N. Kryazheva - The United States and the United Kingdom. Past and Present (doc) (798446), страница 23
Текст из файла (страница 23)
The Ivy League is a group of old and very respectred universities in the eastern part of the US.
The Ivy League colleges are generally considered to be some of the most respected and impressive places to study in the US. They claim to offer a very high standard of education, and they tend to choose their students very carefully. Most of the students who are accepted at these colleges have earned very high grades in high school, have very impressive skills and talents in sports, music, etc., have a parent or relative who went to the same college, or come from a rich or successful family.
Graduates from the Ivy League tend to become successful, powerful people in the US society, especially in professions such as law, politics and business.
Ivy League colleges are also some of the oldest, most expensive, and most traditional institutions in the US. Because of this, they are sometimes considered to be proud of their high social position.
REVISE YOUR GRAMMAR
1. The part of the country constituting the order 48 states and the district of Columbia is collectively referred to as the conterminous United States; the conterminous United States and the state Alaska are collectively referred to as the continental United States.
2. The United States is one of the few countries that has no "official" national language, or languages.
3. English is the common language by use, but it is not the national language by law.
4. The Americans are really a nation of nations, and the USA is the country where all the principal languages are spoken.
5. There are three levels of government in the US - federal, state, and local.
6. The Congress's main function is to make laws and to finance the operations of the Government.
7. The President appoints the department heads, who together make up the President's Cabinet, or advisers.
8. There are several levels of federal courts, the US Supreme Court being the highest tribunal.
9. The US Supreme Court has nine members, who are appointed for life.
10. There are state senators and representatives and state court systems.
11. On July 4, 1776, when the American colonies were fighting a war against England, the Continental Congress adopted a resolution, which has come to be known as the Declaration of Independence.
12. Thomas Jefferson wrote to the king that the people in America did not want to pay taxes if they were not allowed to decide how to spend them.
13. The letter declared that the people in America wanted to be free and independent of England from that time on.
14. The United States Constitution was written in 1787, but it came into use in 1789.
15. Since then the 4th of July has been considered to be a great public holiday in America.
16. But when his country needed him, George Washington left his "Mount Vernon", the house, which he loved so much.
17. He was elected twice, but he refused to be the Presedent for a third time.
18. Lincoln was taught reading, writing and simple arithmetic, as his family could not afford better education.
19. When the war was over, Lincoln issued a proclamation to say that slavery was abolished.
20. The President arrived at the theatre when the play had already begun.
21. Capitol is situated on the Capitol Hill, which is the highest place in the city.
22. There is a law that forbids to build houses higher than the Capitol.
23. The NASA Museum is devoted to the US achievements in the exploration of space.
24. There is the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. which was built between 1941-43.
25. One can see the famous cherry trees there which are the gift from Japan.
26. If you want to learn the history of America you have to learn something about the Liberty Bell which is a symbol of freedom.
27. If you arrive by air, you pass through the passport control at John Kennedy airport.
28. Washington Square is the place, where modern NYC begins, with its parallel rows of buildings, enclosed into blocks by avenues and streets.
29. The Metropolitan Museum of Art has rich collections, which reflect the history of world art from ancient civilizations to the present day and include hundreds of world-famous masterpieces.
30. If you should happen after dark to find yourself in Central Park, ignore the paths, hurry to the zoo and creep into the tiger's cage.
31. Los Angeles is not only an industrial center, but also a large cultural center.
32. The town when seen from above produces a silvery impression because for many years the Municipal Authorities made the people paint their houses white or silvery shades.
33. There are several towns in California bearing such names as Sevastopol, Odessa, Kiev, Volga, Kremlin and others.
34. The high daily consumption of newspapers in the country is partly due to the fact that the term "daily" covers both morning and evening newspapers and that most people buy both.
35. "New York Times", "Washington Post" and "Wall Street Journal" are considered to be the quality newspapers.
36. When the American goes to the pictures, he expects to see a large program.
37. There is a parking ground near big cinemas in the US.
38. For those who want to see a film without leaving the car there are drive-in cinemas.
39. There are films based on novels and films which describe historical events.
40. But there are also second-rate films, which critics call stupid.
41. There were several reasons why film makers went to Hollywood.
42. One result of this high divorce rate is that many American children live in single-parent families.
43. Although some women wait until their thirties to have their first child, other women become mothers while they are still teen-agers.
44. In the traditional family, the wife stayed home with the children while the husband earned money.
45. The percentage of Americans owning the houses and apartments they live in is the highest among western nations.
46. Spring means that the storm windows must be taken down in those areas, where it gets cold in winter.
47. As soon as autumn leaves begin to fall, they must be raked, and the storm windows need to be ready and put up again.
48. There is always something that needs to be done around the house, and most American home owners do it themselves.
49. The young men and women who pack the groceries are almost always neighborhood teen-agers who work part-time.
50. In many American families children are expected to help around the house.
51. Many American middle-class families expect their children to find part-time jobs especially as they enter their teens.
52. Most of these teen-agers are working because their families can't afford buying things for them.
53. Americans feel that young people should appreciate the value of work and team how to stand on their own two feet.
54. Most Americans expect their children to leave home at an earlier age than do parents in many other western countries.
55. There are different clubs and public service organizations, many of them related to charitable work.
56. Today baseball is very fast and exciting game and each year seems to grow more popular in the US.
57. 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 favourite participatory 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, all educational 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 over those who don't.
64. From elementary school through college Americans believe that everyone deserves an equal opportunity 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 members come 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 the institution.
68. Many institutions of higher education select candidates either on results in the high school diploma or through 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 the semester 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 rich because of the contributions made by many groups of people who have come to its shores over the past two centuries.
76. Sometimes people have masquerade balls, where guests dressed up in costumes and cover their faces with masks.
77. Many families and friends watch television together enjoying the Tournament of Roses parade preceding 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 the ages.
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 thought was 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 their children 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 from the 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 to express 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 for Christmas is "a must".
104. It seems that all America is on the move and Americans are on their way to spend the holidays with their 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 selling gifts, trees or greetings.
107. Most Americans enjoy sport - both playing sports themselves and watching their favorite sports and teams.
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 the entire house is air-conditioned.
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