Тема / Топик по английскому языку:
Washington, D.C.

The United States is a federal union which is made up of fifty states and one independent district - the District of Columbia. The District of Columbia is the territory of the national capital of the USA, Washington, with its own laws and regulations. Washington, D.C. is situated on both banks of the Potomac river, between the two states, Maryland and Virginia.

This place was chosen by the first American President George Washington. The plot of land of a hundred square miles was bought from private owners by the state. In 1790 George Washington laid the corner-stone of the Capitol where the Congress sits. The place was called the District of Columbia in honour of Columbus, the discoverer of America. The capital got the name of Washington after the name of its founder. Washington has been the federal capital since 1800.

Washington is sometimes called the heart of America. It is the place where the federal government works and where each President of the United States lives. Washington is smaller in size than the largest cities of the USA, such as New York, Chicago, Detroit or Los Angeles. The population of Washington is about 11 million people. The buildings in Washington are not very tall because no building must be taller than the Capitol. But in political sense Washington is the centre of the country and the most important city of the United States.

Topical Vocabulary

- to be made up of smth.
состоять из чего-либо
independent
независимый
the District of Columbia
независимый округ Колумбия
with its own laws and regulations
со своими собственными законами и установлениями
to be situated on both banks of the river
быть расположенным по обеим берегам реки
- a plot of land
участок земли
the state
государство
to lay the corner-stone
заложить (о городе)
the Capitol
Капитолий
the Congress
конгресс
in honour of smb.
в честь кого-либо
a discoverer
первооткрыватель
after the name of smb.
по имени кого-либо
a founder
основатель
the federal capital
федеральная столица
- to be smaller in size than
быть меньше по размеру, чем
in political sense
в политическом смысле

Answer the questions:

  1. How many parts is the USA made up of?
  2. What is the District of Columbia?
  3. How was Washington, D.C. founded?
  4. What is Washington famous for?
  5. In what sense is Washington the most important city in the USA?

Translate into English:

  1. США состоят из 50 штатов и независимого округа Колумбия.
  2. Округ Колумбия имеет собственные законы и установления.
  3. Место для Вашингтона, расположенного по обеим берегам реки Потомак, было выбрано Джорджем Вашингтоном.
  4. Город получил свое название в честь Джорджа Вашингтона.
  5. В Вашингтоне работает правительство США и живут американские президенты.
  6. С 1800 года Вашингтон является федеральной столицей.
  7. Вашингтон - политический центр США.