New York

Study the words and expressions

mouth – устье

gateway – ворота, вход

to observe – наблюдать

media – средства массовой информации

headquarters – штаб-квартира, главное управление

the United Nations – ООН

fashion – мода

entertainment – развлечение

to nickname – давать прозвище

unlike – в отличие

excitement – волнение, восхищение

contradiction – противоречие

triangle – треугольник

the Statue of Liberty – статуя Свободы

to drape – драпировать

loose – просторный

uplifted – поднятый вверх

a glowing torch – зажженный факел

spike – пика

tablet – дощечка (с надписью)

chain – цепь

broken – разорванная

gift – подарок

to undergo a face-lift – подвергнуться ремонту (сделать подтяжку лица)

entrance – вход

to climb – взобраться

breathtaking – потрясающий (захватывает дух)

salt shaker – солонка

to adorn - украшать

Read the text quickly and answer the questions.

1 Why is New York called the ‘Big Apple’?

2 Why is the Statue of Liberty so important for the USA

1 _______________________

Although New York is not the capital of the United States (and not even of New York State) it is the biggest and most important city of the country. Situated at the mouth of the deep Hudson River, it has always been the gateway to the USA. But it is more than just a door: it is also a window through which the life of the whole nation may be observed.

2_________________________

New York is many things to many people. It is the financial and media capital of the world. It is the headquarters of the United Nations. It is the center of American cultural life. It is the national leader in fashion and entertainment.

3_________________________

The “Big Apple”, as New York City is nicknamed, is a city unlike any other. It has everything for everyone. It offers the best, the biggest and the brightest of everything. It is a place of excitement, beauty… and contradictions. There is, for example, no canal on Canal Street, Battery Park is not a power station, and Times Square is a triangle. As they say, only in New York!

4_________________________

People who come to New York by sea are greeted by the Statue of Liberty. It has become a symbol of the city (if not of the whole country) and an expression of freedom to people all over the world. The statue shows liberty as a proud woman draped in the graceful folds of a loose robe. In her uplifted right hand, she holds a glowing torch. She wears a crown with seven spikes that stand for the light of liberty shining on the seven seas and seven continents. In her left arm, she holds a tablet with the date of the Declaration of Independence. A chain that represents tyranny lies broken at her feet.

5__________________________

The Statue of Liberty was France’s gift to America. It was designed by the

French sculptor Bartholdi and presented to the USA in 1886. The Lady in the Harbour stands 151 feet tall, weighs nearly 225 tons and has a 35-foot waist. In 1986 she underwent a face-lift in honour of her 100th birthday.

6___________________________

There is a museum in the base of the statue devoted to the history of immigration to the United States.

365 steps lead from the entrance to the observation area in the seven-pointed crown (visitors are not allowed to climb to the torch). The views are breathtaking.

The Lady of the Harbour is tourists’ favourite souvenir. It takes the form of salt shakers and pencil sharpeners, adorns plates and T-shirts.

B Look at the list of headings a – g and then read the text again more slowly.

Choose the heading that fits best. There is one extra heading you do not

need.

a There is no city like it.

b The city means too much for many people.

c The gateway to the USA.

d A gift from Europe.

e The Lady in the Harbour.

f Celebrations in New York.

g Tourists’ attraction.

C Find a word or phrase in the text that means:

1 the popular style of clothes

2 to give someone a funny name

3 to make something look better

4 extremely impressive

5 to move up

6 to decorate something

7 a door that you go through to enter a place