Washington, D.C.

Presidential Curiosity

Nobody can explain the many similarities in the lives of Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy. Consider:

5. Составьте монологическое высказывание по теме «Соединённые Штаты Америки».

Washington, D.C. is the capital of the United States of America. It is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country.

The city of Washington was designed in the late eighteenth century. It is co-extensive with the District of Columbia. When George Washington was elected President of the United States, there was no permanent capital to house the government. Since members of Congress could not agree as to where the capital should be located, it was decided to choose a special place for the new capital. The State of Maryland agreed to allot a wild and swampy area on the Potomac River. The region was called the District of Columbia, after Christopher Columbus, and the capital was called Washinton, in honour of the nation's first President.

Work on the new capital began in 1791. The man who designed the city was Major Pierre-Charles L'Enfant. He planned straight streets with trees on sides, beautiful buildings, and monuments to honour great men. By 1800 the President's house was almost finished. The buildings for the Congress of the United States and some other buildings were built on a hill. These buildings were called the Capitol. Then the hill was renamed Capitol Hill.

In 1800 President John Adams, the second president of the USA, and other members of the government moved to the new city of Washington, D.C.

The metropolitan area now has a population of nearly three million people. In the inner urban area of D.C., the majority of population is black or Afro-Americans as they are now called, and they are used in the services.

Washington lies on the left bank of the Potomac River. Along the banks of the river there are many green parks and gardens. In 1912 the famous cherry-trees were planted in Washington. The 3,000 flowering cherry-trees were a gift from Japan and are still a major attraction for visitors and residents alike in the early days of spring. The most beautiful in Washington is Great Falls Park, which is split in two parts by the waterfalls from the Virginia side.

Washington has many libraries, museums, art galleries and beautiful buildings. It has grown into a quiet twentieth-century city. This is partly because building regulations don't usually permit buildings to exceed the height and the width of the neighbouring building in the street on which they stand.

Washington is the seat of the Federal Administration. Most of the people work at the government offices. Washington is a city with almost no industry. That's why you will not see many factory workers in the streets.

1. Переведите следующие слова и словосочетания на русский язык:

Capital, permanent, to be located, to allot, in honour of smb., straight, to rename, urban, resident, cherry-tree, waterfall, to permit, to exceed, height, width, neighbouring, to be named (after).

2. Согласитесь или исправьте следующие утверждения:

1. Washington was designed at the beginning of the 18th century.

2. The capital is situated on the banks of the Potomac River in the region called "the District of Columbia".

3. It was Christopher Wren who designed the city.

4. In 1800 George Washington and other members of the government moved to the new capital.

5. Now the population of Washington is nearly three million people.

6. Washington is a quiet twentieth-century city with many libraries, museums, art galleries and beautiful buildings.

7. Houses in Washington are very different in their width and height.

8. Washington is the seat of the Federal Administration.

9. Washington is a highly developed industrial city.

3. Ответьте на вопросы по тексту:

1. What is the capital of the USA?

2. When was the place for the capital chosen? Why?

3. What do the letters "D.C." after the word Washington mean? What is it?

4. Why was the new capital named Washington?

5. What is the Capitol Hill?

6. Who was the architect of Washington? What did he plan to build in the city?

7. Who was the first President moved to the new capital? When did it happen?

8. What is the population of Washington now?

9. What is a major attraction for visitors and residents in Washington in early spring?

10. Why is Washington called a quiet twentieth-century city?

11. Is Washington an industrial centre? Where do most of the people work?

4. Переведите предложения на английский язык, используя активную лексику (см. задание № 1):

1. Санкт-Петербург называют северной столицей России.

2. США располагаются в центральной части североамериканского континента.

3. Этот участок предоставлен нам для строительства дома.

4. Мой брат назван в честь нашего отца.

5. Идите прямо (вперёд).

6. В нашем саду очень много вишнёвых деревьев.

7. Студентам не разрешается пользоваться шпаргалками на экзаменах.

8. Мой дядя почти два метра ростом.

9. Мы переезжаем в соседний дом.

10. Сейчас многие улицы нашего города переименовываются.