The United States of America
The United States of America is one of the most admired and most despised nations in the world today.
As a dominant world power, the US is known for its military might, economic strength and democratic government.
In addition, American culture has spread across the globe through its popular films, music and commercial products such as Coca Cola, McDonald's hamburgers and Levi jeans.
Because of its influence around the world, the US provokes strong reactions. Many people either love or hate the US.
The US is federation consisting of fifty states.
In the American democratic system, rights and powers are divided between the individual states and federal government.
Each state has its own government and makes its own laws concerning sales taxes, education, speed limits, environmental protection, unemployment benefits, gambling, drinking and divorce.
The federal government controls national taxes and the armed forces. Washington D.C. is the national capital of the US and the seat of the federal government
The economy
The US has one of the strongest economies in the world. They are a leading country in agriculture, in the chemical, car and machinery industry. The US produces the majority of the world's corn, soybeans, tomatoes, apples, oranges and tobacco. They are also rich in minerals, quantity of oil and natural gas.
American political system
The US is a federation consisting of fifty states. In the American democratic system, rights and powers are divided between the individual states and federal government. The federal government has three branches: the executive, the legislative and the judiciary.
The President is elected for a four year term and may only be elected twice.
Congress consists of two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives. Two parties dominate American politics - the Democratic Party and the Republican Party.
Each state has its own government and makes its own laws.
Some Americans Presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Thruman, John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Ronald Regan, George Bush, Bill Clinton (he is the 42. President).
The American flag and anthem
The American flag consists of two parts - one smaller blue oblong with 50 white stars symbolising 50 American states and one larger oblong consisting of 6 white and 7 red stripes symbolising the original 13 states which used to be the British colonies. The first US flag was created in 1776.
The American national anthem is called "The Star-Spangled Banner".
Some Americans Writers
In 19th century - Walt Whitman, Edgar Allan Poe, Mark Twain for example.
In 20th century - Jack London, Ernest Hemingway, William Styron.
Vocabulary:
range - pásmo hor
actually - skuteční
native - původní
including - včetně
against - naproti
tension - napětí
mistrust - nedůvěra
oblong - protáhlý, podlouhlý
stripe - pruh
merchant - obchodník