Нужно составить "Fact file" по тексту (краткий пересказ) Nowadays, there most so many means of transport, from bicycles and buses to sports cars and jet airplanes, that travellers arc spoilt for choice. In fact, many of us don't even think about how we travel; plane or train, it doesn't matter. Because, at the end of the day, it's just about getting from one place to the other.
There are, however, some means of transport that have made an impression on people and have taken their place in history. One means of transport that truly won the hearts of many Americans was the river steamboat. A steamboat, as its name indicates, is a boat that is powered by steam. The steam rotates a paddlewheel or propeller that in turn causes the boat to move forward.
In the 18th century, there were many attempts to build better vessels, but it wasn't until 1807 that the first successful steamboat, The Clermont, made a commercial voyage. These riverboats became popular in the next few years and were used to transport passengers and merchandise on the major rivers of America. The Mississippi River was especially known for its riverboats, and Mark Twain celebrated three steamboats in his book "Life on the Mississippi".
Steamboats have now disappeared from most American rivers, but they have become a symbol of the Mississippi River. Many people think of these boats when they hear the name Mississippi. Fortunately, a small number of them are being used today to offer river cruises so some people can get a feel of what it's like to travel by steamboat.
