4. Did George Washington live in the White House?
I. Read, translate, and learn the given words:
Government its conception is purely French skyscrapers the Capitol House of Representatives
Scientific research institute suburb scrap paper freedom
II. Read and translate the text:
Washington D.C.
The beautiful city of Washington D.C. is the capital of the United States and the centre of its government. The capital was named after the first president George Washington and was founded in 1790. It is situated on the Potomac River in the District of Columbia. Washington is not the largest city in the USA. It has a population only 9000,000.
Washington D.C. has nothing characteristically American in it, as its conception is purely French. It has long wide avenues, gardens, beautiful parks and no skyscrapers at all. Washington is the residence of the President and the Congress of the USA. The White House is the President’s residence, the Capitol – the seat of the American Congress. The largest and the highest among the buildings is the Capitol with its great House of Representatives and Senate Chamber. There are no skyscrapers because no other building must be higher than the Capitol. All American presidents except George Washington (the White House was not yet built in his time) have lived in the White House. It was built in 1799.
Washington is a large scientific and cultural centre, where there are many research institutes, five universities, the National Academy of Science and the Library of Congress. There is one more well-known building in Washington – Pentagon, the residence of the US Military department. It is situated in the suburbs to the south of the Potomac.
Washington is one-industry town. That industry is government. It does not produce anything except very much scrap paper. Every day 25 railway cars leave Washington loaded with scrap paper. Washington has many historical places. Not far from the Capitol is the Washington Monument, which looks like a very big pencil. It rises 160 meters. A special lift brings visitors to the top in 70 seconds from where they can enjoy a wonderful view of the whole city.
The Jefferson Memorial was built in memory of the third President of the USA, Thomas Jefferson, who was also the author of the Declaration of Independence. The memorial is surrounded by cherry-trees. The Lincoln Memorial is devoted to the memory of the 16th President of the US, the author of the Emancipation Proclamation, which gave freedom to Negro slaves in America.
III. Answer the questions:
1. What is the capital of the USA?
2. Who was the first President of the USA?
3. What is the White House?
4. Did George Washington live in the White House?
5. Name the famous buildings in Washington.
6. Is there any industry in Washington?
7. Who was the author of the Declaration of Independence
IV. Say true or false:
1. The beautiful city of Washington D.C. is the capital of the United States
2. The capital was named after the third president George Washington.
3. Washington is the largest city in the USA.
4. Washington is the residence of the President and the Congress of the USA.
5. All American presidents have lived in the White House.
6. Washington is one-industry town.
7. Washington has many historical places.
VI. Grammar exercise:
Use the Simple Past or the Past Continuous Tense:
1. I (see) yesterday when we went for a walk in the park. The sun (shine), a cool breeze (blow) the birds (sing). 2. I really (enjoy) my vacation last January. While it (snow) in Iowa, the sun (shine) in Florida. While you (shovel) snow in Iowa, I (lie) on the beach in Florida. 3. My brother and sister (argue) about something when I (walk) into the room 4. The students (speak) Japanese and some (converse) in Arabic. 5. When I (arrive) she (have) lunch. She (apologize) for starting without me but said that she always (lunch) at 12.30. 6. Suddenly he (realize) that he (travel) in the wrong direction. 7. The traffic (make) so much noise that I couldn’t hear what he (say). 8. She (stand) at the bus stop. I asked her what bus she (wait) for. 9. She was very extravagant. She always (buy) herself new clothes. 10. Why you (not be) at the meeting? – I (wait) for an overseas call from my family.
