1. The federal government of the USA (is divided) into three main branches: the legislative, the executive and the judicial.
2. The legislative branch of the U.S. government (is vested) in Congress.
3. Congress of the USA (is composed) of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
4. Members of the Senate (are elected) to six-year terms.
5. Although the great bulk of committee work (is done) in the standing committees, other kinds of committees (are created).
6. After the final passage by both houses, the bill (is sent) to the President.
7. According to the written sagas of Norsemen, America (was discovered) about 1,000 years ago.
8. Leif Ericson, an Icelandic Viking, succeeded in reaching the
American continent around the year 1,000, but his discovery (was not mapped)
and didn't become widely known.
9. Everybody knows that America (was discovered) by Christopher Columbus in 1492, who was trying to find a sea route to India.
10. The immigrants from Britain who wanted to colonise the new
territory (were packed) like sardines on the ships and (sent) to the New World.
11. The immigrants (were encouraged) to settle there and (were promised) land and work.
12. The early English settlements in America (were founded) by small groups of
people, like the Mayflower immigrants. Many settlers (were killed) by the
Indians or died of poverty and disease.
13. The word money comes from the name of the Roman Godness Moneta in whose temple silver coins (were made).
14. The ancient Olympic Games (were held) every four years on the island of Pelops in southern Greece.
15. In 1814, during the war with England, the White House (was burnt) down.
16. After the war the remains of the building (were whitewashed).
17. Since that time the residence of the American Presidents has always (been painted) white.