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The continental part of the USA consists of two highland
regions and two lowland regions. The highland regions are the
Appalachian Mountains in the east, and the Cordillera in the west.
The Appalachian Mountains run parallel to the Atlantic coast
almost from the Gulf of Mexico into Canada.
Between the Cordillera and the Appalachian Mountains are
the central lowlands, which are called the prairie, and the eastern
lowlands, called the Mississippi valley.
The five Great Lakes, between the USA and Canada, are
joined together by short rivers or canals, to the Atlantic Ocean by
the Saint Lawrence River and to the Hudson River by a canal. In
the west of the USA there is another lake, called the Great Salt
Lake.
The principal rivers of the USA are the Mississippi, the
longest river in the world (7330 kilometers), which flows into the
Gulf of Mexico, the Colorado and the Columbia, which flow into
the Pacific Ocean and the Hudson River, which flows into the
Atlantic Ocean.
The climate in the USA differs greatly from one part of the
country to another. The coldest climate is in the north, where there
is heavy snow in winter and the temperature may go down to 40
degrees below zero. The south has a subtropical climate, with
temperatures as high as 49 degrees in summer. Hot winds blowing
from the Gulf of Mexico often bring typhoons. The climate along
the Pacific coast is much warmer than that of the Atlantic coast.
The heaviest rains in the country are in the Washington regions
and climate in the Gulf of Mexico area is also very damp. The
region around the Great Lakes is known for its changeable climate.

3. Answer the following questions:

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1. When did Hawaii become the 50 state?
2. What is the total area of the USA?
3. How do the Appalachian Mountains run?
4. How are the central lowlands called?
5. How many lakes are joined together?
6. What river flows into the Gulf of Mexico?
7. What are the longest rivers of the USA?
8. Where is the coldest climate?