Studying the world

around us

Сборник страноведческих
текстов для 5 класса
(к учебнику И.Н. Верещагиной,
О.В. Афанасьевой
Английский язык IV)
2. Answer the questions:
1. How many days a week do you go to school?
2. What subjects do you study?
3. What do you do at the lessons of Russian?
4. Do you have any problems with Maths?
5. What is your favourite lesson? Why?
6. Do you have any lessons outdoors?
7. What is special about your school?
8. Why do you like your school?

3. Match two parts of the sentences:

1. We have got many different subjects a) at the sports ground

2. We go to school b) we have the Lyceum Holiday
3. At the lessons of Handicraft we try to make something c) six times a week
4. Our children get golden and silver medals d) with our own hand
5. Children like to play e) on our time-table
6. On the 19-th of October f) at different sport competitions

4. Describe your favourite classroom

1. Read the text about London.

This is London

London is the biggest city in Britain. More than seven million people live and work
there. London is one of the most important cities in the world. It is the centre for
business and for tourism.
In London you can find some of the best theatres, cinemas and museums. There are
many beautiful old churches in London too. Also it is famous for its pleasant parks
and green squares.
One of them is Bloomsbury Square. It is more than 300 years old. It is the literary part
of the city. Many writers and critics live there. Not far from Bloomsbury Square you
can find the British Museum. It is very old. It was founded in 1753. It is in Great
Russell Street. The British Museum has a large Reading Room.
One of the famous London cinemas is the “Odeon”. It is a chain of British cinema halls
that is well known in Britain and in Europe too.
One of the famous London theatres, the Royal Opera House or Covent Garden, is in
the centre of the former fruit and vegetable market.
The oldest church in London is St. Paul’s Cathedral. The cathedral is one of London's
most famous and most interesting sights.
There are about 10 thousand streets in London. Most of the streets are not very
wide. You can see many shops in London. Oxford Street is London’s main shopping
centre. You can buy clothes, shoes and toys in it. People from all over the world shop
in Oxford Street. You can find many old and new beautiful parks in the city. The
largest park in London is Hyde Park. It is one of the most popular places for
Londoners on hot summer days.

Vocabulary

Million ['mIljqn]
Business ['bIznIs]
Tourism ['tVqrIzm]
Centre ['sentq]
Bloomsbury ['blu:mzbqr
Square I]
Literary ['lItqrqrI]
Critics ['krItIks]
Founded ['faVndId] основан
Odeon ['LdIqn]
The Royal [Dq rOIql
Opera House Pprq haVs]
Former ['fLmq] бывший
2. Mark the statements as True or False.

1. London is the biggest city in the world.

2. One of the most famous London Squares is Bloomsbury Square.
3. The British Museum is in Oxford Street.
4. The Odeon is famous only in Great Britain.
5. Covent Garden is in the centre of fruit and vegetable market.
6. Oxford Street is London’s main shopping centre.
7. The largest park in London is Hyde Park.

3. Match the two parts of the sentences.

1. The Royal Opera House a. was founded in 1753.

2. The British Museum b. is in the centre of the former
3. St. Paul’s Cathedral fruit and vegetable market.
4. Bloomsbury Square c. is 300 years old.
5. Russell Street d. is not far from Bloomsbury
Square.
e. is one of the oldest churches
in London.

4. Answer the questions about London.

1. How many people live in London?

2. London is a centre for business and tourism, isn’t it?
3. Are there many places of interest in London?
4. Is Bloomsbury Square a literary part of the city? Why?
5. Where is the British Museum?
6. What is the name of the famous London cinemas?
7. Where is Covent Garden?
8. What is London’s main shopping centre?
9. Where can Londoners spend hot summer days?

5. Speak about London. The plan will help you.

1. London is the biggest city in Britain.

2. Speak about Bloomsbury Square.
3. Speak about the British Museum.
4. Speak about the Odeon, Covent Garden, St. Paul’s Cathedral.
5. Say what you know about London streets and parks.
6. Do you want to learn more about London? Find
the information about St. Paul’s Cathedral, write it
down and speak about it in front of the class.

7. Choose the place in London you would like to

visit and learn more about it.

 The British Museum

 The Odeon
 Covent Garden
 Big Ben

8. Do you know much about London’s Squares? Read the information and find out which
square is described. If you need, use the Internet or textbooks about London to decide.

This square is one of the most famous squares in London. It is always bright because
of outdoor advertising. In the centre of it you can see a fountain. In this square there
is the famous Tussaud's museum of wax figures.

Can you guess?

 Trafalgar Square
 Piccadilly Circus
 Covent Garden
1. Read the text about Romans.

The Romans

The Romans went to England many, many years ago. They built a town on the river
Thames. The name of the town was Londinium. The Romans built Londinium near the
river. The place for the town was very good. Soon the Romans built a bridge over the
river Thames.
Londinium got bigger and bigger. The Romans built a lot of roads from Londinium to
other parts of Britain.
By the year 400, there were fifty thousand people in Londinium. Soon after 400, the
Romans left Britain. We do not know much about Londinium between the years 400
and 1000.
The river Thames has always been part of London’s history. In Roman times
Londinium was a small town with the Thames in its centre. Now London is a very
large city but the river Thames is still in the centre of London.
Until 1749, there was only one bridge over the river: London Bridge. The old London
Bridge looked very strange. There were houses and shops on the bridge. In the 19 th
century there were already a lot of new bridges in London. Now there are 27 bridges
over the Thames and 8 tunnels under the river. Nowadays London is in fact 2 cities:
the City of London and the City of Westminster and has more than 7 million people
that’s 13% (per cent) of Britain’s population.

Vocabulary

Romans ['rqVmqnz] римляне

the Thames [Dq temz] р. Темза
Londinium [lAn'dInIVm] Лондиний
centre ['sentq] центр
century ['senCqrI] век
tunnel ['tAnl] туннель

2. Match the two parts of the sentences.

1. There are in fact 2 cities in a. the River Thames.

London: b. over the river Thames.
2. London stands on c. live in London.
3. There are 27 bridges d. under the River Thames.
4. More than 7 million people e. the City and the City of
5. There are 8 tunnels Westminster.
3. Answer the questions about the Romans times in London.

1. What was the first name of London?

2. Where did the Romans build the town?
3. How did the Romans get to other parts of the country?
4. How many people lived in London by the year 400?
5. When did the Romans leave London?
6. Do we know much about London between years 400 and 1000?
7. The river Thames is in the centre of London, isn’t it?
8. How many bridges were there in London by 1749?
9. How did it look like?
10.How many bridges are there in the modern London?
11.What parts of London can you name?
12.What is the population of the modern London?

4. Fill in the gaps using the words from the box.

town city Thames Londinium tunnels centre roads

The Romans built a town on the River _________.

The name of the town was _____________.
The Romans built a lot of _________ from Londinium to other parts of Britain.
In Roman times Londinium was a small ________ with the Thames in its ________.
Now London is a very large ________ but the Thames is still in the centre of London.
Now there are more than 20 bridges over the Thames and 8 _______ under the river.

5. Speak about the Romans. The following plan will help you.

1. Speak about the time when the Romans built Londinium.

2. Say how Londinium grew.
3. Say what you know about bridges in London.
4. Give some facts about London nowadays.

6. Find out what marks the boundary between the City of London and Westminster.
7. Find the photos of different sights in the City (or Westminster), make a
PowerPoint presentation and say a few words about each place.

1.Read the text about the early history of London.

 History of London

At the beginning of the 11th century England was already a great country and London
was a very important city. In 1066 William the Conqueror and his people went to
England from Normandy in France.
William the Conqueror became King of England. The King lived in London. Many of his
people lived in London too. But William was afraid of the English and he built the
White Tower to live in it. Now it is one of the most important and beautiful buildings
of the Tower of London. As it is very famous, a lot of people visit it every year.
All Kings and Queens of England have lived in London. It became the biggest city in
England. By 1600 there were more than two hundred thousand (200 000) people in
London.
In those days people usually built houses of wood, and they often were near one
another. Sometimes there were fires in the city, but they were usually small. Then
came 1666, the year of the Great Fire in London.
On Saturday, 2nd September 1666 there was a strong wind from the river and a big fire
began. It started in the house of the king’s baker, near London Bridge. Soon the next
house started burning and the next and the next… The fire burnt for four days until
Thursday and destroyed 80% of the city. More than 250 people didn’t have home any
more. After the Great Fire people built a new city. The city became larger and larger.
By 1830 there were more than one and a half million people in London. The railways
came and London became richer and richer, but it didn’t become nicer. The city
became dark and dirty and people lived in bad houses.
There are still some poor people in London today, but life is better now as there are
many houses and flats. The city is also much cleaner.

Vocabulary

conqueror ['kPNkqrq] завоеватель

king [kIN] король
tower ['taVq] башня
baker ['beIkq] булочник
destroy [dIs'trOI] разрушать
railway ['reIlweI] железная дорога

2. True or False?

1. In 1666 William the Conqueror went to England from Germany.

2. The King lived in Liverpool.
3. William the Conqueror built the White Tower to live in it.
4. All Kings and Queens of England have lived in London.
 5. By 1600 there were more than seven hundred thousand people in London.
6. The Great Fire of London started on the 2nd of October, 1666.
7. The fire burnt for five days and destroyed 50% of the city.
8. After the Great Fire people built a larger city.
9. London became richer and nicer.

3. Fill in the gaps with articles (a/an, the) where necessary.

At ____ beginning of ____ 11 th century England was already ____ great country and
London was ____ very important city. In ____ 1066 William ____ Conqueror and his
people went to ____ England from ____ Normandy in ____ France.
____ William ____ Conqueror became ____ King of England. ____ King lived in
London. Many of his people lived in London too. But William was afraid of ____
English and he built ____ White Tower to live in it. Now it is one of ____ most
important and beautiful buildings of ____ Tower of London. As it is very famous, a lot
of people visit it every year.

4. Make up sentences about the Great Fire in London using the following words. You can
change the form of the words.

1. houses of wood, fire

2. 1666, the Great Fire
3. 2nd September 1666, wind, fire
4. start, king’s baker
5. fire, Thursday
6. fire, four days, 80% of the city
7. the Great Fire, a new city
8. railways, rich, nice
9. dark, dirty, house

5. Speak about the history of London according to the following plan.

1. Speak about England in the 11th century.

2. Say what you know about William the Conqueror and the White Tower.
3. Speak about the Great Fire of London.
4. Say how the city changed after the Great Fire.

1. Read the text about London’s sights.

The Places to Visit

London is the capital of England. It is its political and business centre. The heart of
London is the City. It is the oldest part of London. Many people work in the City but
very few live there. There are a lot of banks and other offices there too. You can visit
some interesting places in the City or near it. One of them is the Tower of London.
The Tower of London was a fortress, a palace, a prison and the King’s Zoo. Now it is a
museum. You can see a lot of interesting things in the rooms of the White Tower. Its
square walls are white and very tall. William the Conqueror built it in the eleventh
century. There are always black ravens in the Tower of London. People keep them in
the Tower of London and look after them very well as they believe that London will
be rich while ravens live there.
One of the greatest English churches, St. Paul’s Cathedral, is not far from the Tower
of London. The famous English architect Sir Christopher Wren built it in the 17 th
century after the Great Fire. It took Sir Christopher Wren 35 years. It is a beautiful
building with many columns and towers. In one of its towers there is one of the
largest bells in the world.
Trafalgar Square is in the centre of London. Some people say it is the most beautiful
place in London. In the middle of the square stands a tall column. It is a monument to
Admiral Nelson. Four bronze lions look at the square from the monument. There are
two beautiful fountains in the square. They are in front of the National Gallery which
is one of the best galleries in the world. Every day a lot of tourists visit this fine
building with its tall columns.

Vocabulary

political [pq'lItIkl] политический

business [''bIznIs] деловой
castle ['kRsl] замок
fortress ['fLtrIs] крепость
palace ['pxlIs] дворец
prison ['prIzn] тюрьма
raven ['reIvn] ворон
architect ['RkItqkt] архитектор
Sir Christopher Wren [sE: 'krIstqfq ren] сэр Кристофер Рен
column ['kPlqm] колонна
admiral ['xdmIrql] адмирал
bronze [brPnz] бронза, бронзовый
fountain ['faVntIn] фонтан
tourist ['tVqrIst] турист

2. True, false or don’t know?

1. London is the capital of Scotland.

2. The heart of London is the City.
3. A lot of people live in the City.
4. William the Conqueror built the Tower of London in the 10th century.
5. St. Paul’s Cathedral is very far from the Tower.
6. The famous English architect Sir Christopher Wren built the Cathedral in the
17th century.
7. Trafalgar Square is not in the centre of London.
 8. The National Gallery of London is well-known all over the world.

3. Answer the questions.

1. Is London the capital of England?

2. What is the heart of London?
3. Do people live in the City?
4. Was the Tower of London always a museum?
5. Who built the Tower? When?
6. What can you always see in the Tower of London? What beliefs do Londoners have
about them?
7. Who built St. Paul’s Cathedral?
8. How many years did it take?
9. What is the cathedral famous for?
10. Trafalgar Square is in the centre of London, isn’t it?
11.What can you see in the middle of the square?

4. Complete the sentences.

1. The heart of London is …

2. In the City there are a lot of …
3. Nowadays the Tower of London is a museum but centuries ago it was …
4. People keep ravens in the Tower because …
5. St. Paul’s Cathedral is famous for …
6. The architect of St. Paul’s Cathedral is …
7. Trafalgar Square is in …
8. The tall column in the middle of the square is …
9. One of the best picture galleries in the world is …

5. Speak about London’s sights. The plan will help you.

1. Speak about the City of London.

2. Say what you know about the Tower of London.
3. Speak about St. Paul’s Cathedral.
4. Describe Trafalgar Square.
6. What other places would you like to visit in London? Choose one and describe it.

1. Read the text about Westminster.

Westminster

The political centre of London is Westminster. It is that part of London where there
are a lot of offices. If you go down Whitehall from Trafalgar Square on the right you
will see a small street where the British Prime Minister lives. He lives at number 10
Downing Street. Whitehall is a wide street leading to Parliament Square. This square
is very large. On the left you can see a long grey building with towers which is the
Houses of Parliament.
The large clock in one of the towers is Big Ben. Big Ben is the name of the clock and
the bell in the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament. You can hear the sound of Big
Ben every hour in London. The clock and the bell got their names after Sir Benjamin
Hall. He was a tall man, whose nickname was Big Ben. So people know the clock as
Big Ben.
The Thames is behind the Houses of Parliament and the bridge across it is
Westminster Bridge.
On the other side of Parliament Square is Westminster Abbey. It is one of the most
famous and beautiful churches in London. It is very old too. It is more than nine
hundred years old. There are so many monuments and statues there. Many English
kings and queens are buried there. Westminster Abbey is famous for its Poet’s
Corner too. Many great writers are buried there: for example, Charles Dickens and
Rudyard Kipling. The Abbey with its two tall towers is really wonderful.
The Queen of England lives in Buckingham Palace. It is a wonderful building with a
monument in front of it which is the Queen Victoria Memorial. It takes people ten to
twenty minutes to get from Buckingham Palace to Trafalgar Square, in the centre of
London.
There are so many other places to see and visit in London, but you can’t do all during
one short trip.

Vocabulary

offices ['PfIsIz] офисы

Prime Minister ["praIm 'mInIstq] премьер-министр
Downing Street ['daVnIN]
Parliament ['pRlqmqnt] Парламент
Sir Benjamin Hall [sE: 'benGqmIn hLl]
nickname ['nIkneIm] прозвище
side сторона
abbey ['xbI] аббатство
statues ['stxtju:] статуи
bury ['berI] хоронить
Memorial [mq'mLrIql] Мемориал

2. Answer the questions.

1. What is the political centre of London?

2. How can you get from Trafalgar Square to Parliament Square?
3. Where does the British Prime Minister live?
4. What is Whitehall?
5. What is Big Ben?
6. What bridge is near the Houses of Parliament?
7. Where is Westminster Abbey? How old is it? What is it famous for?
8. Where does the Queen of England live?
9. What monument is in front of Buckingham Palace?
 3. Fill in the gaps with the words from the box.

Big Ben the Houses of Parliament political Buckingham Palace Whitehall

Poet’s Corner Downing Street Westminster Abbey

1. Westminster is a _______________ centre of London.

2. The British Prime Minister lives at 10 _________________.
3. _________________ leads to Parliament Square.
4. In the Parliament Square you can see a long grey building which is
_____________________.
5. The large clock in one of the towers in the Houses of Parliament is ______.
6. __________________ is one of the most famous and beautiful churches in
London.
7. Many great writers are buried in __________________.
8. The Queen of England lives in ____________________.

4. Speak about Westminster. The plan will help you.

1. Say what you know about Westminster.

2. Speak about: Whitehall and Downing Street; Parliament Square and Big
Ben; Westminster Abbey and Poet’s Corner; Buckingham Palace.

1. Read the text.

The Discovery of America

Nowadays everybody knows what the word ‘America’ means. First of all it is the
name of the country- the United States of America- or just America. And then
America is the name of two continents- North America and South America. These two
continents, North and South America, form the part of the world called America.
Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492. We don’t know much
about the man. He was born in Italy but lived in Spain for a long time. He was a
seaman and made many sea voyages. In 1492 the King and the Queen of Spain gave
him money to go to India. He decided to sail west as he was sure that our planet was
round. And after sailing 4000 miles (6400 kilometres), he reached some land.
Columbus thought that it must be India but it was not. It was a new land – a new
 continent. It was America- Central America in fact. People began to speak about the
land as ’the New World’.
Columbus made some more voyages to the New World. He discovered some
more islands in Central America. Spain was very much interested in this land, in this
territory and had some Spanish settlements in South and Central America and in the
South of North America too. The second great voyage of Christopher Columbus began
in September in 1493. He had seventeen ships with him. On this voyage he reached
Cuba but didn’t know it was an island. Columbus made four trips in all to the New
World but he never landed on the mainland of North America.
The first English settlements appeared in America at the beginning of the
seventeenth century. On the 21st of April a group of people left England for the new
world. They sailed from the English port of Plymouth, on board the ship the
‘Mayflower’. They wanted to start the new life and to have no problems with the
church.
After two months’ voyage, on the 21st of November, these people landed in the
Northeast of America. There were seventy-four men and twenty-eight women on the
‘Mayflower’. They set up a colony and called that part of the country ‘New England’.

Vocabulary

nowadays ['naVqdeIz] в наши дни

2. True, false or don’t know?

1. The word “America” means the name of the country and the name of the
two continents.
2. Christopher Columbus discovered the new continent America.
3. Christopher Columbus discovered the new continent in 1492.
4. People know everything about this famous discoverer.
5. Columbus was born in Spain.
6. Columbus lived all his life in Italy.
7. “The New World” was the name of the new land.
8. Columbus made 12 sea voyages.
9. Columbus had fifteen ships during his second voyage to the New World.
10. Columbus visited North America several times.
11. Columbus made four trips in all to the New World.
12. There were no women on the “Mayflower”.
13. On the 21st of September in 1620 a group of people left England for the
New World.
14. There were Spanish settlements in South America and in the South of
North America.
15. English settlements appeared in the Northeast of America at the
beginning of the 17th century.
16. The people from England came to America on board the ship the
“Mayflower” in 1620.
3. Complete the sentences:

1. Columbus was born in … but…

2. He made many …
3. He decided to sail west as he was sure …
4. When he reached some land, he thought that …
5. People called the land …
6. Columbus discovered some more …
7. Spain was much interested in this land and …
8. Columbus made four trips in all to the New World but …
9. The first English settlements appeared in America …
10. A group of people sailed from …
11. They wanted …
12.They set up a new colony and …

4. Speak about Christopher Columbus and his voyages.

 Christopher Columbus. Place and country where he was born.

 Country where he lived.
 Columbus’s profession and interests.
 Columbus’s voyages to the west.
 Land Columbus looked for – land Columbus discovered.
 The name of the new land.
 Columbus discovered some islands in Central America.
 Spain was interested in new settlements in America.
 Columbus’s second voyage to America was in 1493.
 Columbus reached Cuba.
 Columbus didn’t reach North America.
 The first English settlements. The English sailed to the New World.
 They set up a colony in their new country.

5. Use a short plan to speak on the topic.

1. Explain what the word “America” means.

2. Speak about Columbus and his discovery.
3. Say what you know about his other voyages.
4. Speak about the “Mayflower.

6. Do people remember Christopher Columbus nowadays?

Find the information about the places, monuments, etc. named after this famous
discoverer.
1. Read the text about the Wild West.

The Wild West

At the beginning of the 17th century the first colonies appeared in America. There were
English, Spanish and German colonies there. African Negroes arrived as slaves in 1619 and
began working on plantations situated in the South. They grew rice and tobacco.
There were 13 colonies in America in 1733. The colonists didn’t want to depend on the
English King or on England. The Americans began to fight for their independence and got it.
George Washington became the first president of the United States.
In the 18th century some Americans went to the west to look for new lands, and the story
of the ‘Wild West’ began. In the 19th century people went west to look for gold. They built
new settlements and new towns on these lands. Life in the Wild West was full of danger.
The Native Americans in the west didn’t like white people who took their land. Sometimes
they attacked them.
There were bears and other wild animals and people had to have guns. Today many
Americans still keep a gun in their houses and all American police officers have guns.
Another tradition from the ‘Wild West’ is ‘cowboy’ clothes. In the days of the Wild West
clothes were very important as they helped people to live leading a difficult and dangerous
life. Cowboys spent much time outdoors. They usually wear hats, boots and jeans. Hats
helped them in the sun and protected their faces and eyes from the hot sun. Boots were
also very important. It was more comfortable to walk through long grass in boots. There
were many dangerous snakes where cowboys worked and lived and the boots protected
people from them. Boots also made riding a horse easier.
In the middle of the 19th century in the city of San Francisco there lived a tailor called Levi
Strauss. He made special clothes –strong trousers called jeans. Very soon cow boys started
to wear jeans. Now people wear jeans in America and all over the world.

Vocabulary

German ['GE:mqn] немецкий

Negro ['nJgrqV] негр
slave [sleIv] раб
rice [raIs] рис
Washington ['wPSINtqn] Вашингтон
ghost town [gqVst] город-призрак
attack [q'txk] атаковать, атака

2. Answer the questions.

1. When did the first colonies appear in America?

2. Were all colonies English?
3. How many colonies were there in America in 1733?
4. Why did the Americans begin to fight for their independence?
5. Where did Americans go in the 18th- 19th centuries and why?
6. Why did Americans have to wear guns?
7. What tradition from the Wild West do you know?
8. Why was it important for cowboys to wear hats and boots?
 9. What trousers did the cowboys wear in those times?
10. Who made jeans then?
11. Where did the tailor live?

3. Correct the sentences.

1. At the beginning of the 17th century in America there were many English, German and
Italian colonies.
2. There were 15 colonies in America in 1733.
3. The English Queen who lived in England was the Queen of New England and the
other colonies.
4. When the Americans got their independence George Washington became the first
King of the United States.
5. In the 19th century people went south to look for gold.
6. In the middle of the 19th century in New York there lived a tailor called Levi Strauss.

4. Complete the sentences.

1. African Negroes worked on… and grew…

2. The colonists in America didn’t want to… and began to…
3. The first president of the United States was…
4. In the 18th century some Americans went…
5. They built towns and settlements which are now called…
6. In the days of the Wild West clothes were very important as…
7. Cowboys usually wore… because…
8. Levi Strauss…

5. Speak about the Wild West. Use the following plan.

1. Speak about the first colonies and their fight for independence.
2. Say when and why the story of “Wild West” began.
3. Explain why life in the Wild West was full of danger.
4. Say what you know about cowboy clothes.

6. Would you like to be a cowboy and live in the Wild West? Why/Why not?

7. Do you like to wear jeans? Why/Why not?

8. There are a lot of movies about the Wild West and the Indians. Do you know any?
Speak about one of them in class.
1. Read the text about the symbols of America.

Symbols of America

The American flag is often called ‘The Stars and Stripes’. There are three colours on the flag
of the United States-red, white and blue. As there are fifty states in the United States, there
are fifty stars on the American flag: one star for each state.
The American flag has thirteen stripes. The stripes are red and white. The flag has seven red
stripes and six white stripes. There is one stripe for each of the first thirteen colonies of the
United States.
People must know many things about the flag, for example: you should display it only
during the day and you should fold it in a special way. In some schools there is a flag in each
classroom, and children stand in front of the flag every day. You can see the American flag in
shops and offices, in the streets and squares, in small towns and big cities.
You can see pictures of the American flag in newspaper and in magazines. Americans are
proud of their flag and display it in many places.
One of the most famous symbols of the USA is the Statue of Liberty. France gave the statue
to America in 1884 as a symbol of friendship. The Statue is in New York on Liberty Island. It
is one of the first things people see when they arrive in New York by sea.
The eagle became the official national symbol of the country in 1782. It has an olive branch
(a symbol of peace) and arrows (symbols of strength). You can see the eagle on the back of
a dollar bill.
The United States of America has the national hymn too. It is called “The Star-Spangled
Banner”.
Every state in the USA has its own flag, its own symbol and its own song too.

Proper
Nouns

New York ["nju: 'jLk]

France [frRns]
The Statue of Liberty [Dq "stxtju: qv 'lIbqtI]
Liberty Island ["lIbqtI 'aIlqnd]
The Star-Spangled Banner [Dq "stR spxngld 'bxnq]

Vocabulary

stripe [straIp] полоса

you should display it [dI'spleI] его следует вывешивать
you should fold it его следует укладывать
the Statue of Liberty статуя Свободы
eagle ['Jgl] орел
an olive branch [qn 'PlIv 'brRnC] оливковая ветвь
a bill = a note (a banknote) банкнота
banner ['bxnq] знамя
“The Star-Spangled Banner” официальный гимн США

2. True or false?

1. The American Flag is often called “The Stripes and Stars”.

2. There are three colours on the flag of the USA – red, white and blue.
3. There are thirty stars on the American flag.
4. The flag has got fifteen stripes.
5. The flag has got six red stripes and seven white stripes.
6. The Statue of Liberty is in New York on Liberty Island.
7. France gave the statue to the USA as a symbol of friendship.
8. The eagle has an olive branch (a symbol of strengh) and arrows (a symbol of peace).
9. The national hymn of The USA is called “The Star-Spangled Banner”.
10. Every state in the USA has its own flag, its own symbol and its own song too.

3. Answer the questions.

1. What do people often call the American flag?

2. What are the colours of the American flag?
3. How many States are there in the USA?
4. How many stars are there on the American flag? Why?
5. How many stripes has the flag got?
6. What colours are the stripes?
7. Why are there 13 stripes on the flag? What do they mean?
8. What must people know about the American flag?

4. Speak about the symbols of America. The plan will help you.

1. Describe the American flag.

2. Say how American people are proud of their flag.
3. Speak about the Statue of Liberty.
4. Say what you know about the eagle and the hymn.

5. Try to translate the lyrics of the national hymn of the USA. Then find the official
translations and compare. Which translation is better?

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heaven rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

6. Let’s go to the capital of the USA – Washington, DC. These are some places of interest
that you can visit there. Find out the names of these buildings and monuments. Then
choose one, find the information and talk about it in class.

1. Read the text.

Hobbies and interests

Different people like doing different things, different people have different hobbies.
A hobby is something you very much like to do in your free time such as making models,
growing roses or collecting different things.
Some people collect pictures, cups, toys, toy soldiers, books, pencils, coins, badges, stamps
and many other things.
Collecting stamps is popular with people of all ages. It is easy and interesting. It is real fun.
Stamps can tell you about different countries, famous people, and many interesting facts
about history. At first people collect every kind of stamps. But soon they begin to make
special collections. Sometimes they specialize in stamps of one subject only: for example
birds, animals, flowers or sports. Birds or sports is the theme of the collection. This kind of
collecting is called thematic.
But collecting things is not the only hobby people have. Some people are fond of travelling,
gardening or taking pictures. Very many boys and girls are fond of sports or music.

My hobby is ... … …
My sister’s / father’s … … hobby is … … …
Some people are theatre-goers. They visit theatre very often; they like to listen to an opera,
to see a ballet or a musical. I also visit theatres. I like opera/ballet/drama best. The last
performance I saw was … …
In … … … theatre. We had good seats and could see the stage very well. The scenery was
fantastic and the music was beautiful. The leading dancers/actors were so good that when
the performance was over there was a storm of applause. I enjoyed the performance
greatly.
A lot of people are fond of watching different films - feature films, documentary and
historical films, cartoons. Most of all I like watching … … and … … … is my favourite film.

1. Make a questionnaire about hobbies. Ask your classmates/friends/relatives questions

about their interests and then talk about the results. Make a graphic presentation of what
you are going to say.

2. Have you got friends abroad? If your friend comes

to Russia and wants to visit Russian theatres what will
you recommend him/her?
Find the information about theatres in your city and
what is on now.
Make a talk about it in front of the class. You may
show photos and posters to illustrate your talk.

1. Read the text about traveling.

Travelling

Travelling makes life interesting. It is difficult to say why people travel. Some of us travel to
see other countries and continents, modern cities and the ruins of the ancient towns.
Others like to meet different people, to try different food and to discover new things.
Those who live in the country like to go to a big city and spend their time visiting museums
and art galleries. City-dwellers usually like a quiet holiday by the sea or in the mountains,
with nothing to do but walk and bathe.
Most travellers take a camera with them and take pictures of everything that interests them
- the sights of the city, old churches and castles, mountains, lakes, forests, different kinds of
trees, flowers and plants, animals and birds.
People travel by train, by plane, by boat and by car. If we are fond of travelling, we see and
learn a lot of things that we can never see or learn at home, though we may read about
them in books and see them on TV. The best way to study geography is to travel, and the
best way to get to know and to understand the people is to meet them in their own homes.
All means of travelling have their advantages and disadvantages. And people choose one
according to their plans and preferences.

I like to travel … … because … …

Last summer I travelled … …. by … …
We saw … … …. We went to … … While travelling I learnt … … …. and discovered new things
about … …. ….

Vocabulary

ruins ['ru:Inz] руины

ancient ['eInSqnt] старинный, древний
city-dweller ["sItI 'dwelq] горожанин

2. Answer the questions.

1. Why do people travel?

2. City-dwellers like quiet holidays, don’t they?
3. Do travelers take pictures during their holidays?
4. How can people travel?
5. What is the best way to learn about the world?

3. Describe your last trip. Use the final part of the text as a plan.

4. Choose a place you’ve never been to but you would like to visit most of all (a country/a
city/a village), say why you want to see it, find the information about it in the internet and
speak about it in class. Make a short PowerPoint presentation with photos of the place.

5. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each means of transport?

Choose one and write a short composition on the topic. Use the plan.
 train
 plane
 car
 boat

There are some advantages of travelling by…

Firstly,…
Secondly,…
Finally,…
But also this means of travelling has some disadvantages.
Firstly,…
Secondly,…
Thirdly,…
Travelling by… has its advantages and disadvantages. I like/dislike this means of travelling
because…