possibly offer any problems until the English build a few carefully planned towns on them.

Manhattan is full of parallel rows of buildings, those running from north to south being called avenues while those running from east to west are called streets.

The avenues and streets have only numbers instead of names. On the Con­tinent streets are usually named after historic figures and politicians. Every twenty-five years there is a revolution and a change of regime and then all the streets are re-christened and very often it is a criminal offence to call them by their former names. Sometimes even the postmen have no idea what the var­ious streets in their district are called and occasionally people are not quite sure about the current names of the very streets they live in. These pleasures can never mean anything to the American. Regimes may come and go, the Republicans may take over from the Democrats and vice versa, new parties may gain or lose power, but 21st Street will keep its name under the most conservative or most revolutionary regime alike.

This is not the only disadvantage of the system. In London it may fall to your lot to find Alma Square N. W. 8. You have a vague idea where it may be and ask seventy-eight different persons and nobody knows exactly where Alma Square is. Bus-men who have driven past in its immediate neighbourhood for twenty-eight years have never heard'of it. People who pass through it twice a day only know that it is somewhere near, either in front of you or behind you, either to the left or — maybe — to the right. How nice it is to discover after two hour’s research, just when you are about to give the whole thing up, that you have passed through Alma Square ten times during your tour.

You feel a sense of triumph and superiority after finding Alma Square; but who on earth will feel a sense of triumph in New York on finding 79th Street between 78th and 80th Streets? Let the British build a town with numbered streets and then try to find 79th Street in it!

4 Read and retell the following text. Speak about any city you would like. Welcome to st albans

Just half an hour from London!

St Albans has been welcoming visitors for centuries. Medieval pilgrims came to the shrine of Britain’s first Christian martyr, St Alban. Today’s visi­tor comes not only to explore the inspiring Cathedral, but also the site of Ro­man Verulamium, now protected in 100 acres of beautiful parkland. The award winning Verulamium Museum tells the story of the Roman city and display

7*

fabulous mosaics and wallplasters. Nearby are the remains of the best pre­served Roman theatre in Britain.

St Albans is easy to get to by road or rail. There are ample car parks and two railway stations. It is a city easily explored by on foot, offering the con­trasts of old and new. Walk down historic Fishpool Street and you find your­self in the delightful village of St Michael’s with its 16th century water mill. Back in the city centre regular guided walks are available.

The 15th century Clock Tower, a rare example of a town belfry, is just a short step away from a wealth of attractive shops and restaurants. This mix­ture of past and present provides a unique atmosphere in which to linger, gaze and enjoy. Every Saturday and Wednesday sees the lively street market. Estab­lished over 1,000 years ago, it is now one of the largest in the South East, offer­ing goods of very kind from fruit and vegetables to antiques, records and books.

The story of St Albans is explored further at The Museum of St Albans in Hatfield Road. Here you will find lively exhibitions and a wildlife garden where you can relax for a while, before resuming your tour.

On the edges of the city are the Organ Museum with its working instru­ments and the famous Gardens of the Rose. Home of the Royal National Rose Society, it presents a magnificent show of colour and scent throughout the summer.

St Albans offers a real day out — priceless heritage, original shops and a unique and welcoming atmosphere. Ideal for a weekend break, St Albans offers a world of choice, and boasts over 100 places to eat and drink in the cit> centre alone. It hosts three theatres and enjoys a lively night life. By contrast, quiet lanes, delightful villages and enticing pubs can be found only minutes away from the centre.

Come and explore St Albans — you won’t be disappointed.

5 Study the following text. Speak about the unusual sights of the place you live.

QUEEN MARY’S DOLLS’ HOUSE

Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House must be the most magnificent dolls’ house i the world, an English country mansion in miniature. The house, designed b the famous architect Sir Edwin Lutyens as a gift for Queen Mary, was intern ed to be a work, of the finest English craftsmanship, a model of an early 20tl century royal residence perfect in every detail.

Built on a scale of 1 to 12 (or one-twelfth normal size), the house a miracle of scale and accuracy. The fixtures and fittings are extremely up-t date for a house of its age. It has electric lighting, hot and cold running wate