Презентация к уроку Английского языка "Modern American City"

CITIES of the united states of america

The presentation is made by

Melnikova A. E., a teacher of English, school 27, Novokuznetsk

The USA is a federal Union. This means that the country consists of 50 states and one independent district – District of Columbia (D.C.) united together. National capital Washington is situated on the territory of this district. Every state has its own government, capital, laws, regulation. Each state has also a nickname, a slogan and an emblem.

Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C., the capital of the USA, is situated on the Potomac River in the District of Columbia. The district is a piece of land 10 square miles and it does not belong to any separate state but to all of the states. It is named in honour of Columbus, the discoverer of America.

The capital owes much to the first president of the USA – George Washington. It was he, who chose the place for the District in 1790.

Washington is not the largest city in the USA. It has a population of 900, 000 people.

Washington is a one – industry city. 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.

The National Mall and Museums

The National Mall is the area between the Capitol and the Washington Monument. Bikeways, footpaths, information kiosks and refreshment stands are located on the Mall. Nine of the Smithsonian Museums and the Smithsonian Information Centre are located here. The museums contain many historical objects and great works of art.

The White House

The White House is the official Presidential residence. It has the most well – known address in the USA – 1600, Pennsylvania Avenue. It is a two – storied white building, which consists of 132 rooms. It was built in 1799. All the Presidents of the USA lived in it except for George Washington. In 1814 during the war with England the building of the White House suffered a lot, it was burnt down and its view was spoilt. After the war it was whitewashed. Since then the building has always been painted in white colour.

The Capitol

The Capitol is the place where American Congress, the main legislative organ of the USA, sits. It is the tallest building in Washington and the symbol of American power – all laws are made here. In 1791 the corner – stone of the building was laid by George Washington. The Capitol was built almost in the centre of the city of Washington on the Capitol Hill. A bronze Statue of Freedom is on the top of the Capitol’s dome.

Washington Monument

Not far from the Capitol is the Washington Monument, which looks like a very big pencil. It rises 160 metres high and is hollow inside. A special lift brings visitors to the top on 70 seconds from where they can enjoy a wonderful view of the whole city.

Jefferson Memorial

Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the USA

Jefferson Memorial was built in honour of the third president of the USA. Inside it there is a 19-foot statue of Thomas Jefferson standing on a 6-foot pedestal. The words from the Declaration of Independence which was written by him are inscribed on the walls: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among these are life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.”

Lincoln memorial

ABRAHAM LINCOLN (1809 – 1865), the sixteenth president of the United states of America

Lincoln Memorial was built in honour of Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth president of the USA. He became an important political figure in the history of his country: he led the country through the most dangerous and devastating experience in its history – the Civil War.

On March 4, 1861 Abraham Lincoln was elected as President of the USA. And a month later the American Civil War began which split the country in two: the Union (the North) and the Confederate States (the South). At the beginning of the war the South had a number of advantages: they were stronger because they had the best officers. To arouse the spirit of his soldiers Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation which made all slaves free from January 1, 1863. After the battle Gettysburg it was clear that the Confederate army would never recover from their defeat. The Civil war was over. It put an end to slavery in the USA. However, not all people wanted any changes in a master – slave relationship. One of them assassinated Lincoln on Good Friday, April 14, 1865 at Ford’s Theatre in Washington.

Americans remember and honour their sixteenth president. Inside the Memorial you can see this huge statue of the former president - the hero, the patriot and the country-lover.

New York

New York is the largest city in the USA and one of the largest cities in the world. It was founded by Dutch settlers in 1613. The total area of New York is 365 square miles. Its population together with its suburbs is over 16 million people. Situated at the mouth of the deep Hudson River, it has always been the gateway to the USA. People who come to New York by sea are greeted by the Statue of Liberty. It has become a symbol of the city and an expression of freedom all over the world. The 5 boroughs comprising the city are Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn and Richmond. The centre of New York is Manhattan Island. Numerous skyscrapers house banks and offices of American business. The Empire State Building, Rockefeller Centre, the United Nations building, Central Park, Times Square, Broadway – all these world – famous sights are situated here.

New York

The Statue of Liberty is a present from France to the American people. It was represented on July 4-th, 1884. It was designed by Frederic Bartholdi as a monument to a great hundred-year international friendship between America and France during the American revolutionary war. The Statue’s official name is “Liberty Enlightening the World”. When people from other parts of the world came to America they saw this statue as a sign of something better and new.

There is a tablet in her left hand which reads: “July the 4-th, 1776 “- the day of America’s independence from Britain. In her right hand we can see a great torch. This statue is the symbol of freedom.

Some of the tallest buildings in the world are situated in New York City. The Empire State Building, a sky – scraper with 102 floors is one of them. It was the tallest building in New York for more than 40 years until World Trade Centre was topped out in 1970.

Central Park

Times Square

Broadway

Three world – famous streets of New York are Broadway, Fifth Avenue and Wall Street. Broadway is the centre of theatre, cinema and night life. Fifth Avenue is the great shopping, hotel and club avenue. Wall Street is the financial heart of the USA and the most important banking centre in the world.

Wall street

United Nations organization

The United Nations is an international organization whose main aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace. The UN was founded in 1945 after World War II to replace the League of Nations, to stop wars between countries, and to provide a platform for dialogue.

There are 193 member states, including every internationally recognized sovereign state in the world but Vatican City. From its offices around the world, the UN and its specialized agencies decide on substantive and administrative issues in regular meetings held throughout the year. The organization has six principal organs: the General Assembly ; the Security Council; the Economic and Social Council; the Secretariat; the International Court of Justice; and the United Nations Trusteeship Council. Other prominent UN System agencies include the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Food Programme (WFP) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). The UN's most prominent position is Secretary-General which has been held by Ban Ki-Moon of South Korea since 2007.

The United Nations Headquarters resides in international territory in New York City, with further main offices at Geneva, Nairobi, and Vienna. The organization is financed from assessed and voluntary contributions from its member states, and has six official languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish.