Unit 7 topics

* * *

The United States of America

The United States of America lies in North America, the third largest continent in size, after Asia and Africa. It is washed by three oceans - the Arctic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. It borders on Canada in the north and Mexico in the south. The U.S. is so enormous that many of its fifty states are larger than entire countries in Europe. The distance between New York and Hawaii is just about the same as the distance between London and Beijing. As the country extends from the Arctic Circle (in Alaska) almost to the Tropic of Cancer (in Florida) and the equator (Hawaii), the U.S.A. has striking contrasts in climate. This is a country without a climate. It can snow in New York, be foggy in San Francisco, rain in Atlanta, and be sunny and hot in Phoenix all on the same day. The temperature is always cold in the far north and always hot in the far south. The greater part of North America enjoys a temperate climate with warm summers and cold winters. Rainfall varies. There is over 80 inches of rainfall a year along the northwest Pacific coast and in Death valley, California, there is less than two inches of rain a year.

The principal geographical features of North America are its two mountain systems and the great central plains that lie between them. On the west coast there are the Rocky Mountains which begin in Alaska. The highest peak in North America, Mt. McKinley, is in Alaska. The other mountain system, the Appalachian Mountains, is in the east. The Appalachian region is rich in minerals and has many fertile river valleys. The rivers provide abundant water power for the area. In the middle of the country, between the Rocky mountains and the Appalachians are the central plains. Other extensive lowlands are in the south-east of the country and in the north, where they are called tundra – areas where the soil is frozen most of the year. The Great Lakes between Canada and the United States form the largest connected area of fresh water on earth. South of the Great Lakes is the Mississippi-Missouri river system, which drains the central plain. Along with the Ohio River and about 250 other tributaries, it forms one of the greatest inland waterway systems in the world.

The population of the United States is the forth largest in the world. There are over 280 million people in the country. Historically, the U.S.A. has always been a country of immigrants, that is why there are different ethnic groups. The majority of the population (about 75 per cent) are, historically, of the European origin, including English, German, French, Irish, Polish, Lithuanian, Italian, Scandinavian and others. The chief minority population groups include Asians, Afro-Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans (Amerindians).

English is spoken by most citizens. The English spoken in the United States is known as American English. It is characterized by spelling and pronunciation variations from British English. There is also a sizable Spanish-speaking minority, which is rapidly increasing. Native Americans speak a variety of Amerindian languages.

The United States has the largest economy in the world, although it does not have the strongest growth rate or the highest gross national product per capita. While the country was once the strongest manufacturing nation in the world, the service sector now employs the largest portion of the labour force. The economy is based on free-market principles, although government regulation controls some activities. The country is the second world’s producer of iron ore and coal and one of the leading producers of oil. The economic growth is partly based on American businesses with investments in other countries, as well as a large industrial sector. The United States exports consumer goods, food and machinery, cars, chemicals, electronic and military equipment, etc. The country has a highly developed agriculture. The United States is the chief financial center in the world. Activity on the New York Stock Exchange affects economies in many other nations and is influenced by world events. The currency in the U.S.A. is the U.S. dollar ($).

1. Where does the United States of America lie? What oceans is it washed by? What countries does it border on? How can the largest American states be compared with the countries of Europe? 2. What is the climate in the U.S.A. like? How is the rainfall distributed? 3. What are the principal geographical features of North America? What are the names of the two mountain ranges of North America? Where are they situated? Where are the plains situated? Where is tundra situated? What is it like? 4. What is the largest connected area of fresh water on earth called? What lakes comprise the Great Lakes? What river system drains the central plain? How can you characterize this water system? 5. What is the population of the U.S.A.? What ethnic groups formed the American nation? What are chief minority population groups? 6. What languages are spoken in the U.S.A.? What are the principal differences between British English and American English? 7. Which sector of economy employs the largest portion of the labour force? 8. What is the economy based on? What is the economic growth based on? What mineral resources is the country rich in? What does the USA export? Prove that the U.S.A. has a highly developed agriculture. 9. (Optional) Where is the chief financial center of the country and of the world situated? What does Wall Street symbolize? 10. What is the structure of the American political system? Who is head of the country? How often are presidential elections held? Who does executive power belong to? Who does legislative power belong to? What is the composition of Congress? How long do Congressmen serve in the House? How often are Senators re-elected? 11. What city is the seat of the government? What do they call the seat of Congress and the residence of the U.S. President? 12. Do the fifty states live only by federal laws or can they have state laws as well?

entire, to extend, the Arctic Circle, the Tropic of Cancer, fertile river valleys, abundant water power, inland waterway system, per capita, free-market principles, currency, the U.S. dollar, to enact laws.

огромный, умеренный климат, экватор, разительный контраст, туман, вершина, почва, низменность, обводнять (орошать), приток, американские индейцы, гражданин, темпы роста, железная руда.