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PAGE 12
PLACES OF INTEREST IN GREAT BRITAIN
SPEECH PATTERNS
You should spend a holiday in the Highlands. Вам следует (необходимо) провести отпуск на севере Шотландии.
I hope you had a good time in London. Надеюсь, вы хорошо провели время в Лондоне.
Would you care to look round the Houses of Parliament? Не хотели бы вы осмотреть здание Парламента?
I’d love to. Thank you very much for the invitation. С удовольствием. Большое спасибо за приглашение.
Does it suit you? – Yes, it suits me perfectly. Вас это устраивает? – Да, вполне устраивает.
Excuse me, could you tell me the way to St. Paul’s Cathedral?Извините, не могли бы вы сказать мне как пройти к собору Святого Павла?
Is it very far? Это очень далеко?
It’ll take about 15 minutes or so to get there. Потребуется около 15 минут, чтобы добраться туда.
What is this building famous for? Чем это здание известно (знаменито)?
No distance at all. Совсем рядом.
It’s only a few minutes’ walk. В нескольких минутах ходьбы
Take the second on the left. Второй поворот налево.
B. Yes, it is.
A.…
B. …
2. A. Would you care to go for a walk?
B. …
3. A. Can I call on you at 6 o’clock? Does it suit you?
B. …
4. A. In summer I went to Great Britain.
B. …
5. A. Is it far from here?
B. …
VOCABULARY
Nouns and phrases with them
1. a great number of - много
2. access – доступ
3. aircraft design and construction – проектирование и строительство самолетов
4. ancient centre – древняя часть города
5. at the junction – в месте слияний
6. bugle – рожок
7. bunch of keys – связка ключей
8. burial place – место погребения
9. business center – деловая часть города
10. county - графство
11. crowning place – место коронации
12. double-decker – двухэтажный автобус
13. employee – рабочий, служащий
14. exception - исключение
15. extension – протяженность
16. guardhouse – караульное помещение
17. in commemoration of – в память о чем-либо
18. in keeping with tradition – согласно традиции
19. lantern - фонарь
20. maneuver – маневр
21. mansion – большой особняк
22. Metropolis – столица, Лондон
23. mileage – протяженность в милях
24. must (here - a must) - то, что необходимо увидеть
25. pageant – зрелище, шествие
26. pedestrian - пешеход
27. prison - тюрьма
28. public meeting – публичный митинг (собрание)
29. residential area – жилые кварталы
30. retail shops – магазины, продающие в розницу
31. royal residence – королевская резиденция
32. rush hour – час пик
33. sentry – часовой, караул
34. sightseer – экскурсант, турист
35. squad – команда, группа, отряд
36. steady job – постоянная работа
37. thoroughfare – оживленная улица, транспортная магистраль
38. trust – трест, концерн
39. warder – часовой, сторож, привратник
Verbs
1. approach – подходить, приближаться
2. be situated – располагаться, находиться
3. boast – гордиться, хвастать
4. bury - хоронить
5. centre – концентрировать(ся), сосредоточивать(ся)
6. challenge – окликать, спрашивать пропуск, пароль
7. desert – бросать, оставлять, покидать
8. design - проектировать
9. drain – осушать (почву)
10. escort – сопровождать, эскортировать
11. face – быть обращенным к …
12. flourish – процветать, преуспевать
13. flow into - впадать
14. get accustomed – привыкнуть к чему-либо
15. grow out – возникнуть из чего-либо
16. guard – охранять, караулить, защищать
17. identify – опознавать
18. keep to the left – держаться левой стороны
19. lock up – запирать на замок
20. retain – сохранять
21. rival – соперничать, конкурировать
22. run into one another – сталкиваться друг с другом
23. serve as – служить для чего-либо (в качестве чего-либо)
24. steam toward – двигаться по направлению к…
25. surmount - увенчивать
Adjectives
1. best stocked – наилучшим образом укомплектована (книгами)
2. flour-milling – мукомольный
3. formidable – значительный
4. incredible - невероятный
5. marshy – болотистый
6. second to none – непревзойденный
7. significant – знаменательный, важный
8. test (matches) – зд. международные (соревнования)
9. unimpressive – невпечатляющий, невыразительный
10. urban - городской
Adverbs
virtually – фактически, в сущности
London [lΛndən]
Great Britain [greit ‘britən]
The Thames [temz]
The North Sea [no:]
The Tower [tauə]
London Bridge [bridƷ]
St. Paul’s Cathedral [po:lz]
Hyde Park [haid]
Speakers’ Corner [‘spi:kəz ‘ko:nə]
Oxford Street [‘oksfəd]
The Houses of Parliament [‘pa:ləmənt]
Parliament Square [skwεə]
West End
East End
Westminster Abbey [‘westminstə ‘æbi]
The Victoria Tower [vik’to:riə]
The Bloody Tower [‘blΛdi]
Queen Elizabeth [kwi:n I’lizəbəθ]
Trafalgar Square [trə’fælgə]
Lord Mayor [lo:d mεə]
Covent Garden [‚kovənt ga:dn]
Bristol [bristl]
Devon [devn]
Cornwall [‘ko:nwəl]
Somerset [‘sΛməsit]
The Avon [‘eivən]
Gascony [‘gæskəni]
Portugal [‘po:tjugəl]
Birmingham [‘bə:miŋəm]
Edinburgh [‘ednbərə]
Cardiff [‘ka:dif]
PHONETIC EXERCISES
Exercise 1. Pronounce the words correctly. Pay attention to the way of pronunciation of the stressed vowels and consonants.
[Λ] London, one, cultural, once, trust, underground, run, among, lovely, public, thoroughfare, bus, double, countryside, industrial, country, junction, such, construction, number
[ə:] commercial, world, serve, desert, church, work, urban, early, university
[a:] largest, guard, architect, parties, park, far, heart, art, example, market
[ei] major, later, ancient, renaissance, great, face, famous, paper-making, greatest, remained, place
[iə] museum, theatre
[i:] feel, teaching, leave, Queen, speech, key, proceed, cathedral, equally, easily, scheme, free, team
[o:] taught, Lords, escort (v), warder, corner, quarter, more, restored, sport, course
[ou] spoken, opening, throne, approach, over, stroke, poet, motorway, road, postwar, local, most
[ai] surprise, find, time, sightseer, side, night, Whitehall, Prime, exciting, finest, library, private, provide
[aiə]variety
[Eə] airport, square, Mayor, dairy, aircraft, area
[æ] traffic, abbey, lantern, Trafalgar, statue, narrow, pageant, massive, gallery, magnet, canal
[au] county, town, flour, founded, now
Exercise 2. Pronounce the words paying attention to the way of pronunciation of the consonants.
[∫] mansion, residential, shop, commercial, English, Englishmen, demonstration, permission, function, schedule, rush
[dƷ] major, general, passenger, pageant, Ages, challenge, geographical
[k] monarch, clock, lock, commemoration, victory
LEXICAL EXERCISES
Exercise 1. Identify the part of speech in each column, translate into Russian.
traveller exception actually facing geographical
sightseer commemoration practically leading ceremonial
warder demonstration mainly touching cultural
stranger permission undoubtedly confusing unimpressive
Exercise 2. Translate into Russian, paying attention to the suffixes of the words
Industry – industrial, commerce – commercial, culture – cultural, design – to design – to be designed – designer, beauty – beautiful, resident – residential, to work – work – worker, architect – architecture – architectural, to travel – traveller, to build – to be built – builder, to enter – entry, luxury - luxurious
Exercise 3. A) Make up the pairs of synonyms.
Old, to be concentrated, to go, metro, empty, cathedral, nice, constant
Steady, to travel, ancient, underground, to be centered, deserted, lovely, church
B) Make up the pairs of antonyms.
Left, famous, wealthy, various, residential area, narrow, slow, ancient
Unknown, modern, right, industrial area, poor, fast, wide, the same
Text 1
Exercise 1. Read and translate the text.
LONDON AND ITS PLACES OF INTEREST
London, the capital of Great Britain, is one of the largest cities in the world. It is a big port and a major industrial, commercial and cultural centre. London stands on the river Thames which flows into the North Sea. For centuries entry to London from the sea was guarded by the Tower fortress. The Tower was built 9 centuries ago. It once served as a royal residence and later as a prison. Now it is a museum. London grew out of the ancient centre known as the City. The City is London’s business centre. Banks, offices, and trusts are centred there. Employees and businessmen steam toward the City in the morning. They travel by motorbuses, on bicycles or by the underground. The road to the City runs across London Bridge. By 6 o’clock in the evening this part of the city is almost deserted. The streets in the City are narrow and the traffic is very slow. One of the most interesting monuments in the City is St. Paul’s Cathedral. It is the finest Renaissance church in Europe. All other English churches are mostly medieval Gothic. The Cathedral was designed by the great English architect Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of 1666. It took him 35 years, and when he was an old man of 90, he was carried here once a year so that he could see his beautiful work. Inside there is a great number of monuments to generals and admirals. Admiral Nelson and Duke of Wellington are buried there among other great Englishmen.
The West End is the most pleasant residential area of London. There are lovely parks in the West End, among them one of the most popular is Hyde Park with its Speakers’ Corner where speakers from various political parties often hold public meetings. There are also luxurious mansions and elegant shops and restaurants as well as theatres, museums and hotels. Oxford street is one of the busiest thoroughfares in the West End.
While the West End is a residential district of the wealthy, the East End is the place where chiefly industrial and dock workers live. In the East End there are no magnificent parks and mansions and far from all the men here have a steady job.
London is very different, it has many faces. There is a lot of traffic in the streets of London: endless lines of buses, motor cars and taxis. Most of London buses are the famous red double-deckers that have two decks for passengers. Bright-red, they look very nice in the grey streets of London. There are also green one-storeyed buses, they run from London to the countryside. In London as everywhere in Great Britain, the traffic keeps to the left.
Exercise 2. Give the Russian equivalents for the following.
One of the largest cities, which flows into the North Sea, London’s business centre, runs across London Bridge, one of the most interesting monuments, the great English architect, after the Great Fire of 1666, it took him 35 years, a great number of monuments, luxurious mansions, elegant shops and restaurants, one of the busiest thoroughfares, magnificent parks and mansions, famous red double-deckers, green one-storeyed buses, the traffic keeps to the left.
Exercise 3. Fill in the blanks with the suitable words given below.
1. London is a big … and the … of Great Britain.
2. London is situated on … which… into the North Sea.
3. The Tower fortress which was built nine centuries ago now serves as a … .
4. The City, the ancient centre of London, now is its … .
5. St. Paul’s Cathedral is one of the most interesting … in the City.
6. There are many monuments to … inside the Cathedral.
7. The West End is a residential district with lovely …., luxurious …, elegant …, theatres, museums and hotels.
8. Industrial and dock workers live in … .
The East End, the river Thames, generals and admirals, port, shops, capital, flows, business centre, museum, mansions, parks, monuments.
Exercise 4. Open the brackets, using the right Voice-Tense form of the verbs.
1. Long ago London from the sea (to guard) by the Tower fortress.
2. London (to develop) out of the ancient centre known as the City.
3. Employees and businessmen (to travel) to the City by motorbuses, on bicycles or by the underground.
4. St. Paul’s Cathedral (to design) by the great English architect Sir Christopher Wren.
5. Many famous people (to bury) inside the Cathedral.
6. There (to be) magnificent parks and luxurious mansions in the West End.
7. London (to be) famous for its red double-deckers with two decks for passengers.
Exercise 5. Answer the questions.
1. What is the capital of Great Britain?
2. What is its geographical situation?
3. Which is the oldest district of London? What can you say about its appearance?
4. Are there any contrasts in the appearance of the capital?
5. What kind of buses is London famous for?
Exercise 6. Develop the idea.
1. The City is London’s business centre.
2. The City is London’s ancient centre.
3. The West End is a residential district of the wealthy.
4. The East End is a residential district of the poor.
Text 2
Exercise 1. Read and translate the text.
VISIT TO LONDON
Some of the ‘musts’ for the sightseer are the Houses of Parliament, facing the Thames, on one side, and Parliament Square and Westminster Abbey, on the other. The House of Commons sits to the side of the Clock Tower (Big Ben), the House of Lords – to the Victoria Tower side. Members of one House may not enter the other. The exception is the day of the State Opening of Parliament when the Queen makes the Throne Speech in the House of Lords.
A pageant retained from the Middle Ages is the Ceremony of the Keys or locking up of the Tower for the night. The Headwarder comes out with a bunch of keys and an old lantern, proceeds to the guardhouse and cries “Escort for the Keys!” A squad of four follows to escort the Queen’s keys. The Towers are locked one after the other. When the warder and the escort approach the Bloody Tower they are challenged by the sentry, who stamps with his heavy boots and shouts “Halt! Who comes there?” “The Keys,” answers the Headwarder. “Whose Keys?” demands the sentry. “Queen Elizabeth’s Keys.” “Advance, Queen Elizabeth’s Keys. All’s well.” Soon the ceremony is over and at the stroke of ten the bugle sounds the “Last Post”.
Westminster Abbey is the crowning and burial place of British monarchs. It has its world famed Poets’ Corner with memorials to Chaucer, Shakespeare, Milton, The Bronte sisters, Browning, Tennyson, Longfellow, Wordsworth, Burns, Dickens, Thackeray, Rudyard Kipling and other leading writers. Only a few however, are actually buried here.
Whitehall is the street of Britain’s Ministries. It runs between Parliament Square and Trafalgar Square. Branching off Whitehall is a small unimpressive street that no one would give a second look if not for the fact that the Prime Minister has his official residence there at number 10 Downing Street.
Trafalgar Square is so named in commemoration of Nelson’s great victory at Trafalgar. In the middle stands the famous Nelson Column surmounted by the statue of Nelson 170 feet high so as to allow him a view of the sea. The column stands in the geographical centre of the city. It is one of the best open air platforms for public meetings and demonstrations.
The City which is the centre of Britain’s banks and monopolies, occupies only a small part of the Metropolis. Over a million people enter the City in the daytime on business. At night it is practically deserted. In keeping with tradition no reigning monarch may enter the City without the permission of the Lord Mayor, whose functions are mainly ceremonial nowadays.
Londoners usually either take the tube or the double-decker. At times it seems incredible that these huge double deckers should be able to maneuver through the narrow streets without running into one another or the pedestrians.
Only one quarter of the mileage of the Underground is actually underground. The rest is on the surface. To the stranger, and even to many Londoners, the tube network is most confusing. Even with a map it is difficult to navigate. Trains do not have any fixed schedule as they do in Moscow for instance. During rush hours big crowds gather.
London is a big cultural centre. There are many theatres, among them Covent Garden, Drury Lane, etc. But tickets are very expensive. Cinema seats are much cheaper. Although London is a city of monuments, history and tradition, its people are undoubtedly the most interesting feature.
Exercise 2. Find the English equivalents in the text.
Движение левостороннее; требуется время, чтобы привыкнуть; тронная речь в палате лордов; шествие, пришедшее из средних веков; место коронации и погребения британских монархов; всемирно известный «Уголок поэтов»; могила неизвестного солдата; маленькая невпечатляющая улица; официальная резиденция; в память о великой победе Нельсона; центр британских банков и монополий; днем; ночью; в соответствии с традицией; без разрешения Лорда Мэра; метро; двухэтажный автобус; протяженность метро в милях; трудно найти дорогу во время часов пик; самая интересная черта.
Exercise 3. What is it?
1. an inhabitant of Moscow
2. a place worth seeing
3. a person going sightseeing
4. public celebration in which there is a procession of people in costumes
5. a place where the British monarchs are crowned
6. a place where the British monarchs are buried
7. the chief city of a country, capital
8. inhabitants of London
9. a person walking along a street
10. a net of tube routes
11. a timetable for work
the tube network, schedule, a “must”, the crowning place, Metropolis, a sightseer, a Muscovite, Londoners, pageant, a pedestrian, the burial place
Exercise 4. Fill in the blanks with the prepositions where it is necessary.
1) You should remember that in London traffic keeps … the left.
2) Locking … … the Tower is the Ceremony that came … the Middle Ages.
3) London is famous … many places of interest.
4) Nelson Column is surmounted … the statue of Nelson 170 feet high.
5) Sometimes fogs in London are so awful that cars and buses run … one another or pedestrians.
6) London is a city … monuments, history and traditions.
Exercise 5. Transform into Passive Voice.
1. The Queen makes the Throne Speech in the House of Lords.
2. A squad of four escorts the Queen’s keys.
3. The warders lock up the Towers one after another.
4. People named Trafalgar Square in commemoration of Nelson’s great victory at Trafalgar.
5. The City occupies only a small part of the Metropolis.
6. Londoners usually take the tube or the double-decker.
Exercise 6. Complete the sentences according to the text.
1. There is a surprise for a traveller in London, it is the fact that …
2. There are many places of interest in London, such as …
3. Great Britain is a country of traditions, one of them is ….
4. Westminster Abbey has its world famed Poets’ Corner with memorials to …
5. 10 Downing street is ….
6. The underground in London is confusing, because …
Exercise 7. What new facts about London have you found in the text?
Exercise 8. Make up the detailed plan of the text.
Text 3
Exercise 1. Read the text and do the exercise.
MADAM TUSSAUD’S MUSEUM
Notes: Madam Tussaud’s Museum of Waxworks – музей восковых фигур Мадам Тюссо в Лондоне
Chamber of Horrors – комната ужасов
Jack the Ripper – Джек Потрошитель (прозвище печально известного убийцы, совершившего в 1888 году в Лондоне по меньшей мере семь убийств)
Among lots of London’s museums of different types and significance there is one of special interest. It is Madam Tussaud’s Museum of Waxworks, named after its founder – a French woman, Madam Marie Tussaud (1761-1850), who started the museum in 1835.
The museum contains hundreds of life-size wax figures of outstanding statesmen, scientists, sportsmen and sportswomen, world-famous film stars and musicians, poets and writers of Britain and the world over. Among them are the figures of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor with her seven husbands, Elvis Priestly, Alfred Hitchcock, Charles Chaplin and many others.
There are several halls in the museum where the figures of kings, queens, princes and princesses are placed. A special hall is dedicated to the Royal family. The figures of adults and children look quite natural. They are standing or sitting, looking at each other, smiling and “talking”. They have clothes and some things that are characteristic of them. Special attention is drawn by the eyes sparkling and looking at you so that sometimes you feel uncomfortable in their company.
The politicians and leaders of different countries are taken together. They are watching you without any emotions. They are a very strange company: Winston Churchill, Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Roosevelt, Margaret Thatcher, Nikita Khrushchov, Michael Gorbatchov and a lot of others.
The well-known scientists Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein are also in the museum.
The Chamber of Horrors contains wax models of some famous criminals, murderers and thieves of past and present, among them is the figure of Jack the Ripper.
Exercise 2. Read the text and complete the sentences:
1. The museum contains life-size figures of outstanding …
2. Among them are ….
3. The figures of people …
4. In the Chamber of Horrors one can see …..
Text 4
Exercise 1. Read the text and do exercise 2.
ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL
Note: Crypt – склеп, подземная часовня
Everybody coming to London for the first time wants to see St. Paul’s Cathedral. This is the third cathedral with this name which London has had. The two others were burnt down, the first in 1086 and the second in 1666.
Christopher Wren was an architect who had already built many buildings. Now, in 1675, he started on his greatest work. For 35 years the building of St. Paul’s Cathedral went on, and Wren was an old man before it was finished.
From far away you can see the huge dome with a golden ball and cross on the top. The inside of the cathedral is very beautiful. After looking around, you can climb 263 steps to the Whispering Gallery, above the library, which runs round the dome. It is called this because if someone whispers close to the wall on one side, a person with an ear close to the wall on the other side can hear what is said. Then, if you climb another 118 steps, you will be able to stand outside the dome and look over London.
But not only can you climb up, you can also go down underneath the cathedral, into the crypt. Here are buried many great men, including Christopher Wren himself, Nelson and others.
Exercise 2. Say if the following plan corresponds to the structure of the text. Change it if necessary.
1. Description of St. Paul’s Cathedral.
2. History of St. Paul’s Cathedral.
3. The architect of St. Paul’s Cathedral
Text 5
Exercise 1. Read the text and do exercise 2.
TOWER BRIDGE
Notes: Wharf (pl.wharves) – пристань, причал
Hinge – шарнир
The Pool of London – Пул (название участка р. Темзы ниже Лондонского моста, вверх по реке океанские суда не поднимаются)
Bascule – подъемное крыло или ферма моста
To ply – курсировать, совершать рейс (о корабле)
This bridge built in 1894, is still in daily use though the traffic in and out of the London wharves has increased to an extraordinary extent during the course of the 20th century.
Even today Tower Bridge regulates a large part of the impressive traffic of the Port of London. Due to a special mechanism, the main traffic-way consisting of two parts fixed to two hinges at the ends can be lifted up. In this way, the entrance and departure of extremely large vessels is possible, and allows them to reach the Pool of London.
While the central stay measures 142 feet, each bascule to be raised weighs 1,000 tons. Nowadays the pedestrian path is closed. This footpath crossing which used to be allowed was by the upper bridge which connected the top of each tower, situated at the height of 142 feet above the waters of the famous Thames.
Tower Bridge commands wide and magnificent views of both the city and the river. After Tower Bridge, the wharves of London extend until Tilbury. The gigantic port of this city, which has one of the heaviest movements of ocean-going traffic in the entire world, occupies practically the whole of the Thames from Teddington. It is virtually impossible to get a complete idea of its colossal extension. In fact it is one wharf after another, apparently continuing endlessly.
There is one way to form a closer idea of the grandiosity of this port: to view it from Tower Bridge on a clear day. To get the most accurate idea of its formidable extension and complexity, one can recommend taking one of the boats that during the summer months are organized to ply popular sightseeing trips along the Thames.
Exercise 2. Say into how many parts and what parts it can be divided.
Text 6
Exercise 1. Listen to the text “Parks and Gardens of London”. These words will help you understand the text better:
A lawn – лужайка, газон
A flower-bed – цветочная клумба
A fountain - фонтан
An avenue - аллея
Scents of flowers and plants – ароматы цветов и растений
Ancient oaks – древние дубы
Glittering water – сверкающая вода
An open-air theatre – зеленый театр (на открытом воздухе)
Graceful – грациозный, изящный
Outdoor entertainments – развлечения на открытом воздухе
To drift away – перемещаться
Exercise 2. Answer the questions:
Text 7
Exercise 1. Read the text about the most famous sights of London and say which place you would like to visit and why. What do you know of this place?
The Houses of Parliament are relatively modern. The whole building which is in the Gothic style was built in the middle of the last century instead of the ancient Houses of Parliament (destroyed by the fire in 1834). But the Westminster Hall at the far end of the building was not touched by the fire and it stands intact for centuries (built in 1097). The world’s known clock “Big Ben” which strikes the hours on the thirteen ton bell is housed in St. Stephen’s Tower. The clock bell is called Big Ben after Sir Benjamin Hall. He had the job to see that the bell was put up. Sir Benjamin was a big man. One day he said in the Parliament. “Shall we call the bell St. Stephen’s?” But someone said for a joke, “Why not call it Big Ben?” Now the bell is known all over the world by that name.
Big Ben
Every day when people in the UK switch on their radio to listen to BBC radio news, they can hear one of the most famous sounds in London, the ringing of Big Ben. The clock tower next to the Houses of Parliament with its famous bell has become a symbol of London. Many people think that Big Ben is the clock or the whole tower. In fact, it’s the largest of the five bells at the top of the tower.
The bell weighs 12 tons and is 2.7 metres in diameter and 2.3 metres high. Big Ben first boomed out in 1859. On New Year’s Eve, 1923, the bell was first heard on the radio, and on New Year’s Eve, 1949, it and the clock tower appeared on television.
Westminster Abbey is a building of great beauty, a place of worship and prayer, a church whose life has been closely identified with the English nation for more than 900 years. Coronations and Royal Weddings take place in the abbey. All but two of the English kings and queens have been crowned in Westminster Abbey since 1066.
The most sacred place in the Abbey is Chapel of St. Edward the Confessor. Edward, a Saxon king (1042-1066), was the founder of Westminster Abbey and the original building was consecrated a few days before his death. He is buried here and in medieval times his shrine attracted many pilgrims. Westminster Abbey is also famous for its Poets’ Corner. Here are the graves and memorials of most of the major English poets and some writers and musicians. Among them the tomb of Geoffrey Chaucer, and the memorial to William Shakespeare. Samuel Johnson and Charles Dickens are also buried here. West of Westminster Abbey stands Buckingham Palace. It is now the official residence of the Queen.
In 1066 William, Duke of Normandy, and his men defeated the Saxons at the Battle of Hastings and killed the Saxon King Harold. William and the Normans then set about building castles to complete their domination of England. One of the earliest castles was built where the Tower now stands. It was simply a timber fort, erected in a corner of the stone walls which the Romans had built around their city of London nine hundred years before. The Tower of London was begun by William the Conqueror as a fortress and palace. Later kings made it larger and stronger, and kept soldiers, armour, weapons, treasure, and sometimes important prisoners there. For five hundred years coins of the realm were minted at the Tower and official documents stored in some of the castle buildings. There was even a zoo which began as the king’s private collection of animals among which there were bears, lions, elephants. Now, however, all that remains of it are the ravens and the legend that if they ever leave the Tower will fall. For nine centuries the Tower has kept watch over London and the river Thames. Now it is one of the greatest tourist attractions of London.
Windsor Castle is an official residence of the British Royal family. William the Conqueror began building it on a hill above the River Thames 900 years ago. England’s kings and queens have lived in it ever since. The castle has been rebuilt and improved many times according to the British monarchs’ taste.
The dominant structure of the castle is the high Round Tower. It is built on the site where, according to tradition, King Arthur sat with the Knights of the Round Table. Fourteen other towers rise from the walls surrounding the castle.
The castle also includes St. Georges Chapel, which is the burial place of Henry VI, Edward IV, Henry VIII, Charles I, Edward VII, and George V.
Today, nine centuries after its foundation, the Castle continues to perform its prime role as an official residence of the Queen.
After the fire of 1992, Queen Elizabeth II opened the doors of Windsor Castle to the public. Gone are the mysteries held by Windsor Castle!
Text 8
Exercise 1. Pronounce correctly the proper names
Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Bristol, Avon, Gascony, Spain, Portugal
Exercise 2. Read the text and do the exercises.
BRISTOL
The counties of Devon, Cornwall, and Somerset are often called the West Country. Urban development of this region is very limited and Bristol is the great exception among the towns of the area, other settlements in this part of the country being small.
Bristol is situated at the junction of the Avon and the Frome. It is a major port and industrial centre. It is an ancient city and it has always been a strictly commercial place and has remained such to this day. Little is known of its early history but its medieval trade was extended to Gascony, Spain and Portugal.
In 1400 it was considered to be the second greatest port of England. Now it is eighth in the United Kingdom. It is a regional capital and five times as large as the next town in the area. Bristol has a large variety of industries, of which aircraft design and construction at Filton is the most important. Other significant industries are paper-making, printing and flour-milling.
Bristol is a University town. Its university was founded in 1876 first as a university college. Now there are flourishing colleges of science and technology, art and commerce.
The Mendip hills separate Bristol from the lowland of the Somerset plain. Once this area was marshy but now that it has been extensively drained it carries great numbers of dairy cattle. Cheddar cheese is one of its best known products.
Exercise 3. Find English equivalents for the following word combinations in the text.
Городское развитие, большое исключение, в месте слияния, главный порт, промышленный центр, древний город, торговый центр, в пять раз больше, университетский город, болотистый, молочный скот, один из самых известных продуктов.
Exercise 4. Quote the sentences in which these words and word combinations are used in the text.
To be called, to be situated, medieval trade, to be considered, a large variety of industries, printing, flourishing colleges, to separate.
Exercise 5. Answer the questions.
1. Is Bristol a large or a small city?
2. Where is it situated?
3. What kind of city is it?
4. What kind of industries can one find in Bristol?
5. It’s a University town, isn’t it?
6. Why is Cheddar cheese one of the best known products of this region?
Exercise 6. Give the summary of the text.
Text 9
Exercise 1. Read the text and do the exercises.
BIRMINGHAM
Long famous as an international business centre, Birmingham has developed into a modern and exciting city, its buildings and shops are second to none.
Birmingham is at the heart of Britain’s motorway system. The superbly designed inner ring road is easily identified by its red surface and gives easy access to the city centre.
Massive post-war development schemes have meant exciting new buildings. But the best of the old has been preserved.
The city’s museum and art gallery has some of the finest examples of pre-Raphaelite painting, with works by Burne-Jones and William Morris. The Science Museum houses the earliest English locomotive actually built (1784).
Birmingham’s ultra-modern library is one of the largest and best stocked in Europe and includes the Shakespeare Memorial Library with 40, 000 books in 90 languages.
The city possesses several interesting churches and two cathedrals.
Shopping facilities in Birmingham are a magnet for thousands; there is a wealth of variety that few places in Britain can rival. The multilevel Bull Ring Shopping Centre is completely traffic free and linked by subways with the major shopping streets of the city. It includes most kinds of retail shops, open-air and covered markets, banks, restaurants and offices. Equally impressive is the air-conditioned New Street Shopping Centre.
Birmingham has more canals than Venice. Some canal basins have been developed as recreational centres, with walks, pubs, restored buildings and boat trips from Gas Street Basin and Cambrian Wharf.
The city has excellent facilities for all kinds of sport. It boasts twenty swimming pools and eight municipal golf courses, as well as many private clubs. Edgbaston Reservoir is a 60-acre lake for sailing, rowing and fishing, and the Wyndley Leisure Centre at Sutton Coldfield provides facilities for indoor sports. Test and County cricket is played at Edgbaston; Aston Villa, Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion are the local football teams.
Exercise 2. Replace the Russian phrases with the English ones.
1. For a long time Birmingham has been known as (международный деловой центр).
2. Now Birmingham is (современный и интересный город).
3. (Превосходно спланированная) inner ring road has red surface.
4. There are several interesting (церквей и кафедральных соборов) in the city.
5. Few places in Britain can rival with a variety of (магазинов).
6. There are some (искусственных водоемов) serving as (развлекательные центры).
7. There are many (спортивных сооружений) in Birmingham.
Exercise 3. Identify the Tense – Voice form of the following predicates.
Has developed, is identified, have meant, has been preserved, houses, includes, possesses, can rival, is linked, have been developed, boasts, is played.
Exercise 4. Complete the sentences in all possible ways.
1. Birmingham is …
2. Birmingham has …
Exercise 5. Prove the idea.
1. Birmingham is at the heart of Britain’s motorway system
2. But the best of the old has been preserved.
3. Birmingham’s ultra-modern library is one of the largest in Europe.
4. Shopping facilities in Birmingham are a magnet for thousands.
5. The city has excellent facilities for all kinds of sport.
Exercise 6. Give the summary of the text.
Text 10
Exercise 1. Read the text about the capitals of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Edinburgh
The largest city of Scotland and its capital, Edinburgh is situated in the eastern part of the Central Lowlands. The city has been an important strategic centre throughout the long Scottish history with its numerous wars. Edinburgh is one of the most beautiful cities in the country, historically it is divided into the Old Town and the New City. The Old Town with the Castle that towers over Princess Street is situated on the Castle Rock, one of several hills which overshadow the modern city. The New City began to be built to the north of the Castle in the mid-18th century and was eventually linked with the Old Town by bridges.
Edinburgh’s industries are of considerable importance. The city is considered as a major centre of rubber production. There are also baking and milling industries. The port of Leith makes possible a direct access to the North Sea. Edinburgh is famous for its University, founded in 1583, and also for its international music festivals.
Cardiff
Cardiff, the largest city of Wales, became its capital in 1956. It is situated near the mouth of the river Taff, which flows into the English Channel. The site was first occupied by a Roman fort. The Castle now standing at the site of the Roman fort and the old fortress walls around it give a special flavour to the city. There are numerous offices, a government building and several colleges of the University of Wales, and the city park stretches beyond them. Industries are concentrated in the south of the city and near the port. The port played a great role in the growth of Cardiff in the 19th and early 20th centuries, when most of the Welsh coal exports were handled by it. Engineering in Cardiff includes ship-repairing and the making of railway cars, oil engines, vehicles and electric gear. It is also known for a great range of light industry.
Belfast
Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, is the leading industrial, especially engineering centre of the region. Its prominent role is explained by its advantageous geographic situation opposite Britain. It has grown into a large port as a result. After Ulster had seceded from Ireland, the Belfast port began to handle most of the raw materials and fuel for Northern Ireland. The physical and industrial growth of Belfast was promoted to a large extent by the policy of the British ruling classes, which backed the development of the eastern part of Ulster with its predominantly English population.
Belfast was the gateway for the English colonization of Ireland and today is the centre of major economic and political contacts with Ulster.
Exercise 2. Say what these cities are famous for.
Text 11
Exercise 1. Read and translate the dialogues
Dialogue 1. A Visit to London
David: This is Whitehall. All these big buildings are Government offices. At the beginning of November every year the Queen drives down Whitehall from Buckingham Palace to open Parliament. Many people come to watch the Queen and the soldiers who ride with her.
Margaret: What are those buildings at the end of the street?
David: You know the building with the clock; that’s the Houses of Parliament. The building beside it with two towers is Westminster Abbey. Now we’ll go by boat to the Tower.
Edward: How far is it?
David: About three miles. It’s near Tower Bridge.
Edward: Is that the bridge that opens in the middle to let boats go through?
David: Yes. Now we are going under London Bridge. This bridge isn’t old, but there was a bridge here many years ago with houses and shops on it.
Margaret: Is that the Tower of London? But there are a lot of towers there.
David: Yes, but the one in the middle – the White Tower – is the Tower.
Margaret: How old is it?
David: About nine hundred years old. Years ago kings and queens lived – and died – here.
Margaret: Can we get to the National Gallery from here?
David: Yes. We’ll go by bus. Then you can see all the interesting buildings on the way. That’s the Bank of England. This is Fleet Street, with all the newspaper offices. Now we are in the Strand. Charring Cross Station is on the left, and now we are coming to Trafalgar Square. The National Gallery is on the right.
Margaret: How many pictures are there in the Gallery?
David: About six hundred, I think.
Edward: I am so tired after our tour about the city, but tomorrow, I hope, we’ll visit the Gallery and enjoy the masterpieces. Thank you very much for your interesting excursion.
Dialogue 3
Dialogue 4
- Is there a bus from here to the National Gallery?
Dialogue 5
Exercise 2. Find in the dialogues English equivalents for these word combinations and sentences.
1. Что это за здания в конце улицы? 2. здание с часами. 3.около трех миль. 4. Это Лондонский Тауэр? 5. Сколько ему лет? 6. Можно попасть отсюда в Национальную Галерею? 7. Большое спасибо за интересную экскурсию. 8. Вы не подскажите дорогу к Трафальгарской площади? 9. Поверните налево. 10. Вам потребуется 10-15 минут. 11. Поверните во вторую улицу слева и идите прямо. 12. Садитесь на 12 автобус. 13.Вы едете не в ту сторону.
Exercise 3. Make the necessary substitutions and reproduce the dialogues.
1. A: Do I take the second on the left?
B: No, you want the first on the right.
(A: third, right; second, right; B: fourth, left; third, left)
2. A: Is it far? Should I take a bus?
B: No, it’s only a five minutes’ walk.
(B: seven, four, ten)
3. A: Could you tell me the way to the post-office?
B: Turn left at the traffic lights.
(A: the University; B: right)
4. A: Does the 68 go to the University?
B: I’m a stranger here. You’d better ask the policeman.
(A: 72, Westminster Abbey; 152, Fleet Street)
5. A: Is this the right bus for Buckingham Palace?
B: No, you are going the wrong way. You want a 132 from the station
( A: Windsor Castle, the Houses of Parliament; B: an 18, a 254)
6. A: Does this train go to Piccadilly Circus)
B: No, you‘ll have to change at Oxford Street
(A: Trafalgar Square, St. Paul’s Cathedral; B: Regent Street, Baker Street)
7. A: What should I see next?
B: Have you been to the National Gallery?
(the Tate Gallery, the British Museum)
Exercise 4. Complete the dialogues.
1. A: …?
B: Take the third on the left and go straight on.
A: …?
B: No, it’s only a few minutes’ walk.
2. A: ….?
B: Turn right at the traffic lights.
A: …?
B: No, it’s no distance at all. It’ll take you about six minutes.
A: …?
B: I’m a stranger here. You’d better ask the policeman.
3. A: …?
B: No, you are going the wrong way. You want a 192 from the bank.
4. A: I am going to Birmingham next Friday. What would you advise me to see there?
B: …..
5. A: I’d like to take my family on a tour to Great Britain. What cities should we see there?
B: ….
6. A: I’ve heard you are going to London next month. Do you know what you are sure to see there?
B: ….
Exercise 5. Translate these dialogues.
- Садитесь на любой автобус и попросите кондуктора высадить вас у Гайд-Парка.
Exercise 6. Dramatize these situations.
SPEECH EXERCISES
Exercise 1. Speak on the following topics:
a) London and its sights;
b) Cities of Great Britain and their sights.
WRITTEN TASKS
Exercise 1. Write a letter to your friend from the USA. Here is a part of his letter.
“ …I am sure that cities and towns of my country are the most beautiful in the world. But I’ve heard that you visited Great Britain last month. Is it true that the cities there are interesting from the point of view of history and architectural monuments? Are they worth visiting? What cities are the musts for the sightseer?
Hope to hear from you soon.
Much love,
Alex”
Observe the rules of letter writing.
Exercise 2. You work in a travel agency in Russia. Think over the name of your travel firm and write an advertisement about the trip that your agency offer to travelers who are going to visit Great Britain. Don’t forget that you must only advertise the trip,
Don’t forget to speak about: