Пособие состоит из 16 уроков и трех дополнительных разделов. Каждый урок рассчитан на работу в течение 4-5 часов аудиторных занятий

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13.3 Read and translate the text
South America, fourth largest continent and southernmost of the two main New 
World landmasses. It covers an area of some 17,814,000 sq km, or about one-eight of 
Earth’s land area. The continent, broad in the north and tapering in the south at Tierra 
del Fuego, extends about 7,600 km from Point Gallinas (Colombia) in the north to 
Cape Horn (Chile) in the south. Bounded by the Carribean Sea to the northeast, east 
and southeast, and the Pacific Ocean to the west, the continent is separated from 
Antarctica by the Drake Passage. In the northeast it is joined to North America by the 
Isthmus of Panama, which forms a land bridge narrowing to about 80 km at one 
point. Some years ago the population of the continent was estimated to be 
302,819,000. 
The continent may be divided into three topographic sections: the geologically 
young mountain chains of the Andes in the west; the ancient, crystalline Guiana and 
Brazilian continental shields in the east and north-centre; and the sedimentary basins 
peripheral to the shields. The Andes Mountains stretch north - south for about
8,800 km and are second in average height only to Himalayas of Asia. The Andes 
region is seismically active and prone to earthquakes. The Pampas of eastern 
Argentina consists of an immense accumulation of loose sediment brought down 
from Andes by rivers or dust storms. Covering an area of about 707,000 sq km,
the Pampas and its fertile soils constitute one of South America’s most productive 
agricultural areas.
South America’s hydrology is dominated in the north by the Amazon River 
basin, which drains a third of the continent’s land area into the Atlantic Ocean. Three 
other important river systems, the Orinoco, the Parana-Paraguay-Rio de la Plata, and 
Sao Francisco, also empty into the Atlantic Ocean. Most of the lakes of South
America are mountain lakes in the Andes or along their foothills. Lake Titicaca, lying 
at an elevation of about 3,810 km between Peru and Bolivia, is the highest freshwater 
lake in the world. 
South America can be divided into four well-marked climatic regions: tropical, 
temperate, arid, and cold. One of the features that moderates South American climate 
is the Peru Current along South America’s western coast. The waters of the Peru 
Current keep temperatures between northern Chile and the equator cooler than 
average for the low latitudes. The Peru Current also helps to create the Atacama 
Desert on South America’s western coast. Winds crossing the cold current from the 
west lose all their moisture over the water. Some people in the Atacama have never 
seen rain. 
Over half the total land area is covered by forest, principally the enormous but 
steadily diminishing Amazon Rain Forest. About 2,500 different species of trees 
grow in the rain forests. Almost one-fourth of all the world’s known species of 
animals live in the rain forests, plateaus, rivers, and swamps. They include such rare 
and indigenous forms as the llama, jaguar, alpaca, capybara, sloth, giant ant-eater, 
manatee, and piranha.

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13.4 Find these South American countries on the map and name their capitals 
Аргентина – Argentina – Buenos Aires 
Боливия – Bolivia – 
Бразилия – Brazil – 
Венесуэла – Venezuela – 
Гайана – Guyana – 
Гвиана – French Guiana – 
Колумбия – Colombia–
Парагвай – Paraguay–
Перу – Peru – 
Суринам – Suriname–
Уругвай – Uruguay – 
Чили – Chile – 
Эквадор – Ecuador –

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13.5 Say whether the following statements are true or false 
1. South America covers an about one-eight of the world’s total area. 
2. The Drake Passage separates South American continent from North America. 
3. The narrowest point of the Isthmus of Panama is about 80 km. 
4. Himalayas of Asia are higher than the Andes Mountains of South America. 
5. The Amazon River basin drains a third of the continent’s land area. 
6. The Peru Current influences climate on the western continent. 
7. The Atacama Desert is situated on the eastern coast of South America. 
8. Enormous Amazon Rain Forest is steadily diminishing.
13.6 Complete the following sentences 
1. South American continent extends about 7,600 km from ………. . 
2. ………. separates South America from Antarctica. 
3. The ancient Guiana and Brazilian continental shields are situated ………. . 
4. The Pampas of eastern Argentina consists of ………. . 
5. Lake Titicaca lies at ………. between ………. . 
6. The four climatic regions of the continent are ………. . 
7. The Peru Current helps to create ………. . 
8. Plant and animal life of South America include ………. . 
13.7 Answer the following questions 
Where is South America situated? 
What is the area? the population of the continent? 
How is the continent joined to North America? 
What mountain range forms South America’s western edge? 
What is the Pampas? 
What are the major river systems of South America? 
Where are most of the lakes situated? 
What is unusual about Lake Titicaca? 
How can South America be divided according to the climatic regions? 
How does the Peru Current influence South America’s climate? 
What can you say about wild life of the continent? 
13.8 Read and translate the texts and reproduce them in the form of a dialogue 
*** 
South America possesses abundant reserves of several important minerals. Its 
deposits of iron found mainly in Brazil and Venezuela represent almost one-fifth of 
the world’s total. South America’s imports substantially out-weigh exports, and many 
countries suffer chronic balance-of-trade deficits. 

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Most export trade is with the USA and the members of the European Community 
(EC). Intraregional trade within the continent is slowly increasing. Agriculture 
employs approximately one-fourth of the overall South American work force. Despite 
the continent’s reputation as a food producer, agricultural productivity is generally 
low, and land utilization is inefficient.
*** 
Four main ethnic components have contributed to the present-day population of 
South America: American Indians, who were the continent’s pre-Columbian 
inhabitants; the Iberians, Spanish and Portuguese who conquered and dominated the 
continent until the beginning of the 19
th century; the Africans, imported as slaves by 
the colonizers; and finally, the post-independence immigrants from the overseas, 
mostly Germans and Southern Europeans but also Lebanese, South Asians, and 
Japanese. Spanish is the official language throughout South America except for 
Portuguese and Brazil, French in French Guiana, English in Guyana, and Dutch in 
Suriname. Less than 10 percent of South America’s total population are speakers of 
Indian languages. South America is predominantly Christian in religious affiliation. 
*** 
Страны Южной Америки три века были колониями Испании и 
Португалии. Политической независимости они добились в начале 19 века, но 
затем оказались в экономической зависимости от европейских государств, а 
затем – от США. Сравнительно недавно освободились от колониальной 
зависимости Гайана и Суринам. Сохраняет свой колониальный статус Гвиана – 
« заморский департамент » Франции. Государства Южной Америки относятся к 
группе развивающихся стран. Они сильно различаются по уровню социально-
экономического развития. Наиболее развитые страны Южной Америки – 
Аргентина, Бразилия, Уругвай. 
13.9 Text for written translation 
The Peru Current, which flows northward along the western coast of South 
America, sometimes behaves in ways that scientists do not fully understand. Because 
this usually occurs soon after Christmas, it is called El Nino, Spanish for “the [Christ] 
Child”. Occasionally northerly winds replace the prevailing southerly winds and the 
cold Peru Current moves westward. In its place comes a warm current – El Nino. The 
warm waters of El Nino stop the upwelling (a climatic condition brought on by winds 
that persistently drive water away from the coast), and completely break down the 
normal ecological system. Most of the marine life moves in search of plankton – rich 
cooler waters.
Scientists now recognize that El Nino’s influences reach far beyond the west 
coast of South America. Indeed, it is now known that El Nino interacts with 
worldwide weather patterns. Rainfall shifts from the normally wet western Pacific 
toward the drier eastern Pacific. The Philippines and Indonesia experience drought. 

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Intense heat and drought sweep Australia. Ecuador and Peru receive heavy rain and 
floods take heavy tolls in human lives and property losses. Record-breaking 
snowfalls paralyze the east coast of North America, while western Canada and 
Alaska experience unusually mild winters. All result from a still-unexplained change 
in the weather. 
In 1972 El Nino appeared quite suddenly. When it stopped, upwelling resumed. 
But most of the fish were gone. Without fish to consume the plankton, they 
overmultiplied and exhausted their food sources. Billions died and decomposed on 
the ocean floor. Decomposition used large quantities of the water’s oxygen, making 
the ocean off Peru unable to support fish until balance was restored. 
13.10 Make up all possible types of questions to the text 13.9 
13.11 Speak on:
1. geographical position of South America 
2. physical features 
3. climate
4. flora and fauna 
5. El Nino 
13.12 Get ready to speak about any South American country you like (see Les. 10, 
ex.10.12) 

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