Comprehension. Ex.1. Split the text into parts and think of appropriate titles for each one.

Ex.1. Split the text into parts and think of appropriate titles for each one.

Ex.2.Use the following words and word combinations in the sentences of your own.

- emerge

- to conquer

- the increase in

- in search of

- to complete for

- despite hardships

- persecution

- wipe out

Ex. 3.Complete the following sentences according to the text:

1. … gave birth to a unique American civilization in the New World.

2. The first Americans were immigrants who…

3. They reached North America without knowing…

4. … developed highly organized and sophisticated societies.

5. Peace, prosperity and optimism helped to…

6. The Renaissance brought…

7. In search of spices and luxury goods, explorers…

8. Other countries envied…

9. …their interests in the Americas deepened.

10. …wanted freedom from religious persecution.

11. Although many diverse groups of people populated…

12. … did not share this better life.

Ex. 4. Restore the order in which the events appear:

a) The age of European discovery and exploration of the Americas began in earnest with the voyage of Christopher Columbus in 1942.

b) The Renaissance brought a profound cultural awakening in European lands.

c) Between 34,000 and 30,000 BC the early humans came to American Continent hunting large animals for their survival.

d) During the Reformation some groups broke entirely with the Church and founded Protestant churches.

e) Eventually these people spread throughout North and South America. Although some remained hunter-gathers, others learned agriculture and raised animals.

f) Improved technology and search of spices and luxury goods inspired explorers to find an all-water route from Europe to Asia.

g) In time the colonists in Jamestown formed the first representative government body in North America, the House of Burgesses.

1. By 1500 Spain and Portugal were competing for the territory in the Restore the order in which the events appear:

h) Americas.

i) After the English destroyed the Spanish invasion fleet, the Armada, in 1588, their interest in the Americas deepened.

j) Some settlers like Pilgrims and Puritans wanted to find freedom from religious persecution in New England.

k) The people of Spain’s colonies formed a structured society with government officials at the top and native Americans and African slaves at the bottom.

Ex. 5.Answer the following questions using as much information from the text as possible:

1. Who were the first people to reach the American continent? With what purpose did they come to it?

2. The first Europeans to arrive in the Americas were Norse seafarers from Scandinavia, weren’t they?

3. What civilizations throughout North and South America grew into societies?

4. What events in Europe and Asia caused the new era in exploration of the world and America in particular?

5. How did the competiting for territory and commerce influence the exploration and the settlement of the New World? What colonies were established in the New World?

6. Was the social and political structure of the colonies of unique character?

7. Can one consider the social and political structure of the colonies democratic? Why?