Text: The White House

Text: The White House
In Washington, D.C. 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is very special address. It is the address of the White House, the home of the president of the United States. Originally the White House was gray and was called the Presidential Palace.
It was built from 1792 to 1800. At this time, the city of Washington itself was being built. It was to be the nation’s new capital city. George Washington, the first president, and Pierre Charles L’Enfant, a French engineer, chose the place for the new city. L’Enfant then planned the city. The president’s home was an important part of the plan.
A contest was held to pick a design for the president’s home. An architect named James Hoban won. He designed a large three-story house of gray stone.
President Washington never lived in the Presidential Palace. The first president to live there was John Adams, the second president of the United States, and his wife. Mrs. Adams did not really like her new house. In her letters, she often complained about the cold. Fifty fireplaces were not enough to keep the house warm.
In 1812 the United States and Britain went to war. In 1814 the British invaded Washington. They burned many buildings, including the Presidential Palace. After the war James Hoban, the original architect, partially rebuilt the president’s home. To cover the marks of the fire, the building was painted white. Before long it became known as the White House.
The White House is one the most popular tourist attractions in the United States. Every year more than 1, 5 million visitors go through the five rooms that are open to the public.


Ex-2. Complete the sentences. Circle the letter of the correct answer.
1. _____the White House was gray. Now it is white.
a. Partially; b) Originally;
2. There was a contest to _____ the best design for the home of the president.
a) plan; b) pick.
3. James Hoban was the _______who designed the plans for the president’s home.
a. engineer. b. architect.
4. Mrs. Adams ____ about how cold her new home was. She wrote this problem in her letters.
a. complained. b. invaded.
5. After the war, not all of the White House needed to be rebuilt, but it did need to be _____ rebuilt.
a. originally. b. partially.
6. Most of the rooms in the White House are private, but there are five rooms that anyone can visit. These rooms are open to the ____.


Ex-3. Write complete answers to these questions.

1. 
   Who lives in the White House?
   

______________________________________________________
Why was the White House built in Washington?
______________________________________________________

2. 
   Why did the original home of the president need to be rebuilt?
   

______________________________________________________


Ex-4. Circle the letter of the best answer.
1. _____is 1600 Pennsylvania.

1. 
   The address of Washington D.C.;
   
2. 
   The address of the White House;
   
3. 
   The original name of the White House;
   

2. The Presidential Palace was ____;

1. 
   painted white;
   
2. 
   made of white stone;
   
3. 
   made of gray stone;
   

3. 
   The President’s home and the city of Washington were ____;
   

1. 
   built by British;
   
2. 
   built at the same time;
   
3. 
   built by the French;
   

4. 
   The first president to live in the Presidential Palace was_____
   

1. 
   George Washington;
   
2. 
   Mrs. Adams;
   
3. 
   John Adams;
   

5. 
   The Presidential Palace was burned down by_____
   

1. 
   Mrs. John Adams;
   
2. 
   James Hoban;
   
3. 
   the British;
   

6. 
   The new presidential home was painted white to ____
   

1. 
   attract tourists;
   
2. 
   cover the marks of the fire;
   
3. 
   please Mrs. John Adams;
   

Homework: Retelling the text. Writing an essay: Famous buildings.