TEXT 2. Read and translate the text

Funny facts about American Presidents

Eight American presidents never went to college: George Washington, Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore, Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Johnson and Grover Cleveland.

George Washington was the only president who didn't live in Washington during his presidency.

He was also the only president who had to borrow money to go to his own inauguration.

The first president to live in the White House was John Adams. His wife never liked her new house and often complained about the cold.

Before Theodore Roosevelt came to office, the White House wasn't even called the White House! People called the building the President's Palace or the President's House. Roosevelt officially named it the White House in 1901.

Thomas Jefferson was an architect as well as a great leader. He designed his own house.

Andrew Johnson, the 17^th president, was a tailor before he came to office. He was the only president who made his own clothes as well as his cabinet's!

James Garfield, the 20^th president, could write Latin with one hand and Greek with another!

Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32^nd president, served the longest in the history of the United States: 12 years, 1 month, 8 days.

Dwight David Eisenhower, the 34^th president, was the only president to serve in both World Wars. He was a wonderful cook and was famous for his vegetable soup, steaks and pancakes.

President John F. Kennedy, the 35^th president, was the fastest speaker – 327 words per minute. He was the youngest man elected president – at 43 years. Unfortunately, he was also the youngest to die. In 1963 he was murdered.

Richard Nixon, the 37^th president, was the only president to resign.

Gerald Ford, the 38^th president, was once a male model.

Ronald Reagan, the 40^th president, was the oldest president ever elected: he was 73. He was a Hollywood actor before becoming president. He made more than 50 movies, mostly westerns or action films.

Bill Clinton, the 42^d president, played saxophone in a jazz trio when he was a high school student. The three musicians wore dark glasses on stage and they called themselves «Three Blind Mice».

Barack Obama, the 44^th president, doesn't like ice cream! As a teenager he worked at an ice cream shop!

TEXT 3. Read and translate the text. Discuss advantages and disadvantages of being a president.

The Long Road to the White House: How to Become a US President

American politicians say that the way they elect presidents is one of the most open and democratic processes in the world. But to outsiders it seems rather baffling. In some countries, the election race takes just a few weeks, but in the United States, it usually takes more than a year. «The road to the White House is a long road», said George W. Bush.

The Rules:According to the US Constitution, a president must be elected every four years. To become a US president, you must be 35 or older, be a US citizen born in the USA, have lived in the USA at least 14 years.

You can only serve two terms. This means you can only be president twice. This became law in 1951. Before that, the law was different. In fact, Franklin D. Roosevelt became president in 1933 and was still president when he died in 1945.

The US president is not actually chosen by a direct vote of people. He is elected by the 538 electors that make up what is called the Electoral College. The Electoral College isn’t the kind of college with students and professors. It means the total number of «electoral votes» from all the states. Altogether, there are 538 electoral votes and a candidate must win at least 270 of them (more than half) to win the presidency.

Step 1. Get yourself nominated:The first step on the long road to the White House is primaries and caucuses. Voters all over the country go to the polls to help each political party decide on a single candidate. In most countries, the party picks the candidate. But in the US, voters have to choose from the list of candidates made by the party. The US has two main political parties: the Democrats and the Republicans.

Step 2. The Convention:The party delegates gather together to unite behind one presidential candidate. The Republicans usually meet in Philadelphia and the Democrats meet in Los Angeles. They also create their party platforms.

Step 3. The Campaign:TV, radio, and print advertisements are everywhere! The candidates travel up and down the country, giving speeches and appearing on TV. These guys want you to know why they should live in the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue.

Step 4. Great Debates:The candidates face each other in national debates. They have to answer difficult questions – about taxes, education, foreign policy…

Step 5. The Election Day:On November 7, people in every state vote their choice for president. Whichever candidate wins your state’s popular vote usually gets all of your state’s electoral votes.

Step 6. Moving-In Day:On Inauguration Day, which is always held on January 20, Americans finally call the winner «Mr. President». And that looks pretty cool on a business card! There is usually a parade and the new president usually makes a speech about his plans for the US.