The United States of America. After its 200th birthday the United States of America still holds the leading position in the western world

After its 200^th birthday the United States of America still holds the leading position in the western world. A country that inspired many appellations – “Land of Opportunity”, “Melting Pot”, “God’s Country”, is still referred to us as a land of superlatives – “the richest”. “the greatest”, “the most”.

What makes the USA the leader of the western world is its economic, political and military dominance over the countries.

The United States lies in the central part of the North American Continent between two oceans: the Atlantic Ocean to the East and the Pacific Ocean to the West. Canada to the East and Mexico to the South are the only countries bordering it.

The USA consists of three separate parts. These are the Hawaiian Islands, situated in the central part of the Pacific Ocean, Alaska separated by Canada, and the rest of the USA. The states differ very much in size, population and economic development.

There are many big cities in the USA: New York, San Francisco, Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles are the biggest.

The United States of America is a parliamentary republic. The government is divided into three branches: legislative (the US Congress), executive (The President and his Administration) and judicial (the US Supreme Court).

There are two main political parties in the USA: the Democratic (symbolized by a “donkey”) and the Republican (its symbol is “an elephant”). The US President is both head of state and government. He is elected for a four-year term. The Presidency means not only a man: means an institution – “the executive branch” of the government.

47. Answer the questions:

1) What does the USA consist of?

2) Where is it situated?

3) What oceans and seas is it washed by?

4) What are its biggest cities?

5) What does the American government consist of?

6) What are the two main political parties in the USA and their symbols?

48. Correct the mistakes when reading this extract.

We had a great vacation in California! We start our trip in San Francisco. We ridden the cable cars, saw Chinatown and Fisherman’s Wharf, and tooc a cruise around san Francisco Bay. After San Francisco we went in Los Angeles. We loved Hollywood and Universal studios, but I didn’t care much for the city itself. Than we rented a car and droven to Palm Springs. It’s about three hour from Los Angeles. We played golf there and took a tour. From Palm Springs I went to San Diego. These is a beautiful city, and the Zoo are really interesting. Well, that’s about all for now. I’ll tell to you about the rest of my trip when I get back.

Wharf – верфь

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