USEFUL QUESTIONS

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WHAT IS THE USA?

THE USA IS A BIG COUNTRY

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HOW MANY STATES ARE THERE IN THE USA?

THERE ARE 50 STATES

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WHICH IS THE BIGGEST STATE?

THE BIGGEST STATE IS ALASKA

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WHICH IS THE SMALLEST STATE?

THE SMALLEST STATE IS RHODE ISLAND

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WHICH STATES ARE NOT IN THE MAINLAND

48 STATES ARE IN THE MAINLAND , TWO STATES ALASKA AND HAWAII ARE NOT IN THE MAINLAND

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WHERE IS ALASKA? AND HAWAII?

ALASKA IS WEST OF CANADA WHILE HAWAII IS OFF THE WEST COAST OF THE USA IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN

Hawaii is the fifth state of the USA. It is not in the mainland. It is a group of islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The capital is Honolulu. There are lots of mountains and volcanoes in Hawaii and it has a tropical cimate. (Pearl Harbour)

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WHAT ARE THE COLOURS OF THE AMERICAN FLAG?

THE AMERICAN FLAG IS RED WHITE AND BLUE.

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WHAT DO THE STARS AND STRIPES REPRESENT?

THE 50 STARS ARE THE AMERICAN STATES AND THE 13 STRIPES REPRESENT THE 13 ORIGINAL STATES.

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WHICH IS THE EMBLEM OF THE USA?

THE EMBLEM OF THE USA IS THE BALD EAGLE

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WHAT DOES IT REPRESENT?

IT REPRESENTS FREEDOM

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WHERE DOES THE PRESIDENT LIVE?

THE PRESIDENT LIVES IN THE WHITE HOUS IN WASHINGTON DC

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WHAT DOES DC STAND FOR?

DC STANDS FOR DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

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WHAT IS WASHINGTON DC? WHAT IS THE WHITE HOUSE?

IT IS THE CAPITAL OF THE USA. IT TOOK ITS NAME FROM GEORGE WASHINGTON THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE USA. THE CAPITAL IS IN THE AREA NEAR THE RIVER POTOMAC IN MARYLAND. HE CALLED THE NEW AREA WASHINGTON DC. THIS GIVES THE LETTERS DC TO THE CITY'S NAME. WASHINGTON DC IS NOT A STATE. THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IS IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST OF THE USAWASHINGTON IS FAMOUS BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT LIVES AT THE WHITE HOUSE  AT  1600, PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE. THE FIRST PRESIDENT TO LIVE HERE WAS JOHN ADAMS (THE 2ND PRESIDENT). PEOPLE CAN VISIT THE WHITE HOUSE EVERYDAY. THE CAPITAL IS A WHITE BUILDING WITH A DOME AND IS THE PLACE WHERE THE CONGRESS, (THE AMERICAN SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES) MEET. EVERY FOUR YEARS ON THE STEPS OF THE CAPITAL THERE IS A SPEECH TO WELCOME THE NEXT PRESIDENT. other centres of interests are: the Pentagon (the offices of Defence Department), Arlington Cemetery (where many famous Americans are buried including kennedy) Mt Vernon (home of George Washington)

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WHICH IS THE STATE WITH THE LARGEST POPULATION?

THE STATE WITH THE LARGEST POPULATION IS NEW YORK

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WHY IS AMERICAN PEOPLE CALLED A MELTING POT OF RACES?

AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE CALLED A MELTING POT OF RACES BECAUSE AMERICAN ANCESTORS CAME FROM EUROPE ASIA AND AFRICA

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WHO WERE THE FIRST INHABITANTS?

THE FIRST INHABITANTS WERE THE RED INDIANS

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HOW IS THE CLIMATE?

THE CLIMATE IS ARTIC IN THE NORTH AND IN THE SOUTH IT IS TROPICAL

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WHICH ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT MOUNTAIN CHAINS?

THE MOST IMPORTANT MOUNTAIN CHAINS AR THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS AND THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS

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WHICH IS THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN? 

THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN IS MT MCKINLEY

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WHAT IS THE LARGEST RIVER?

THE LARGEST RIVER IS THE MISSISSIPPI. ANOTHER RIVER IS MISSOURI

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WHICH ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT LAKES ?

THE MOST IMPORTANT LAKES ARE LAKE SUPERIOR  MICHIGAN HURON ONTARIO AND ERIE.

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WHICH IS THE LOWEST POINT?

THE LOWEST POINT IS IN CALIFORNIA IN DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK

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WHO WAS CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS?

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS WAS AN ITALIAN NAVIGATOR COLONIZER AND EXPLORER. HE WAS THE FIRST TO REACH THE NEW WORLD

HE LEFT FROM SPAIN. HE GOT THREE SHIPS READY TO SAIL THE SANTA MARIA, THE PINTA AND THE NINA.

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WHAT IS ELLIS ISLAND? WHO WERE THE FIRST IMMIGRANTS TO ARRIVE AT ELLIS ISLAND? WHAT HAPPENED TO 1ST AND 2ND CLASS PASSENGERS? AND TO SICK ONES?

ELLIS ISLAND IS A STRUCTURE WHICH RECEIVED ARRIVING IMMIGRANTS. IT IS AT THE ENTRANCE  TO NEW YORK HARBOUR NORTH OF THE STATUE OF LIBERTY. BETWEEN 1892 AND 1954 THIS SMALL ISLAND WAS THE IMMIGRATION STATION THE GATEWAY THROUGH WHICH IMMIGRANTS ENTERED THE NEW WORLD. ON 1ST JANUARY 1892 ANNIE MOORE AND HER TWO YOUNGER BROTHERS FROM IRELAND MADE HISTORY AS THE VERY FIRST IMMIGRANTS. FIRST AND SECOND CLASS PASSENGERS ARRIVING IN NEW YORK HARBOUR WERE NOT REQUIRED TO BE INSPECTED AT ELLIS ISLAND AS THEY COULD BUY  A 1ST AND 2ND CLASS TICKET THEY WERE WELCOME. SICK PASSENGERS AND 3RD CLASS CITIZENS WERE SENT TO ELLIS ISLAND FOR INSEPECTION

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WHY DID IMMIGRANTS HAVE TO WAIT FOR A LONG TIME AT ELLIS ISLAND?

BECAUSE DOCTORS HAD TO EXAMINATE EVERY NEW IMMIGRANT BEFORE GIVING THE POSSIBILITY OF ENTERING THE COUNTRY.

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WHY IMMIGRANTS WENT TO THE USA?

THEY WENT TO THE USA TO ESCAPE FAMINE (CARESTIA)RELGIOUS AND RACIAL PERSECUTIONS. 

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WHAT HAS ELLIS ISLAND BECOME NOWADAYS?

AT PRESENT, ELLIS ISLAND HAS BECOME THE HOME OF THE IMMIGRATION MUSEUM WHERE THERE IS ALSO THE LEARNING CENTRE WHICH HELPS CHILDREN ABOUT THEIR IMMIGRANT HERITAGE.

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WHO WERE THE NATIVE AMERICANS?

THE NATIVE AMERICANS WERE THE FIRST INHABITANTS OF THE USA. THEY WERE HUNTERS AND WERE IN TRIBES, THE MOST FAMOUS TRIBES WERE THE SIOUX, THE NAVAJO, THE APACHE, THE CHEYENNE. EACH TRIBE SPOKE A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE

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WHO WERE THE PILGRIM FATHERS?

THE PILGRIM FATHERS WERE A SMALL GROUP OF ENGLISH MEN AND WOMEN WHO SAILED THE ATLANTIC OCEAN IN THE 17TH CENTURY IN SEARCH OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM. THEY WANTED PURITY IN THEIR CHURCH AND FOR THIS REASON THEY WERE CALLED PURITANS. THEY WERE PERSECUTED FOR THEIR RELIGIOUS IDEAS . ON 16TH SEPTEMBER 1620 THEY LEFT THE PORT OF PLYMOUTH ON THE SOUTH COAST OF ENGLAND  IN A SHIP CALLED THE MAYFLOWER. THEY REACHED CAPE COD MASSACHUSSETS AND CALLED IT PLYMOUTH. WINTER WAS COLD AND THEY HAD VERY LITTLE FOOD. THE AMERICAN INDIANS HELPED THEM TO GROW CORN AND HUNT ANIMALS TO SURVIVE. TO THANK GOD FOR THE HARVEST THEY ORGANIZED THE FIRST THANKSGIVING DAY

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WHAT IS THANKSGIVING DAY? WHEN IS IT CELEBRATED?

THANKSGIVING IS CELEBRATED ON THE FOURTH THURSDAY OF NOVEMBER, IT'S A SPECIAL DAY, A DAY TO THANK GOD NO MATTER WHAT RELIGION YOU PROFESS. IT WAS GEORGE WASHINGTON, THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE USA WHO INAUGURATED THE THANKSGIVING CEREMONY. FOR DINNER ALL FAMILY MEMBERS  SIT TOGETHER AND THEY USUALLY EAT A ROAST TURKEY, STUFFING CRANBERRY SAUCE, SWEET POTATOES AND PUMPKIN PIE.

 

WHAT IS THE STATUE OF LIBERTY?

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THE STATUE OF LIBERTY WAS THE FIRST THING IMMIGRANTS SAW WHEN THEY ARRIVED IN NEW YORK. THE FLAME IN THE STATUE'SHAND IS A SYMBOL OF LIBERTY AND FREEDOM AND THE RAYS ON HER CROWN REPRESENT THE SEVEN SEAS AND THE SEVEN CONTINENTS. THE TABLET IN HER LEFT HAND HAS THE DATE OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE IN ROMAN NUMERALS JULY 4TH 1776THE STATUE WAS A GIFT FROM THE FRENCH IN 1884. THE MODEL FOR THE WOMAN WAS THE SCULPTUR'S MOTHER MARIE BARTHOLDI. IT IS 93 M HIGH AND THERE ARE 354 STEPS TO REACH THE TOP.

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WHY JULY 4TH IS INDEPENDENCE DAY?

THE TRADITION OF INDEPENDENCE DAY GOES BACK TO 18TH CENTURY WHEN THERE WAS THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. THE MAIN CAUSES  WHICH LEAD TO THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION WERE THE TAXATION ACTC, THE BOSTON MASSACRE, THE BOSTON TEA PARTY AND THE INTOLERABLE ACTS. DURING AMERICAN REVOLUTION THE 13 OF BRITAIN'S NORTH AMERICAN COLONIES  REJECTED ITS IMPERIAL RULE. THE FOURTH OF JULY/INDEPENDENCE DAY IS CELEBRATED TO REMEMBER THE DAY WHEN DELEGATES FROM THE 13 COLONIES REJECTED ITS IMPERIAL RULE AND ADOPTED THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE  A HISTORIC DOCUMENT DRAFTED BY THOMAS JEFFERSON. THERE ARE FIREWORKS, PARADES , CONCERTS  AND BARBECUES.

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WHAT ARE OTHER MAJOR CITIES?

OTHER MAJOR CITIES ARE NEW YORK NEW ORLEANS SAN FRANCISCO

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HOW MANY AREAS ARE THERE IN NEW YORK?

THERE ARE 5 AREAS CALLED DISTRICTS OR BOROUGHS . THEY ARE: THE BRONX ,BROOKLYN, STATEN ISLAND, MANHATTAN, QUEENS.

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From wikipedia

WHY IS NEW YORK NICKNAMED THE BIG APPLE?

THE NICKNAME WAS CONNECTED TO HORSERACING. IN 1920, JOHN FITZ GERALD A NEWSPAPER REPORTER HEARD AFRICAN AMERICAN STABLE SAY THEY WERE GOING TO THE BIG APPLE, A REFERENCE TO NEW YORK CITY, WHOSE RACE TRACKS WERE CONSIDERED BIG VENUES. HE USED THE WORDS IN HIS NEWSPAPER. LATER JAZZ MUSICIANS ADOPTED THE TERM TOO. 

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WHAT HAPPENED ON 11TH SEPTEMBER 2001?

ON 11TH SEPTEMBER 2001 A GROUP OF TERRORISTS HIJACKED TWO PLANES FROM BOSTON AND LAUNCHED THEM INTO THE TWIN TOWERS. IN MANHATTAN. THE TWO BUILDINGS COLLAPSED. 2800 PEOPLE DIED. GROUND ZERO WAS THE NAME GIVEN TO THE PLACE WHERE THE TWIN TOWERS STOOD: A 70-FOOT-DEEP PIT.

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THE NEW YORK CITY MARATHON 

RUNNING IS A POPULAR SPORT IN THE USA AND THE NEW YORK CITY MARATHON IS ONE OF THE LARGEST MARATHONS IN THE WORLD. IT IS ORGANIZED ON THE FIRST SUNDAY OF NOVEMBER. IT GOES THROUGH ALL FIVE BOROUGHS: IT BEGINS ON STATEN ISLAND THEN WINDS THROUGH BROOKLYN AND INTO QUEENS AND BRONX. THE RACE FINISHES IN THE MIDDLE OF CENTRAL PARK (which is not a natural park but a man - made one)

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THE LAND OF THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE UNITED NATIONS IS IN NEW YORK CITY BUT IT IS CONSIDERED INTERNATIONAL TERRITORY

WHERE IS MIAMI?

MIAMI IS IN FLORIDA

WHAT IS FLORIDA? HOW ARE HOUSES BUILT AND WHY? WICH IS THE STATE CAPITAL AND WHICH ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT CITIES? HOW IS IT CALLED? WHICH ARE THE MOST FAMOUS ATTRACTIONS?

IT IS A PENINSULA IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN. IT IS A HOLIDAY DESTINATION AND IT ATTRACTS LOTS OF PEOPLE EVERYDAY. IT HAS A COASTLINE AND THERE ARE HURRICANS. FOR THIS REASON HOUSES ARE BUILT WITH SPECIAL MATERIALS.

THE STATE CAPITAL IS TALLASSEE. THE MOST IMPORTANT CITIES ARE MIAMI , JACKSONVILLE OR ORLANDO WHERE THERE IS DISNEYWORLD AND THE UNIVERSAL STUDIOS. IT IS CALLED THE SUNSHINE STATE BECAUSE THE WEATHER IS SUNNY AND WARM EVEN IN WINTER. THERE IS EVERGLADE NATIONA PARL AN NATURE RESERVE WHERE YOU CAN SEE ALLIGATORS AND CROCODILES. THERE IS ALSO NASA'S KENNEDY SPACE CENTRE. (ADAPTED FROM: Pag 6  Go Live 3 Exam Trainer)

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WHAT IS NEW ORLEANS FAMOUS FOR? WHY DO MANY TOWNS IN LOUISIANA HAVE FRENCH NAME? WHAT MUSIC WAS BORN HERE? WHAT IS MARDI GRAS?

NEW ORLEANS IS THE LARGEST CITY IN LOUISIANA. IT WAS FOUNDED BY THE FRENCH IN 1718. THE HISTORIC DISTRICT OF NEW ORLEANS KNOWN AS THE VIEUX CARRE' MEANING OLD SQUARE OFFERS  BOOKSHOPS, MUSEUMS, SHOPS. IT IS ALSO THE PLACE WERE JAZZ WAS BORN. IT WAS INVENTED BY BLACK MUSICIANS  AT THE START OF THE 20TH CENTURY. A LOT OF JAZZ CLUBS ARE IN THE FRENCH QUARTER  AN OLD DISTRICT WITH HISTORICAL ARCHITECTURE. JAZZ BANDS PLAY IN THE OPEN AIR. THE MAIN SPECIALITIES ARE JAMBALAYA (RICE SHRIMP OYSTERS AND HAM MIXED WITH SPICES) THE AFRICAN GUMBO (A SOUP). IN FEBRUARY THERE IS THE CELEBRATION OF MARDI GRAS WHICH IS THE MOST FAMOUS FESTIVAL.  FOR 4 WEEKS BEFORE LENTS THERE ARE PARADES, PARTIES AND MASKED BALLS. IT'S A MIXTURE OF FRENCH AND CARIBBEAN CUSTOMS THEY WEAR COLOURS OF GREEN PURPLE AND GOLD AND THROW BEADS TOYS AND COINSYOU CAN HAVE A BOAT TRIP ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER ON THE NANCHEZ A STEAMSHIP WHICH IS PUSHED FORWARD BY A PAIR OF LARGE WHEELS AT THE SIDES . A FAMOUS JAZZ SONG IS  "WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN" . NEW ORLEANS WAS CATASTROPHICALLY IMPACTED DURING HURRICANE KATRINA IN 2005, MOST RESIDENTS EVACUATED. 

 

SAN FRANCISCO IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CITIES IN THE USA. IT IS IN THE NORTHERN COAST OF CALIFORNIA. IT IS FAMOUS FOR THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE, CABLE CARS BUILT TO TAKE PEOPLE UP AND DOWN THE HILLY STREETS AND THE BIG ONE, AN IMAGINARY EARTHQUAKE EXPECTED TO HIT THE AREA OF SAN FRANCISCO SOONER OR LATER. THE PACIFIC OCEAN IS CROSSED BY THE SAINT ANDREAS FAULT (A BREAK IN THE EARTH'S CRUST BETWEEN TWO PLATES WHICH ARE SLOWLY SEPARATING. WHEN THE PLATES MOVE THEY CAUSE A VIBRATION WHICH WE CALL AN EARTHQUAKE). THE SAINT ANDREAS FAULT FORMS A LINE THAT CUTS CALIFORNIA INTO TWO PARTS. IN SAN FRANCISCO THE WORST EARTHQUAKES REMEMBERED HAPPENED IN 1906 AND IN 1989. NOW SAINT FRANCISCO HAS HOMES WITH AN EARTHQUAKE READINESS PLAN. SOME HOUSES HAVE SPECIAL SHELTERS TO GO AND RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS HAVE TO PASS SEISMIC INSPECTION. UNTIL THE HOUSES MEET THE STANDARDS OF THE SAN FRANCISCO BUILDING CODE THEY MUST DISPLAY AN EARTHQUAKE UNSAFE WARNING SIGN OUTSIDE 

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WHERE AND WHAT IS THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE?

IT IS A SUSPENCION BRIDGE OVER SAN FRANCISCO BAY IN CALIFORNIA. IT OPENED IN 1937.

SOME EXPERTS THOUGHT IT WAS BETTER NOT TO BUILD A BRIDGE THERE BECAUSE THE WATER WAS VERY DEEP AND THE CURRENTS AND THE WINDS WERE VERY STRONG. THERE IS ALSO A LOT OF FOG IN THE AREA AND BUILDING A BRIDGE  WAS RISKY. IN FACT 11 MEN DIED DURING CONSTRUCTION. THEY PAINTED IT WITH A REDDISH ORANGE TYPE OF PAINT TO PROTECT IT FROM WATER AND HUMIDITY

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WHAT IS MOUNT RUSHMORE?

MOUNT RUSHMORE IN THE BLACK HILLS OF SOUTH DAKOTA IS BOTH A MOUNTAIN AND A MONUMENT. IT IS AMONUMENT TO AMERICAN HISTORY. THE FACES OF FOUR FORMER PRESIDENTS (GEORGE WASHINGTON, THOMAS JEFFERSON, ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND THEODORE ROOSEVELT) ARE CARVED INTO THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN. THE ENORMOUS FACES IN THE ROCK ARE 15-21 M HIGH.

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WHAT AND WHERE IS HOLLYWOOD?

HOLLYWOOD IS THE FILM INDUSTRY OF THE USA AND IT IS IN CALIFORNIA. THE ORIGINAL SIGN WAS AN ADVERT FOR LAND FOR SALE. IT SAID HOLLYWOODLAND. UNIVERSAL STUDIOS AND UNITED ARTISTS WERE THE FIRST STUDIOS AND MADE THE FIRST FILMS. IN THE LATE 20S MOST FILMS WERE IN BLACK AND WHITE (CHARLIE CHAPLIN WAS A FAMOUS ACTOR) AND A FEW WERE IN COLOUR. THE FIRST TALKIES (FILMS WITH SOUND) ALSO APPEARED. THE 30S AND 40S WERE THE YEARS OF THE GOLDEN AGE OF HOLLYWOOD. WARNER BROS AND PARAMOUNT CONTROLLED THE SCENE. WALT DISNEY WAS ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS DIRECTORS OF ALL TIME. IN THE 70S THE BIG STUDIOS BEGAN TO MAKE BLOCKBUSTERS WITH BIG STARS SPECIAL EFFECTS AND SOUNDTRACKS. (ET/ JURASSIC PARK STAR WARS). WHEN TELEVISION BECAME POPULAR THE CINEMA LOST ITS ATTRACTION

(Adapted from:  exam trainer go live 3 - smart English culture 2 - wikipedia)