ответьте на вопросы по тексту: 1) Is a productive farm business always the most essential aim of a farmer?
2) What three reasons for inefficient capital use on farms were mentioned in the
text?
3) At what age do farmers typically reach an optimum size of their business? Why?
4) What does the problem of transferring a business from one generation to the next
consist in?
Some of the inefficiency in the use of capital is believed to be due to more basic
troubles.
Some farmers may not be capable of using additional capital profitably. Others may
not be interested in having a more productive farm business. Their aims in life provide
strong enough disincentives to farm expansion. In such cases additional capital is not
necessary.
Still another reason for the inefficient use of capital has been found to be associated
with the life cycle of the farm family. Traditionally, farms had to be financed every
generation. The young man to start farming had to begin with a rather small operation. His
business was supposed to grow as he was able to reinvest his returns and borrow
additional funds. Often the demands of his family for living expenditures were too high to
make any profitable investment in his business. After his children had grown up, it became
possible for his farm to approach an optimum size. It continued to grow for a period but
decline was inevitable due to increasing age of the operator.
Much attention has been given to the problem of transferring farms from one
generation to the next. Often there existed several heirs, which resulted in fragmenting
efficient farm businesses. Even if the land was passed to a son, he had to acquire the
necessary capital in order to buy livestock and provide for the living of his family. As a
result, no considerable investment in farm business was made. In other cases the young
farmer spent several years buying out other heirs.
There is great difference among farms in solving the transfer problem. The fact
remains, however, that at any time, some farms are on their way up and some on the way
down. Economists believe capital productivity in agriculture to depend on this fact.

Maya is a Mesoamerican civilization known for its writing, art, architecture, mathematical and astronomical systems. The beginning of its formation is attributed to the pre-classical era (2000 BC - 250 AD), most of the Mayan cities reached their peak in the classical period (250-900 AD). By the time the conquistadors arrived, it was in deep decline. The Mayans built stone cities, many of which were abandoned long before the arrival of Europeans, others were inhabited after. The Mayan calendar was also used by other peoples of Central America. The hieroglyphic writing system was used, partially deciphered. Numerous inscriptions on the monuments have been preserved. They created an effective farming system, had deep knowledge in the field of astronomy. The descendants of the ancient Maya are not only the modern Maya peoples who preserved the language of their ancestors, but also part of the Hispanic population of the southern states of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras. Some Mayan cities are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List: Palenque, Chichen Itza, Uxmal in Mexico, Tikal and Quirigua in Guatemala, Copan in Honduras, Hoya de Seren in El Salvador.

The cultural history of this people is usually divided into three periods:

The first period (from antiquity to 317) is the time of the emergence of city-states, primitive slash farming, the manufacture of cotton fabrics, etc.

The second period (317-987) - the ancient kingdom, or the classical period - the time of the growth of cities (Palenque, Chichen Itza, Tulum) and at the same time the mysterious exodus of the population from them at the beginning of the 10th century.

The third period (987 - XVI century) - the new kingdom, or the post-classical period - the time of the arrival of the European conquistadors, the adoption of new laws, styles in life and art, the mixing of cultures, fratricidal wars, etc.

1. Bank of America, new York.

This is probably one of the greenest buildings in the world. The 54-story building was built to use natural daylight for as long as possible. There are also solar panels, rainwater collectors, and materials for the construction of the building itself are made from recycled waste from new York.

2. Crystal Island, Moscow.

This building should be home to 30,000 people. The project is sponsored by the Russian government. The building generates its own electricity from wind and solar power.

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