London, Capital of Great Britain
London is the capital of Great Britain, its political, economic, and commercial centre. It is one of the largest cities in the world and the largest city in Europe. Its population is about 8 million.
London is divided into several parts: the City, Westminster, the West End, and the East End.
The heart of London is the City, its financial and business centre. Numerous banks, offices, and firms are situated there, including the Bank of England, the Stock Exchange, and the Old Bailey. Few people live here, but over a million people come to the City to work. There are some famous ancient buildings within the City. Perhaps the most striking of them is the St. Paul's Cathedral, the greatest of English churches. It was built in the 17th century by Sir Christopher Wren. The Tower of London was founded by Julius Caesar and in 1066 rebuilt by William the Conqueror. It was used as a fortress, a royal palace, and a prison. Now it is a museum.
Westminster is the governmental part of London.
Nearly all English kings and queens have been crowned in Westminster Abbey. Many outstanding statesmen, scientists, writers, poets, and painters are buried here: Newton, Darwin, Chaucer, Dickens, Tennyson, Kipling, etc.
Across the road from Westminster Abbey is Westminster Palace, the seat of the British Parliament. The Clock Tower of the Houses of Parliament is famous for its big bell, known as "Big Ben". Buckingham Palace is the official residence of the Queen.
The West End is the richest and most beautiful part of London. It is the symbol of wealth and luxury. The best hotels, shops, restaurants, clubs, and theatres are situated there.
The Trafalgar Square is the geographical centre of London. It was named in memory of Admiral Nelson's victory in the battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The tall Nelson's Column stands in the middle of the square.
On the north side of the Trafalgar Square is the National Portrait Gallery. Not far away is the British Museum — the biggest museum in London. It contains a priceless collection of ancient manuscripts, coins, sculptures, etc, and is also famous for its library.
There are a lot of factories, workshops, and docks in the East End.
Places of Interest in London
Hyde Park
It's the London's largest and most fashionable park. It was once a royal hunting forest. There are restaurants and bars at each end of the Serpentine lake, where you can hire a boat.
Downing Street
Number 10, Downing Street has been the home of the British Prime Minister since 1735.
The Houses of Parliament
Its official name is the Palace of Westminster. Most of the building was built in 1840 after the fire of 1834 destroyed the old palace. At the north end of the building, by Westminster Bridge, there is the famous clock tower, Big Ben. In fact Big Ben is really the name of the bell in the tower, not of the clock.
The Tower of London
It's the London's oldest building. Since it was built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, this castle has been a Royal palace, a prison, a place of execution, a zoo, the Royal Mint, and an observatory. Today it's a museum and houses the Crown Jewels. There is a gift shop.
The Natural Museum
It's situated in Kensington and is one of London's greatest museums. There is a huge collection of animals and plants, including a quarter of a million butterflies, a blue whale and the famous dinosaur skeletons. There is a cafeteria, a gift shop, and a book shop.
Madame Tussauds
The famous Waxworks Museum has the models of famous people from pop stars to prime ministers, displays of battles and a Chamber of Horror.
The Royal Observatory, Greenwich
It is situated 10 miles outside London on a hill above the River Thames. The Observatory contains telescopes and displays about astronomy, including Halley's Comet and Black Holes. There is a video theatre and a souvenir shop. Picnic in Greenwich Park. You can take a river boat to Greenwich from Westminster Bridge.
Questions:
1. Is London the largest city in the world?
2. What's the population of London?
3. Traditionally London is divided into four parts. Can you name them?
4. What do you know about the City?
5. Who was the St. Paul's Cathedral built by?
6. Who founded the Tower of London? When was it rebuilt?
7. What is the governmental part of London?
8. What building has more historic associations than any other building in London?
9. What is Big Ben?
10. Can you describe the Trafalgar Square?
11. Where do the working people of London live?
12. What are the most famous London museums and art galleries?
2. 1. What is the London's largest and most fashionable park?
2. What street has been the home of the British Prime Minister since 1735?
3. What is one of London's greatest museums?
4. Where can you see the famous waxworks?
5. Where is the Royal Observatory situated?
Vocabulary:
numerous — многочисленный
ancient — древний, старинный
striking — поразительный, замечательный
to found — основывать
fortress — крепость
royal — королевский
to crown — короновать
outstanding — выдающийся
statesman — государственный деятель
to bury — хоронить
tower — башня
official residence — официальная резиденция
wealth — богатство
luxury — роскошь
in memory of— в память о
to contain — содержать
priceless — бесценный
fashionable — модный, популярный
to hire a boat — брать лодку напрокат
execution — казнь
whale — кит
waxwork — восковая фигура
horror — ужас, страх
to contain — содержать
display — выставка
Great Britain
The United Kingdom (or Great Britain) is situated on the British Isles. The British Isles consist of two large islands, Great Britain and Ireland, and about five thousand small islands. Their total area is over 244,000 square kilometres.
The United Kingdom is made up of four countries: England, Wales, Scotland (on the island of Great Britain), and Northern Ireland (on the island of Ireland). Their capitals are London, Cardiff, Edinburgh, and Belfast respectively. The capital of the UK is London.
The British Isles are separated from the European continent by the North Sea and the English Channel. The western coast of Great Britain is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea.
The surface of the British Isles varies very much. The north of Scotland is mountainous and is called the Highlands, while the south, which has beautiful valleys and plains, is called the Lowlands. The north and west of England are mountainous, but all the rest — east, centre, and south-east — is a vast plain. Mountains are not very high. Ben Nevis in Scotland is the highest mountain (1,343 m).
There are a lot of rivers in Great Britain, but they are not very long. The Severn is the longest river, while the Thames is the deepest one.
The mountains, the Atlantic Ocean, and the warm waters of Gulf Stream influence on the climate of the British Isles. It is mild the whole year round.
The UK is one of the world's smallest countries. Its population is over 57 million. About 80 % of the population is urban.
The UK is a highly developed industrial country. It is known as one of the world's largest producers and exporters of machinery» electronics, textile, aircraft, and navigation equipment. One of the chief industries of the country is shipbuilding.
The UK is a constitutional monarchy. In law, Head of the State is Queen. In practice, Queen reigns, but does not rule. The country is ruled by the elected government with the Prime Minister at the head. The British Parliament consists of two chambers: the House of Lords and the House of Commons.
There are three main political parties in Great Britain: the Labour, the Conservative, and the Liberal parties.
Vocabulary:
| isle - остров island - остров to separate - разделять european - европейский the English Channel - Ла-Манш to be washed by - омываться to border on - граничить с... to consist of - состоять из... mountainous - гористый | to stretch - простираться government - правительство chamber - палата to discover - обнаруживать current - течение severely- чрезвычайно decade - десятилетие monarchy - монархия |
Sport in Great Britain
Most people in Great Britain are real sport-lovers, so when they are neither playing, nor watching games, they like to talk about them. Perhaps, you didn't know, but many kinds of sport have taken the origin in Great Britain. Cricket, football, rugby, tennis, table tennis, badminton, squash, canoeing and snooker were invented in Britain.
Britain's national sport is football or soccer. It was played there as far back as medieval times. Nowadays it has become the most popular game all over the world. There is no national football team in Great Britain. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their separate football clubs, which compete in European and World Cup matches.
English football fans are fond of most exciting games which are held between teams from the same city. For example, between Manchester United and Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea from London.
There are plenty of amateur association football clubs. Many schools form their own football teams, offering students an opportunity of entering prestigious universities according to their sport achievements.
There is a certain type of football called rugby. The game is called so because it was originated at Rugby — a well-known English public school. As well as common football it is a game played by two teams of fifteen players each. The game takes place on a field 100 metres long and 80 metres wide. There are goal posts at both ends of the field. Rugby is played with an oval or egg-shaped ball which can be carried by hands and kicked. The ball is passed from hand to hand in order to be thrown across the goal line. It is a rather violent game, that is why the players must be big and strong. Another requirement for the players is to wear helmets, masks and chest and shoulder padding.
Cricket is a popular summer sport in Britain. There are many cricket clubs in the country. Cricket players wear a certain uniform — white boots, a white T-shirt and white trousers. One cricket game takes a terribly long time. There are two teams of 11 players each and test matches between national teams can last up to 5 days. The spectators have to be very patient. The game is played on a pitch with a wicket at each end. The rules of the game have changed over the years. It is a game which is associated with long sunny summer afternoons, the smell of new-mown grass and the sound of leather ball beating the willow cricket bat. Cricket is more popular among men, but it is also played by women and girls.
Tennis is another favourite sport of the Englishmen. People all over the world know Wimbledon which is the centre of lawn tennis. It is the oldest tennis tournament in the world considered by many people to be the most prestigious. It takes place over two weeks in late June and early July. Wimbledon is known for its traditions — strict white dress code for competitors, the absence of sponsor advertising around the courts and some others. Every tennis player dreams of taking part at this tournament.
Golf is a game of business community. In Great Britain it is very common to establish good business relations playing golf. The equipment for this game is quite expensive as well as the entrance to a prestigious golf club, so not everyone can afford it. Golf is a ball and golf stick game played on a natural field. In this game one has to knock a ball into a hole.
There are a lot of other popular sports in Great Britain, for example, horseracing, croquet, swimming, running, cycling and rowing.
Questions:
1. The Englishmen love sports, don't they?
2. Which sport do you associate with Britain? Why?
3. What sports have taken the origin in Britain?
4. Do you know any English football clubs?
5. What is rugby?
6. What equipment do you need to play rugby?
7 Cricket is a popular winter sport in England, isn't it?
8. Have you learnt any interesting information about cricket?
9. Why does every tennis player dream of taking part at Wimbledon?
10. Do you think golf is an exciting game?
Vocabulary:
sport-lover — любитель спорта
to take the origin — происходить
cricket — крикет
rugby — регби
squash — сквош
snooker — снукер (вид игры на бильярде)
to invent — изобретать
soccer — футбол
medieval times — Средние века
separate — отдельный
to compete — соревноваться
tournament — турнир
to be fond of — любить
to hold — проводить
opportunity — возможность
according to — в соответствии с
achievement — достижение
field — поле
goal post — ворота
violent — жёсткий, суровый
requirement — требование
helmet — шлем
padding — защитная накладка
uniform — форма одежды
spectator — зритель
patient — терпеливый
pitch — поле
wicket — ворота («калитка»)
to be associated with — ассоциироваться с
new-mown grass — свежескошенная трава
willow — ива
dress code — форма одежды
absence — отсутствие
sponsor advertising — спонсорская реклама
court — теннисный корт
business community — бизнес сообщество
to establish good business relations — установить хорошие деловые отношения
equipment — оборудование, снаряжение
entrance — вход
to afford — позволять
to knock — закатывать
horseracing — скачки
croquet — крокет
running — бег
cycling — велогонки
rowing — гребля