3. The prestige of the educational institution depends upon… .
4. The competition to get into the best universities is… .
5. State universities do not require admission examinations for those… .
6. A private institution receives financial aid from… .
7. The requirements for entrance to private colleges and universities are rather… .
8. Students can get a Bachelor degree in… .
Task 3. Answer the questions.
1. What kind of higher educational establishments are there in the USA? What does this division depend on?
2. Who supports a public institution?
3. Are public institutions absolutely free of charge?
4. Who pays higher fee?
5. How are applicants admitted to public universities?
6. How can an applicant be admitted to a private institution?
7. How many years does it take to get a Bachelor Degree? A Master’s Degree?
8. What is the highest degree?
9. What does prestige of the educational institution depend on?
AMERICAN HOLIDAYS
Religious and Nonreligious Holidays
Vocabulary
| to celebrate – праздновать a sacrifice – жертвоприношение two-faced – двуликий a deity – божество to commemorate – отмечать, служить напоминанием to preceed – предшествовать legal – узаконенный, официально признанный to be associated with – ассоциироваться с to occur – происходить inclusive – включительно the Holy Ghost – Святой Дух to declare – объявлять a firework – фейерверк a holly – остролист to blossom – цвести Lent –Великий пост to observe – отмечать, праздновать armed forces – вооруженные силы Thanksgiving – День благодарения | Epiphany – Крещение a manifestation – Богоявление Shrove Tuesday –последний день масленицы Ash Wednesday – день покаяния Palm Sunday – Вербное воскресенье Good Friday – Страстная пятница a martyr – мученик, мученица Easter Sunday – первый день Пасхи the Resurrection of Jesus – Воскресение Иисуса из мертвых Memorial Day – День памяти погибших в войнах Independence Day – День Независимости Hallowe'en – канун Дня всех святых Election Day – День выборов С arnival – масленица a bonfire – костер the Celts – кельты by miracle – чудом a patron saint – святой покровитель |
Task 1. Read the text and define which holidays are religious and which are federal:
New Year's Day
This holiday is celebrated in all the states on January, 1. New Year's Day has been celebrated since Roman Times, when sacrifices were given to Janus, the two-faced Roman deity who looked back on the past and forward to the future.
Lincoln 's Birthday
Abraham Lincoln brought the country through the Civil War. It's a legal holiday in many states, This day was first celebrated in Washington, D.C, in February, 1866.
St. Valentine's Day
It's celebrated on February, 14. This day is the festival of two third-century martyrs, both named St. Valentine. Nobody knows why this day is associated with lovers.
Washington's Birthday
George Washington was the country's first president. His birthday is celebrated as a legal holiday in every state of the Union, the District of Columbia and all territories.
Shrove Tuesday
Falls the day before Ash Wednesday and marks the end of the carnival season.
Ash Wednesday
It's the first day of the Lenten season, which lasts 40 days.
St. Patrick's Day
St. Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, has been honored in America since the first days of the nation. There are many dinners and meetings, and the parade is held on Fifth Avenue in New York every year on St. Patrick's Day.
Palm Sunday
It's observed the Sunday before Easter to commemorate the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.
Good Friday
This day commemorates the Crucifixion – (распятие Христа).
Easter Sunday
This holiday is observed in all Christian churches. Easter commemorates the Resurrection of Jesus. It is celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon which occurs on the next day after March 21 and is celebrated between March 22 and April 25 inclusive.
Mother's Day
This holiday is celebrated on the second Sunday in May, as it was proposed by Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia in 1907.
Memorial Day
This day honors American soldiers killed in wars. There are many parades on Memorial Day. Memorial Day, which comes on the last Monday in May, is also the unofficial beginning of the summer vacation season. On Memorial Day, many people go to the beach.
Flag Day
This day commemorates the flag of the United States of America and is celebrated on June 4
Father's Day
It is celebrated on the third Sunday in June. It was first observed on June 19, 1910.
Independence Day
On July 4, 1776, the American colonies declared their independence from Britain. Many families celebrate the Fourth of July by having picnics and, at night, watching fireworks.
Labour Day
This day is celebrated on the first Monday in September in all states and territories. Labour Day was first celebrated in New York in 1882. It honors the American worker. Just as Memorial Day means the beginning of summer, Labour Day marks the end of summer. For many students, the school year starts the day after Labour Day.
Columbus Day
It's a legal holiday in many states. It commemorates the discovery of America by Columbus in 1492. As Columbus was Italian, working for Spain, Columbus Day is especially important for many Italian-Americans and Hispanic-Americans.
Hallowe'en
This holiday on October 31 is not an official one, it is a very special day. It is traditionally associated in some countries with old customs such as telling ghost stories, bonfires and so on. This is the way the Celts welcomed the beginning of winter.
Election Day
Since 1845, by Act of Congress, the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November is the date for choosing Presidential electors. State elections are also held on this day.
Veterans' Day
This holiday honors all men and women who have served America in its armed forces.
Thanksgiving
This holiday is observed nationally on the fourth Tuesday in November by Act of Congress in 1941. Most Americans believe that the holiday dates back to the day of thanks ordered by Governor Bradford of Plymouth Colony in New England in 1621, but scholars say that the day of thanks is celebrated from ancient times.
Christmas
The most widely celebrated holiday of the Christian year, Christmas is observed as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus. Christmas customs are centuries old. Use of such plant as a holly comes front the ancient belief that such plants blossomed at Christmas. Comparatively recent is the Christmas tree, first set up in Germany in the 17th century and the use of candles on trees developed from the belief that candles appeared by miracle on the trees at Christmas.
FACT FILE
Do you know?
1. There are some federal public holidays in the USA. These are Thanksgiving, Independence Day, Christmas, New Year’s Day. On these days schools, banks, all offices are closed.
2. Independence Day is also very important holiday because it celebrates independence of the United States from Great Britain and a real founding it as a country. It is celebrated on the fourth of July.
3. One of the noisiest and most crowded New Year’s celebrations takes place in New York City at Times Square where people gather to watch the clock on Times Square Tower herald another year.
4. The terms «melting pot» and «salad bowl» mean that the US is a country of immigrants who work together as Americans while retaining their ethic identities.
5. The most famous American rock-and-roll star was Elvis Priestley. He lived in Memphis, Tennessee.
6. The continental US is divided into four times zones.
7. The best movie actors and actresses are awarded each year with Oscar or Academy Award in the USA.
8. The highest tree in the world grows in the USA in California. It is called «redwood» or «sequoia».