The United States of America and The United

The United States of America and The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Volkova Julia, Livshinskaya Miroslava, 10 th form School № 1, English teacher: Petrova E. D. Kolpashevo: 2010/2011 1

Contents: 1. General information about the USA and the UK; 2. Capitals of the USA and the UK; 3. Flags of these countries; 4. Emblems of these countries; 5. Holidays in the USA and the UK; 6. Places of interest; 7. Test 8. Literature 2

General information about the USA America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district. The country situated mostly in central North America, where its forty-eight contiguous states and Washington, D. C. , the capital district, lies between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, bordered by Canada to the north and Mexico to the south. The state of Alaska is in the northwest of the continent, with Canada to the east and Russia to the west across the Bering Strait. The state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific. The country also possesses several territories in the Caribbean and Pacific. At 9. 83 million km 2 and with about 309 million people, the United States is the third or fourth largest country by total area, and the third largest both by land area and population. It is one of the world's most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, the product of large-scale immigration from many countries. The U. S. economy is the largest national economy in the world, with an estimated 2008 gross domestic product of US $14. 4 trillion. 3

General information about the UK 4

Capital of the USA Washington, D. C. formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D. C. , is the capital of the United States, founded on July 16, 1790. The City of Washington was originally a separate municipality within the Territory of Columbia until an act of Congress in 1871 effectively merged the City and the Territory into a single entity called the District of Columbia. It is for this reason that the city, while legally named the District of Columbia, is known as Washington, D. C. The city shares its name with the U. S. state of Washington, which is located on the country's Pacific coast. The city is located on the north bank of the Potomac River and is bordered by the states of Virginia to the southwest and Maryland to the other sides. The District has a resident population of 599, 657; because of commuters from the surrounding suburbs, its population rises to over one million during the workweek. The Washington Metropolitan Area, of which the District is a part, has a population of 5. 3 million, the ninthlargest metropolitan area in the country. 5

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Capital of the UK London is the capital of England the United Kingdom. It is the UK's largest and most populous metropolitan area and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. London is a leading global city being one of the world's largest financial centres and has the largest city GDP in Europe. Central London is home to the headquarters of most of the UK's top 100 listed companies and more than 100 of Europe's 500 largest. London's influence in politics, finance, education, entertainment, media, fashion, the arts and culture in general contributes to its global position. It is a major tourist destination for both domestic and overseas visitors. London hosted the 1908 and 1948 Summer Olympics and will host the 2012 Summer Olympics. London contains four World Heritage Sites: the Tower of London; the historic settlement of Greenwich; the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; and the site comprising the Palace 7

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Flag of the USA The American flag is known as THE STARS AND STRIPES. It consists of fifty stars which represent the fifty states. Thirteen red and white horizontal stripes (seven red and six white) stand for the original thirteen States that were united in 1776. The first flag was called The Grand Union Flag. It combined the flag of Great Britain with the thirteen stripes. It showed that these first thirteen states were British colonies. After the War of Independence, all thirteen states became free and the flag changed. The British flag in the corner was replaced by stars. Every time a new state entered the Union, a star was added. So now today's flag shows the thirteen stripes for the original number of states in 1776 plus the 50 stars which represent today's total. 9

Flag of the UK The flag of the United Kingdom is the Union Flag. It was created by the superimposition of the Flag of England , the Flag of Scotland Saint Patrick's Flag in 1801. Wales is not represented in the Union Flag as Wales had been conquered annexed to England prior to the formation of the United Kingdom. However, the possibility of redesigning the Union Flag to include representation of Wales has not been completely ruled out. The Union Jack is a combination of the crosses of three patron saints of the country: the red cross of Saint GEORGE for England on a white background: the white diagonal cross of Saint ANDREW for Scotland on a blue background: the red diagonal cross of Saint PATRICK for Ireland on a white ground. 10

Emblem of the USA The symbol of the country is the BALD-HEADED EAGLE with its wings spread on a white background. Five thousand year ago the first Americans choose the eagle as the emblem to symbolise their power. The bald eagle owes its name to the early American colonists. It actually isn’t really bald at all but whiteheaded/ this bird lives only in the USA and Canada. In 1782, Congress selected the bald eagle as the emblem of the newly formed union to show the courage and might of the nation. 11

Emblem of the UK The State Emblem of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland shows the union of its four parts: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The emblem was introduced after the union with Scotland in 1603. The shield of the emblem is divided into four parts. There are emblems of England (three lions on a red background), emblem of Scotland (a red lion on a yellow background) and the emblem of Northern Ireland (a yellow harp on a blue background). The two emblems of English lions symbolise the leading role of England in this union. The SHIELD is supported by two mythic animals: the ENGLISH LION and the SCOTTISH UNICORN. The emblem is headed with a crowned lion, the symbol of power and might. Below the emblem, there are floral symbols of the four parts of the country. 12

Holidays in the USA January 1 st New Year's Day 19 th Martin Luther King Jr. Day February 14 th Valentine’s Day March 17 th St. Patrick’s Day April 1 st April Fool’s Day 10 th Good Friday 12 th Easter Sunday May 10 th Mother’s Day 16 th Armed Forces Day 25 th Memorial Day 21 st 4 th 7 th 12 th 31 st 11 th 26 th 24 th 25 th 31 st June Father’s Day July Independence Day September Labor Day October Columbus Day Halloween November Veteran’s Day Thanksgiving Day December Christmas Eve Christmas Day New Year’s Eve 13

Holidays in the UK May January 1 st New Year's Day February 14 th Valentine's Day March 1 st St David's Day (Wales National Day) 17 th St. Patrick's Day (Ireland's Special Day) March/April Lent Mothering Sunday Easter April 1 st April Fool's Day 23 rd St George's Day (England's National Day) 1 st May Day June Wimbledon Tennis Tournament July Swan Upping August Notting Hill Carnival September Harvest Festival October 31 st Halloween November 5 th Bonfire Night 11 th Remembrance Day 30 th St Andrew's Day (Scotland's National Day) December Advent 25 th Christmas Day 26 th Boxing Day 14

The Golden Gate Bridge in the USA The Golden Gate Bridge opened in 1937 to span the mouth of San Francisco Bay, it was for many years both the world’s longest and tallest suspension bridge. Distinguished by its orange vermilion color, it has become an iconic symbol for the City of San Francisco. Aesthetically, the Golden Gate is considered one of the world’s most beautiful bridges and shares a designation as “most photographed” with the 15

The Statue of Liberty in the USA The Statue of Liberty (French: Statue de la Liberté), officially titled Liberty Enlightening the World (French: la Liberté éclairant le monde), dedicated on October 28, 1886, is a monument commemorating the centennial of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence, given to the United States by the people of France to represent the friendship between the two countries established during the American Revolution. It represents a woman wearing a stola, a radiant crown and sandals, trampling a broken chain, carrying a torch in her raised right hand a tabula ansata, where the date of the Declaration of Independence JULY IV MDCCLXXVI is inscribed, in her left arm. Standing on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, it welcomes visitors, immigrants, and returning Americans traveling by Worldwide, the Statue of Liberty is one of the most recognizable icons of the United States. For many years it was one of the first glimpses of the United States for millions of immigrants and visitors after ocean voyages from around the world. The statue is the central part of Statue of Liberty National Monument, administered by the 16

Big Ben in the UK Big Ben is the nickname for the great bell of the clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London, and is generally extended to refer to the clock or the clock tower as well. Some believe this extension to be incorrect, but its usage is now entirely commonplace. It is the largest four-faced chiming clock and the third-tallest freestanding clock tower in the world. It celebrated its 150 th anniversary in May 2009, during which celebratory events took place. The clock was finished being built on April 10, 1858. The clock tower has become one of the most prominent symbols of both London and England, often in the establishing shot of films set in the city. 17

Stonehenge in the UK Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in the English county of Wiltshire, about 3. 2 kilometres (2. 0 mi) west of Amesbury and 13 kilometres (8. 1 mi) north of Salisbury. One of the most famous sites in the world, Stonehenge is composed of earthworks surrounding a circular setting of large standing stones. It is at the centre of the most dense complex of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments in England, including several hundred burial mounds. Archaeologists have believed that the iconic stone monument was erected around 2500 BC, as described in the chronology below. One recent theory however, has suggested that the first stones were not erected until 2400 -2200 BC, whilst another suggests that bluestones may have been erected at the site as early as 3000 BC (see phase 1 below). The surrounding circular earth bank and ditch, which constitute the earliest phase of the monument, have been dated to about 3100 BC. The site and its surroundings were added to the UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites in 1986 in a co-listing with Avebury Henge monument. It is a national legally protected Scheduled Ancient Monument. Stonehenge is owned by 18

The Tower in the UK Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space known as Tower Hill. It was founded towards the end of 1066 as part of the Norman Conquest of England. The White Tower, which gives the entire castle its name, was built by William the Conqueror in 1078, and was a resented symbol of oppression, inflicted upon London by the new ruling elite. The castle was used as a prison since at least 1100, although that was not its primary purpose. A grand palace early in its history, it served as a royal residence. As a whole, the Tower is a complex of several buildings set within two concentric rings of defensive walls and a moat. There were several phases of expansion, mainly under Kings Richard the Lionheart, Henry III, and Edward I in the 12 th and 13 th centuries. The general layout established by the late 13 th century 19

Test Question № 1 Do you remember the official name of America? a) The United States in America b) The United States of America c) United States about America Do you remember the official name of Britain? a) The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland b) The United Kingdom of Britain c) The United Kingdom of Britain and Ireland 20

Question № 2 What are the colours of the American flag? a) red, white and blue b) red, grey and yellow c) red, white and black What are the colours of the British flag? a) red, blue and black b) blue, grey and yellow c) red, white and blue 21

Question № 3 What is the emblem of America? a) b) c) What is the emblem of Britain? a) b) c) 22

Question № 4 What is the abbreviation of America? a) The USA b) The US of America c) The US What is the abbreviation of Britain? a) The GB and NI b) The UK c) The UK of Britain and Ireland 23

Question № 5 What continent does the USA occupy? a) the USA occupies central North America b) the USA occupies central South America c) the USA occupies the east of North America What continent does the UK occupy? a) the UK occupies Australia b) the UK occupies the western Europe c) the UK occupies the east of North America 24

Question № 6 What is the flag of America? a) b) What is the flag of Britain? a) b) c) c) 25

Question № 7 What is the capital of the USA? a) the capital of the USA is Washington b) the capital of the USA is New York c) the capital of the USA is Chicago What is the capital of the UK? a) the capital of the UK is Edinburgh b) the capital of the UK is London c) the capital of the UK is Exeter 26

Question № 8 What is the population of the USA? a) 309 million people b) 250 million people c) 300 million people What is the population of the UK? a) 79 million people b) 59 million people c) 94 million people 27

Question № 9 What was opened in 1937 in the USA? a) The Golden Gate Bridge b) The Statue of Liberty c) The Bellagio Fountains What year was the Tower of London built in? a)1066 b) 1010 c) 1078 28

Question № 10 What general holiday celebrates on the 25 th of December in these countries? a) Christmas Day b) Christmas Eve c) New Year’s Eve 29

Dear students! We hope that the information of this presentation will help you to know better these countries. Thank you for your attention! Goodbye! 30

Literature: http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Main_Page http: //goodzon. com. ua/upload/Image/USA%20 Map%20 Only%281%29. jpg http: //about-video. ru/files/times-square-one-view. jpg http: //mychinaconnection. com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Golden-Gate. Bridge. jpg http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/United_Kingdom. ru Enjoy English (9 form): Biboletova M. Z. http: //life-in-the-uk-test. co. uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/citizenship 1. jpg http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/File: Elizabeth_II_greets_NASA_GSFC_employees, _May_8, _2007_edit. jpg http: //www. travelblogo. ru/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/1256568262_big-benclocktower. jpg 31