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7. Put in the correct preposition: on, in, at, for, of, without, with.
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7. Put in the correct preposition: on, in, at, for, of, without, with.
1. to be situated … the mouth … the Hudson River;
2. on the Manhattan Island … the Hudson and East Rivers;
3. to be separated … Manhattan … the East River;
4. to be built … 1613;
5. to occupy New Amsterdam … resistance;
6. to take the oath … office … the balcony;
7. to provide the nation … centralized credit;
8. thanks … its geographical position;
9. to be … the center of political events
10. financial power … the United States is concentrated … the buildings … Wall Street.
8. Complete the sentences.
1. The five boroughs comprising the city are: ….
2. Henry Hudson founded Manhattan ….
3. Peter Minuit paid the Indians ….
4. In 1653 they erected a wall ….
5. The City of New York witnessed ….
6. Dutch recaptured the city and called it …. .
7. Thanks to its geographical position and historical past, New York has grown ….
8. The World Trade Center, Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Central Park, Harlem ….
9. Wall Street provides the nation with ….
10. The Bank of New York is ….
9. Read text “The Agriculture of the United States of America” and do tasks below.
THE AGRICULTURE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
While its industrial and technological skills are well known, the United States is also the world's leading agricultural nation. America is by far the biggest supplier of grains, growing about 20% of the entire world's wheat, corn (maize), oats. Similarly, American farmers and ranchers are responsible for 14% of the world's dairy products, 17% of all its meats, 27% of its vegetable fats and oils, and over 60% of its soybeans. This is surprising, because America's share of the world's land that can be used for farming is less than 8%, and because only a tiny proportion of America's total population (less than 3%) is involved in agriculture.
A problem facing America's farmers is, in fact, that they produce much more food and agricultural products than ever before. The agricultural output has increased more rapidly than the demand. This has lowered the price of agricultural products, and some farmers who bought more land or equipment when prices were higher are now difficulty.
The USA falls into six agricultural belts some of which overlap. Beginning in the Carolinas and stretching across the southern states to Texas is a broad band known as cotton belt. Beginning in Texas and running north through Minnesota to the Canadian border is the wheat belt. In a band just below the Great Lakes and covering most of the North Central states, the concentration is on the corn production. In the southern part of this belt corn and wheat are produced in large quantities. Although beef in every state, the line drawn from Brownsville, Texas, to the tip of the Lake Superior would run through the areas of the greatest concentration. The area of hog production is in Iowa and the surrounding states. The greatest concentration of dairy farming is in the eastern North Central states. Maine is famous for potatoes. The South is famous for tobacco. Farms in Hawaii grow sugarcane and pineapples.
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America has become one of the leading industrial and agricultural nations in a veryshort time. What are the reasons? One reason, obviously, is its size and natural resources. The other one is the constant willingness to experiment, combined with the desire to find new solutions to old problems. Moreover, a considerable increase in farm output was achieved by the use of modern farm machinery and scientific farming methods. Other factors include improved fertilizers, disease-resistant varieties, better methods of crop rotation and scientific livestock breeding.
10. Name the major agricultural regions of the USA. Complete the following sentences using the text. Fill in the names of the regions. Translate into Russian.
1. Cotton is another important crop in ….. .
2. … is the leading state in hog production.
3. Wheat is the most important crop in ….
4. Many farmers in … raise beef livestock.
5. In several areas of … you can find dairy farms.
6. … is famous for tobacco.
7. … is famous for potatoes.
8. Farms in … grow sugarcane and pineapples.
CONVERSATION PRACTICE
1. Read and translate the dialogue “What Is a True American? ” Name the main traits of the American national character.
What Is a True American?
Mary: Look, Nick! Is this a portrait of Daniel Boone, the legendary 18th century conqueror of the wilderness? He was the prototype for Leather Stocking in Fenimore Cooper's " The Leather Stocking Tales".
Nick: To make a long story short, I prefer seeing westerns to reading about Indians. You can't deny that westerns are far more dynamic and thrilling. They show you male strength in fist fights, gun fighting, and horse-riding skills, hardiness and courage, real manhood, a true American, in a word.
Mary: Oh, that's your ideal of manliness and your idea of a true American, is it? Why, your hero seems to lack intelligence and moral sensitivity, doesn't he? As for a true American, we'd better ask Mr. Warner and David.
Nick: Sure. Hey, Dave, I've been arguing with Mary about true American character. You see, the English are said to be prim, the French are considered full of life, the Finnish are believed to be taciturn, the Spanish are known to be proud, the German-pedantic, the Russian – hospitable and so on.
Mr. Warner: That's true. A certain stereotype does exist. Many think Americans are open-hearted, straightforward, cheerful, relaxed and tough.
David: It seems to come from the westerns idealizing " macho-men".
A macho-man is a physically tough and rugged guy standing alone. He can meet all the dangers of life and is strong enough to protect not only himself. And this beloved character lives on in detective films, thrillers and melodramas.
Mr. Warner: This idea is not groundless. When the first immigrants stepped on American soil they came with the aim of becoming free, independent and happy. They sought individual freedom, equality and prosperity. But first they had to settle in the unexplored land, develop it by conquering the wilderness which had many dangers and surprises in store, including the hostile Indians. It was only natural that in those conditions people respected the ability to win, to be energetic, and valued what a person can do in the here and now by himself, not the kind of family he had come from. They also valued the ability to invent and experiment. This is where the main traits of the American national character, values, and beliefs come from.
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