N. Kryazheva - The United States and the United Kingdom. Past and Present (doc) (798446), страница 3

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The Library of Congress, the biggest existing library in the world, was opened on the 24th April, 1800. It contains more than 13 ml books in various languages. The law of 1870 makes it obligatory to send to the library 2 copies of every Ameri­can book published. There is the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. which was built between 1941-43. The Pentagon is the large 5-sided building near Washington, D.C, which contains the main offices of the US Department of Defence.

John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts opened its doors to three perfect theatres in 1971. It is also famous for its Grand Foyer, Hall of States and Hall of Nations. Grand Foyer is one of the largest rooms in the world, which pro­vides a central lobby for opera, ballet and music performances. It is the setting for the bronze head of President Kennedy.

There are many beautiful parks and gardens in the capital. One can see the fa­mous cherry trees there which are the gift from Japan. They were brought there in 1912 as the symbol of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Words and Phrases:

nucleus - ядро

to abound - изобиловать

to bear - носить (название)

to dedicate - посвящать

on behalf of - от имени

mansion - особняк, дворец

Mall -парк в W., D.C.

to feature - отводить важнейшее место

to coincide with - совпадать
motif = motive - мотив, побуждение
to feature - изображать

statesman - государственный деятель

display of fire-work - показ фейерверка
to cede - передавать, уступать

to renovate - восстанавливать

cherry - вишня

Tasks:

1. Study the text and make up a plan for retelling.

2. Ask your group-mate:

a. about foundation of Washington, D.C; с about the seat of the US Congress;

b. about peculiarities of this Great City; d. about the Capitol.

3. Speak about the White House.

4. Imagine that you are in Washington, D.C. What places of interest would you visit first of all?

5. Agree or disagree with the following statements:

a. Abraham Lincoln was the first American President of the US;

b. the White House has been the home of every President since 1800;

c. the Library of Congress is the biggest existing in the world;

d. John F. Kennedy Center opened its doors to three perfect theatres in 1975.

PHILADELPHIA

Philadelphia, which is informaly called Philly, was the first capital of the US from 1790 till 1800. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is one of the oldest cities in the country. It is the 5th largest city with a population of more than 5 ml people. It is the administrative center of Pennsylvania. The port of Philadelphia is the second largest one after New York. It is also one of the largest oil centers in the North. In comparison with other American towns it looks rather old and its sky-line is not so high; many houses and buildings date back to the 20's and 30's. In the Penn Cen­ter, the city hub, there stand many mansions of the aristocracy, the oldest colonist families. Not far from the center one can see a small 6-cornered house with a tall lantern on the top, which is the watch-tower erected in the colonial period. And this is not the only building reminiscent of those days. Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence was signed on the 4th July, 1776 and where the Liberty Bell is kept, the first Congress Hall, the 2-storied house of the first Tre­asury, the first Stock-Exchange are all buildings which Philadelphia is proud of.

The city center is crowned by the City Hall, the tallest building of the town, with ^a huge statue of William Penn, resembling Jonathan Swift's Gulliver, on the very top of

The Metropolitan Museum of Art Is the most important one in the US and

has rich collections, which reflect the history of world art from ancient civilization to the present day and include hundreds of world-famous masterpieces.

NYC famous Empire State Building is 448 meters. Visibility on clear day is more than 80 miles, 73 elevators operate in speeds ranging from 200 meter* to 400 meters a minute.

The twin 110 story towers of New York's World Trade Center were ruined b\ terrorists' attack on the 11th of September in 2001.

Harlem is a poor area in NYC, where many African-American and Hispank people live. There is not one Harlem, but three crowded into the area above Centra Park and this is the roosting place of violence. People are congregated together ir neigh-bourhoods that are old, in houses that symbolize the deprivation.

Many Italians wedged their way into East Harlem, located just east of B\ac\ Harlem. The area's name was derived from the Dutch town of Harlem. Many oi the boys here say: "Other kids are brought up nice and sent to Yale and Harvard, We are brought up like a mushroom". They learn their lessons the hard way. From the streets they learn a great deal, absorbing and assimilating like a sponge. Pride and anger swirl inside them, sometimes erupting, but mostly simmering, boiling and festering. They soon learned a new word. It was called Mafia. There are many legends about Mafia.

The Mafia, they believe, began in the middle of the 19th century as an under­ground political resistance movement. Bourbon rulers then dominated the land and the people of Sicily were taxed, tortured, imprisoned and executed. In defence and defiance, the Sicilian landowners organized into a Society. The society they formed had to be strong and its rules binding. The code of the first Mafiosi was forged.

The Lower East Side of Manhattan was and is a breeding ground for crime. The criminals grow and flourish there springing from the seeds of these slums, the slums born in the heart of the Monopoly Empire. And many young people here strip the freight yards. Burglary, robbery and murder are the subjects they study during their formative years, earning their diplomas in reformatories. The place that attracts the attention of all in Manhattan is Central Park, recreation grounds with a lot of greenery and beautiful ponds. It is a popular place during the day, but it is considered to be dangerous to go there at night.

Some people recommend: "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. Frankly, you'll be safer there".

Words and Phrases:

Tasks:

1. Make up short dialogues about New York asking and answering questions.

a. Has New York always been the gateway to the USA?

b. What is the main law of life in New York?

c. Could you name any boroughs in New York?

d. What can you say about the Statue of Liberty?

e. What do you know about the highest buildings in New York ?

f. What do you know about the Lower Side of Manhattan?

2. Speak about:

a. the architecture of New York;

b. the United Nations Headquarters;

c. Rockefeller Center;

d. Wall Street.

LOS ANGELES (LA)

Los Angeles is the second largest city in the US, in California on the Pacific coast after Chicago. It was founded in 1781 by the Spaniards and for over 60 years belonged to Mexico. Then the Americans took it over. Its rapid development was closely connected with the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad - The Cen­tral Pacific. Another reason for its quick development was the discovery of oil.

Los Angeles was a typical representative of one-storied America. 1 or 2-sto­ried houses of brick, stone or wooden were painted in different colors but looking so much alike that it was difficult for a stranger to find his way there. But all this was in the past. Now there are many sky-scrapers in downtown of LA

Several highways lead to LA with 8 lines for cars rushing along them endlessly. But the city transport is not adequate to the needs. There is a sea of private cars in LA Los Angeles is not only an industrial center, but also a large cultural center. There one can see a lot of theaters, concert halls, museum, parks and gardens. It can boast of such ^well-known educational establishments as Department of the University of California, the South California University, the Institute of Technology and the Observatory. „ The students of two big universities usually support the Afro-Americans and Coloured" people movements for defence of rights and all progressive move­ments.

A lot of people of different professions and specialities go on strike against low salaries and wages, against bad labour conditions. Los Angeles consists of 40

suburbs. One of them is Hollywood. It is world-known for its film-making industry. The Hollywood scene is changing. However, some of big studios have closed their doors, but there are many firms in Los Angeles area directly involved in movie-making. Hollywood Boulevard is the main street of the city of stars. Its restaurants and night-clubs are top flight tourist attraction.

Many rich and famous people, especially actors and entertainers, live in or near Hollywood,especially in Beverly Hills which is an expensive part of LA.

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