Washington, D. C.

independent- независимый

with its own laws- со своими законами

a plot of land- участок земли

the Capitol- Капитолий

in honor of- в честь

a discoverer- первооткрыватель

a founder- основатель

sense- смысл

The USA is a federal union which is made up of 50 states and one independent district- the District of Columbia. The District of Columbia is the territory of the national capital of the USA. Washington. C. is situated on both banks of the Potomac river, between two states, Maryland and Virginia.

This place was chosen by the first American President George Washington. The plot of land of a hundred square miles was bought from private owners by the state. In 1790 George Washington laid the corner-stone of the Capitol where the Congress sits. The place was called the District of Columbia in honor of Columbus, the discoverer of America.

The capital got the name of Washington after the name of its founder. Washington has been the federal capital since 1800.

Washington is sometimes called the heart of America. It is the place where the federal government works and where each President of the USA lives. Washington is smaller in size than the largest cities of the USA, such as New York, Chicago, Detroit or Los Angeles. The population of Washington is about 11 million people. The buildings in Washington are not very tall because no building must be taller than the Capitol. But in political sense Washington is the center of the country and the most important city of the USA.

Exercise 21. Answer the following questions:

1. How many parts is the USA made up of?

2. What is the District of Columbia?

3. How was Washington, D.C. founded?

4. What is Washington famous for?

5. In what sense is Washington the most important city in the USA?

Exercise 22. Translate into English:

1. США состоят из 50 штатов и независимого округа Колумбия.

2. Округа Колумбия имеет собственные законы.

3. Место для Вашингтона, расположенного по обоим берегам реки Потомак.

4. Город получил свое название в честь Джорджа Вашингтона.

5. В Вашингтоне работает правительство США, и живут американские президенты.

6. С 1800 года Вашингтон был федеральной столицей.

7. Вашингтон- политический центр США.

Exercise 23. Find the English equivalents and make up sentences of your own:

Состоять из, быть расположенным, государство, заложить, по имени, федеральная столица, быть меньше по размеру, в политическом смысле.

London

an economic centre – экономический центр

a suburb - окраина

an area - область

a district - район

a port area – портовая территория

nearby - близлежащий

a restaurant - ресторан

a concrete building – бетонное здание

a major city – главный город

outside - вне

headquarter - штаб-квартира