Ex.8 Translate.

1. Маленькое кельтское поселение Лондиниум находилось в месте, где Темза была достаточно узкой, чтобы построить мост. 2. Лондон – это британский центр коммерческой и финансовой деятельности, юридической системы и прессы. 3. Туристы приезжают в Лондон посмотреть на его исторические здания, а также из-за возможности хорошо отдохнуть и провести время. 4. Резиденция Премьер-министра – это тихий, ничем не примечательный дом на маленькой боковой улице недалеко от Уайтхолла. 5. Лондон знаменит своими парками. Дети особенно любят парк “Кенсингтон Гарденз”, где находится статуя Питера Пена, а также “Регент Парк” с его зоопарком. 6. Темза уже стала причиной нескольких наводнений, поэтому чтобы избежать стихийных бедствий, в Лондоне была построена дамба.

Ex.9 Read the dialogues and say what factors should be borne in mind if you are visiting London. To what extent did the author's visit change his mind about the city?

Visiting London

1

- Here we are in England. I'm very glad the trip is over.

- You don't feel well, do you?

- I was a little air-sick. But I'm all right now.

- That's well. By the way, how long are you going to stay in London?

- Only three days. I can't have much time for my sightseeing. So I'd like to make a trip through the streets of London right now in order to get the general impres­sion of the city.

- Let me accompany you. I know the city well. And the weather is so brilliant.

- Oh, that's the first surprise of mine. We used to think that there are fogs or rains in London nearly every day of the year. But the weather is perfectly well today. A slight wind is blowing and the air is full of spring smells.

- We'll see more of the city from the top of the bus. We shall begin from the West End and see the principal historical buildings and monuments such as Westmin­ster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament and the National Gallery.

2

- Now we are moving along Oxford street. You can see numerous shops, banks and restaurants on both sides of the street. The pavements are crowded with people. In the roadway there is a constant stream of cars, taxis, buses and lor­ries. It's dangerous to cross the road until the traffic is stopped.

- An unusual thing is that your drivers keep to the left.

- Oh, yes. It's very important. We have left-hand traffic here and if you are driving along the street first look to the right, and when you reach the middle of the road, look to your left.

- Your buses differ greatly from our buses. They are all red and double-decked. Are there trolleybuses and trams in London?

- Yes. In some parts of London we have trolleybuses and trams as well.

- Don't you find that it's too noisy in the streets?

- Oh, yes. The noise is deafening. It lasts till midnight. But the matter is that people get used to it very soon.

- Look at that building with many towers, please. Is that the Houses of Parlia­ment? I recognize it from the pictures.

- You are quite right. It's the Houses of Parliament, the place where the Gov­ernment sits. It's very beautiful there. And can you recognize Westminster Abbey?

- Oh, here it's, on the left. I know, the greatest English poets are buried there. I'd like to come to this place once again. And is this place Picca­dilly Circus?

- No, this is Trafalgar Square. There's a bus stop over there. We'll get off and see the National Gallery.

- OK and then we'll spend the rest of the day in some of the parks nearby.

3

- We are in Hyde Park, aren't we?

- You are quite right. It's the famous Hyde Park.

- It's splendid here! I'm delighted. Everything around is green and fresh. It's a good place to have a rest. The ducks are swimming in the pools. Children are playing in playgrounds. People in light spring clothes are walking not only along the paths but also across the grass.

- Yes, people are allowed to do everything on the grass. You can sing, or dance, or cry, or preach and nobody will make you a remark.

- I've heard a lot about the Speakers' Corner. It's a big open place where a man can stand on a chair, or on a platform, or on the ground and speak everything he likes. You can listen to him, ask questions or you may pass him by without any reaction.

- We are sure to see the place. It's worth seeing it.

- By the way, are there many such parks in London?

- Quite a lot. Except Hyde Park which is one of the best there is Green Park, Kensington Gardens, St. James Park and others. People call them "lungs of London".

- I've got sure it's a wonderful place to spend time in. But it's getting dark, and I dream of seeing the city at night.

- At night all the streets are lit by electricity, or in some districts by the brilliant shop-windows and the illuminated signs and advertisements, so that after dark everything looks as bright as in broad daylight.

- I see. The picture is breathtaking when you first see it. I thought I knew London in a way but it turned out to be a new world for me today. So many impressions!

- That's really more than enough for one day. I'm glad you liked it.

- Thank you ever so much. It was so kind of you to accompany me. Buy.

Text 3

Ex.1 Read and translate the text and answer the questions that follow.

Westminster

«Westminster» means an abbey located in the west. The old city of Westminster began to grow a mile and a half up­stream to the west of the minster of the monks of St. Peter's. Under Edward the Confessor it was rebuilt and gave birth to Westminster Abbey, the main church of England.

Westminster was then (961) on an island, standing above the level of the shallow lagoons which dotted the marshy ground up­stream from the city's western wall. In 1060 a vast area became available for redevelopment and soon Edward the Confessor moved to a new royal residence at Westminster. It was a splendid palace with noble stone walls, painted chambers and rows of offices, kitchens and cellars. And for the last thousand years, Westminster has been the centre of political and religious power in England.

Besides Westminster is one of the two historical centres of modern London. It's well-known that the Romans built a bridge across the Thames and their encampment grew up on the north bank of the river. The principal fort of it was on the site now occupied by the Tower of London. The Roman fort gradually turned into the City of London, the city of trade and the Merchant Guilds. And further to the north was the other centre, focused on Westminster Abbey, and the Royal City of Westminster.

The two towns grew up side by side. At first the Thames was the most important means of communication between them. Later the chief road link was along the Strand (originally mean­ing a sandy shore), now a famous street in London.

It's strange to imagine now how much Londoners and men of Westminster distrusted each other. Quarrels and disputes between tradesmen, friendly wrestling contests often ended in ferocious fights. It took a lot of time for orders and proclama­tions, issued both by the king and the city authorities, to bring those outbreaks of violence to an end.

The classical view of the modern building of Westminster Palace as the seat of British Parliament is a true visiting card of London. Its foggy silhouette against the Thames was subtly cap­tured by Claude Monet, the famous French impressionist.

Ex. 2 Questions.

1 What did Westminster look like in early days?

2 How did Westminster Abbey start?

3 What was the Westminster Palace of Edward the Confessor like?

4 What does Westminster stand for now?

5 How was the first historical centre of London founded?

6 What was the second historical centre of London focused on?

7 What means of communication linked the two towns?

8 What marked the life of the Londoners of the Middle Ages for many years?

9 What helped bring the outbreaks of violence in London to an end?

10 Who captured the classical view of Westminster Palace in painting?

Ex.3 Express your opinion.

1 What do you think about the location of Westminster in ear­ly days?

2 What periods of Westminster's history do you suppose are most worth remembering?

Ex.4 Is there a historical centre in Minsk, your native town or in any foreign capital you have visited? Speak about the cul­tural and educational value of historic places.