The United States of America covers the central part of North Amer­ ica. Besides, Alaska and Hawaii belong to the USA. Its territory is about 9,328,000 square kilometers. The population of the United States
is about 265 million people. The climate
is different from state to state
due to the large size of the country. It is
mostly temperate, but tropical
in Hawaii and Florida, and arctic in Alaska.

The USA is washed by the Pacific Ocean in the west and the Atlan­
tic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico in the
east. It borders on Canada in
the north and on Mexico in the south. The most important rivers in the USA are the Mississippi, the Colorado, the Ohio, and the Hudson River. The main mountain chains are the Cordillera in the west and the Appalachian Mountains in the east. Between these two mountain chains
lie
the central lowlands, called the prairie. To the
north of
the country,
on
the border with Canada, the Great Lakes are situated. They include
the
Lake Superior, the Lake Ontario, the Lake
Eire, the
Lake Huron
and the Lake Michigan. Natural resources include nickel, lead, silver, petroleum, natural gas, iron and others.
Present-dayAmerican history began in 1607, when colonizers estab­ lished the first permanent English settlement in Jamestown, Virginia. Further on during the 17th century the settlers from Europe came to the new lands. They struggled Native Americans and drove them away from rich land to reservations. At first thirteen British colonies were established on the eastern coast. In 1775 the colonies began their strug­ gle for independence and succeeded in 1783. This was how the United States came into being.
In 1861 the Civil War broke out. It is usually referred to as the war between the South and the North. Its aim was to give freedom to black slaves who previously could be bought or sold. Slavery was abolished in 1865, but the discrimination of the black population remained until the 1960s. The influence of the USA was growing during the 19th—20thcenturies until by the beginning of the 21st century it became the lead­ ing power. It dominates the economy and political life of the world.
The United States is a democratic federal republic. It comprises fifty states, including Alaska and Hawaii, and the District of Columbia, where the capital of the country is situated. The largest state is Alaska, and the smallest is Rhode Island. Each state has its own legislature. Head of State is the President. Washington, DC (District of Columbia) is the capital of the country, the seat of the government. The President is elected every four years.
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Answer the following questions:
1.Where is the USA situated?
2.What land area does it cover?
3.How large is the population of the USA?
4.Why is the climate of the USA so diverse?
5.What countries does the USA border on?
6.What seas and oceans is it washed by?
7.What are the most important rivers in the USA?
8.Where are the Great Lakes situated?
9.The USA is rich in natural resources, isn’t it?
10.When did the present-dayAmerican history begin?
11.What was the purpose of the war between the North and the
South?
12.Why is the USA called the leading world power?
13.How many states are there in the USA?
14.What is the capital of the USA?
15.Who is the President of the USA?