WASHINGTON, D. С

         Washington is the capital of the United States of America. It is located in the District of Columbia. The district is named in honour of Columbus, the discoverer of America.

         Washington was founded in 1791 for the purpose of ser­ving as the capital of the United States of America. Many peo­ple consider Washington to be one of the most beautiful cities - in the world. There are many parks, wide streets and impres­sive buildings in it. In the centre of the city, there is Capitol Park, where visitors’ eyes focus on the Capitol, the home of American Congress.

         Many visitors come to Washington D.C to see the White House. It is the oldest public structure in the capital, built in 1799. The White House is the official residence of the Presi­dent of the United States. It is situated at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. There are more than hundred rooms in the White House. The largest room in this building is the East Room, the scene of many state receptions and dances. Other famous rooms are: the Green Room, the Blue Room, the Red Room, which are used for afternoon tea and for receptions held before state dinners. The Blue Room, the most formal among all «colours» room is an oval-shaped room connecting the Green and the Red Rooms. On the second floor, one can find the Lincoln Room, which once served as an office for President Lincoln but today it serves as an honour guest’s room. In this room, Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863, which gave freedom to black slaves in the States.

         Other landmarks of Washington are memorials, dedicated to three American Presidents. They are the Washington Me­morial, built in honour of the first American President, the Lincoln Memorial, which is devoted to the memory of the six­teenth President of the USA, the author of the Emancipation Proclamation and the Jefferson Memorial which was built in honour of the third President of the USA, who was the author of the Declaration of Independence.

         The Library of Congress, which holds five million books, the National Gallery of Art, the Capitol are also the famous sightseeings of Washington.

        The Capitol is located in the very centre of Washington, not far from the Library of Congress. It is situated on the Ca­pitol Hill, the highest point of the city. The Capitol is the highest building in Washington. There is a law in Washington not to build buildings higher than the Capitol. George Wa­shington laid the corner stone of the Capitol on September 18, 1793. The Capitol is the home of the United States govern­ment.

QUESTIONS:

1. Where is Washington located?
2. When was the city founded?
3. Why do many people consider Washington to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world?
4.  How many rooms are there in the White House?
5. What are the famous rooms?
6. What can one find on the second floor?
7. Who is the Washington Memorial devoted to?
8. Why was the Jefferson Memorial built?
9. Where is the Capitol situated?
10. Who laid the corner stone of the Capitol?

VOCABULARY:

to be located, to be situated — быть расположенным

in honour of — в честь

to found — основать

to consider — считать, полагать

impressive — впечатляющий

state reception — государственный прием

slave — раб

to devote — посвящать

sightseeing —  достопримечательности

government — правительство