1、I.Basic Information about America1.Official Name:The United States of America2.National flag 3.National emblem 4.The capital:Washington D.C.5.The first president:George Washington6.The 44th president:George W.Bush7.National song:the star-spangled banner 8.Correct the following sentences.A.New York i
2、s the largest state in the US.B.Most state names are from English.C.Atlanta is known as the“Big Apple”.D.The Constitution was written in 1779.New YorkAlaskaNative American languages 1787A.in the central part of North America.B.It is bounded by Canada on the north,and Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico on
3、 the south.C.With Atlantic Ocean on the east,Pacific Ocean on the westD.Total area:9372614II.Three Geographical Divisions1.The eastern partA.The highlands formed by the Appalachian Range,relatively low.B.From north Maine to central Alabama,1/6 C.consisting of the Piedmont Plateau,Appalachian Plateau
4、 and Appalachian RangeThe Appalachian PlateausThe Appalachian RangeThe Piedmont PlateauFall LineAtlantic Costal plain2.The western partA.High plateaus and mountains by the Cordillera Range B.From Canada to MexicoC.Composed of the Coast Range,the Cascades and the Rocky MountainsPacific Mountain syste
5、mSecond chainvalleyThe great basinColorado plateau3.The great central plainA.landmass between the Rockies and the Appalachians,of AmericaB.From the Great Lakes to the Gulf of MexicoC.Great Plains:western partD.Central lowlands:eastern part most important agricultural areaE.The Gulf Plain:low landsII
6、I.The Three Major River Systems1.The system of the gulf:the Mississippi River:A.the longest,the most important river B.6262 kilometers long from Great Lakes to the Gulf of MexicoC.“father of waters”or“old man river”D.its tributaries form an important inland navigation and irrigation systemMississipp
7、i River2.The system of the Atlantic:no long riversA.the Hudson River,linked by canals with the five Great Lakes,a main artery for inland waterway traffic B.Potomac River,Delaware River,St.Lawrence River which serves as an international river forming part of the boundary between U.S.A.and Canada.3.Th
8、e system of the pacific:two major riversA.the Columbia River from Canada into Pacific B.the Colorado River:into Gulf of California C.They are rich in potential water power.4164.The five Great LakesA.Lying between the boundary of Canada and the United StatesLake Michigan(wholly within the United Stat
9、es)Lake Superior(the largest freshwater lake in the world)Lake ErieLake HuronLake OntarioB.Great Salt Lake(largest inland salt lake in North America)C.Niagara Falls:located on the U.S.A.Canadian boundary between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario1.On the whole:A.Varies from coast to coastB.Temperature from-
10、20 to 25C.Continental or mild subtropical2.South&southwest:warmer,moist air3.western:days are hot and nights are cool,dry,little rain4.northeast:hot in summer,cold in winter,much rain and snow5.Central plain:hot in summer,cold in winter,much snow6.50 cm Rain-fall LineV.Natural Resources1.Rich in dep
11、osits,forestry,water power2.First in:coal,natural gas,aluminum,zinc,silver,molybdenum,uranium,zirconium3.Large reserves:iron ore,phosphorus,copper,gold,Sylvite,sulfur4.Short of:manganese,chromium,nickel,tin,cobalt,stibium,diamond,mica5.of the territory is covered with forests.6.Rich water power reso
12、urcesVI.Territory1.200 years ago,13 states along the Atlantic in a narrow strip2.1783,Treaty of Paris,area west to the Mississippi River3.1803,purchased Louisiana from Napoleon4.1819,got Florida from Spain5.1845,got Texas from Mexico6.1846,vast area from Mexico7.1867,purchased Alaska,the largest sta
13、te8.1889,the Hawaiian IslandsThe colors of the flag are symbolic as well:red symbolizes Hardness and Valor;white symbolizes Purity and Innocence and blue represents Vigilance,Perseverance and Justice.thirteen horizontal stripes,seven red alternating with 6 white The stripes represent the original 13
14、 colonies,and the 50 stars represent the 50 states of the Union.BackvIn 1782,US Congress selected the bald eagle as the emblem of the newly formed United States,because it symbolizes courage and might,and because it is indigenous only to the United States and to Canada.vThe national seal depicts the
15、 bald eagle with its wings spread,with one claw clutching an olive branch,and the other claw grasping arrows.Back oh,say,can you see,by the dawns early light,what so proudly we haild at the twilights last gleaming?whose broad stripes and bright stars,thro the perilous fight,oer the ramparts we watch
16、d,were so gallantly streaming?and the rockets red glare,the bombs bursting in air,gave proof thro the night that our flag was still there.o say,does that star-spangled banner yet wave oer the land of the free and the home of the brave?on the shore dimly seen thro the mists of the deep,where the foes
17、 haughty host in dread silence reposes,what is that which the breeze,oer the towering steep,BackRocky Mountain1.From Canadian border into New Mexico,with altitude more than 3000 meters2.Yellowstone National Park vOldest national park in the worldvLargest wildlife preserve in the USAvEstablished in 1
18、872,name from the yellow rocks lining the Yellowstone River.vFull of hot springs BackColorado ValleyvThreads the Colorado Plateaus,also called Grand CanyonvOne of the great natural wonders of the world.v277 miles long,18 miles wide,a mile deepvThe walls show layers that tell the story of the formati
19、on of the earth.BackThe Great BasinvDriest part of the countryvHells Canyon,shaped by Snake River,is the deepest chasm in North America.vThe Sierra Nevada is the highest mountain range in the continental US.vForest of beautiful redwoodsBack1.First chain:vCascade Range:lower&broadervSierra Nevada:hig
20、h&deep2.Second chain:vThe California Coast Range,the Oregon Coast Range3.Broad&rich valleyvValley of California:450 miles long,50 miles wide vDeath Valley:lowest point in North AmericaBackBackBackColorado CanyonBackMount Rushmore National MemorialvIt is located in Black Hills.vThere,carved on the mountain,are heads of four U.S.presidents-Washington,Jefferson,Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt.Crazy Horse MemorialvIt is in the Black Hills of South Dakota.vIt is a huge project that is said to be completed in almost one hundred years.Back
