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VIII. Study the last part of the text, make up the scheme of political system of the U.K. and describe it.
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VIII. Study the last part of the text, make up the scheme of political system of the U. K. and describe it.
IX. Speak about differences and similarities between the U. K. and Russia.
CONVERSATION
Read the dialogue and say what sights of London you would interested in.
– How long are you going to stay in London?
– A week (1). But I’d like to see the sights of London. What should I see first?
– What are you interested in?
– I’m interested in historical places.
– Then you should see Trafalgar square (2).
– What is it famous for?
– It’s a geographical center of London (3).
– Do you think it is possible to see the city in such a short time?
– Well, you might, if you don’t stay long in one place.
– No, I just want to take a glimpse and I hope I’ll have a general idea of what London is.
I. Act out the dialogue using substitutional words.
SW
1. two weeks; some days, a month.
2. the Tower, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben
3. a famous museum, a national symbol, a famous church.
II. Make up your own dialogue according to the following situation:
You are going to make a tour around the U. K. Discuss with your friend from Britain the places you will go to.
Text II
London
Read the text and say why London is attractive for tourists.
If you happen to be on a visit to the U. K. it will be of great use for you to know a few facts about the capital of the country.
London stretches for nearly 30 miles from north to south and nearly 30 miles from east to west. If you fly low over London in a helicopter you will see below you the winding line of the river Thames flowing from west to east and dividing London into two parts known as the north bank and the south bank.
Those who come to learn London’s history will find much to interest them in the City, the heart of the business and financial life of the country. Here most of the streets are narrow and run down to the Thames, the traffic is slow. It is a very small part of London, only one square mile in area but it is one of the busiest parts of the capital. High office buildings stand on either side of the narrow streets, all business firms are concentrated here.
The most striking building in the City is St. Paul’s Cathedral designed by Wren, a famous English architect of the 17th century. People say that the Cathedral is the finest Renaissance church in Europe. Another important sight of the City is the Tower of London. It has a very long history. It used to be a fortress, a royal residence, then a prison, and now it is a museum.
About two miles west is another part of London that now is called the West End. Here you will see Westminster Abbey at which all British kings and queens are crowned. Many famous people are buried in the Abbey. Among them are Newton, Darwin, Dickens and Kipling.
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Across the road from Westminster Abbey are the Houses of Parliament with its famous Big Ben, a huge clock built just over a century ago. In this part of London are the finest theatres, cinemas, concert halls and large museums, hotels, restaurants, the most famous shops and numerous parks. That is the part where the rich live.
As a rule tourists start their tour from Trafalgar Square, which is the geographical center of London. Trafalgar square is also a historical place. In the middle of it is the famous Nelson Column, which was built in memory of Admiral Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar. Here there is also the National gallery with its wonderful collection of paintings.
In famous Downing Street one can find house №10 which is the residence of the Prime Minister of Great Britain. The residence of the Queen Elizabeth II is Buckingham Palace.
The capital has 14 bridges. The famous London Bridge is the biggest among them. There is a lot of traffic in the streets of the town: endless lines of buses, many of which are double-deckers, motor cars and taxis. The quickest way to get about modern London is the Underground.
So, London is very attractive for tourists. It’s very old and full of historical places, full of customs and traditions. Englishmen themselves are a mixture of past and present, of the old-fashioned and the very modern.
Notes:
narrow street – узкая улица
a fortress – крепость
to crown – короновать
to bury – хоронить
a huge clock – огромные часы
wonderful collection of paintings – замечательная коллекция живописи
double-decker – двухэтажный автобус
a mixture – смесь, смешение
I. Study the notes after the text, read and translate the sentences they are used in.
II. Try to explain the meaning of the following words and word-combinations: the heart of business life, the most striking building, Renaissance church, a prison, the busiest parts of the capital, the Underground, a mixture of past and present.
III. Answer the following questions:
1. What is the territory of London?
2. What is the City of London famous for?
3. What are the most attractive sights of the City?
4. What part of London is called the West End?
5. What is Westminster Abbey?
6. What sight of London is considered to be the symbol of the country?
7. What place is considered to the geographical centre of London?
8. Who lives in Downing Street № 10?
9. What is the residence of British Queen?
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