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Geographical Position. Climate. Rich Resources
The United States of America stretches from Atlantic Ocean
across North America and far into the Pacific.
Because of such a huge size of the country the climate
differs from one part of the country to another. The coldest
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
high 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 Cordillera in
the west. Between the Cordillera and the Appalachian mountains
are the centre! lowlands which are called- the prairie, and eastern
lowlands called the Mississippi valley.
There are many mountains especially in the west and southwest.
The Rocky mountains extend all the way from New
Mexico to Alaska.
Many rivers cross the country. The most important are
the Mississippi, Missouri, Colorado, Sacramento. The main
lakes in the USA are the Great Lakes in the north.
The nation's natural advantages and resources are probably
greater than those of any other area of equal size.
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 vary from precious gold and rare uranium to common lead and zinc. Coal, oil, iron, copper and other minerals are abundant. They form basis of modern industry.
Questions:
1. Does climate differ from one part of the country to
another?
2. How many parts does continental part consist of?
3. Are there many mountains in the USA?
4. What are the most important rivers?
5. Is the USA rich in natural resources?
6. What forms basis of modern industry?
Vocabulary:
to stretch — простираться
to consist — состоять
to extend — простираться
advantage — преимущество
equal — равный
clay — глина
precious — драгоценный
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