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The United States of America is the 4^th largest country in the world after Russia, Canada and China. The country consists of 3 parts: the continental part is in the center of the North American continent. The outlying territories are Hawaii and Alaska. The total area of the United States is over 9 min sq. km. The country borders on Canada in the north and on Mexico in the south. It also has a sea-border with Russia.

The country is washed by 3 oceans: The Arctic, the Atlantic and the Pacific. The country has many lakes, including the Great Lakes and many rivers, the longest of which are the Mississippi, the Missouri, the Columbia and others. The highest mountains are the Rocky Mountains, the Appalachian, the Cordillera and the Sierra Nevada. The highest peak, Mount McKinley, is in Alaska.

The climate conditions are rather various. The country is rich in natural and mineral resources: oil, gas, iron ore, coal and various metals.

The USA is a highly developed industrial and agricultural country. The main industrial branches are aircraft, rocket, automobile, electronics, radio engineering and others.

Americans are made up from nearly all races and nations. The country population is over 250 mln. The official language of the state is English. The national symbol of the USA is the national flag «Stars and Stripes», having 50 white stars and 13 white and red stripes on its field, symbolizing the number of the original and present day states.

Officially the country comprises 50 states and 1 District of Columbia. The states differ in size, population and economic development. Each state has its own capital. The capital of the USA is Washington. It is situated in the District of Columbia on the banks of the Potomac River and is named after the 1^st US President ‒ George Washington. There are many large cities in the country: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit, San Francisco, Boston and some others.

The United States of America is a federal state, headed by the President. According to the US Constitution the powers of the Government are divided into 3 branches: legislative, executive and judicial.

The legislative power belongs to the Congress consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Senate represents the states while the House of Representatives – population. The executive power belongs to the President and his Administration. The judicial power belongs to the Supreme Court and the system of federal courts.

3. Answer the questions. 1. What parts does USA consist of? 2. Are there any outlying territories in the USA? 3. What countries does USA border on? 4. What are the highest mountains of the USA? 5. What is the longest river of the USA? 6. Are there any natural resources in USA? 7. What are the main industrial branches of USA? 8. What is the national symbol of USA? 9. How many states are there in USA? 10. How many powers are there in USA?

4. Ask your group mate: 1. США ‒ одна из крупнейших стран мира, не так ли? 2. Где расположена эта страна? 3. С кем граничат США? 4. Какова территория США? 5. Какими океанами омывается США? 6. Назовите столицу США. Где она расположена? В честь кого она названа? 7. В США много рек и озер? Какие из них вы знаете? 8. Являются ли США высокоразвитой промышлен­ной державой? 9. Какие отрасли промышленности США основные? 10. Население США больше, чем население России? 11. Какие крупные города есть в США? 12. Сколько штатов в США? 13. Кому принадлежит законодательная / исполнитель­ная / судебная власть в США? 14. Кто является главой государства?

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14