Tashkent i

I enjoy listening music because it reflects my moods and emotions. Very often when I`m blue, I play my favourite merry songs and feel much better.

Sometimes I attend music groups and singers are there. I like watching music programs on TV. I like to know more and more about popular talented groups and singers I like. One wall of my room is covered with posters of “on Jovi”, “Scorpions”, “Roxette”, Uzbek singers Tohir Sadikov, Ozodbek Nazarbekov and others.

Some people go to music schools, they play different musical instruments, sing in the chorus, try to compose music.

Unfortunately there are so many ungifted singers on the stages, that it makes me sad. To have good producer doesn`t mean to have good ears and voice. I think that only talented people can claim to be singer.

Newspaper in Britain

If you get on a bus or catch a train in Britain, especially during the morning and evening “rush hour”, you`ll see a lot of people reading newspaper. The press tells us about various political views, interest and levels of education. Paper are usually divided into “quality” papers which are serious with long, informative articles and “popular” which have smaller size. They are less serious and contain more human interest stories than news.

More daily newspapers national and regional are sold in Great Britain than in most other developed countries. They are about 135 daily papers and Sunday papers, 2000 weekly papers and about 100 papers produced by members of etnic groups. A lot of people buy a morning paper, an evening paper and a couple of Sunday papers. On an average day two out of three people over the age of 15 read a national morning paper about three out of four read a Sunday paper national newspapers have a circulation of 15,8 million copies on weekdays and 19 million on Sundays.

Newspapers are almost always financially independent of any political party. However, during general election campaigns many papers cecommend their readers to vote for a particular political party. Ownership of the national London and regional daily newspapers is concentrated in the hands of large press publishing groups.

THANKSGIVING

Almost in every culture in the world these is a celebration of thanks for rich harvest. The American Thanksgiving began as a feast of thanksgiving almost four hundred years ago.

In 1620 a religious community sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to settle in the New world. They settled in what is now known as the state of Massachusetts. Their first winter in America was difficult. They arrived too late to grow a rich harvest. Moreover, half the colony died from disease. The following spring the Oroquois Indians tought them also how to grow other crops and how to hund and fish.

In the outumn of 1621 they got a beautiful harvest of corn, barley, beans and pumpkins. The colonists had much to be thanksful for so they planned a feast. Local Indian chief and ninety Indians were present. The colonists learned from Indians how to cook cranberries and dishes of corn and pumpkins.

In the following years many of the colonists celebrated the harvest with a feast of thanks. After the United States goined independence, Congress recommended one yearly day of thanksgiving for the whole country. Later, George Washington suggested the date November 26 as Thanksgiving Day. Then, after Civil war, Abraham Lincoln suggested the last Thursday in November to be the day of thanksgiving.

On Thanksgiving Day, family members gather at the house of an older relative, even if they live far away. All give thanks for everything good they have. Charitable organizations offer traditional meal to the homeless.

Foods eaten at the first thanksgiving, have become traditional. The traditional thanksgiving meal consist of roast turkey stuffed with herb-flawoured bread, cranberry, jelly, mashed potatoes pumpkin pie. Other dishes may very as to region: ham, sweet potatoes, crfeamed corn.

HALLOWEEN

Halloween is a festival that takes place on October 31. In the United States children wear costumes and masks and go trick-or-treating. Many of them carve jack-o`-lanterns out of pumpkins. Fortunatelling and storytelling about ghosts and witches are popular activities.

Halloween developed from New Year festivals and festivals of the dead. Christian church established a festival of November 1 called All Saints` Day so that people could continue to celebrate their festivals. Tha Mass said in All Saints` Day was called Allhallowmass. The day before All Saints` Day was known all hollows` Eve or All Hallow e`en.

The main Halloween activity for children is trick-or-treating. Children dress in costumer and masks and go from door to door saying “trick or treating”. The neighbours give children such treats as candy, fruit and pennies so that children do not play tricks on them.

Jack-o`-lantern are hallowed – out pumpkins with face carved into one side. Most jack-o`-lanterns contain a candle inside. An Irish legend says that jack-o`-lanterns are named after the man called Jack. He could not enter heaven because he was a miser, and he could not enter hell because he had played jokes on devil. As a result, Jack has to walk on the earth with his lantern until Judgment Day.

Fortunatelling is an important part of Halloween. For example, a coin, a ring, and a thimble were baked into a cake. It was believed that the person who found the coin would become wealthy. The one who found the ring would marry soon. And the person who found the thimble would never get married. Today people practice card-reading or palmistry. People once believed that there were many ghosts and witches on the Earth and that they met on October 31 to worship the devil. Today, people do not believe in ghosts and witches but they like to tell stories about them on Halloween.

Franklin and Jefferson

Benjamin Franklin was self-educated, which means that he was too poor to go to school and therefore got a good education. As a buy he helped his father to make candles, which were thought to look more romantic than electric lights. When he was twelve Benjamin was so interested in reading that he gave up eating in order to buy books. Franklin was a determined, well-rounded man who invented almost as many things as Jefferson, including silkworms, the Franklin stove and bifocals. He also made it possible for congressmen to sent their free, which later became as the Franklin Privilege. When Franklin was seventy, he was sent to Paris to see what he could do to improve relations with the French, and he is said to have extremely well despite his age.

Thomas Jefferson is best known as the outhor of Declaration of Independence, which is responsible for two halidays: July Fourth and Declaration Day. Although he was the author of this document, he failed to secure a copyright.

Jefferson was not only a statesman but an inventor. His many inventions include dump-waiter. An extremely versatile person, he was also an architect. Jefferson made a great contribution to American political philosophy. He believed that all men are created equal. Deeply religious, Jefferson was for a time a minister to France. In his spare time he was a farmer and an aristocrat.

Jack London

Jack London was born in 1876 in San Francisco. His real name was John Griffit. His father was a farmer. The family was extremely poor and the boy had to earn his living after school. The sold newspapers worked at a factory. Later he became a sailor; during some time he wondered with the unemployed.

For a year he attended the Oakland High school and spent a semester at the University of California, but as he had no money he had to stop his studies and went to work again.

This time it was a laundry. In 1897 he went to the Klondike as a gold miner. His first short story was published in 1898.

Some of the difficulties he met during the fisrt years of his literary work are described in his novel “Martin Eden”.

During the sixteen years of his literary work career Jack London published about fifty books: short stories, novels and essays. In his best stories London described the severe life and struggle of people against nature He died at the age of forty in 1916.

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

After 350 years of development the United States of America still holds the leading position in the western world. The USA is the most powerful and highly developed country of the world. The United States of America lies in the central part of  North American continent. It`s western coast is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.

The USA consists of three separate parts. They are the Hawaiian Islands, Alaska and the rest major part of the USA. There are fifty states and district of Columbia. The states differ very much in size, population and economical development. The population of the United States is about 250 million people.

What makes the USA the leader of the western world is it`s economical, political and military dominance over other countries. The United States is a federal republic. The government is divided into three branches: legislative (the US Congress), executive (the Prezident and his Administration) and judicial (the US Supreme Court).

There are two main political parties in the USA: the Democratic and the Republican.

The flag of the USA is called “Stars and Stripes”. The 50 stars – white on a blue field-represent the 50 states, 13 stripes represent  13 original English Colonies, which in 1776 became independent of England.

The capital of the United States is Washington. It was named in honor of the first president whose name was George Washington. The biggest cities of the USA are New Year, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and others.

THE USA (Geography, Climate, Resources)

The United States of America stretches from Atlantic Ocean across North America and far into the Pacific. Becouse of such a huge size of the country the climate differs from one part of the country to another. The oldest climate is in the northern part, where there is heavy snow in winter and the temperature may go down to 40 degrees below zero. The south has a subtropical climate, with temperature as gihg as 49 degrees in summer.

The continental part of the USA consists of the highland regions and two lowland regions. The highland regions are the Appalachian mountains in the east and the Cardillera in the west. Between the Cardillera and the Appalachian mountains are the central lowlands which are called the prairie and eastern lowlands called the Missisipi valley.

There are many mountains expecially in the west and south – west. The Rocky mountains extend all the way from New Mexico to Alaska.

Many rivers cross the country. The most important are the Missisipi, Missouri, Colorado, and Sacramento. The main lakes in the USA are the Great Lakes in the north.

The nations natural advantages and resources are probably greater than those of any other area of equal siza. The land is as varied as it huge. There are plains and mountains, grasslands and forests, sandy soil, clay and rich, dark loams. The mineral resources very from precious gold and rare uranium to common lead and zinc. Coal, oil, iron, copper and minerals are abundant. They from basis of modern industry.

THE USA GOVERNMENT

After its 200 th birthday, the United States of America still holds the leading position in the western world. A country that has inspired many names – “Land of Opportunity”, “Meeting Pot”, and “God`s Country” is still referred too as land of superlatives – “the richest”, “the greatest”, “the most”.

In size the United States is not the biggest. What makes the USA the leader of the western world it is economic, political and military dominance over  other countries. The United States is a parliamentary republic. The Government is divided into 3 branches: legislative (the USA Congress), executive (The President and his Administration) and judicial (the US Supreme Court). There are two main political parties in the USA: the Democratic  (symbolize by a “donkey”) and the Republican (symbolized by an “elephant”). The US president is both head of state and of government. He is elected for a 4 year term.

The supreme Court consists of Chief Justice 8 Associate Justices who are appointed for life. The Supreme Court is supposed to decide whether a law of the Congress or an executive order of the President is “Constitutional or not”.

The higher Organs of Power in the USA

By the USA Constitution the government of the nation is entrusted to three separate authorities: the Executive the Legislative and the Judicial. The executive power is vested in the President, who holds his office during the term of  four years and is elected together with the Vice-President.

Among the duties and powers of the President listed by the Constitution are the followings: the President is Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces he makes treates and appoints ambassadors to foreign powers as well as other high officer of the United States. Within his competence is also the responsibility for taking care that the laws be faithfully executed. From this one can see that the Constitution gives the President some measure of control of the military establishment, imposes upon him a responsibility for foreign policy and assigns to him the obligation to administer federal programmes.

The administrative business of the nation in conducted by secretaries who form the Cabinet. They are appointed by the President but their nomination must be confirmed by the Senate. The Cabinet is a kind of advisory group to the President which has developed by custom rather than by the provisions of the Constitution. The Vice-President likewise participates in the cabinet meetings. The cabinet members are: the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Defense, the Attorney General, the Postmaster General, The Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture the Secretary of Commence, the Secretary of Labour, and the Secretaries of Health, Education and Welfare. As chief executive officer, the President can at his discretion remove any Secretary.

The Executive Office of the President is represented by a group of agencies. First of all, these are: the White House Office, the Bureau of the Budget, the National Security Council, the Central Intelligence Agency, the Council of Economic Advisers, and the Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization. These are not advisory bodies but the bodies which carry out administrative functions.

The whole legislative power in the USA is vested in the Congress. There are two chambers in the US Congress: the Senate and the House of Representatives. Besides the legislative function the Senate is entrusted with the power of ratifying or rejecting all treaties made by the President.

CHRISTMAS

Christmas is Christian holiday that celebrates the birth Juses Christ. For millions of Christians thoughout the world it is the happiest and busiest time of the year. No one knows the exact date of Christ`s birth but most Christians celebrate Christmas on December 25. The world Christmas comes from Christes masse, an early English phrase that means Mass of Christ. People of different countries celebrate Chritmas in various ways. People in the United States and Canada decorate their homes with Christmas trees, wreaths and ornaments. City streets are filled with colored lights; the sound of bells and Christmas carols can be heard everywhere.

Children write letters to Santa Claus and tell him what presents they would like to get. Many department stores hire people to wear a Santa Claus costume and listen to children children`s requests. People send Christmas cards to relatives and friends. Many companies give presents to their employees.

A Christmas tree is one of the main symbols of Christmas in most homes. Relatives and friends may join in trimming the tree with lights, tinsel and colorful ornaments. Presents are placed under the tree. On Christmas Eve or Christmas morning, families open their presents. Many Children believe that Santa Claus arrives or Christmas Eve in a sleigh pulled by reindeer and brings presents. Some children hang up stockings so Santa Claus can fill them with candy, fruit and other small gifts.

In many parts of the Untied States and Canada groups of people walk from house to house and sing Christmas carols. Some people give singers money os small gifts or invite them for a warm drink.

Many people attend church services on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. They listen to reading from Bible and singing Christmas carols.

A traditional Christmas dinner consists of stuffed turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and a variety of other dishes. Some families have ham or roast goose instead of turkey. Pumpkin pie, plum pudding, and fruitcake are favourite desserts.

CHRITSMAS IN AUSTRALIA

Most Australians have been dreaming of a white Chsirtmas for centuries. But the traditional European Christmas is just a myth for Australians. Santas wearing thick woolen clothes don`t fit with Australia`s thirty-degree heat. Thanksfully things are changing fast. Now they have their own Christmas, Australian style.

 Australia is a country which is largely made up of desert and sandy beaches. For the first settlers, two hundred years ago, a plate of corned meat and a mug of billy tea might have been the best Christmas dinner available. As a new nation developed and grew riches, people tried to secretare the kind of Christmas that they used to have in Europe.

Christmas in Australia happens in the summer. However, we tried our best to deny the reality of a summey Christmas. In the class-room, children learnt songs like Frosty the snowman and Jingle Bells. Up until recently, the only Christmas cards published portrayed white winter Christmases. All this was a bit ridiculous in a country where 80 percent of the land has never witnessed a snowflake, even in winter.

However, the last ten years have witnessed some big changes in the Australian lifestyle. Many Australians now believe that the country should break its connections with Britain and the British Queen.

Now Australians see themselves as inhabitants of the Asia Pacific region. So now Christmas has got an Australian identity.

It`s rare to find a flake of snow on Christmas cards these days. Now the publishers print Christmas cards with native Australian animals and landscape scenes of the Australian bush.

On Christmas day you`ll find a large percentage of kinds on the beach playing with their new surfboards building sand-castles rather than snowmen. Indeed one of the most typical Australian Christmas presents is a beach towel.

It`s not only with food and gifts that Australian Christmases differ from European ones. Because of the weather, the atmosphere of Christmas is different. Instead of being a serious time where most families are indoors, Australians are usually outdoors in shorts and T-shirts, taking a cold six-pack of beer to a friend`s barbecue. There are loads of summer festivals with people celebrating Christmas in cornival style.

What is unique though is something that most Australians are starting to dream of. That is a Christmas of sunshine, surf and sand. Although to many Europeans this may seem strange, to many Australians it`s now the only Christmas worth dreaming of.

AUSTRALIA- the land of

blue mountains

The Great Barrier Reef on the coast of Queensland is a garden under the sea. There are 1,400 different kinds of fish and more than 300 kinds of coral Tropical fruit and flowers grow on the beautiful islands. It`s not surprising that more holiday – makers come to Queensland every year.

Tasmania, the island south of Australia, is small. It is the same size as England. It is also very different from the other states. There are no deserts in Tasmania. It often rains, both in winter and summer. Only a half of million people live in Tasmania, and a large part of the island is still covered with beautiful wild forests. These forests are full of wonderful lfowers and interesting animals.

In the Northern Territory you will find the red heart of Australia. And it really is red, with red rocks, red sand, and red skies in the evening. Every year, thousands of tourists visit Ayers Rock and a strange group of huge red stones called “the Olgas”. But these places are also holy to the Aboriginals. They believe that the land itself has like.

Sydney is the best known place in New South Wales. In fact, it`s the best known place in Australia. But New South wales has more than cities. There are, for example, the Blue Mountains. They are covered with forests of blue coloured eucalyptus trees. The air above the forest contains millions of microscopic drops of eucalyptus oil. When the sun shines, the air of the Blue Mountains is real, beautiful blue.

Less than a hundred years ago, there was nothing except sheep in Canberra. Bun than Australians decided to build a capital city. The work began in 1913\Now. Canberra is an international city, full of diplomats and government offices. It`s a beautiful place, with parks, lakes, big open streets and fine buildings.

Australia is sometimes called “the lucky country”. One reason is the wonderfull riches under the earth: gold, silver, iron, coal and many precious metals. The Bass Strait, of the coast of Victoria, has been one of the country`s biggest oil fields for many years.

THE ANIMALS OF AUSTRALIA

There are many animals in Australia that you cannot see anywhere else. I personally divide Australian animals into three categories: the good, the bad, the ugly. I think it`s reasonable. Talking of the good animals, we should mention kangaroos in the first place. There are many different types of kangaroo. The biggest are the great grey kangaroo. There are 213 centimetres tall and can run at 56 kilometres per hour. Though we have put kangaroos in the “good” category, farmers might disagree.

Wombats and koalas have many similarities and are probably related. Both have pockets inside their mouths to store food and neither has a tail. The number of koalas is getting smaller. This is party because of fumes from bush fires. Rescue teams help the koalas by catching them, putting them on respirators then returning them to their original location when they are better, Australia also has a lot of native mansupial mice that live in the desert. Many of these only come out at night.

You know, there are many animals that are “unpopular” in Australia including spiders which are dangerous. You can find these in Sydney. If they are hungry, they will attack anything that moves. They have sharp teeth and poison. Luckily, there is an antidote if you can get to hospital quickly.

Another animal with sharp teeth and a fatal bite is the shark. However, there are normally a lot of beach patrols and protective nets to stop these from eating you for breakfast. Other animals that are a problem for beach lovers are jellyfish. They look like bubbles of blue bubbly gum and they have a painful sting therefore people do not swim when there are many in the water. Other “unpopular” animals include dingoes. These are a cross between wolves and dogs. They are unpopular because they eat farmers animals.