WASHINGTON, DC

1. Read and translate the text given below:

Washington is the capital of the United States of America. It is situated in the District of Columbia. It is often called one-industry city – that industry is government. The Capitol, the seat of the US Congress, and the white House, the residence of the American President, are situated in Washington.

Washington was named after the first US President George Washington. He selected the place for the capital. Pierre L’Enfant, a French engineer, worked out the general plan of the city. Washington was first settled in 1790 and since 1800 it has been the Federal capital.

Washington is one of the most beautiful cities in the United States. In the very centre of the city one can see the huge white dome of the Capitol. The members of the Congress meet here or discuss the national affairs. This huge building is full of paintings and statues of the most outstanding people of America.

The citizens and guests can have a good view of the city from the observation platform inside the Washington Monument. There is an elevator which can bring you here, to the 500-foot level, in 70 seconds, and you’ll see the whole city with its beautiful streets, wonderful parks, gardens and rich museums.

There are a lot of important museums in Washington. The National Museum of American History, the National Air and Space Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, the National Postal Museum will tell you about the country and its culture. In the museums of Washington you can see all kinds of things: famous paintings and sculptures, the dresses of President’s wives, Edison’s first light bulb, Bell’s telephone, the original of the declaration of Independence, the largest blue diamond in the world, etc.

The citizens are proud of the capital. They keep the memory of those who made the greatest contribution to the development of the country. The Lincoln Memorial and the Jefferson Memorial remind everybody of the glorious pages in the history of the USA.

Not far from the Capitol you can see the Library of Congress, the largest library in the States. It contains more than 13 million books, more than 19 million manuscripts, including the personal papers of the US presidents. You can find here books in all languages of the world, the first maps of America and many other interesting unique things.

The National Zoological Park in Washington D.C. is full of fascinating plants and animals.

There are no skyscrapers in Washington because they would hide the city’s monuments from view. No building in the city may be more than 40 metres tall. There is hardly a square or a garden in Washington where you won’t see any monument or sculpture. Thousands of tourists visit Washington every day. People from all parts of the United states come to see their capital.

2. Give Russian equivalents:

The District of Columbia, one-industry city, the seat of the US Congress, general plan of the city, white dome of the Capitol, to discuss the national affairs, observation platform, to keep the memory, the glorious pages in the history, fascinating plants, skyscrapers.

3. Translate into English:

Место заседаний Конгресса, место жительства американского президента, выбрать место, разработать план, в самом центре города, обсуждать национальные дела, статуи выдающихся людей, озорная площадка, внутри памятника Вашингтону, за 70 секунд, высота 500 футов, Национальный музей воздухоплавания и освоения космоса, Национальная портретная галерея, платья жен президентов, первая электрическая лампочка Эдисона, оригинал Декларации Независимости, крупнейший алмаз, хранить память, внести вклад в развитие страны, славные страницы истории, 13 миллионов книг, первые карты Америки, удивительные растения и животные, небоскребы, заслонять памятники, тысячи туристов.

4. Complete the sentences:

1. Washington is situated in …

2. Washington is often called …

3. Washington was named after …

4. Washington was planned by …

5. Washington was first settled in …

6. Washington has been the Federal capital since …

7. Washington has no …

5. Correct the sentences:

1. The Capitol is the residence of the US President.

2. Pierre L’Enfant, a French engineer, selected the place for the capital.

3. In the very centre of the city one can see the National Zoological Park.

4. The members of the Congress meet at the Library of Congress to discuss national affairs.

5. The citizens and the guests can have a good view of the city from the observation platform on the roof of the White House.

6. There are no museums in Washington.

7. The Library of Congress is situated in New York.

8. There are a lot of skyscrapers in Washington.

6. Find the British equivalents to the following American words:

AMERICAN ENGLISH	BRITISH ENGLISH
apartment
pharmacy
elevator
fall
gas
mail
sales clerk
subway
truck
vacation
yard

Дата добавления: 2015-10-29