53. What can you say about the us agriculture?

Agriculture is not the most important sectors of the US economy. It accounts for about 1 per cent of the GNP. Farms are owned by the people who operate them and by business corporations. Farming is largely mechanized and scientifically controlled.

The dominant trend in American agriculture can be summarized in two words — increased productivity.

Production of most crops substantially exceeds domestic needs, making the United States a leading exporter of food. The principal crops grown in the country are: corn, wheat, soy-beans, sugar-cane and sugar beets, sunflower, tobacco, rice, cotton, and barley.

The United States harvests a lot of vegetables such as tomatoes, potatoes and onions. Florida and California are famous for their fruit production.

Animal husbandry is also developed in the country. Pastures occupy more than one-forth of the United States. The highlands in the West of the country are famous for their dairy and beef cattle breeding, pig raising, and sheep farming.

54. What place does the United Kingdom hold in the world and in Europe?

The United Kingdom is a leading trading power and financial centre. The UK is a developed country, with the world's sixth largest economy by nominal GDP and the sixth largest by purchasing power parity.

It was the world's first industrialised country and the world's foremost power during the 19th and early 20th centuries, but the economic and social cost of two world wars and the decline of its empire in the latter half of the 20th century diminished its leading role in global affairs. The UK nevertheless remains a major power with strong economic, cultural, military, scientific and political influence.

The UK is a Member State of the European Union, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, G8, G20, NATO, OECD and the World Trade Organization.

55. What type of the economy does Great Britain have?

Great Britain is a highly-developed naval and industrial power. Its economy was primarily based on private enterprises. However, some industries were nationalized after World War II. Now it has a mixed private- and public-enterprise economy.

In Britain’s economy private enterprises produce 75% of output and generate nearly 70% of employment. To make the British economy more efficient the government tries to stimulate innovations in industry, encourage competition, reduce taxes, promote exports, and work for world-wide free trade. The government provides financial assistance and guidance to small companies as small businesses employ more than a third of the private sector workforce.

The government controls the coal-mining and electric power industries, ferrous metallurgy and shipbuilding. Part of public transport, civil aviation and national bank are also managed by the state.

56. What is the basic unit of currency in Britain? What did the British government decide about euro?

The currency of the UK is the pound sterling, represented by the symbol ?. The Bank of England is the central bank, responsible for issuing currency. Pound sterling is also used as a reserve currency by other governments and institutions, and is the third-largest after the U.S. dollar and the euro.

The UK chose not to join the euro at the currency's launch. In 2007, then-Prime Minister Gordon Brown ruled out membership for the foreseeable future, saying that the decision not to join had been right for Britain and for Europe. The government of former Prime Minister Tony Blair had pledged to hold a public referendum for deciding membership should "five economic tests" be met. In 2005, more than half (55%) of the UK were against adopting the currency, while 30% were in favour.