1. Why do we say that English is, a world language?
2. How many people in the world speak English?
3. In what countries is English the official language?
4. Where is English one of the official languages of the country?
5. What group of languages does English belong to?
6. Where were many English words borrowed from?
7.How long was the French language the official language of the ruling class in Britain?
8. What people brought many new words from all parts of the world?
9. Why did some words come into English directly from Latin?
10. What English derivatives do you know? How were they made? .
11. Where did the word "telephone" come from?
12. English today is absolutely necessary for every educated person, for every good specialist, isn't it? Where is English used today?
13. Can you prove that English is the most wide-spread language on earth?
14. Why do some people say that nowadays English is the most fashionable language in the world?
15. I hope you like to learn English. Is it difficult for you to learn this language?
16. How long have you been learning English?
17. At what age did you begin learning English? Where?
18.Do you remember your first teacher of English? What was her name?
19. Do you like to see films and to listen to popsongs in English? How often do you do it?
20.Have you read any books in English? What books have you read? What is your favourite English book?
21.Have you ever visited English-speaking countries? When? What country?
22. What English-speaking countries would you like to visit? Why?
23. Do you want to improve your English? What are you going to do for it?
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE USA?
- Have you ever been abroad?
1) Oh, you are lucky. Unfortunately I haven't ever been anywhere.
2) Neither have I. ( No have I).
But I prefer travelling to all other entertainments. First of all I'd like to go to the USA. This country attracts me like a magnet. The fastest way of travelling to the USA is by plane. It'll take you only some hours than as seavoyage through the Black Sea, the Mediterranean and-the Atantic Ocean. It is more enjoyable but much slower.
I'd like to visit that country because I've heard a lot about it, but haven't ever seen it with my own eyes.
The USA is the largest country in the Western Hemisphere. It is washed by two oceans: the Atlantic Ocean in the east ànd the Pacific Ocean in the west. The country borders on Canada and Mexico.
The United States is a country of great contrasts, in landscape and climate. There are elevated and lowland regions. It possesses every variety of climate, from that of the tropics, to that of the Arctic regions in Alaska.There are also very long rivers (the Colorado, the Alabama, the Mississippi) and very large lakes in the country.
This country has gloriouis history. In 18th century it succeeded in getting independence from England. At the head of this struggle was George Washington who later became the first president of the USA.
The language of Americans is somewhat different from English spoken in Great Britain. Its grammar and structure are the same but there are new meanings in its vocabulary. There are also marked differencies in pronunciation.
The United States is largely an urban nation. Approximately 2/3 ( two-thirds) of the population live in urban areas. There are many big cities such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Detroit, San Francisco, Washington and others.
The USA is a large and highly industrialized country. It is rich in natural resources. The prairies are the main agricultural regions where wheat, maize and other crops are grown. California is famous for its fruit, vegetables, .cotton and tobacco plantations. Cotton is also grown in the Mississippi valley.
As for its political system, the USA is a federal republic. It consists of 50 states and a district of Columbia. President is the head of the government. The White House is the residence of a president.
As for me, I'd like to visit the White House, to see the most famous American memorial: the statue of Liberty in NY, Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson's Memorials. I would like to have a rest at the golden beaches of California, especially at Monterey Bay.
New Jersey state attracts me as well. Atlantic coast is wonderful sea resort. Valley of the sun in Arizona is a magnificent place, as far as I know. But, first of all I'd like to go to Pennsylvania. It is a place where Tomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence and Hershey made american first milk chocolate.
I'd like to visit the USA as soon as possible.
Read and learn by heart the dialogue. Then act it out.
Susan: Hallo, Helen.
Helen: Oh, Susan, hallo.
Susan: What are you studying so attentively?
Helen: It's a present from my friend, Ben. He has just returned from New York and brought me this book about the history of the USA.
Susan: It's very interesting. To tell you the truth, I'm not sure that I know a lot about the history of the USA. I only watch American films on TV almost every day.
Helen: Yes, you are right. Our TV is often occupied by this films.
Susan: I agree with you. They entertain us, but they aren't informative. As for me, I'm interested in history. Although the US is a very young country, it has a very interesting history.
Helen: Absolutely. Its history began a little more than 500 years ago. Susan: I remember exactly because we learnt it at school. Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492. By the way, why wasn't, America named after him?
Helen: I don't know for sure but he thought that it was India. He died believing that Cuba was part of Asia.
Susan: Helen, can I look through this book?
Helen: OK. Here it is.