Classroom Pronunciation Reductions Grammar Conversation Reading Listening Vocabulary Activities Videos
Idioms Slang Acronyms Phonics Portmanteau Words Handwriting Alphabet Surveys Tests
Holidays Movies Everyday Environment Learning News Places Flashcards Study Literacy
World America History Drive Education Teaching Dictionary Resources About Contact
 
Nevada
 
Travel America

Learn before you travel. This section of Fun Easy English focuses on facts and other cool stuff about your favorite U.S. state. This is great English reading practice. This page focuses on the state of Nevada.
Hey if you cannot understand something on this page,
then use the Fun Easy English dictionary (opens in a new window)
Quick Links
United States
of
America
AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE FL GA
HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD
MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ
NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC
SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY
Washington D.C.
Nevada

Nevada's name comes from the Spanish word meaning "snow clad"--a reference to the snow-covered peaks of the Sierra Nevada. The discovery of the Comstock Lode, a massive deposit of silver, in 1859 brought many fortune seekers. Statehood followed shortly afterwards in 1864, when Nevada was admitted as the 36th state. Nevada is in a mountain region that includes semiarid grasslands and sandy deserts, and is the most arid (dry) state in the nation. Like oases in the desert, Nevada's two main cities--Las Vegas and Reno--attract fortune seekers from around the world hoping to strike it rich in the many casinos located there. The capital is Carson City, and the state flower is the sagebrush.
Flag of NevadaNevada State Flag


Nevada has had four state flags during its history. The first flag was adopted in 1905 (over 40 years after Nevada became a state in 1864). The current flag of Nevada was was approved in 1991.

Nevada's flag has a cobalt blue background. A five-pointed silver star (silver is the state metal) is positioned in the upper left quarter of the flag between two sprays of sagebrush that cross to form a half-wreath (sagebrush is Nevada's state flower, and one of Nevada's nicknames is "The Sagebrush State").

Across the top of the wreath is a golden scroll with the words "Battle Born" in black letters. The phrase "Battle Born" signifies that Nevada entered the Union during the Civil War. Below the star, in golden letters, is the name "Nevada."
Source: State Symbols USA
 
The great seal of the state of NevadaNevada State Facts

Picture: state seal of Nevada
State Capital Carson City
Nickname The Silver State / Sagebrush State / Battle Born State
Motto All for our country
Statehood October 31, 1864 (36th)
Origin of Name From the Spanish "Sierra Nevada," or "snow-covered mountain range"
Largest Cities Las Vegas, Reno, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Sparks
Border States Arizona, California, Idaho, Oregon, Utah
Area 109,806 sq. mi., 7th largest
State Bird Mountain Bluebird
State Flower Sagebrush (artemisia tridentata)
State Tree Single Leaf PiƱon and Bristlecone Pine (pinus monophylla / pinus aristata)
State Song Home Means Nevada
Map showing the location of NevadaTravel and tourism site for Nevada - This state travel and territorial tourism site provides ideas for your vacations, meetings, and more.
Nevada Stories
 
Annual Native American Arts Festival

Can you balance a jar on your head that is filled with water, like the woman in the photo is doing? (Don't try this indoors or with something breakable!) The woman in the photo is in Native dress. At one time, women carried water on their head so their hands could be free to carry other things as they gathered food for their families.

Each spring, Henderson's Clark County Heritage Museum in Nevada hosts the annual Native American Arts Festival. This three-day festival highlights traditional crafts, foods, arts and culture.

The dancing performances are very popular. Native American dancing often involves singing and the wearing of elaborate clothing decorated with feathers, beads, fringes, and sometimes bells. Men and women usually dance separately, even if they are in groups. There are different contests to see who can present themselves in the most authentic manner, and performers spend much time working on their outfits. Many of the artisans show how to make local Native crafts such as pottery, sand paintings, baskets or cloth. Each year, thousands of people come to the festival. Its location near Las Vegas makes it easy to reach for many visitors. The museum itself is an interesting place. You can see different kinds of minerals at a mining exhibit, look at a 1918 railroad steam engine, or even visit a re-created ghost town!
 
Nevada's Buckaroos

What's a buckaroo?

The Great Basin, which includes the region of northern Nevada, is wide-open territory primarily known as cattle country. Amid the desert and mountains is the Humboldt River, which begins in the mountain ranges and ends in the desert. This is the home of the buckaroos, cowboys who work on cattle ranches in Nevada. They get their name from vaquero, (pronounced bah-care-oh) the Spanish word for "cowboy," because the first buckaroos in the area were Spanish-speaking horsemen.

Buckaroos have developed many different special skills to work with the land and cattle. They run cattle drives, rope and brand cows, and shoe horses. They are most famous for breaking (making suitable for riding) horses, also known as "starting colts." But buckaroos also bail hay, mend fences, and haul trucks out of desert mud holes. They work long hours for low wages, but buckaroos are rugged independent people who choose to work close to nature.
 
Re-Discover Nevada 2000

If you think of Nevada only as the state where the city of Las Vegas is located, you'd be ignoring its long and interesting history. Originally, many Native American tribes occupied the area that is now Nevada. Ancient Native American culture goes back at least 10,000 years, and still today, the state is home to more than a dozen tribes.

In 1855, a group of Mormon missionaries were the first non-natives to settle in the Las Vegas Valley. They built an adobe fort, which is now a museum. The area appealed to them because of the valley located along the Old Spanish Trail. In fact, Las Vegas means "the meadows" in Spanish.

In addition to the Mormons, pioneers moving westward sometimes settled in the area, and the Pony Express riders cut through hundreds of miles of what is now Nevada to deliver mail. After the discovery of large gold and silver deposits in 1859, more people arrived in the hopes of striking it rich. In the early 1900s, Las Vegas became a railroad town and then in the 1930s the town grew further when gambling was legalized.

Nevada is an attractive place to live for a lot of people. It grew by a whopping 66 percent from 1990 to 2000 -- the fastest of any state.
Source: Library of Congress
National Forests, Parks, and Monuments of Nevada

The following is a description of national forests, parks, and monuments in the state of Nevada. If you plan to visit or live in Nevada for awhile then you should definitely plan to visit some of these fantastic places.
 
National Forests
Humboldt-Toiyabe

As the largest National Forest outside of Alaska, Humboldt-Toiyabe occupies many of the mountains of Nevada's Basin and Range Province. Spring Mountains National Recreation Area is located near Las Vegas and is part of the forest. This national forest is also partially located in the state of California.
Inyo

Located in the Sierra Nevada, Inyo includes Mono Lake, bristlecone pines, the Long Valley Caldera, nine wilderness areas, and Mount Whitney, which at 14,505 ft (4,421 m) is the highest point in the United States outside of Alaska. This national forest is also partially located in the state of California.
Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

The Forest Service lands surrounding Lake Tahoe are managed by the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, which was created in April 1973 in order to protect the lake's unique ecological and recreational values. This management unit is also partially located in the state of California.
 
National Parks
Great Basin

Based around Nevada's second tallest mountain, Wheeler Peak, Great Basin National Park contains 5,000-year-old bristlecone pines, a rock glacier, and the limestone Lehman Caves. Due to its remote location, the park has some of the country's darkest night skies. Wildlife includes the Townsend's big-eared bat, pronghorn, and Bonneville cutthroat trout.
 
National Monuments
Basin and Range

Remote, undeveloped mountains and valleys in Lincoln and Nye counties in southeastern Nevada.
Gold Butte

Mojave Desert landscape of dramatic red sandstone, canyons, forested mountains, ancient rock art, rock shelters, roasting pits, and a mining ghost town.
Tule Springs Fossil Beds

A major archaeological site north of Las Vegas where thousands of prehistoric fossils, including mammoth, lion, and camel in an area that was once a wetland.
 
Travel America
Great Basin National Park
(Beginner - Listening, reading)

A video lesson which shows you an interesting place in America.
The English is spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Great English listening and reading practice.
This video is all about Great Basin National Park.
 
 
 
Cool America
About the U.S.A.

About the U.S.A. is an American Studies reader that examines the customs, government, and history of the United States of America. The text provides a wealth of information on U.S. geography and history; the roles of local, state, and federal government; national holidays and symbols; the Constitution; and citizenship. The book, which was written for intermediate to advanced learners of English, contains a range of activities for language students to practice listening, speaking, reading, and writing. (opens to a new PDF window) Great English reading practice.
About America

Learn about the fascinating history and government of the United States of America. Lessons include content on American Government, American History, and Integrated Civics. Handouts with interactive games and student-centered activities encompass all four language skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Great English reading practice for beginning to intermediate students.
American Teens Talk!

Americans Teens Talk! is a collection of interviews of American high school students. Each interview is accompanied by vocabulary notes and discussion questions. The interviews in American Teens Talk! give learners a view into the lives of adolescents in the U.S. Through the written format of the interviews, learners are able to increase their vocabulary, practice their reading and listening skills, engage in discussions, and learn more about U.S. culture. These interviews come with audio programs. Great English listening and reading
Sing Out Loud Children's Songs

Sing Out Loud Children's Songs includes popular children's songs in the U.S.A. Posters accompany the individual Sing Out Loud Children's Songs. These songs come with audio programs. Great English listening and reading practice.
Sing Out Loud Traditional Songs

The Sing Out Loud Traditional Songs collection contains 13 traditional American folk songs and song lyrics. Listen to the songs online, read the lyrics, and collect the posters that accompany the songs. These songs come with audio programs. Great English listening and reading practice.
Sing Out Loud American Rhythms

Do you love music? Want to use it to learn English? Check out the hip-hop inspired song "Peace" from Sing Out Loud American Rhythms. American Rhythms includes a variety of musical genres from many different artists in the U.S.A. These songs will appeal to teens and young adults. These songs come with audio programs. Great English listening and reading practice.
Route 66 - Famous American Road

U.S. Route 66 (US 66 or Route 66), also known as the Will Rogers Highway, the Main Street of America or the Mother Road, was one of the original highways in the U.S. Highway System. The highway, which became one of the most famous roads in the United States, originally ran from Chicago, Illinois, through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona before ending in Santa Monica, California, near Los Angeles, covering a total of 2,448 miles (3,940 km). It was recognized in popular culture by both the hit song "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66" and the Route 66 television show in the 1960s.
Route 66: The Highway That's the Best
(Beginner - Listening)

A video lesson which shows you an interesting place in America.
The English is spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Great English listening practice.
This video shows travel along Route 66, the most famous road in America.
Chicago: The Start of Route 66
(Beginner - Listening)

A video lesson which shows you an interesting place in America.
The English is spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Great English listening practice.
This video shows travel along Route 66, the most famous road in America.
Going West for Decades on Route 66
(Beginner - Listening)

A video lesson which shows you an interesting place in America.
The English is spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Great English listening practice.
This video shows travel along Route 66, the most famous road in America.
Arizona: The Spirit of Route 66
(Beginner - Listening)

A video lesson which shows you an interesting place in America.
The English is spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Great English listening practice.
This video shows travel along Route 66, the most famous road in America.
Route 66 California: The End of the Trail
(Beginner - Listening)

A video lesson which shows you an interesting place in America.
The English is spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Great English listening practice.
This video shows travel along Route 66, the most famous road in America.
Ten Must-See Route 66 Attractions
(Beginner - Listening)

A video lesson which shows you an interesting place in America.
The English is spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Great English listening practice.
This video shows travel along Route 66, the most famous road in America.
Four Famous Foods On Route 66
(Beginner - Listening)

A video lesson which shows you an interesting place in America.
The English is spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Great English listening practice.
This video shows travel along Route 66, the most famous road in America.
International Tourists Drawn to Route 66
(Beginner - Listening)

A video lesson which shows you an interesting place in America.
The English is spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Great English listening practice.
This video shows travel along Route 66, the most famous road in America.
 
Search Fun Easy English
 
 
 
 
About    Contact    Copyright    Resources    Site Map