Text 4 Monarchs of the 20-th century (Part I)

Vocabulary

stateliness [‘steitlinәs] — величественность, достоинство

genuine [‘dзenjuin] — истинный, неподдельный

enabling [i’neibliŋ ] — дающий возможность, облегчающий

the Triple Entente [ðә ‘traipl on’tont] — ист. Антанта, Тройственный Союз

figurehead [‘figәhed] — номинальный глава

harrowing [‘hærәuiŋ ] — горестный, бедственный

circumstances [‘sз:kәmstәnsiz ] — обстоятельства

impreccable [im’prәkәbl ] — безупречный

dignity [‘dignәti] — достоинство

haunt [ho:nt ] —преследовать, часто посещать

renounce [ri’nauns] —отказываться (от прав, привычек)

kingship [‘kiŋ∫ip] — королевский сан, царствование

divorcee [di,vo:’si:] — разведенная (женщина)

abdicate [‘æbdikeit] — отречься (от трона)

abdication [,æbdi’kei∫n] — отречение (от трона)

retirement [ri’taiәmәnt] — уединение, уединенная жизнь, отставка

enterprise [‘entәpraiz] — предприимчивость, смелость, инициатива

invincible [in’vinsәbl] — непобедимый

superbly [su’pз:bli] — великолепно, прекрасно

cope with [keup wið ] — справляться с чем-либо

Queen Victoria represented the continuity and stability of the British way of life, so her eldest son was not given a great deal to do and in the absence of a job he chose to engage himself in the pleasures of smart society. As King, Edward 7 (1901-1910) showed a talent for stateliness that sat well on the monarch of the greatest empire of the world and he played a genuine enabling role in the diplomacy that led to the construction of the Triple Entente of England, France and Italy.

Edward 7’s eldest son died at the age of 28, and it was his second son, George, who succeeded him as George 5 (1910-1936). In 1917 George 5 changed his family’s surname from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to Windsor. The long German surname was the family name of Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria. She was George 5’s grandmother. His reign was dominated by the horrors of the First World War. It was none of the King’s making, and he had to act as figurehead for the national will in harrowing circumstances – a role he performed with impeccable dignity. He was haunted ever afterwards by the death of his cousin, Nicolas, Tsar of Russia. King George 5 was an admirable ‘institutional monarch’.

King George 5’s eldest son, born in 1894, a year before his brother George, Edward 8 (1936) renounced his kingship when difficulties arose over his intention to marry Mrs. Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee. This marriage would be unacceptable to a great majority of his subjects, and Edward preferred to abdicate. After his abdication he was made Duke of Windsor, served during the war years as Governor of the Bahamas, and spent the rest of his life in retirement in Paris, where died in 1972.

The Duke of York, second son of George 5, had never expected to succeed to the throne. In 1923 George married Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. Their daughter Elizabeth was born in 1926 and another daughter, Margaret, was born in 1930. George became King George 6 in December 1936. George 6 (1936-1952) never lacked bravery or enterprise, he was the first member of the Royal Family to learn to fly, and his sense of duty was invincible. King George 6 and his wife Queen Elizabeth restored confidence in the monarchy and superbly coped with their duties all through the Second World War, and showed their love and care for their people. Their daughters served in uniform, and the identification of the Royal Family with the national will was complete.

Task 1. Answer the questions to the text:

1. Who succeeded Queen Victoria in the very beginning of the new century and what talents did the successor show?

2. What was the social and political situation during the reign of George V?

3. What was Edward’s decision to abdicate caused by? What was his fate after abdication?

Task 2. Тranslate from Russian into English:

Представлять продолжительность и стабильность британского образа жизни; в отсутствие работы; вовлекать себя в радости умного общества; показывать талант к величественности; неподдельный, истинный; дающая возможность роль в дипломатии; «Антанта» (Тройственный Союз); правление; доминироваться страхами первой Мировой Войны; номинальный глава; горестные, бедственные обстоятельства; безупречное достоинство; преследовать; объявить свое царствование; американская разведенная женщина; быть неприемлемым; отречься от трона; губернатор Багам; провести остаток жизни в уединении; не иметь смелости или предприимчивости; чувство долга; непобедимый; восстановить уверенность в монархии; великолепно справляться с обязанностями; на протяжении второй Мировой Войны; показывать свою любовь и заботу о людях; идентификация королевской семьи; полный, законченный.

Task 3. Express the key-point of the text. Tell about your impressions. (See Appendix).