The Fifty States

The fifty states of the United States, or the USA, join to make one nation. The United States did not always have fifty states. At first there were thirteen. As the United States grew, more states joined the union. The last two states to join were Alaska and Hawaii. They both joined in 1959. The area of the United States covers every type of land. There are forests, deserts, moun­tains, and flat land. The area of the United States also covers every type of climate. The size of each state is different too. Alaska is the biggest state. Rhode Island is the smallest state. Alaska is 500 times bigger than Rhode Island.

About 250 million people live in the United States. The people of the US come from all over the world. People often name cities after where they come from. For example, in the United States you find Paris, Rome, Delhi, and Frankfurt. The state with the highest population is California. The state with the lowest population is Alaska.

Each state has its own name. The name gives the state its identity and. personality More than half the states have names from American Indian origin. Each state also has a flag with colors that have a special meaning for the state. The flag is the emblem, or the symbol, of the state. There is also a state flower, tree, and bird.

Exercise 1. Complete the sentences.

nation climate flat land

emblem origin population

union its identity

1. The United States is a country of fifty states.

2. The United States grew, and more states joined the group.

3. The United States has forests, deserts, mountains, and land which is level and not high.

4. The United States also has every type of weather.

5. The state with the highest number of people is California.

6. More than half the states have names from American Indian beginnings.

7. The flag is the symbol of the state.

8. The name gives the state a name to say what it is.

Exercise 2. Choose the correct answer.

1. The United States _____.

a. was always fifty states b. has fifty states today c. is not a nation of fifty states

2. The United States has _____.

a. about 250 million people

b. people from Europe and India only

c. the highest population in the world

3. Each state has _____.

a. an American Indian name

b. no personality

c. its own name and flag

Exercise 3. Find the wrong word in each sentence and replace it by the correct one.

1. There is a state flag, mountain, tree, and bird.

2. Hawaii is 500 times bigger than Rhode Island.

3. More than half the states have people from American Indian origin.

4. The state with the lowest population is Hawaii.

5. Each state has a flag with colors that have a special meaning for the nation.

6. People often name states after where they come from.