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Прочитайте тексты и выполните упражнения к ним.

ТЕКСТ А

Упр. 1. При чтении текста подставьте подходящие по смыслу пропущенные слова и запишите их в тетради.

1. bills 2. Congress 3. Senate 4. members 5. laws 6. Representatives.

THE CONGRESS COMMITTEES

The business of Congressmen is to make _______. Most of their work is performed in committee meetings. Each of the 435 _________ of Congress works in one of the permanent (постоянный) committees called Standing Committees. There are sixteen Standing Committees in the Senate and twenty in the House of __________. In the committees bills are studied (изучать), experts are heard (заслушивать), and recommendations are made to the House of Representatives or the _________.

The committees study special fields such as finance, energy, agriculture, etc. They sort out and work at the _______ they are responsible for. As experts in a certain field, Congressmen approve some bills, but reject (отвергать) most of them. More than 90% of bills are annulled in the committees. Usually ________ agrees (соглашаться) with the decision of the committees.

ТЕКСТ В

Упр. 2. Переведите текст со словарём.

SENATE STANDING COMMITTEES

1. Aeronautical, Space Science. 8. Foreign Relations

2. Agriculture and Forestry. 9. Government Operations.

3. Appropriations. 10. Interior Affairs.

4. Armed Services. 11. Judiciary.

5. Banking and Currency. 12. Labour and Public Welfare.

6. Commerce. 13. Post Office and Civil Service.

7. District of Columbia. 14. Public Works.

15. Rules and Administration.

Упр. 3. Найдите в тексте В английские эквиваленты данных словосочетаний.

международные отношения, общественное благосостояние, космическое пространство, гражданские службы, охрана лесов, внутренние дела, валюта

ТЕКСТ С

Упр. 4. Переведите текст без словаря.

LOBBY

Lobbyism is the backstage (закулисный) influence (влияние) on Congressmen or the passage of legislation. This influence is performed by lobbyists. They are people who try (пытаться) to press legislators to introduce or vote for measures (мера) favourable (благоприятный) to the interests of a special group that they represent.

Lobbyists come from all spheres of American life. They represent big industries, unions, social organizations, trade associations, etc.

Lobbyists arrange (устраивать) meetings with the members of Congress, and through bribery (подкуп, взятка) and persuasion (убеждение) press them to vote for measures favourable to the group which they represent.

Practically, lobbyism has become legal, as the passing of a bill can be prevented if it doesn't meet the interests of a special group of Big Business.

Lobbyists now operate in the White House, the State Department, and other branches of the government.

Lobby is called the " third house" of the American Congress.

Упр. 5. Выберите предложения, соответствующие содержанию текста. К предложениям с неверной информацией дайте правильный вариант.

1. Lobbyist is a member of Congress.

2. The passing of a bill can be prevented by a group of lobbyists.

3. Lobbyists influence members of Congress through bribes.

4. Lobbyists represent the interests of their nation.

5. Lobbyists are representatives of big corporations, social groups, etc.

6. The influence of lobby on the legislation is great in the U.S. Congress.

УРОК 7