Government.132. He chooses from the Lords and Commons about 60 men to take the main offices and form theMinistry.133. No outside person is allowed to see any Cabinet papers until they become only of historical interest.134. The money the Government spends is the people's money.135. It is "A City" which arose from a number of towns and villages.136. Many monuments of London's history can be found in the city.137.

St. Paul's Cathedral was built between 1675 and 1710 to replace the old Cathedral that was largelydestroyed in the Great Fire of 1666.138. The West End, spreading from the political centre Westminster includes Piccadilly Circus and thefashionable Covent Garden.139. When Higgins retired he built himself a grand house, which was called Piccadilly Hall.140. Piccadilly is a fine street stretching from the circus to Hyde Park Corner.141.

Just behind the Trafalgar Sguare is the National Gallery where there is one of the finest collectionsof pictures in the world.142. The British Museum is one of the greatest and best-known museums in the world, both in thediversity of its collection and in their wide range and high quality.143. The British Museum Library is a reading-room and a reference library, but not a lending one.144. The Houses of Parliament were completed a century ago.145. Today the Queen lives at the Palace for only part of the year and when she is in her residence theRoyal Standard is flown.146. The Tower of London is quarded by Beefeaters, who are dressed in old-fashioned traditionaluniforms.147.

Despite many houses built by the council there are still miles of little dwellings and slums.148. Hyde Park is famous for its Speaker's Corner, where people go when they want to tell other peopleabout their political opinions.149. London is known by its system of public transport which includes red buses, black taxis, and anunderground railway called "the Tube".150. Being the capital of Wales, financially and industrially, Cardiff is the most important city in an uplandcountry.151. Cathay's Park, the centre of the civic life of the city, with its exceptionally fine group of municipalbuildings and its National Museum of Wales, where you will find an enthralling collection of Welsh art andhandicraft, both ancient and modern, is a splendid place.152. There is much cultural activity in Wales,especially in literature, drama and music.153. From the streets in the centre of the city you can see the ships coming to Edinburgh from differentcountries of the world.154.