Sports in the us

Ø 1) Do you know the most popular sports in the USA? Compare them with our country’s.

American sports are quite distinct from those played elsewhere in the world. The top three spectator team sports are baseball, American football and basketball, which are all popular on both the college and professional levels.

Baseball is the oldest of these. The professional game dates from 1869 and had no close rivals in popularity until the 1960s; though baseball is no longer the most popular sport it is still referred to as the “national pastime.” Also unlike the professional levels of the other popular spectator sports in the U.S., Major League Baseball teams play almost every day from April to October.

American football (known simply as “football” in the U.S.) attracts more viewers within the country than baseball nowadays; however, National Football League teams play only 16 regular-season games each year, so baseball is the runaway leader in ticket sales.

Basketball, invented in Massachusetts by the Canadian-born James Naismith, is another popular sport, represented professionally by the National Basketball Association.

Most residents along the northern tier of states recognize a fourth major sport - ice hockey. Always a mainstay of Great Lakes and New England-area culture, the sport gained tenuous footholds in regions like the Carolinas and Tampa Bay, Florida in recent years, as the National Hockey League pursued a policy of expansion.

The extent in America to which sports are associated with secondary and tertiary education is unique among nations. In basketball and football, high school and particularly college sports are followed with a fervor equaling or exceeding that felt for professional sports; college football games can draw six-digit crowds, many prominent high school football teams have stadiums that seat tens of thousands of spectators, and the college basketball championship tournament played in March draws enormous attention. For upper-tier schools, sports are a significant source of revenue. Though student athletes may be held to significantly lower academic requirements than non-athletes at many large universities, minimum standards do exist.

Ø 2) Among the following headings circle the most suitable one for this text:

a) AMERICAN SPORTS.

b) THE TOP THREE SPORTS IN AMERICA.

c) THREE TOP SPORTS PLUS ONE IN AMERICA.

d) THE SPORTS – LEADERS IN TICKET SALES.

Ø 3) Write a summary of the text.

CANADA

Ø 1) What do you know about Canada (location, type of political organization, economy, official language, symbols)?

Ø 2) Scan the text and find the information about:

a) the geographic situation,

b) how Canada gained independence from the UK,

c) the Constitution of Canada,

d) the representative of Queen Elizabeth II in Canada,

e) the head of the government and his powers,

f) territorial division,

g) the economic position,

h) the most important industries in Canada, including traditional ones,

i) official languages and their status,

j) symbols of Canada,

k) sports.

Canada is the world’s second-largest country by total area after Russia occupying most of northern North America. Extending from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, Canada shares land borders with the United States to the South and to the Northwest. The population density of 3.5 people per square kilometer is among the lowest in the world.

Inhabited first by Aboriginal peoples, Canada was founded as a union of British and former French colonies. Canada gained independence from the United Kingdom in an incremental process that began in 1867 and ended in 1982.

Canada is a federal constitutional monarchy with Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada as Head of state, and a parliamentary democracy with a federal system of parliamentary government and strong democratic traditions.

Canada’s constitution governs the legal framework of the country and consists of written text and unwritten traditions and conventions. The Constitution includes the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which guarantees basic rights and freedoms for Canadians that, generally, cannot be overridden by legislation of any level of government in Canada. It contains, however, a “notwithstanding clause, ” which allows the federal parliament and the provincial legislatures the power to override some other sections of the Charter temporarily, for a period of five years.

The position of Prime Minister, Canada’s Head of government belongs to the leader of the political party that can obtain the confidence of a majority in the House of Commons. The Prime Minister and their Cabinet are formally appointed by the Governor General (who is the Monarch’s representative in Canada). The Prime Minister exercises vast political power, especially in the appointment of other officials within the government and civil service.

The federal parliament is made up of the Queen and two houses: an elected House of Commons and an appointed Senate. Each member in the House of Commons is elected by simple plurality in a “riding” or electoral district; general elections are called by the Governor General when the Prime Minister so advises. A new election must be called within five years of the last general election. Members of the Senate serve until age 75.

Canada’s four major political parties are the Conservative Party of Canada, Liberal Party of Canada, New Democratic Party, and the Bloc Qué bé cois.

Canada is composed of ten provinces and three territories. The provinces have a large degree of autonomy from the federal government, the territories somewhat less. Each has its own provincial or territorial symbols.

Canada is one of the world’s wealthiest nations. Today Canada closely resembles the U.S. in its market-oriented economic system, pattern of production, and high living standards. Canada is highly dependent on international trade, especially trade with the United States.

In the past century, the impressive growth of the manufacturing, mining, and service sectors has transformed the nation from a largely rural economy into one primarily industrial and urban. As with other first world nations, the Canadian economy is dominated by the service industry. However, Canada is unusual among developed countries in the importance of the primary sector, with the logging and oil industries being two of Canada’s most important.

Canada is one of the world’s most important suppliers of energy and agricultural products and the world’s largest producer of zinc and uranium and a world leader in many other natural resources such as gold, nickel, aluminum, and lead.

Canada has two official languages, English and French. They have equal status in federal courts, Parliament, and in all federal institutions. The public has the right, where there is sufficient demand, to receive federal government services in either English or French. While multiculturalism is official policy, to become a citizen one must be able to speak either English or French.

Prominently, the use of the maple leaf as a Canadian symbol dates back to the early 18^th century, and is depicted on its current and previous flags, the penny, and on the coat of arms.

The Crown symbolizes the Canadian monarchy, and appears on the coat of arms (used by parliamentarians and government ministries), the flag of the Governor General, the coats of arms of many provinces and territories; the badges of the Canadian Forces, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, many regiments, and other police forces; on buildings, as well as some highway signs and license plates.

The Queen’s image appears in Canadian government buildings, military installations, schools, on Canadian stamps, $20 banknotes, and all coins.

The beaver’s emblematic status originated from the fact that much of Canada’s early economic history was tied to the beaver fur trade. It was used to make hats fashionable in Europe.

Other products made from the country’s natural resources, such as maple syrup, are also associated with Canadian identity.

Additional national symbols include the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and anything pertaining to ice hockey, Canada’s official winter sport, which is often used as a national symbol of unity and pride. One more national sport is lacrosse. Golf, baseball, skiing, soccer, volleyball, and basketball are also widely played at youth and amateur levels.

Ø 3) Canada and the USA are closely connected by the common border and economic relations. Both are among the wealthiest nations in the world. The starting points in history were about the same. Could you compare their histories? Which way, American or Canadian, was without any great shocks for the common people? Was it due to the wisdom of the government that ensured a smooth development of the country, or just a stroke of good luck?

3.27 AUSTRALIA and new zealand

Ø 1) Scan the text and give answer to the questions:

a) What was the population of Australia by 1900?

b) What is the best approach for a person coming to Australia to establish good relations with people?

c) What is the central principle in Australian culture?

d) What is the official name of Australia?

e) What is the peculiarity of the white settlement in Australia?

f) Who were the first explorers of New Zealand?

g) What is the origin of the Maori people of New Zealand?

h) What are the relations between Australia and New Zealand?

i) What are the capitals of Australia and New Zealand?

Australia was discovered by James Cook in 1770, and within twenty years Britain had established its first penal colony at Sydney, thus relieving the pressure on the overcrowded gaols of England. From 1788, for over fifty years, about 130, 000 prisoners were transported. “Free” settlers, as they were called, began to enter the country from the very beginning, but they did not achieve substantial numbers until the mid-nineteenth century. From then on, the immigrants came in increasing numbers. By 1850, the population of Australia was about 400, 000, and by 1900 nearly four million.

On 1 January 1901, the six colonies became a Federation, and the Commonwealth of Australia was formed. In 1942, the Statute of Westminster Adoption Act was passed, which officially gave Australia complete autonomy in both internal and external affairs. British authority was finally removed in 1986.

The Commonwealth of Australia is a democratic federal state system that recognizes the British monarch as the chief of state (represented nationally by a governor general and in each state by a governor). However, Australia is an independent nation and does not consider itself a constitutional monarchy.

The capital city is Canberra, located in the Australian Capital Territory.

The Australian culture has historically been a masculine one, forged on the hardship of early settlers and later on the heroism of the Australian soldiers. “Mateship, ” or loyal fraternity, has been a central tenet. This also explains why the more aggressive forms of sport (rugby and Australian Rules football, for example) are particularly popular in Australia.

The Australian Dream of home ownership underpins suburban Australia. It is the primary reason why the country is so highly urbanized. Australia has one of the world’s highest urbanization rates, with 85 percent of its population living in cities.

Australians are friendly and easy to get to know. Your best approach is to be friendly, relaxed, modest, and unpretentious. Australians find it amusing how hard foreigners (especially North Americans) try to make a good impression. Australians are very difficult to impress … and if you did impress them, they wouldn’t admit it. The usual advice is “just be yourself” in dealing with Australians. However, if your demeanor is wired, nervous, officious, or self-important, you should downplay those aspects of your personality.

In New Zealand, the story started later and moved more slowly. The earliest known inhabitants of New Zealand were the Maori tribe people, who came across the sea from Polynesia around 900 A.D. The first European explorers were the Dutch, who arrived and continued to visit while on whaling and trading expeditions.

British exploration began in 1769 with Captain James Cook, who visited New Zealand on all three of his Pacific voyages. A few Europeans settled in the country, but the official colony was not established until 1840. New Zealand was initially administered by the British as part of the Australian colony. There was then a considerable increase - from around 2, 000 Europeans in 1840 to 25, 000 in 1850, and to three quarters of a million by 1900. Even after New Zealand became a separate nation, most of its contact with Europe was secondhand, through Australia. Today, although New Zealand and Australia are military allies and trade partners, a considerable rivalry exists between the two countries.

New Zealanders refer to themselves as “Kiwis.” If someone says you are their “mate” or a “hard case, ” consider it a compliment, for they mean “friend” or a “funny person.”

New Zealand is known for its advanced social legislation. It was the first member of the British Commonwealth to create, in 1898, old-age pensions. Other early innovations include voting rights for women in 1893, labour arbitration in 1894, and widow’s pensions in 1911.

The traditional greeting among the indigenous Maori was to rub noses. While you may encounter Maori or part-Maori business people, their customs will be similar to those of other New Zealanders.

The capital of New Zealand is Wellington.

Ø 2) Make a list of all proper names and dates from the text and explain what they refer to.

Russia

Ø 1) What do you know about your native country (situation, climate, natural resources, population, political organization, history, culture)?

Ø 2) Read the text and make up its outline in writing.

Russia is a country about 1.8 times the size of the US occupying the vast area between Europe and the North Pacific Ocean. It has the area of 17, 075, 200 sq. km and the population of almost 150 million people.

Occupying a large territory in Europe and Asia Russia is spread over all climatic zones except tropical. It takes over 8 hours by plane to reach from Moscow to Vladivostok on the Pacific coast. Russia’s geographical location presents a significant obstacle to development - dry or cold climate, terrain, distance and remote location from major sea lines, all these factors contribute to the situation when large parts of the country have almost no population and development. Russia has only 8% of arable land.

The capital of the Russian Federation is Moscow. Moscow is the largest city in the country. It is a principal economic and political center of the country, the seat of the President, the government and the State Duma (Parliament).

Russia abounds in mineral resources whose total potential value (in world prices) is estimated at an impressive $30 trillion. Russia produces 17 % of the world’s crude oil, as well as 25-30 % of its natural gas, 6 % of all bituminous coal, 17 % of commercial iron ore and 10-20 % of all non-ferrous, rare and noble metals mined across the globe. The largest oil-and-gas deposits are to be found in Western and Eastern Siberia and on Sakhalin Island.

Russia has the world’s fifth largest population (148.8 million people) after China, India, the United States and Indonesia. It is populated by approximately 130 nations and ethnic groups, including some 130 million Russians, over 5 million Tartars, nearly 4 million Ukrainians, 1.7 million Chuvashs, 1.7 million Jews, approximately 1.3 million Bashkirs, over 1 million Byelorussians and more than 1 million Mordovians.

Ø 3) Copy out all the figures from the text and explain what they refer to.