Hledejte v chronologicky řazené databázi studijních materiálů (starší / novější příspěvky).

True or False?

The territory of Luisiana was acquired from Spain in a transaction called the Luisiana Purchase. T x F
Prohibition was repealed by Richard Nixon. T x F
... It happened in 1933. T x F
Women gained the right to vote in same year as the Prohibition started. T x F
The Constitution of the United States was written in Philadelphia. T x F
The Declaration of Independence was adopted in Washington in 1776. T x F

VOCABULARY:
predominant - převládající
boundary - hranice
copper - měď
iron ore - železná ruda
hay - seno
timber - stavební dřevo
assasinated - zavražděn
invention - vynález
found - založit
gain - získat
adopt - převzít
defeat - porazit
siege - obležení
recognize - uznat
purchase - obchod
acquisition - získaná věc
surrender - vzdát se
abolish - zrušit
tribe - kmen, rod
ban - zakázat
ushering - vedoucí (k něčemu)
escalate - stupňovat

True or False?

The territory of Luisiana was acquired from Spain in a transaction called the Luisiana Purchase. T x F
Prohibition was repealed by Richard Nixon. T x F
... It happened in 1933. T x F
Women gained the right to vote in same year as the Prohibition started. T x F
The Constitution of the United States was written in Philadelphia. T x F
The Declaration of Independence was adopted in Washington in 1776. T x F

VOCABULARY:
predominant - převládající
boundary - hranice
copper - měď
iron ore - železná ruda
hay - seno
timber - stavební dřevo
assasinated - zavražděn
invention - vynález
found - založit
gain - získat
adopt - převzít
defeat - porazit
siege - obležení
recognize - uznat
purchase - obchod
acquisition - získaná věc
surrender - vzdát se
abolish - zrušit
tribe - kmen, rod
ban - zakázat
ushering - vedoucí (k něčemu)
escalate - stupňovat

1865

-The Confederacy surrendered, bringing an end to the Civil War. Slavery was abolished throughout the United States. President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated.
1867 America purchased Alaska from Russia.
1870-1890 The last Native American tribes were defeated by government forces and pushed onto reservations.
1898 The United States won the Spanish-American War and gained territories in the Caribbean and the Pacific. Hawaii was annexed the same year.
1920 Women gained the right to vote. The manufacture and sale of alcohol was banned, ushering in the era of Prohibition.
1933 Franklin Roosevelt became president and introduced a series of economic and social reforms known as the New Deal. Prohibition was repealed.
1941 Japan attacked US forces at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, pulling America into World War II.
1965-1973 American forces fought in the Vietnam War, which started widespread protests in the United States.
1969 American astronauts became the first people to land on the moon.
1974 In the wake of the Watergate scandal, Richard M. Nixon became the first American president to resign from office.

1865

-The Confederacy surrendered, bringing an end to the Civil War. Slavery was abolished throughout the United States. President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated.
1867 America purchased Alaska from Russia.
1870-1890 The last Native American tribes were defeated by government forces and pushed onto reservations.
1898 The United States won the Spanish-American War and gained territories in the Caribbean and the Pacific. Hawaii was annexed the same year.
1920 Women gained the right to vote. The manufacture and sale of alcohol was banned, ushering in the era of Prohibition.
1933 Franklin Roosevelt became president and introduced a series of economic and social reforms known as the New Deal. Prohibition was repealed.
1941 Japan attacked US forces at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, pulling America into World War II.
1965-1973 American forces fought in the Vietnam War, which started widespread protests in the United States.
1969 American astronauts became the first people to land on the moon.
1974 In the wake of the Watergate scandal, Richard M. Nixon became the first American president to resign from office.

HISTORY

1565 Spain founded the first permanent European settlement in what is now the United States at Saint Augustine, Florida. However, Native Americans had lived on the continent for thousands of years.
1763 Britain gained control of eastern North America at the end of the Seven Years’ War, known in America as the French and Indian War.
1776 The Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence at Philadelphia.
1781 American forces decisively defeated the British at the Siege of Yorktown. Two years later, Britain recognized American independence in the Treaty of Paris.
1787 The Constitutional Congress met in Philadelphia and wrote the Constitution of the United States. All 13 states ratified the Constitution by 1790.
1803 The United States nearly doubled in size after President Thomas Jefferson acquired the territory of Louisiana from France in a transaction known as the Louisiana Purchase.
1848 The United States gained large amounts of territory as a result of winning the Mexican War. The new land, coupled with the acquisition of the Oregon country in 1846, extended the western border of the United States to the Pacific Ocean.
1861 Several Southern slave states seceded in January and formed the Confederate States of America. The American Civil War broke out in April.

HISTORY

1565 Spain founded the first permanent European settlement in what is now the United States at Saint Augustine, Florida. However, Native Americans had lived on the continent for thousands of years.
1763 Britain gained control of eastern North America at the end of the Seven Years’ War, known in America as the French and Indian War.
1776 The Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence at Philadelphia.
1781 American forces decisively defeated the British at the Siege of Yorktown. Two years later, Britain recognized American independence in the Treaty of Paris.
1787 The Constitutional Congress met in Philadelphia and wrote the Constitution of the United States. All 13 states ratified the Constitution by 1790.
1803 The United States nearly doubled in size after President Thomas Jefferson acquired the territory of Louisiana from France in a transaction known as the Louisiana Purchase.
1848 The United States gained large amounts of territory as a result of winning the Mexican War. The new land, coupled with the acquisition of the Oregon country in 1846, extended the western border of the United States to the Pacific Ocean.
1861 Several Southern slave states seceded in January and formed the Confederate States of America. The American Civil War broke out in April.

5. Which city isn´t on the west coast?

a) Dallas
b) San José
c) Seattle

6. When was Abraham Lincoln assasinated?
a) 1861
b) 1869
c) 1865

7. Which of the american national parks is the biggest?
a) Yellowstone
b) Sapoya
c) Niagara

Complete the words:
The official name UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is ......................... from name af italian navigator Amerigo Vespucci. The nothern ............................ is formed by the Great Lakes.
When you´ve got 10¢ you can say, that you have .....................
At "Jack in the box" you can eat ........................................... or ..............................

5. Which city isn´t on the west coast?

a) Dallas
b) San José
c) Seattle

6. When was Abraham Lincoln assasinated?
a) 1861
b) 1869
c) 1865

7. Which of the american national parks is the biggest?
a) Yellowstone
b) Sapoya
c) Niagara

Complete the words:
The official name UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is ......................... from name af italian navigator Amerigo Vespucci. The nothern ............................ is formed by the Great Lakes.
When you´ve got 10¢ you can say, that you have .....................
At "Jack in the box" you can eat ........................................... or ..............................

Climate

Washington D.C.: January 2°C = 36°F, July 27°C = 81°F
San Francisco: January 10°C = 50°F,July 15°C = 59°F

economy: Gross Domestic Product = US $ 6 738 400 000 000 (1994)

chief economical products:
agriculture: hay, potatoes, sugar beets, citrus fruit, tobacco, livestock, timber, corn, tomatoes, peanuts, apples, oranges(Florida)
farming (raising): pigs, broilers, chicken, turkey, sheep, lamb
industry: paper products, printing and publishing, plastics, textilies, clothing, furniture, leather goods, glass items, chemical products
mining: petroleum, natural gas, coal, copper, iron ore, silver, uranium

transport: 1st were waterways, then steam railways, after 1st World War - air transport
81% of passanger traffic are carrying cars, airlines are carrying more than 17% of passanger traffic, railways are carrying 0,6%

airports: 5100 public airports, 12 400 private airports, the largest and te bussiest is in Chicago - O´Hare, then JFK in New York

lifestyle:
In USA you can meet the most famous people, because Hollywood is there. Hollywood produces many films every year.
Fast food is a type of restaurant, where you can buy what you want wery quickly, you can eat it inside or you can take it with you. It´s fast and cheap. The most popular fast foods are: Mc Donalds, KFC, Burger King or Jack in the box, which is popular on the west coast and you can buy there a typical mexican food like "Tacos Ricos" or "Burito".
In general, the typical american inventions are: fast food, Hollywood, chewing gum and crocket.

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

QUIZARD:

1. The biggest airport in USA is ...
a) J.F.K.
b) La Guardia
c) O´Hara

2. The oldest skyscraper in New York is ...
a) Empire State Building
b) Twins
c) Iron Building

3. How many blacks live in Southern states?
a) 1/2
b) 1/5
c) 1/7

4. Which is the most popular religion in USA?
a) Islam
b) Roman Catholicism
c) Protestantism

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

QUIZARD:

1. The biggest airport in USA is ...
a) J.F.K.
b) La Guardia
c) O´Hara

2. The oldest skyscraper in New York is ...
a) Empire State Building
b) Twins
c) Iron Building

3. How many blacks live in Southern states?
a) 1/2
b) 1/5
c) 1/7

4. Which is the most popular religion in USA?
a) Islam
b) Roman Catholicism
c) Protestantism

Climate

Washington D.C.: January 2°C = 36°F, July 27°C = 81°F
San Francisco: January 10°C = 50°F,July 15°C = 59°F

economy: Gross Domestic Product = US $ 6 738 400 000 000 (1994)

chief economical products:
agriculture: hay, potatoes, sugar beets, citrus fruit, tobacco, livestock, timber, corn, tomatoes, peanuts, apples, oranges(Florida)
farming (raising): pigs, broilers, chicken, turkey, sheep, lamb
industry: paper products, printing and publishing, plastics, textilies, clothing, furniture, leather goods, glass items, chemical products
mining: petroleum, natural gas, coal, copper, iron ore, silver, uranium

transport: 1st were waterways, then steam railways, after 1st World War - air transport
81% of passanger traffic are carrying cars, airlines are carrying more than 17% of passanger traffic, railways are carrying 0,6%

airports: 5100 public airports, 12 400 private airports, the largest and te bussiest is in Chicago - O´Hare, then JFK in New York

lifestyle:
In USA you can meet the most famous people, because Hollywood is there. Hollywood produces many films every year.
Fast food is a type of restaurant, where you can buy what you want wery quickly, you can eat it inside or you can take it with you. It´s fast and cheap. The most popular fast foods are: Mc Donalds, KFC, Burger King or Jack in the box, which is popular on the west coast and you can buy there a typical mexican food like "Tacos Ricos" or "Burito".
In general, the typical american inventions are: fast food, Hollywood, chewing gum and crocket.

Capital-Washington D.C.

cities:
east coast: New York, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Baltimore, Boston, Orlando, ...
west coast: San Francisco, Los Angeles, San José, Santa Cruz, ...

area: 9 809 155 km2

population: 263 437 000 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 263 437 000 end_of_the_skype_highlighting (1995); in 1980-1990 highly mobile redistribution from Nothern Central and North-East States on the South and West. Population grew by 9,8% in decade from 80.-90.

ethnic groups: 80%white; 15% black; 3% Asian and Pacific Islanders; more than 1/5 blacks lives in the Southern States (Missourri, Alabama, South Carolina, ... )

religions: 56% Protestantism; 25% Roman Catholicism; 2% Judaism; 17% Other (Islam, Hinduism, ... )

language: no official language; english is predominant; nearly 32 milion US residents aged 5 or older speak a language other than English at home. 54% can speak Spanish; other languages spoken in USA are: Chinese, Japanese, Korean, French, Italian, German, Polish, Greek and native American languages.

form of goverment: democratic federal republic; 48 contiguous states + noncontiguous states of Alaska and Hawaii and outlaying areas including Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guana, Virgin Isles

head of state: president; four-year term

currency: american dollar; coins and paper money; penny= 1¢, nickel= 5¢, dime=10¢, quarter=25¢, half-dollar=50¢; dollar=100¢


Další zdroje o tomto tématu naleznete zde:
WASHINGTON D. C.
NEW YORK
Články na hledaný výraz "New York and Washington D.C." naleznete na bezuceni.cz

Capital-Washington D.C.

cities:
east coast: New York, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Baltimore, Boston, Orlando, ...
west coast: San Francisco, Los Angeles, San José, Santa Cruz, ...

area: 9 809 155 km2

population: 263 437 000 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 263 437 000 end_of_the_skype_highlighting (1995); in 1980-1990 highly mobile redistribution from Nothern Central and North-East States on the South and West. Population grew by 9,8% in decade from 80.-90.

ethnic groups: 80%white; 15% black; 3% Asian and Pacific Islanders; more than 1/5 blacks lives in the Southern States (Missourri, Alabama, South Carolina, ... )

religions: 56% Protestantism; 25% Roman Catholicism; 2% Judaism; 17% Other (Islam, Hinduism, ... )

language: no official language; english is predominant; nearly 32 milion US residents aged 5 or older speak a language other than English at home. 54% can speak Spanish; other languages spoken in USA are: Chinese, Japanese, Korean, French, Italian, German, Polish, Greek and native American languages.

form of goverment: democratic federal republic; 48 contiguous states + noncontiguous states of Alaska and Hawaii and outlaying areas including Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guana, Virgin Isles

head of state: president; four-year term

currency: american dollar; coins and paper money; penny= 1¢, nickel= 5¢, dime=10¢, quarter=25¢, half-dollar=50¢; dollar=100¢


Další zdroje o tomto tématu naleznete zde:
WASHINGTON D. C.
NEW YORK
Články na hledaný výraz "New York and Washington D.C." naleznete na bezuceni.cz

THE USA

official name: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (derived from Italian navigator Amerigo Vespuci)

over the map: western hemisphere of the Earth; North America
The USA is bounded by Canada on the North, on the East by the Atlantic Ocean, on the South by Gulf of Mexico and on the West by Pacific ocean. The nothern boundary is formed by the Great Lakes and the St.Lawrence River; the southern boundary by Rio Grande.

the highest mountain: Mount McKinley - 6199 m above sea level (in Alaska), Rocky Mountains,

valley: Death Valley - 86 m below sea level (in California)

rivers: Ohio, Tennessee, Illinois, Mississippi, Colorado, Rio Grande, Yukon (Alaska), Missouri, ...

lakes: 5 great lakes: Erie, Huron, Michigan, Ontario, Superior

famous national parks: Niagara falls (the falls are 50 meters high)

Yellowstone park - the oldest national park in the world, the biggest in The USA, the river Yellowstone floats through it.
Sepoya national park, Munument valley

THE USA

official name: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (derived from Italian navigator Amerigo Vespuci)

over the map: western hemisphere of the Earth; North America
The USA is bounded by Canada on the North, on the East by the Atlantic Ocean, on the South by Gulf of Mexico and on the West by Pacific ocean. The nothern boundary is formed by the Great Lakes and the St.Lawrence River; the southern boundary by Rio Grande.

the highest mountain: Mount McKinley - 6199 m above sea level (in Alaska), Rocky Mountains,

valley: Death Valley - 86 m below sea level (in California)

rivers: Ohio, Tennessee, Illinois, Mississippi, Colorado, Rio Grande, Yukon (Alaska), Missouri, ...

lakes: 5 great lakes: Erie, Huron, Michigan, Ontario, Superior

famous national parks: Niagara falls (the falls are 50 meters high)

Yellowstone park - the oldest national park in the world, the biggest in The USA, the river Yellowstone floats through it.
Sepoya national park, Munument valley

Historical events

1776 - Declaration of independence - the first state to become really democratic
1861-1865 - the war between North and South, Lincoln - abolishment of slavery
1870-1890 - struggles with native Americans > they were killed or put in reservations
1917-1918 - after WWI. USA became the world power
1941 - Japannese attack on Pearl Harbor > USA enters the WWII.
1950-1953 - Korean war
1965-1973 - Vietnam war
1972 - Watergate affair, R. Nixon - the 1st US president to resign
1991 - the war in Persian gulf

Achievements - they were first to create an atomicbomb, to build an electronical computer, to fly the supersonic and to step on the Moon

Products : the States are famous on the first place with their titanic action movies with uncredible special effects, than with wearclothes (clothes of trademarks like Nike, Adidas or Reebok are the latest fashion of young people) and all sorts of aircrafts (combat, transport or helicopters)

Historical events

1776 - Declaration of independence - the first state to become really democratic
1861-1865 - the war between North and South, Lincoln - abolishment of slavery
1870-1890 - struggles with native Americans > they were killed or put in reservations
1917-1918 - after WWI. USA became the world power
1941 - Japannese attack on Pearl Harbor > USA enters the WWII.
1950-1953 - Korean war
1965-1973 - Vietnam war
1972 - Watergate affair, R. Nixon - the 1st US president to resign
1991 - the war in Persian gulf

Achievements - they were first to create an atomicbomb, to build an electronical computer, to fly the supersonic and to step on the Moon

Products : the States are famous on the first place with their titanic action movies with uncredible special effects, than with wearclothes (clothes of trademarks like Nike, Adidas or Reebok are the latest fashion of young people) and all sorts of aircrafts (combat, transport or helicopters)

What makes the USA famous abroad

Personalities : - on the first place I would name the US president - he is probably the most powerful man in the world and we could say (whether we like it or not) that America is under his reign a big example for many other countries around the world
- action actors - they are big heroes for little boys and girls who don’t know anything about the real world
- singers - USA leads (as many people think) the world pop-music and other genres; who wouldn’t know the king of pop Michael Jackson ?
- sportsmen - when Americans can’t be as good as their sport idols, they at least admire them like they were gods (e.g. Michael Jordan, Mark McGuire ...)
- and I can’t forget the first man on the moon Luis Armstrong

Culture : I think that every young boy of 13 or 14 must admire the life style of “big ones” in America - children can drive from 15, they usually have their owncars, they make parties with friends, they go shopping, to cinemas and to fast foods when they want ...; I think this is their culture - to be free and to do what they want

What makes the USA famous abroad

Personalities : - on the first place I would name the US president - he is probably the most powerful man in the world and we could say (whether we like it or not) that America is under his reign a big example for many other countries around the world
- action actors - they are big heroes for little boys and girls who don’t know anything about the real world
- singers - USA leads (as many people think) the world pop-music and other genres; who wouldn’t know the king of pop Michael Jackson ?
- sportsmen - when Americans can’t be as good as their sport idols, they at least admire them like they were gods (e.g. Michael Jordan, Mark McGuire ...)
- and I can’t forget the first man on the moon Luis Armstrong

Culture : I think that every young boy of 13 or 14 must admire the life style of “big ones” in America - children can drive from 15, they usually have their owncars, they make parties with friends, they go shopping, to cinemas and to fast foods when they want ...; I think this is their culture - to be free and to do what they want

THE USA

National parks
· in USA there are many national parks protecting the wild nature and animals from human spreading and destroying everything that is unfit to him (in Yosemite there was allowed to build a dam at the beginning of this century, but after this it was claimed that no more interactions would be done into any NP); many other countries followed the US model of establishing their national parks
· NPs are recreational areas, you can’t travell there by car (it’s roadless)
Yellowstone - the oldest national park in USA, set up in 1872, known for its hotsprings, waterfalls and variety of wildlife (grizzlys, owes, buffalos ...)
Yosemite - there is the third highest waterfall in the world - Yosemite (739m)
Olympic - contains rainforest, the peaks are covered by glaciers
Everglades - formed by tropical swamps and morass, many species of birds
Carlsbad Caverns - great caves and underground chambers, stalagnits and stalaktits
Mammoth caves - the largest complex of caves in the world, they measure 530 km
Mesa Verde - ruins of prehistoric indian viilages and stone buildings from 11th - 14th century
Petrified forest - tree trunks million of years old, which have turned into stones

THE USA

National parks
· in USA there are many national parks protecting the wild nature and animals from human spreading and destroying everything that is unfit to him (in Yosemite there was allowed to build a dam at the beginning of this century, but after this it was claimed that no more interactions would be done into any NP); many other countries followed the US model of establishing their national parks
· NPs are recreational areas, you can’t travell there by car (it’s roadless)
Yellowstone - the oldest national park in USA, set up in 1872, known for its hotsprings, waterfalls and variety of wildlife (grizzlys, owes, buffalos ...)
Yosemite - there is the third highest waterfall in the world - Yosemite (739m)
Olympic - contains rainforest, the peaks are covered by glaciers
Everglades - formed by tropical swamps and morass, many species of birds
Carlsbad Caverns - great caves and underground chambers, stalagnits and stalaktits
Mammoth caves - the largest complex of caves in the world, they measure 530 km
Mesa Verde - ruins of prehistoric indian viilages and stone buildings from 11th - 14th century
Petrified forest - tree trunks million of years old, which have turned into stones

USA - religion

· when Pilgrim fathers came to America from England in 1620, they brought with them roots of English Protestant church; they issued the Mayflower compact, which was actually the 1st constitution and it tried to unificate the church in America
· in 1636 the first amendment to the Mayflower compact was added; the government can't support any religion
· in the half or 18th century there was a Great Awakening - thousands of people became members of any church, they started to strongly believe in God and praying, Puritans became more educated
· the religious situation in 1950's was known as a three faith model - Protestants, Catholics and Jews made the biggest groups
· it can be seen that religion has a big influnce in USA today - the president oaths on a Bible, he says "... and so help me God", you don't have to be a soldier if your religion forbids it ...

Sects :
· a terrible thing happend in 1978 when Jim Jones let his believers drink the poisson; the result was 900 dead by suicide
Mormons - the largest sect in USA, they live in Utah and strongly keep the family solidarity
Jehova's witnesses - the sect was founded in 1870 in New York by Charles Russel
Scientologists - they try to increase their spititual activities
The Amish - they aim on agriculture, they don't often go to schools - they prepare themselves for good wives, mothers and farmers, they don't like modern civilisation and they disdain for it, can't make pictures and photos of people

Religions now :
56% Protestantism (including Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Mormon and others)
25% Roman Catholicism
2% Judaism
17% Other (including other Christian denominations, Islam, and Hinduism)
7 % have none

USA - religion

· when Pilgrim fathers came to America from England in 1620, they brought with them roots of English Protestant church; they issued the Mayflower compact, which was actually the 1st constitution and it tried to unificate the church in America
· in 1636 the first amendment to the Mayflower compact was added; the government can't support any religion
· in the half or 18th century there was a Great Awakening - thousands of people became members of any church, they started to strongly believe in God and praying, Puritans became more educated
· the religious situation in 1950's was known as a three faith model - Protestants, Catholics and Jews made the biggest groups
· it can be seen that religion has a big influnce in USA today - the president oaths on a Bible, he says "... and so help me God", you don't have to be a soldier if your religion forbids it ...

Sects :
· a terrible thing happend in 1978 when Jim Jones let his believers drink the poisson; the result was 900 dead by suicide
Mormons - the largest sect in USA, they live in Utah and strongly keep the family solidarity
Jehova's witnesses - the sect was founded in 1870 in New York by Charles Russel
Scientologists - they try to increase their spititual activities
The Amish - they aim on agriculture, they don't often go to schools - they prepare themselves for good wives, mothers and farmers, they don't like modern civilisation and they disdain for it, can't make pictures and photos of people

Religions now :
56% Protestantism (including Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Mormon and others)
25% Roman Catholicism
2% Judaism
17% Other (including other Christian denominations, Islam, and Hinduism)
7 % have none

Legislature

· congress consists of two houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives; the Senate contains 100 senators, two representing each state, the 435 members of the House are elected by the different states on the basis of their population at the most recent US census; representatives serve two-year terms, and senators six-year terms, Every two years all 435 members of the House are elected, and one-third of the senators.
· the Senate tries all impeachments, with a two-thirds vote necessary to convict

Judiciary :
· the federal court system derives its powers from Article III of the Constitution, the system includes the Supreme Court, established by the Constitution and some more courts established by Congress
· the federal courts perform two constitutional functions : first, they interpret the meaning of laws, second, the courts determine whether any law passed by Congress or state legislatures violates the US Constitution

Political parties :
·
two major political parties exist in the United States : The Democratic party founded in the 1790s and The Republican party founded in 1854

Legislature

· congress consists of two houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives; the Senate contains 100 senators, two representing each state, the 435 members of the House are elected by the different states on the basis of their population at the most recent US census; representatives serve two-year terms, and senators six-year terms, Every two years all 435 members of the House are elected, and one-third of the senators.
· the Senate tries all impeachments, with a two-thirds vote necessary to convict

Judiciary :
· the federal court system derives its powers from Article III of the Constitution, the system includes the Supreme Court, established by the Constitution and some more courts established by Congress
· the federal courts perform two constitutional functions : first, they interpret the meaning of laws, second, the courts determine whether any law passed by Congress or state legislatures violates the US Constitution

Political parties :
·
two major political parties exist in the United States : The Democratic party founded in the 1790s and The Republican party founded in 1854

US political system + presidential election

· the supreme law of the land is the Constitution of the United States; the Constitution provides for a union of states, now numbering 50, each with its own constitution, republican form of government, and reserved powers, within a federal system; the national government is responsible for external affairs, and has concurrent powers with states, commonwealths, and self-governing territories over domestic matters

Executive :
· the American president typically has a greater range of functions than prime ministers in parliamentary governments because the president serves as ceremonial chief of state as well as head of government; article II of the Constitution provides for a president and vice president chosen by a majority of voters in the Electoral College, for a fixed term of four years, the 22nd Amendment (1951) limits presidents to two terms in office.

Presidential elections :
· the Electoral College nominally chooses the president and vice president of the United States; this group comprises the electors from the separate states who are selected by the voters in presidential elections. Each state is entitled to a number of electors equal to the total number of senators and representatives it sends to the US Congress, therefore at least three electors; than the House of Representatives votes state by state to choose the president, and the Senate votes as individuals to elect the vice president

US political system + presidential election

· the supreme law of the land is the Constitution of the United States; the Constitution provides for a union of states, now numbering 50, each with its own constitution, republican form of government, and reserved powers, within a federal system; the national government is responsible for external affairs, and has concurrent powers with states, commonwealths, and self-governing territories over domestic matters

Executive :
· the American president typically has a greater range of functions than prime ministers in parliamentary governments because the president serves as ceremonial chief of state as well as head of government; article II of the Constitution provides for a president and vice president chosen by a majority of voters in the Electoral College, for a fixed term of four years, the 22nd Amendment (1951) limits presidents to two terms in office.

Presidential elections :
· the Electoral College nominally chooses the president and vice president of the United States; this group comprises the electors from the separate states who are selected by the voters in presidential elections. Each state is entitled to a number of electors equal to the total number of senators and representatives it sends to the US Congress, therefore at least three electors; than the House of Representatives votes state by state to choose the president, and the Senate votes as individuals to elect the vice president

Black Americans

· first Africans were brought to America in 1619 as servants and soon some colonies strongly supported the idea of slavery; in the 18th century the slavery reached its peak and most of the slaves were forced to work hard on large plantantions

· the abolishment of slavery was a result of several actions and negotiations which took place during the North and South war and finally in 1865 the slavery ended and the president Lincoln was assasinated

· even later, the blacks were discriminated by white people and it sometimes led to segregation - separate schools, churches, swiming pools, bus stations ... for blacks

· in the first half of 20th century many Afro-Americans gained high positions in cultural life, it is called Harlem rennaissance (Armstrong, Elington ...)

· thanks to Civil Rights Movement and Martin Luther King in 1960’s the blacks gained equal positions with the white; they live side by side now but there are still many of them who are on the bottom of social scale
affirmative action program (positive discrimination) - universities and some employers are given certain number of Afro-Americans to be admited

Immigration

· New York city (called Big apple) can be defined by its ethnic and cultural diversity; you can find there areas like Little Italy, Chinatown and several other ethnic areas with names of their countries

· the greatest waves of immigrants came in NY from 1840’s to 1920’s and their reasons were personal freedom and economic opportunity; they found there schools and jobs which helped them to integrate into the larger community, but the fathers often couldn’t find a job and the mothers felt isolated from friends; so they hoped their children would attend better schools and get better jobs (children were their only connection between the old and new world - they could write and speak English and soon they got better paid jobs than their parents)

· some 20 million of immigrants passed through Ellis Island between 1891 and 1954 (was closed), also known as Isle of Tears, because all immigrants feared that they couldn’t pass and after many weeks of exhausting voyage over the ocean they would have to return

Immigration

· New York city (called Big apple) can be defined by its ethnic and cultural diversity; you can find there areas like Little Italy, Chinatown and several other ethnic areas with names of their countries

· the greatest waves of immigrants came in NY from 1840’s to 1920’s and their reasons were personal freedom and economic opportunity; they found there schools and jobs which helped them to integrate into the larger community, but the fathers often couldn’t find a job and the mothers felt isolated from friends; so they hoped their children would attend better schools and get better jobs (children were their only connection between the old and new world - they could write and speak English and soon they got better paid jobs than their parents)

· some 20 million of immigrants passed through Ellis Island between 1891 and 1954 (was closed), also known as Isle of Tears, because all immigrants feared that they couldn’t pass and after many weeks of exhausting voyage over the ocean they would have to return

Black Americans

· first Africans were brought to America in 1619 as servants and soon some colonies strongly supported the idea of slavery; in the 18th century the slavery reached its peak and most of the slaves were forced to work hard on large plantantions

· the abolishment of slavery was a result of several actions and negotiations which took place during the North and South war and finally in 1865 the slavery ended and the president Lincoln was assasinated

· even later, the blacks were discriminated by white people and it sometimes led to segregation - separate schools, churches, swiming pools, bus stations ... for blacks

· in the first half of 20th century many Afro-Americans gained high positions in cultural life, it is called Harlem rennaissance (Armstrong, Elington ...)

· thanks to Civil Rights Movement and Martin Luther King in 1960’s the blacks gained equal positions with the white; they live side by side now but there are still many of them who are on the bottom of social scale
affirmative action program (positive discrimination) - universities and some employers are given certain number of Afro-Americans to be admited

Ethnic groups in USA

· there are 106 minor groups in USA today, the biggest ones are Hispanics (people from Spain, they are considered the fastest growing group), Africans (came as slaves), Dutches, Chineese, French, Italian, Russians, Arabs ...
· USA are often called “melting pot” or “mosaic”; the “mosaic” refers to many nationalities, colours and cultures of people who immigrated and their variety makes a picture like mosaic; “melting pot” means that all these different cultures melt together and create one new culture
Indians :
· the native Americans were called Indians by Crystof Columbus, because he thought that he was in India; their lifestyle was to hunt, to fish, to move from place to place, but than came a white man and started to build cities, railways and extended his territories (one reason was the gold feavor)
· some living Indian tribes are Apachees, Comanches, Sioux and Cherokees, but some of them were forced to live in reservations (one hundred tousands Indians live in the biggest reservation in Arizona) and some of them adopted the lifestyle of white men (cars, whisky ...)
· in 1960’s there was a movement “Indian power” when Indians protested against closing them in reservations; the number of them is now increasing

Ethnic groups in USA

· there are 106 minor groups in USA today, the biggest ones are Hispanics (people from Spain, they are considered the fastest growing group), Africans (came as slaves), Dutches, Chineese, French, Italian, Russians, Arabs ...
· USA are often called “melting pot” or “mosaic”; the “mosaic” refers to many nationalities, colours and cultures of people who immigrated and their variety makes a picture like mosaic; “melting pot” means that all these different cultures melt together and create one new culture
Indians :
· the native Americans were called Indians by Crystof Columbus, because he thought that he was in India; their lifestyle was to hunt, to fish, to move from place to place, but than came a white man and started to build cities, railways and extended his territories (one reason was the gold feavor)
· some living Indian tribes are Apachees, Comanches, Sioux and Cherokees, but some of them were forced to live in reservations (one hundred tousands Indians live in the biggest reservation in Arizona) and some of them adopted the lifestyle of white men (cars, whisky ...)
· in 1960’s there was a movement “Indian power” when Indians protested against closing them in reservations; the number of them is now increasing

The Parliament

The monarch
The House of Lords (1036 peers) - can’t cancel the law but can discuss it for 1 year at most; made up of the lords temporal and the lords spiritual - hereditary peers and life peers :
lords temporal - law lords (judicial duties)
- other life peers appointed in recognition for their service in politics ...
lords spiritual -archbishops and bishops
The house of Commons (651 members) - are elected from gographical constituences by majority system, the voting age was lowered in 1969 to 18 years, its life is 5 years, dissolved by the sovereign
Political parties :
· the majority party forms Her (or His) Majesty's Government, and the second party is officially recognized as Her (or His) Majesty's Own Loyal Opposition
- the Labour party, generally socialist until the 1990s when it moved towards the political centre, began a programme of nationalization of selected industries after an overwhelming election victory in May 1945
- the Conservative party has favoured private enterprise with less state regulation
- other parties in the early 1990s included the Scottish Nationalist party and Plaid Cymru (Welsh nationalist), and the Northern Irish parties: the Ulster Unionist party, the Democratic Unionist party, the Social Democratic and Labour party, and Sinn Fein; all but Sinn Fein have representatives in the House of Commons

The Parliament

The monarch
The House of Lords (1036 peers) - can’t cancel the law but can discuss it for 1 year at most; made up of the lords temporal and the lords spiritual - hereditary peers and life peers :
lords temporal - law lords (judicial duties)
- other life peers appointed in recognition for their service in politics ...
lords spiritual -archbishops and bishops
The house of Commons (651 members) - are elected from gographical constituences by majority system, the voting age was lowered in 1969 to 18 years, its life is 5 years, dissolved by the sovereign
Political parties :
· the majority party forms Her (or His) Majesty's Government, and the second party is officially recognized as Her (or His) Majesty's Own Loyal Opposition
- the Labour party, generally socialist until the 1990s when it moved towards the political centre, began a programme of nationalization of selected industries after an overwhelming election victory in May 1945
- the Conservative party has favoured private enterprise with less state regulation
- other parties in the early 1990s included the Scottish Nationalist party and Plaid Cymru (Welsh nationalist), and the Northern Irish parties: the Ulster Unionist party, the Democratic Unionist party, the Social Democratic and Labour party, and Sinn Fein; all but Sinn Fein have representatives in the House of Commons

United kingdom - politics

· The United Kingdom is a parliamentary monarchy based on an unwritten constitution and is thus adaptable to changing political conditions
· Britain is today governed by her majesty’s Government in the name of the queen and with the approval of Parliament
The monarch :
· Queen Elizabeth II., succeeded to the throne on February 6, 1952, on the death of her father King George VI.; the heir to the throne is her oldest son, Charles, Prince of Wales;
· the Monarch formally appoints the prime minister and government and other important persons, she chairs meeting regularly with the prime minister, receives accounts of cabinet decisions, signs state papers and dissolves the parliament
The executive :
· prime minister chooses his ministers (usually from the Commons) who create the cabinet, which decides and implements policy and coordinates government departments; it normally numbers between 15 to 20

United kingdom - politics

· The United Kingdom is a parliamentary monarchy based on an unwritten constitution and is thus adaptable to changing political conditions
· Britain is today governed by her majesty’s Government in the name of the queen and with the approval of Parliament
The monarch :
· Queen Elizabeth II., succeeded to the throne on February 6, 1952, on the death of her father King George VI.; the heir to the throne is her oldest son, Charles, Prince of Wales;
· the Monarch formally appoints the prime minister and government and other important persons, she chairs meeting regularly with the prime minister, receives accounts of cabinet decisions, signs state papers and dissolves the parliament
The executive :
· prime minister chooses his ministers (usually from the Commons) who create the cabinet, which decides and implements policy and coordinates government departments; it normally numbers between 15 to 20

Sports and me

Sports and me

· I think that the main and only function of any sport is to bring happiness and fun from moving; of course it is nice to win some competiton but the winner has to say : “OK, maybe I’m so good maybe it was just a luck, but I like this sport and I would be happy the same if I was the last”

· when I was young, I used to play tennis for about 3 years, but I must say I didn’t like it very much; I didn’t like going to trainings because there were too many people and I was the youngest and the worst of them; but what I liked was to play on weekends mornings with my father (I beated him twice)

· I did judo for approximately one year but I gave it up because I didn’t like it at all - I was kind of sensitive

· now I play frisbee and it’s the greatest game in the world; it originated in America in 1960’s and came to Europe in early 90’s, I started to do it 2 years ago and quickly learned the basic - throw the disc, now I’m not the worst; once a week we go running and another day we train in a hall or outdoor during the summer; I’ve been only on four ultimate cups and our team was always on last three positions; but it doesn’t matter, we are relatively young team and we all like it

· I would also mention that I do rollerblade skating, but mainly during the summer

· I don’t watch TV very much but if I had to choose a sport to watch, it would be hockey - it is quick, action and CR is good in it


Článek podporuje:
inline hokej, nordic skating, helmy levně

Sports popular in our country and in the English-speaking world

CR - Czechs are traditionally good in hockey, football and athletics; I think that I don’t have to remind the Olympic games in Nagano, because everybody in Czech country knows our “Golden Team” or at least goalman Hasek or forward Jagr; we were good in football between two world wars and now it is still the traditional sport, but rather domestic; we have always been good in athletics and still are; I could name Zatopek, Fibingerova from 50’s and 60’s and Zelezny, Kasparkova and Dvorak from present days
USA - we could say that Americans created their own, very uncommon sports, which became more popular than anything else - baseball, basketball, American football and golf; 40 000 people visiting one match is not surptising, but many people go there not to see the match, but their heroes or to chat with friends; you can get 10 000$ if you catch the homerun from Mark McGuire
England - traditional sports would be here probably football and tennis; although the English tennis players haven’t been succesful since 1930’s, Wimbledon is the most famous of all lawn tennis centres; it is home of the “Lawn Tennis Championships on Grass”, the oldest and most prestigious of the tournaments; Wimbledon is situated in Church Road, in a residential district of southwest London; there are some 16 grass courts and 10 clay courts, the Centre Court and the No.1 are the two principal courts; the first championships were held by the All-England Club in 1877 at the original site in Worple Road, Wimbledon
Highland Games - series of organized sports events held in Scotland annually since the 19th century and in many places in Canada and the United States; one of the best known of the games is the Braemar Gathering, held in Aberdeenshire in Scotland in August; competition for prizes is held in the standard athletic events and in uniquely Scottish sports such as tossing the caber - a fir tree pole about 5 m long and weighing about 41kg and the weight - a 25-kg sphere; Scottish dancing, Gaelic recitations, and the playing of the bagpipes are also featured

Sports popular in our country and in the English-speaking world

CR - Czechs are traditionally good in hockey, football and athletics; I think that I don’t have to remind the Olympic games in Nagano, because everybody in Czech country knows our “Golden Team” or at least goalman Hasek or forward Jagr; we were good in football between two world wars and now it is still the traditional sport, but rather domestic; we have always been good in athletics and still are; I could name Zatopek, Fibingerova from 50’s and 60’s and Zelezny, Kasparkova and Dvorak from present days
USA - we could say that Americans created their own, very uncommon sports, which became more popular than anything else - baseball, basketball, American football and golf; 40 000 people visiting one match is not surptising, but many people go there not to see the match, but their heroes or to chat with friends; you can get 10 000$ if you catch the homerun from Mark McGuire
England - traditional sports would be here probably football and tennis; although the English tennis players haven’t been succesful since 1930’s, Wimbledon is the most famous of all lawn tennis centres; it is home of the “Lawn Tennis Championships on Grass”, the oldest and most prestigious of the tournaments; Wimbledon is situated in Church Road, in a residential district of southwest London; there are some 16 grass courts and 10 clay courts, the Centre Court and the No.1 are the two principal courts; the first championships were held by the All-England Club in 1877 at the original site in Worple Road, Wimbledon
Highland Games - series of organized sports events held in Scotland annually since the 19th century and in many places in Canada and the United States; one of the best known of the games is the Braemar Gathering, held in Aberdeenshire in Scotland in August; competition for prizes is held in the standard athletic events and in uniquely Scottish sports such as tossing the caber - a fir tree pole about 5 m long and weighing about 41kg and the weight - a 25-kg sphere; Scottish dancing, Gaelic recitations, and the playing of the bagpipes are also featured

Sports and me

Sports and me

· I think that the main and only function of any sport is to bring happiness and fun from moving; of course it is nice to win some competiton but the winner has to say : “OK, maybe I’m so good maybe it was just a luck, but I like this sport and I would be happy the same if I was the last”

· when I was young, I used to play tennis for about 3 years, but I must say I didn’t like it very much; I didn’t like going to trainings because there were too many people and I was the youngest and the worst of them; but what I liked was to play on weekends mornings with my father (I beated him twice)

· I did judo for approximately one year but I gave it up because I didn’t like it at all - I was kind of sensitive

· now I play frisbee and it’s the greatest game in the world; it originated in America in 1960’s and came to Europe in early 90’s, I started to do it 2 years ago and quickly learned the basic - throw the disc, now I’m not the worst; once a week we go running and another day we train in a hall or outdoor during the summer; I’ve been only on four ultimate cups and our team was always on last three positions; but it doesn’t matter, we are relatively young team and we all like it

· I would also mention that I do rollerblade skating, but mainly during the summer

· I don’t watch TV very much but if I had to choose a sport to watch, it would be hockey - it is quick, action and CR is good in it


Článek podporuje:
inline hokej, nordic skating, helmy levně

Problems connected with sports nowdays

Problems connected with sports nowdays

·
I think that the main problem connected with sports nowdays is that the reason why people did sports a hundred years ago and why they do it now changed
In the past - people did sports for fun, they just wanted to move their bodies, they didn’t care whether they would get on Olympic games - they liked the sport for itself and the sport made them happy
Nowdays - in our present society, when the world is quickly developing and modernising, when everything becomes more difficult and elaborate, the standard for being the best in something moved up > only very few people can stand on the real peak of human race and sportsmen think that they can if they work very, very hard; so the reason is not the fun of the game or sport, but it is to be the best, to beat everybody and to show everybody I’m the best

· and what’s the result of this degeneration of the function of sports ? > people regardlessly try to win at any price, fair play is not important anymore and spotsmen start to take drugs (no matter they destroy their body, but they win and that’s what they want)

· another problem is commercialism of sports and Olympic games - sportsmen need proffesional and expensive equipment, so the companies support them and than everybody can see that the fastest man wears a Nike T-shirt; sometimes I think that the competers didn’t win for themselves but for the company; it’s not surprising anymore when you see a famous sportsman in a commercial or when he has a restaurant (e.g. Michael Jordan’s in Chicago)


Článek podporuje:
inline hokej, nordic skating, helmy levně

Problems connected with sports nowdays

Problems connected with sports nowdays

·
I think that the main problem connected with sports nowdays is that the reason why people did sports a hundred years ago and why they do it now changed
In the past - people did sports for fun, they just wanted to move their bodies, they didn’t care whether they would get on Olympic games - they liked the sport for itself and the sport made them happy
Nowdays - in our present society, when the world is quickly developing and modernising, when everything becomes more difficult and elaborate, the standard for being the best in something moved up > only very few people can stand on the real peak of human race and sportsmen think that they can if they work very, very hard; so the reason is not the fun of the game or sport, but it is to be the best, to beat everybody and to show everybody I’m the best

· and what’s the result of this degeneration of the function of sports ? > people regardlessly try to win at any price, fair play is not important anymore and spotsmen start to take drugs (no matter they destroy their body, but they win and that’s what they want)

· another problem is commercialism of sports and Olympic games - sportsmen need proffesional and expensive equipment, so the companies support them and than everybody can see that the fastest man wears a Nike T-shirt; sometimes I think that the competers didn’t win for themselves but for the company; it’s not surprising anymore when you see a famous sportsman in a commercial or when he has a restaurant (e.g. Michael Jordan’s in Chicago)


Článek podporuje:
inline hokej, nordic skating, helmy levně

Comparing schools in UK/USA and CR

· the biggest difference between our and British school system is, that pupils in CR after 9 years of compulsury education can enter the high school for 4 years and in UK after 11 years of compulsury education they take only 2 years of ‘A’ levels - I think that someone who wants to enrol at a university is much better prepared from the 4-years high school than from 2-years ‘A’ levels
· in CR the better and worse students are together only for 9 years and than they separate, but in UK they have to be mixed for 11 years - I think that the good students must suffer
· children in UK enter the school at the age or 5 and in CR at the age of 6 or 7; I think in this point our system is better, because when children are 5, they are still too young to pay attention and they get quickly tired - that’s why they don’t like going to schools
· the British system is better in the length of compulsory education - during 11 years the pupils learn more than during 9 years
· on the contrary to the USA, students in CR don’t take only written tests, but also oral exams - it is good for expressing; Czech students also learn more theory than make experiments; it has advantages and of course disadvantages too, but basicly I think we are better prepared for studies on the university

Comparing schools in UK/USA and CR

· the biggest difference between our and British school system is, that pupils in CR after 9 years of compulsury education can enter the high school for 4 years and in UK after 11 years of compulsury education they take only 2 years of ‘A’ levels - I think that someone who wants to enrol at a university is much better prepared from the 4-years high school than from 2-years ‘A’ levels
· in CR the better and worse students are together only for 9 years and than they separate, but in UK they have to be mixed for 11 years - I think that the good students must suffer
· children in UK enter the school at the age or 5 and in CR at the age of 6 or 7; I think in this point our system is better, because when children are 5, they are still too young to pay attention and they get quickly tired - that’s why they don’t like going to schools
· the British system is better in the length of compulsory education - during 11 years the pupils learn more than during 9 years
· on the contrary to the USA, students in CR don’t take only written tests, but also oral exams - it is good for expressing; Czech students also learn more theory than make experiments; it has advantages and of course disadvantages too, but basicly I think we are better prepared for studies on the university

School year in CR

· school year in CR starts on the 1st of September, ends on 31st of June and is divided into two 5-months-long terms; at the end of every term students receive reports
· the first holidays are autumn holidays in October (2 days), then Christas holidays (in an ideal case they are 2 weeks long), half-of-term holiday is held after students receive reports (one day), spring holidays are one week long and are held on different terms depending from which region the student is and after the year report 2 months holidays
· on secondary schools, students of the 4th grade have one week off called “Saint week” before the school-leaving exam, that every student of the secondary school has to take (except some vocational schools)
· during the school year, every school has its own days off (e.g. concerts, sports days, theatres and other actions)
· on basic schools, secondary schools and universities students go on week-long summer or winter courses, with their teachers, where they learn to ski or go swimming, biking and hiking in summer
· the main subjects that most of the schools teach are maths, Czech language, foreign language, geography, history, physics, chemistry, biology ..., but they differ on each secondary schools

School year in CR

· school year in CR starts on the 1st of September, ends on 31st of June and is divided into two 5-months-long terms; at the end of every term students receive reports
· the first holidays are autumn holidays in October (2 days), then Christas holidays (in an ideal case they are 2 weeks long), half-of-term holiday is held after students receive reports (one day), spring holidays are one week long and are held on different terms depending from which region the student is and after the year report 2 months holidays
· on secondary schools, students of the 4th grade have one week off called “Saint week” before the school-leaving exam, that every student of the secondary school has to take (except some vocational schools)
· during the school year, every school has its own days off (e.g. concerts, sports days, theatres and other actions)
· on basic schools, secondary schools and universities students go on week-long summer or winter courses, with their teachers, where they learn to ski or go swimming, biking and hiking in summer
· the main subjects that most of the schools teach are maths, Czech language, foreign language, geography, history, physics, chemistry, biology ..., but they differ on each secondary schools

Schools and I

· first school I was attending was a nursery school and when I was 6 I moved to a basic school; the basic school had no specialisation and it even didn’t have extended language teaching, so I was learning only one language (English) and only for 4 years; I was the last class that didn’t have the compulsory 9th class and on the second term I passed the entrance exams to a secondary school, gymnasium; now I would like to enrol at a a university - CVUT, specialisation air traffic controller
· school system in CR :
Creche - is the first school, where babies are brought up until they are 3; it’s for mothers, who can’t stay on maternity leave with their children
Nursery school - from 3rd year of baby’s life the maternity leave for mothers finishes and they usually put their children in these school, where they can be until they are 6 or 7
Primary school - is compulsory for all children and the education is 9 years long
Secondary school - is voluntuary and children can choose from :
vocational schools - prepares for a job, emphasises handy work and practical training
technical schools - students are educated in specialised subjects
gymnasium - students are given general education
Supplementary schools - are usually 2 years long and educate students in specialised subjects
University - is the highest possible education; there are more types of them, e.g. technical and academical ones, academies of arts, millitary and police ...

Schools and I

· first school I was attending was a nursery school and when I was 6 I moved to a basic school; the basic school had no specialisation and it even didn’t have extended language teaching, so I was learning only one language (English) and only for 4 years; I was the last class that didn’t have the compulsory 9th class and on the second term I passed the entrance exams to a secondary school, gymnasium; now I would like to enrol at a a university - CVUT, specialisation air traffic controller
· school system in CR :
Creche - is the first school, where babies are brought up until they are 3; it’s for mothers, who can’t stay on maternity leave with their children
Nursery school - from 3rd year of baby’s life the maternity leave for mothers finishes and they usually put their children in these school, where they can be until they are 6 or 7
Primary school - is compulsory for all children and the education is 9 years long
Secondary school - is voluntuary and children can choose from :
vocational schools - prepares for a job, emphasises handy work and practical training
technical schools - students are educated in specialised subjects
gymnasium - students are given general education
Supplementary schools - are usually 2 years long and educate students in specialised subjects
University - is the highest possible education; there are more types of them, e.g. technical and academical ones, academies of arts, millitary and police ...

School system in the Czech Republic

In the CR, school attendance is compulsory from the age of 6 till 15 (or 16). It is free of charge and all children have the same possibilities for their future education. This system includes 4 grades:
a) Pre - school education
In our country there are nursery schools for children from the age of 1 to 3 years. From the age of 3 to 6 children attend kindergarten. This pre-school education is not compulsory.
b) Primary education
From the age of 6 to 15 (or 16) children attend basic schools. There are 2 degrees there. The first degree is from the first to the fifth class. Children learn the 3 R's there: Reading, wRiting, aRithmetic. Second degree is from the 6th to the 9th class. They learn Czech language and literature, foreign language, Maths, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, History, Geography, Civics, P. E., Music and Art.
c) Secondary education
Boys and girls over the age 15 (or) 16 attend secondary schools such as Grammar school, Special School and Apprentice centres. At secondary school students are taught most of those subject as at basic school but they are expanded in their content. As for special subjects, they learn economics, typing, accounting, computers, and various kinds of laboratory work. Students finish their studies with the school-leaving examination
d) Tertiary education
Tertiary education refers to universities and Technical Universities. Successful students from secondary schools can enter any university.

School system in the Czech Republic

In the CR, school attendance is compulsory from the age of 6 till 15 (or 16). It is free of charge and all children have the same possibilities for their future education. This system includes 4 grades:
a) Pre - school education
In our country there are nursery schools for children from the age of 1 to 3 years. From the age of 3 to 6 children attend kindergarten. This pre-school education is not compulsory.
b) Primary education
From the age of 6 to 15 (or 16) children attend basic schools. There are 2 degrees there. The first degree is from the first to the fifth class. Children learn the 3 R's there: Reading, wRiting, aRithmetic. Second degree is from the 6th to the 9th class. They learn Czech language and literature, foreign language, Maths, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, History, Geography, Civics, P. E., Music and Art.
c) Secondary education
Boys and girls over the age 15 (or) 16 attend secondary schools such as Grammar school, Special School and Apprentice centres. At secondary school students are taught most of those subject as at basic school but they are expanded in their content. As for special subjects, they learn economics, typing, accounting, computers, and various kinds of laboratory work. Students finish their studies with the school-leaving examination
d) Tertiary education
Tertiary education refers to universities and Technical Universities. Successful students from secondary schools can enter any university.

School system in Great Britain

School is compulsory for children between the age of 5 to 16. Primary schools are for ages between 5 - 11 and Secondary schools are for ages over 11. Children under the age of five go to kindergarten. In Britain, 93% of pupils go to state schools. At the age of 16 about two thirds (2/3) of these pupils leave school and get jobs or apprenticeships. This system of education is free of charge. Some children take the Certificate of Secondary Education (C. S. E.) which means the satisfactory completion of school at the age of 16. More ambitious children take the examinations for the General Certificate of Secondary Education at ordinary level (GCSE - O level) or advanced level (GCSE - A level) at the age of 18. The GCSE - A level is the basic qualification to enter university. There are more than 40 universities in Great Britain.

School system in Great Britain

School is compulsory for children between the age of 5 to 16. Primary schools are for ages between 5 - 11 and Secondary schools are for ages over 11. Children under the age of five go to kindergarten. In Britain, 93% of pupils go to state schools. At the age of 16 about two thirds (2/3) of these pupils leave school and get jobs or apprenticeships. This system of education is free of charge. Some children take the Certificate of Secondary Education (C. S. E.) which means the satisfactory completion of school at the age of 16. More ambitious children take the examinations for the General Certificate of Secondary Education at ordinary level (GCSE - O level) or advanced level (GCSE - A level) at the age of 18. The GCSE - A level is the basic qualification to enter university. There are more than 40 universities in Great Britain.

School sports day

· school sports day on my school is traditionally held the first Tuesday in May on an athletic field close to the school; it is organised by our sport teachers and the events are :1000m run, relay, 100m sprint, long jump and high jump and weight put
· I participated only on one school sport day because the other times I was ill; I ran a relay and a 1000m run; I think that I started the relay well, I overtook 2 runners but finally our class finished 3rd; and when I was supposed to run the 1000m, I didn’t notice that other competors moved to the other side of the pitch and they started without me
· because we have only 10 boys in our class, we have never achieved a good position as a whole class

School sports day

· school sports day on my school is traditionally held the first Tuesday in May on an athletic field close to the school; it is organised by our sport teachers and the events are :1000m run, relay, 100m sprint, long jump and high jump and weight put
· I participated only on one school sport day because the other times I was ill; I ran a relay and a 1000m run; I think that I started the relay well, I overtook 2 runners but finally our class finished 3rd; and when I was supposed to run the 1000m, I didn’t notice that other competors moved to the other side of the pitch and they started without me
· because we have only 10 boys in our class, we have never achieved a good position as a whole class

New Year’s Eve

- is celebrated on 31st of December in the Gregorian calendar and is not a public holiday; people welcome the new year coming, they gather in public places or they go to parties and usually get drunk
Hogmanay - is the name given to New Year's Eve in Scotland; the custom called “First Footing” is still held and it means that a person who enters a house as the first in the new year is called first footer and he should carry a small piece of coal to bring luck; people go from door to door, visiting friends and relatives during which they give and receive small gifts, usually of food or drink, this is often followed by a gathering at one person's house where the festivities (including eating a haggis and drinking whisky, dancing and singing) continue
Pancake day (also Shrove Tuesday) - is not a holiday and is held the day before the Christian period of Lent (40 days before Easter) begins, people in Britain make and eat pancakes, they also hold races in tossing the pancakes while running
Easter - is celebrated between March 22 and April 25 and follows the Lent that begins on Ash wednesday; on Good Friday, Christians remember the crucifixion of Jesus and on Easter Sunday his resurection; people in Britain eat hot cross buns and children receive chocolate Easter eggs, but firstly they have to find them hidden in the garden; in CR we decorate real eggs and eat chocolate rabbits, and on Easter Monday we beat all girls with wooden sticks

Thanksgiving Day

- is celebrated the fourth Thursday in November and it is a legal holiday in the United States and in Canada; after the first harvest was completed by the Plymouth colonists and with help of Indians in 1621, a day of thanksgiving and prayer was proclaimed; now American families usually get together and they eat turkey, corn, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie
Independence Day - is the holiday, which commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, and wasn’t a legal holiday until 1941; parades, pageants, patriotic speeches, organized firing of guns and cannons and displays of fireworks are held as well as family picnics and outings
Halloween - is not a holiday and is celebrated on October 31; this feast originated among the ancient Druids, who believed that on that evening, the lord of the dead called evil spirits so the Druids customarily lit great fires on Halloween apparently for the purpose of warding off all these spirits; after the Romans conquered Britain, they added to Halloween features of the Roman harvest festival; in recent days children go trick or treat, they were frightening clothes and face masks; carved pumpkins with lit candles placed inside can be seen in windows

Guy Fawkes Night - is not a holiday, celebrated on 5th November and remembering the failure of the “Gunpowder plot”, a plan by Roman catholics and Guy Fawkes who wanted to rid the country of its Protestant rulers and to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605; bonfires are lit and dummies are burned
Eisteddfod - is a national music and literary festival held each summer in Wales to promote Welsh language, literature, music, and customs; the week-long ceremony is a revival of the ancient Welsh custom of assembling bards, or minstrels, for competition among themselves in poetry and music

Thanksgiving Day

- is celebrated the fourth Thursday in November and it is a legal holiday in the United States and in Canada; after the first harvest was completed by the Plymouth colonists and with help of Indians in 1621, a day of thanksgiving and prayer was proclaimed; now American families usually get together and they eat turkey, corn, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie
Independence Day - is the holiday, which commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, and wasn’t a legal holiday until 1941; parades, pageants, patriotic speeches, organized firing of guns and cannons and displays of fireworks are held as well as family picnics and outings
Halloween - is not a holiday and is celebrated on October 31; this feast originated among the ancient Druids, who believed that on that evening, the lord of the dead called evil spirits so the Druids customarily lit great fires on Halloween apparently for the purpose of warding off all these spirits; after the Romans conquered Britain, they added to Halloween features of the Roman harvest festival; in recent days children go trick or treat, they were frightening clothes and face masks; carved pumpkins with lit candles placed inside can be seen in windows

Guy Fawkes Night - is not a holiday, celebrated on 5th November and remembering the failure of the “Gunpowder plot”, a plan by Roman catholics and Guy Fawkes who wanted to rid the country of its Protestant rulers and to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605; bonfires are lit and dummies are burned
Eisteddfod - is a national music and literary festival held each summer in Wales to promote Welsh language, literature, music, and customs; the week-long ceremony is a revival of the ancient Welsh custom of assembling bards, or minstrels, for competition among themselves in poetry and music

New Year’s Eve

- is celebrated on 31st of December in the Gregorian calendar and is not a public holiday; people welcome the new year coming, they gather in public places or they go to parties and usually get drunk
Hogmanay - is the name given to New Year's Eve in Scotland; the custom called “First Footing” is still held and it means that a person who enters a house as the first in the new year is called first footer and he should carry a small piece of coal to bring luck; people go from door to door, visiting friends and relatives during which they give and receive small gifts, usually of food or drink, this is often followed by a gathering at one person's house where the festivities (including eating a haggis and drinking whisky, dancing and singing) continue
Pancake day (also Shrove Tuesday) - is not a holiday and is held the day before the Christian period of Lent (40 days before Easter) begins, people in Britain make and eat pancakes, they also hold races in tossing the pancakes while running
Easter - is celebrated between March 22 and April 25 and follows the Lent that begins on Ash wednesday; on Good Friday, Christians remember the crucifixion of Jesus and on Easter Sunday his resurection; people in Britain eat hot cross buns and children receive chocolate Easter eggs, but firstly they have to find them hidden in the garden; in CR we decorate real eggs and eat chocolate rabbits, and on Easter Monday we beat all girls with wooden sticks

Christmas

· Christmas Day falls on December 25 and celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem

· Christmas Day did not officially come into being until 354 when Pope Gregory proclaimed December 25 as the date of the Nativity; Christian church subsequently added, in the Middle Ages, the Nativity crib and Christmas carols to its customs

· in 1552 the Puritans banned Christmas, a move followed in Massachusetts seven years later; although Christmas returned to England in 1660 with Charles II, the rituals all but died out until revived in Victorian times

· most of the Christmass customs are world wide, like decorating Christmas tree (which originated in German centuries ago), singing carols (some were revived and many new ones written, often to traditional melodies) and sending Christmas cards

· some special customs were introduced in England and USA, e.g. Christmas crackers (they were invented in the late 19th century by an enterprising English baker, Tom Smith, who, by 1900, was selling 13 million worldwide each year) or the familiar image of Santa Claus, complete with sledge, reindeers, and sack of toys

· in English-speaking countries, they give presents on Christmas day and the “traditional” meal is turkey or goose, Christmas pudding, and mince pies

· in Czech republic, we give presents to each other on 24th - Christmas Eve and we usually eat fried carp with potatoe salad


Další zdroje o tomto tématu naleznete zde:
Holidays and traditions
Články na hledaný výraz "Christmas and New Year in Grat Britain and Czech Republic" naleznete na bezuceni.cz

Christmas

· Christmas Day falls on December 25 and celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem

· Christmas Day did not officially come into being until 354 when Pope Gregory proclaimed December 25 as the date of the Nativity; Christian church subsequently added, in the Middle Ages, the Nativity crib and Christmas carols to its customs

· in 1552 the Puritans banned Christmas, a move followed in Massachusetts seven years later; although Christmas returned to England in 1660 with Charles II, the rituals all but died out until revived in Victorian times

· most of the Christmass customs are world wide, like decorating Christmas tree (which originated in German centuries ago), singing carols (some were revived and many new ones written, often to traditional melodies) and sending Christmas cards

· some special customs were introduced in England and USA, e.g. Christmas crackers (they were invented in the late 19th century by an enterprising English baker, Tom Smith, who, by 1900, was selling 13 million worldwide each year) or the familiar image of Santa Claus, complete with sledge, reindeers, and sack of toys

· in English-speaking countries, they give presents on Christmas day and the “traditional” meal is turkey or goose, Christmas pudding, and mince pies

· in Czech republic, we give presents to each other on 24th - Christmas Eve and we usually eat fried carp with potatoe salad


Další zdroje o tomto tématu naleznete zde:
Holidays and traditions
Články na hledaný výraz "Christmas and New Year in Grat Britain and Czech Republic" naleznete na bezuceni.cz

Civil rights movement

· until WWII there was a strong segregation of blacks, they couldn’t eat in the same restaurants, sit in the same places in buses and trains, go to swimming pools, vote and drink the same water; during the WWII, according to Truman’s orders, the blacks were given the same positions in the army as the white and in 1948 the army was desegregated
· in 1954 the segregation in schools was outlawed and the black children could attend the same schools as white pupils; in 1957 9 black students tried to enroll at a previously all-white high school, but were stopped by national guard; two days later, according to Eisenhower’s order, they were admitted under a protection of federal troops
· the landmark came in 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama, when a black woman refused to give up her seat to a white passanger and was arrested; this encouraged thousands of blacks , led by Martin Luther King, to Montgomery bus boycott and other willing, but non-violent protests (such as sit-in, civil disobedience); the Supreme court declared segregation in public buses unconstitutional
· in 1963 the black marchers were attacked by dogs and cattles and 4 months later MLK led an assembly on Lincoln Memorial where he delivered “I have a dream ...” speech; when Lyndon B. Johnson overtook the presidential office, he aimed mainly on racial discriminations; the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed which had a powerful impact on equality in accomodation, employment and voting rights ...
· civil rights had been focused mainly in the south, in the north the blacks had worse opportunities in everything; in 1964 many towns in north were struck by riots; the black nationalist movement in the 60’s was very strong, some of the black leaders called for total segregation rather than integration; among them were the Black muslims led by Malcolm X
· in 1970’s the blacks decided that voting was the most effective way to gain equal rights and by 1985 10% of all American officials were blacks

Civil rights movement

· until WWII there was a strong segregation of blacks, they couldn’t eat in the same restaurants, sit in the same places in buses and trains, go to swimming pools, vote and drink the same water; during the WWII, according to Truman’s orders, the blacks were given the same positions in the army as the white and in 1948 the army was desegregated
· in 1954 the segregation in schools was outlawed and the black children could attend the same schools as white pupils; in 1957 9 black students tried to enroll at a previously all-white high school, but were stopped by national guard; two days later, according to Eisenhower’s order, they were admitted under a protection of federal troops
· the landmark came in 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama, when a black woman refused to give up her seat to a white passanger and was arrested; this encouraged thousands of blacks , led by Martin Luther King, to Montgomery bus boycott and other willing, but non-violent protests (such as sit-in, civil disobedience); the Supreme court declared segregation in public buses unconstitutional
· in 1963 the black marchers were attacked by dogs and cattles and 4 months later MLK led an assembly on Lincoln Memorial where he delivered “I have a dream ...” speech; when Lyndon B. Johnson overtook the presidential office, he aimed mainly on racial discriminations; the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed which had a powerful impact on equality in accomodation, employment and voting rights ...
· civil rights had been focused mainly in the south, in the north the blacks had worse opportunities in everything; in 1964 many towns in north were struck by riots; the black nationalist movement in the 60’s was very strong, some of the black leaders called for total segregation rather than integration; among them were the Black muslims led by Malcolm X
· in 1970’s the blacks decided that voting was the most effective way to gain equal rights and by 1985 10% of all American officials were blacks

Korean war

· a military struggle fought on the Korean Peninsula from June 1950 to July 1953; it begun as a war between South Korea and North Korea but the conflict swiftly developed into a limited international war involving the United States and 19 other nations; from a general viewpoint, the Korean War was one of the by-products of the cold war
· North Korea apparently attacked South Korea without the knowledge of either the Soviet Union or the People's Republic of China; the war began on June 25 when the North Korean leader, Kim Il Sung, invaded the south of the 38th parallel, supported by the growing opposition to South Korea's president and thinking of reuniting the two Koreas; the United States immediately responded by sending supplies to Korea
· US President Harry S. Truman ordered combat forces stationed in Japan deployed to Korea; American forces, those of South Korea, and other nationalities forces were placed under a unified UN command headed by the US commander in chief in the Far East, General Douglas MacArthur
· at the beginning the American and other UN troops were pushed back to a small area in the south-east of South Korea, but McArthur made an excellent offensive and his troops soon reached the south borders of China; after some time they again had to retreat against well-supplied and fresh Chinnese army and McArthur changed his agressive plans only to prevent south Korea from invasion from the north
· the discussions for a ceasefire begun in July in 1951, between representatives of the UN and Communist commands; the truce negotiations continued intermittently for two years

McCarthyism

· the early 50’s in USA are often known as McCarthyism, a by-product of the cold war, when the people feared being attacked by nuclear weapons, spreading communism and this was also period of spies and secret agents

· General Joseph McCarthy commanded troops in the Korean war and was well-known for his strong hate of communists; because of his agressive military strategy he was relieved from the command

· he continued his career as a politician and was a chief of the US House of Representatives Committee of Un-American Activities; he became famous with his list of 200 communist in state department and he continued to blame hundreds of people of being member of the Communist party; he was accusing like he was mad and lost all of his popularity

· this persecution of former communists culminated when the Hollywood Ten (American writers who refused to answer whether they had been members of a communist party) were prisoning and later couldn’t be employed anywhere; between years 1947-1954 214 Hollywood workers were accused of membership in the C. party and they had to squeal on others

McCarthyism

· the early 50’s in USA are often known as McCarthyism, a by-product of the cold war, when the people feared being attacked by nuclear weapons, spreading communism and this was also period of spies and secret agents

· General Joseph McCarthy commanded troops in the Korean war and was well-known for his strong hate of communists; because of his agressive military strategy he was relieved from the command

· he continued his career as a politician and was a chief of the US House of Representatives Committee of Un-American Activities; he became famous with his list of 200 communist in state department and he continued to blame hundreds of people of being member of the Communist party; he was accusing like he was mad and lost all of his popularity

· this persecution of former communists culminated when the Hollywood Ten (American writers who refused to answer whether they had been members of a communist party) were prisoning and later couldn’t be employed anywhere; between years 1947-1954 214 Hollywood workers were accused of membership in the C. party and they had to squeal on others

Korean war

· a military struggle fought on the Korean Peninsula from June 1950 to July 1953; it begun as a war between South Korea and North Korea but the conflict swiftly developed into a limited international war involving the United States and 19 other nations; from a general viewpoint, the Korean War was one of the by-products of the cold war
· North Korea apparently attacked South Korea without the knowledge of either the Soviet Union or the People's Republic of China; the war began on June 25 when the North Korean leader, Kim Il Sung, invaded the south of the 38th parallel, supported by the growing opposition to South Korea's president and thinking of reuniting the two Koreas; the United States immediately responded by sending supplies to Korea
· US President Harry S. Truman ordered combat forces stationed in Japan deployed to Korea; American forces, those of South Korea, and other nationalities forces were placed under a unified UN command headed by the US commander in chief in the Far East, General Douglas MacArthur
· at the beginning the American and other UN troops were pushed back to a small area in the south-east of South Korea, but McArthur made an excellent offensive and his troops soon reached the south borders of China; after some time they again had to retreat against well-supplied and fresh Chinnese army and McArthur changed his agressive plans only to prevent south Korea from invasion from the north
· the discussions for a ceasefire begun in July in 1951, between representatives of the UN and Communist commands; the truce negotiations continued intermittently for two years

Watergate affair

· a major United States political scandal that began with the burglary and wiretapping of the Democratic party's campaign headquarters and that culminated in the first resignation of a US president
· the burglary was committed on June 17, 1972, by five men who were caught in the offices of the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate apartment and office complex in Washington, D.C.; their arrest uncovered a White House-sponsored plan of espionage against political opponents and a trail of complicity that led to many of the highest officials in the land
· on July 16, 1973, it was told the committee, on nationwide television, that Nixon had ordered a taping system to be installed in the White House to automatically record all conversations; Nixon refused to release the tapes, claiming they were vital to the national security, but US District Court Judge ruled that Nixon must give the tapes
· Nixon gave the tapes to the court, but some subpoenaed conversations were missing, and one tape had a mysterious gap of 18,5 minutes; experts determined that the gap was the result of five separate erasures; Nixon also released written transcripts of 42 more tapes; the conversations revealed an overwhelming concern with punishing political opponents
· rather than face almost certain impeachment, Nixon resigned on August 9, the first US president to do so

Watergate affair

· a major United States political scandal that began with the burglary and wiretapping of the Democratic party's campaign headquarters and that culminated in the first resignation of a US president
· the burglary was committed on June 17, 1972, by five men who were caught in the offices of the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate apartment and office complex in Washington, D.C.; their arrest uncovered a White House-sponsored plan of espionage against political opponents and a trail of complicity that led to many of the highest officials in the land
· on July 16, 1973, it was told the committee, on nationwide television, that Nixon had ordered a taping system to be installed in the White House to automatically record all conversations; Nixon refused to release the tapes, claiming they were vital to the national security, but US District Court Judge ruled that Nixon must give the tapes
· Nixon gave the tapes to the court, but some subpoenaed conversations were missing, and one tape had a mysterious gap of 18,5 minutes; experts determined that the gap was the result of five separate erasures; Nixon also released written transcripts of 42 more tapes; the conversations revealed an overwhelming concern with punishing political opponents
· rather than face almost certain impeachment, Nixon resigned on August 9, the first US president to do so