LONDON
London is the capital of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is its political, economic and cultural centre. The population of London is about nine million people.
London is situated on the river Thames. This river divides the town into two parts. There are about twenty bridges across the Thames.
London is a very old city. It is about 20 centuries old. The town grew up around a small Celtic settlement known as Londinium and by 300 A.D. (A.D.= Anno Domini ['ænәu dכminai]) it had turned into a sizable part and an important trading centre with the population of about fifty thousand people.
Today London is one of the largest cities in the world. One in seven of the population of the United Kingdom is a Londoner.
London consists of four parts: the City, the West End, the East End and Westminster. The City is the oldest part of London. It is its financial and business centre. Sometimes the City of London is called “the square mile”, because it occupies an area of a square mile, but there are a lot of banks, offices and companies. The Bank of England is situated there. Very few people live in the City of London. People come to work here. Employees and businessmen stream toward the City in the morning. They travel by motorbuses, on bicycles or by 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 slow.
The West End is the most pleasant residential area of London. There are luxurious mansions, elegant shops and restaurants, theatres, museums and hotels. A lot of lovely parks are situated here too. Oxford Street is one of the busiest thoroughfares in the West End.
The East End is the industrial district of London. There are plants, factories, workshops and docks there. The industrial and dock workers live here. In the East End there are no magnificent parks and mansions and far from all the men here have a steady job.
Westminster is the administrative centre of London. The Houses of Parliament are situated here. It is the seat of the British Government. The building is very beautiful with its two towers and a big clock called Big Ben.
There is a lot of traffic in the streets of London. There are lots of cars, buses, motor cars, lorries and taxis in the city, especially in rush hours. 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. In Great Britain the traffic keeps to the left. London’s Underground railway or “tube” is the oldest in the world. It is the quickest way of getting around London.
London dominates British life. It is the home of nation’s commerce and finance, the main centre of its legal system and the press. It has the largest university and the greatest possibilities for entertainment and sport in the country.
London is one of the famous capital cities of the world and every year attracts crowds of visitors from home and abroad. They come to explore its historic buildings, to see its museums and galleries, its streets, parks and people.
Task 1. Make up 15 questions to the text.
Task 2. Fill in the blanks with the prepositions.
London is … 20 centuries old. The town grew up … a small Celtic settlement. London is situated … the river Thames. The river divides the town … two parts. The population … London is … nine million people. London consists … four parts. Employees and businessmen travel … the City … motorbuses, … bicycles or … the underground. The road … the City runs … London Bridge. Oxford Street is one … the busiest thoroughfares … the West End. The Houses of Parliament is the seat … the British Government. There is a lot … traffic … the streets of London. … Great Britain the traffic keeps … the left. London is one … the famous capital cities … the world and every year attracts crowds … visitors … home and abroad.
Task 3. Match the words in the columns.
capital situated consists the square mile residential area industrial district administrative centre a big clock the oldest in the world |
Big Ben the West End the Thames Westminster the City the Underground four parts the East End London |
Task 4. Fill in the blanks with the necessary information.
London is about … old.
The population of London is … people.
London consists of … parts.
The City of London is called … .
The streets in the City are … and the traffic is … .
The West End is … area of London.
Oxford street is … in the West End.
The East End is … district of London.
The Houses of Parliament are situated … .
Most of London buses are the famous … that have two decks for passengers.
In Great Britain the traffic … .
London’s Underground railway is … . It is … of getting around London.
London has the largest university and … in the country.
Every year London attracts … .
They come to explore … .
Task 5. Translate the words in brackets into English.
London (расположен) on the river Thames.
The river (делит) the town into two parts.
The town (вырос) around a small Celtic settlement.
London (состоит) of four parts.
The City is (старейшая часть) of London.
Employees and businessmen (стекаются) towards the City in the morning.
The road to the City (проходит) across London Bridge.
The industrial and dock workers (живут) in the East End.
Westminster is (административный) centre of London.
Red double-deckers (выглядят красиво) in the grey streets of London.
Task 6. Is it true or false?
London is about twenty years old.
The population of London is about 5 million people.
London is situated on the river Clyde.
The town consists of two parts.
The City is the oldest part of London, its financial and business centre.
The West End is called “the square mile”.
The East End is the most pleasant residential area of London.
A double-decker is a yellow taxi.
Big Ben is a big tower.
London attracts crowds of visitors from home and abroad.
Task 7. Extend the statements.
London is a political, economic and cultural centre of Great Britain.
London is a very old city.
The City is the oldest part of London. It is its financial and business centre.
The West End is the most pleasant residential area of London.
The East End is the industrial district of London.
Westminster is the administrative centre of London.
There is a lot of traffic in the streets of London.
London dominates British life.
Task 8. Choose the right answer.
1. London is a very old town. It is about …
a) 11 centuries
b) 8 centuries
c) 20 centuries
2. London is situated on the river …
a) Thames
b) Clyde
c) Hudson
3. The population of London is …
a) 4 million
b) 9 million
c) 2 million
4. London consists of …
a) 3 parts
b) 2 parts
c) 4 parts
5. Londoners call “the square mile” …
a) the East End
b) the West End
c) the City
6. The most pleasant residential area is …
a) the East End
b) the City
c) the West End
7. One of the busiest thoroughfares of the West End is …
a) Regent Street
b) Fleet Street
c) Oxford Street
8. The administrative centre of London is …
a) Westminster
b) the City
c) the Houses of Parliament
9. A double-decker is …
a) a red bus
b) a green car
c) a yellow taxi
10. The quickest way of getting around London is …
a) a double-decker
b) a taxi
c) the Underground
Task 9. Speak on the situation.
Your friend is going to visit London. What can you tell him about this city?
London is called “the home of fog”. In winter fogs in London are indeed awful. At times the fog becomes so thick that it involves London in darkness even at midday.
The easiest way of travelling around London is by a London Regional Transport bus or the underground train. These run from the centre of the city right out into the country-side.
The London underground-or “tube”-has nine lines. It’s very fast and in Central London you are never more than a few minutes walk away from a station.
London is famous for its live theatre and there are over thirty theatres within a square mile. There is a great variety of shows to choose from “whodunnits” to opera, musicals, drama, comedies and so on. If you want to know what is on in London, the best place to look is in a newspaper.
Most of London’s big department stores are in Oxford Street and in Regent Street. They are always crowded, but sale times, in January and July, there are so many people that it is difficult to move and it is usually safer to go in the direction of the majority. These days it is often difficult to distinguish the goods in one large store from those in another.
Task 1. Read and translate text A.
Text A
London is one of the biggest and most interesting cities in the world. It is always interesting for tourists to take a trip along the Thames in a boat as it gives a striking panorama of London. The best way to see the city quickly is from the top of London red double-decker buses. Special tourist buses go on two-hours’ circular tours.
If one wants to get some glimpses of London, the best place to start sightseeing is the Tower of London. The Tower of London was founded by Julius Caesar and in 1066 rebuilt by William the Conqueror. For nine centuries the Tower has kept to watch over London and the river Thames. It was used as a fortress, a royal residence and a prison. For five hundred years coins of the realm were minted in the Tower and official documents stored in some of the castle buildings. There was even a zoo which began as a king’s private collection of animals among which there were bears, lions, elephants. Now it is a museum of armour and also the place where the crown jewels are kept. In present days, just as many centuries ago, the Ceremony of the Keys takes place at its gates. Every night when the guard is changed at each gate there is the cry: “Halt! Who goes there?” Then the guard replies “The Keys!” “Whose Keys?” “Queen Elisabeth’s Keys!” “Past Queen Elisabeth’s Keys! All’s well!” and the Tower of London is safely closed for the night.
A twenty minutes’ walk from the Tower will take you to another historic building – St. Paul’s Cathedral, the greatest of English churches. It was built by a famous English architect, Sir Christopher Wren (1632-1723). St. Paul’s Cathedral with its huge dome and rows of columns is considered to be a fine specimen of Renaissance architecture. In one of its towers hangs one of the largest bells in the world, Great Paul, weighing about 17,5 tons. Many great people of England such as the Duke of Wellington and Admiral Nelson are buried in the Cathedral.
Not far away is Westminster. This is the place where most of the government buildings are situated. Here one can see Westminster Abbey, 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. Besides it is a building of great beauty, a place of worship and prayer.
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 are the tomb of Geoffrey Chaucer, and the memorial to William Shakespeare. Samuel Johnson and Charles Dickens are also buried here.
Across the road from Westminster Abbey is Westminster Palace, the seat of the British Parliament. Its two graceful towers standing high above the city. The higher of the two contains the largest clock in the country and the famous bell Big Ben that strikes every quarter of the hour.
Note:
The Duke of Wellington is a famous English general whose army defeated Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815.
Nelson Horatio is an English admiral who won the battle of Trafalgar (the Atlantic coast of Spain).
Task 2. Read, translate and practice these proper names.
Julius Caesar ['dƷu:liәs 'si:zә] William the Conqueror ['wiljәm ðә 'kכŋkәrә] Queen Elisabeth [kwi:n e'lizәbәθ] Christopher Wren ['kristәfә 'ren] Duke of Wellington ['dju:k әv 'weliŋtәn] Admiral Nelson ['ædmәrәl 'nelsәn] Geoffrey Chaucer ['dƷefri 't∫כ:sә] William Shakespeare ['wiljәm '∫eikspiә] Samuel Johnson ['sæmjuәl 'dƷכnsәn] Charles Dickens ['t∫a:lz 'dikinz]
the Tower of London ['tauә әv lΛndn] St. Paul’s Cathedral [seint 'pכ:lz kә'θi:drәl] Renaissance [ri'neisәns] Westminster Abbey ['westminstә 'æbi] Poets’ Corner ['pәuets 'kכ:nә] Westminster Palace ['westminstә 'pælis] Big Ben |
Task 3. Answer the questions.
What gives a striking panorama of London?
What is the best way to see the city quickly?
What is the best place to start sightseeing of London?
When was the Tower of London founded?
Who rebuilt it?
What purpose was the Tower used for?
What is it now?
What ceremony takes place at the gates of the Tower?
What is St. Paul’s Cathedral?
Who was it built by?
What is the Cathedral famous for?
What is Westminster Abbey?
What is it famous for?
Who were buried in Poets’ Corner?
What is the seat of the British Government?
Task 4. Complete the sentences.
A trip along the Thames … .
The best way to see the city quickly … .
The Tower of London was founded … .
It was used … .
There was even a zoo … .
In present days just as many centuries ago … .
St. Paul’s Cathedral was built … .
It is a fine … .
Many great people of England such as … .
Westminster is the place … .
Westminster Abbey is a church where … .
In its Poets’ Corner are the graves and memorials … .
Westminster Palace is the seat … .
One of the graceful towers contains … .
The clock is called … .
Task 5. Prepare reports about famous Englishmen.
William the Conqueror
The Duke of Wellington
Admiral Nelson
Geoffrey Chaucer
William Shakespeare
Samuel Johnson
Charles Dickens
Task 6. Translate from Russian into English.
Лондонский Тауэр был основан в 1066 году.
Он использовался как крепость, королевская резиденция и тюрьма.
В наши дни, как и много лет назад, у ворот Тауэра проходит церемония Ключей.
Собор святого Павла – величайшая из английских церквей.
Он был построен известным английским архитектором Кристофером Реном и является прекрасным образцом средневековой архитектуры.
Многие известные люди похоронены здесь.
Вестминстерское Аббатство – главная церковь Великобритании. Здесь проходят коронации и королевские свадьбы.
В уголке поэтов находятся могилы и надгробья известных английских писателей и поэтов.
Вестминстерский дворец – это место, где находится английский парламент.
На одной из его прекрасных башен находятся самые большие часы в стране – Большой Бен.