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What is the symbol of Wales’s fag?
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a) lion,
b) dragon,
c) blue cross.
What does Stonehenge look like?
a) huge bricks built in a circle,
b) very tall ancient tower,
c) huge stones built like a henge.
When is St. Patrick’s Day celebrated?
a) April, 5th,
b) May, 11th,
c) March, 17th.
What is the origin of the Welsh language?
a) Roman,
b) Celtic,
c) French.
Who among these famous people was involved in charity work?
a) Charles Darwin,
b) Princess Diana,
c) William Shakespeare.
Who wore kilts in ancient times?
a) herdsmen,
b) soldiers,
c) housewives.
What materials were used in making a bagpipe?
a) ship skin and reed,
b) paper and metal,
c) wood and fiber.
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Unit III
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Introduction
What Do You Know About America?
Read what people from different countries say answering the question in the title.
You, Omsk
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I think the USA is mostly famous for … …
To my mind the USA is commonly known for … …
To me America is known for … …
The most famous thing about the USA is … …
I. Some Glimpses of American History
Discovery of America
It is a commonly held belief that America was discovered by Christopher Columbus. This fact however can neither be ruled out nor accepted blindly. In October, 1492, Columbus reached the shores of America when he was in search of India. Some historians believe that it was not America’s mainland that Columbus reached in 1492. The place was actually an island of the Bahamas. Exploration of American continent is also closely connected with the name of another European sailor, Amerigo Vespucci, who reached America in 1497. However, one cannot say for sure that Columbus and Amerigo Vespucci were the first to discover this huge continent. They are supposed to have been preceded by the Vikings and Chinese sailors. As most expeditions prior to the times of Christopher Columbus were not documented properly, the Spanish explorer is now commonly considered to be the discoverer of America.
to rule out – исключить, отклонить, отмести как невозможное
to accept blindly – безоговорочно принять, слепо поверить
mainland – материк
to precede – предшествовать
prior to – до
The Mayflower
The Mayflower was the ship that transported Pilgrims from England to Massachusetts, in 1620. There were 102 passengers and a crew of 25–30. This voyage has become an iconic story in the earliest annals of American history with its tragic story of death and of survival in the harshest New World winter environment. The culmination of the voyage in the signing of the Mayflower Compact (the first governing document of Plymouth Colony) is one of the greatest moments in the history of America.
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annals – анналы, летописи
harsh – суровый, жесткий
The Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was one of a long series of conflicts between the American colonies and the British government. The decision by the British government in 1773 to grant the East India Company the right to import tea to the North American colonies tax-free was intended to undermine the economy of the colonies. It provoked the indignation of the colonists, especially the merchants who dealt in contraband tea. In December 1773 a group of members of the Sons of Liberty, dressed up as Indians, secretly boarded British ships standing in Boston harbor and threw a large quantity of tea into the sea. The subsequent closing of Boston harbor, ban on meetings of the townspeople, and quartering of British soldiers in the city further sharpened the conflict between the mother country and the colonies.
to grant the right – предоставить право
tax-free – не облагаемый налогом
to undermine – подрывать, дестабилизировать
indignation – негодование, возмущение
merchant – торговец
to deal with – вести дела с
harbor – гавань
subsequent – последующий
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