Native Americans

Native Americans came from Asia. Over 20 000 years ago they traveled
across the land between Siberia and Alaska. When English colonists came to the
New World on board the "Mayflower" the native Americans met them and
were very friendly and helped them a lot.

   In those days people lived in small earth houses and
grew their own food. Some Indians ate only grass, nuts, and what fruit they
could find. Other people were fishermen and lived in wooden houses. Most native
Americans were very peaceful. They wanted to live happily with nature and each
other. They believed in many gods and thought that the gods live in trees,
stones, water and fire. They believed their gods could bring success in
hunting, farming and fishing. They often had special ceremonies with dances and
music before they went hunting or fishing or when they began farming.

   Native Americans songs and poems are a very
important part of their traditions as they help them to keep their history and
culture alive. Another famous tradition was smoking of a peace pipe. When they
smoked this pipe together with people they did not know it meant friendship and
peace. Many years ago Native American tribes lived in all parts of the USA, and
hunted and fished wherever they choose. Now most of them live in poor lands to
the west of Mississippi River. Many live in "reservations".

Pets in Great Britain

Lots of families in Great Britain have got one or more pets.

   Dogs are the favourite pets and there are about 6
million of them in Great Britain. The second favourite are cats (about 5
millions) and the third favourite is a bird - budgie*. Some families do not
keep cats or dogs. They keep other animals as pets in their homes. There are
more than 12 million pets in Britain. The English take good care of their pets.
They give them nice names: Rover, Rax, Cindy, Misty (for dogs); Albert, Snowy,
Fluffy, Tom (for cats); Polly, Chatterbox (for parrots);Guy, Scamper, Shipley,
Shirley (for monkeys).When they speak of their pets, they say, "he"
or "she", not "it". The English give their pets nice food
to eat. They buy food for their pets in pet shops. The English are pet lovers.

Schools in England

English educational system is quite different from what we have in
Russia. It is class-divided. There some state schools and some private ones.

   State schools are infant, junior or secondary.
British boys and girls begin to go to school at the age of 5. They draw
pictures, sing songs, listen to the stories and tales. British children begin
to read and write when they enter the infant schools.

   Young children are divided into two groups,
according to their mental abilities. Children leave infant schools when they
are 7. Then they go to study at junior schools where they learn to write, read
and do mathematics. Their school subjects are History, English, Geography,
Arithmetics, Arts, Music, Swimming and some others. When the pupils enter the
junior schools they pass abilities test. According to the results of the test
and thus their intellectual potential they are divided into three groups. Boys
and girls spend four years studying at junior schools. Then they pass
examinations again and enter the secondary schools. There different types of
secondary schools in Britain. They are: grammar schools, modern schools and
comprehensive schools. English boys and girls attend secondary schools from 11
till 16. They don't go to schools on Saturdays and Sundays. In the modern
schools pupils do not learn foreign languages. In grammar schools pupils
receive better theoretical education. And the other school type is
comprehensive schools. Almot all secondary pupils ( around 90 per cent ) go
there.

   There are also private schools in England. Boys and
girls do not study together there. It is common that aristocracy sons go to
these schools and parents pay a lot of money for their education. These schools
are called public.

   Independent and preparatory schools are private ones
too. They prepare children for public schools and take money for the training.
The teachers of the private schools can pay more attention to each of the
pupils personally. It is possible to enter the best English universities after
leaving public schools. After finishing grammar schools pupils have good
knowledge and may continue studying in colleges and universities. English
pupils wear school uniform. It is one of the oldest country's traditions. A
boy's uniform includes a school cap, a tie and a blazer. A girl's uniform
consists of a hat, a coat, a skirt and a blouse. The uniforms vary from school
to school. Usually, they are dark.