Lesson XXVI: Vocabulary in Context

2. GEOGRAPHY 2.1. BORDER, etc. Ali: How was your trip to Arizona last summer, John? John: It was excellent, Ali. When are you going to take a trip around the United States? Ali: If everything works out, I’ll take a trip In June. John: Let me tell you a few things about my trip. Ali: I wish you would. John: First of all, our trip took several days. You know it’s about 3,000 miles from one side of the United States to the other and that is about 1,200 miles from the Canadian BORDER to the Mexican border. Ali: Are there many mountains between New York and San Francisco? John: Yes, there are. As you drive west from New York, you cross the Appalachian Mountains, then miles and miles of PLAINS, the Rocky Mountains, a DESERT and the more mountains. Ali: What are the main rivers? John: The Mississippi, the Colorado, and the Columbia. The Mississippi River is our most important river. It begins near the Canadian border and is joined by the Missouri River, the Ohio River, and hundreds of others as it FLOWS toward the Gulf of Mexico. Ali: Now tell me something about the lakes. John: You already know about the Great Lakes: Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario. Beside those, there are thousands of others lakes throughout the United States and a large salt lake in Utah. Exercise: 2.1.1. Practice BORDER, FLOW, etc. Answer the following questions. 1. How far is it from the Canadian border to the Mexican border? 2. How far is it from one side of the United States to the other? 3. What are some of the mountains? 4. Are the Rocky Mountains in the East or in the West? 5. What are the tree main rivers? 6. What direction does the Mississippi River flow, north or south? 7. What are the five great lakes? 8. Are there many other lakes in the United States? 9. What kind of lake is there in Utah?