Unit 7 britain in the 19th century

Ex.1 Translate and memorize the following words:

Ally, rival, contemporary, victory, statue, invasion, crisis, to await, contradiction, to deepen, escape, channel, troops, border.

Ex.2 Insert the words from exercise 1 in the gaps:

1. France was the main … of England. 2. Britain’s ….were Russia and Austria. 3. His … described his biography. 4. That was a fascinating … of Napoleon. 5. You can see a high … in the center of the square.

6. The … of the country longed for years. 7. An economic … took place in 1880s.

Ex.3 Translate the following sentences from English into Russian:

1. Britain was the main rival of France. 2. Napoleon had to dive up his invasion plans. 3. The only country that escaped the conquest was England. 4. The industrial power of England continued to grow. 5. Nelson’s bravery as a naval commander was never doubted. 6. His famous signal was hoisted on the flagship.

Ex.4 Read the text and give answers to the following questions:

1. What is the beginning of the 19^th century known for? 2. Who was the main rival of France and Napoleon? 3. Why did Napoleon have to give up his invasion plans? 4. When did Nelson make his name?

5. Who is Britain’s national hero?

Text 1

The beginning of the 19th century in the world history is known as the period of Napoleonic wars. Britain was the main rival of France and Napoleon planned to invade England. He gathered a large army at the French channel port of Boulogne. All England was awaiting the invasion in great tension. But the Britain's allies, Russia and Austria, which troops were marching to the Bavarian border, stopped Napoleon's plans. Napoleon had to direct his army to defeat them. Thus the danger to Britain was past. Moreover, Napoleon had to give up his invasion plans after Admiral Nelson's brilliant victory near Cape Trafalgar in 1805. So of all those nations that fought Napoleon, only England escaped the conquest.

Nelson’s bravery as a naval commander was never doubted by his contemporaries. He always led his men by his own example. He first made his name at the battle of St. Vincent in February 1797, during which he captured two enemy ships. During the wars against France in the 1790s he took part in many sea battles and lost his right arm and the sight in his right eye.

Besides his personal bravery, Nelson was skilful commander enjoying great love and devotion of the men who served under him: they were ready to die for him.

Nelson took daring but calculated risks. He openly disobeyed his superiors when he thought it necessary.

Nelson sailed from England for the last time in 1805, as Commander – in – Chief of the British Fleet to meet France and Spain at cape Trafalgar, the most south – westerly point of Spain.

At Nelsons instruction, the famous signal was hoisted on the flagship: “England expects that every man will do his duty”.

At the battle raged around, Nelson was on the deck. A musket ball fired from a French ship struck him in the left shoulder and pierced one of the lungs. The wound was mortal. He died a few hours after that. But before he died he learned that he had won a great victory.

Admiral Nelson is Britain’s national hero. A tall column crowned with his statue stands in Trafalgar square in London, in memory of this great man.

During the second half of the 19th century economic and social changes took place in Britain. It went through the Industrial Revolution. The industrial power of Great Britain continued to grow. It was becoming a great commercial power in the world. At the same time the wealth and power of Britain as a country was opposed to the terrible poverty of its working people. An economic crisis that took place in the1880s deepened the social contradictions in Great Britain.

Boulogne - Булонь

Cape -  мыс

Ex.5 Look through the text again and translate the following words:

Wealth, poverty, flagship, hoist, Commander-in-Chief, to capture, battle, naval, fleet, pierce, column.

Ex.6 Find in the text the English equivalents for the following:

Основной противник, войска, мировая история, завоевание, в ожидании, блестящая победа, граница, богатство, усиливать, союзник, поднять сигнал, главнокомандующий, пронзить, мушкетная пуля, победа, флагманский корабль.

Ex.7 Correct the statements if necessary:

1. During the wars against Spain in 1790s Nelson took part in many sea battles. 2. Nelson was s skilful commander but there was no great love and devotion of the men who served under him. 3. Nelson died without knowing the result of the battle. 4. Russian and Austrian troops stopped Napoleon’s plans. 5. Only Russia escaped the conquest. 6. An economic crisis in Britain took place in 1980s.

Ex.8 Give questions to which the following sentences are the answers:

1. Napoleon planned to invade Britain. 2. The British allies were Russia and Austria. 3. Napoleon had to direct his army to defeat troops. 4. Admiral Nelson’s brilliant victory near Cape Trafalgar in 1805. 5. It was becoming a great commercial power in the world.

Ex.9 Use the text to enlarge the given statements:

1. Napoleon gathered … . 2. The danger to Britain … . 3. Of all nations that fought Napoleon only … . Ex.10 Answer the following questions:

1. Who gathered a large army at the French tunnel?

2. What was all England waiting for?

3. Why did Napoleon have to direct his army to the Bavarian border?

4. When was the brilliant victory of Admiral Nelson near Cape Trafalgar?

5. What was the famous signal hoisted by Nelson on the flagship?

6. What kind of wound did Nelson get?

7. Were there any problems facing Britain during the second half of the 19^th century?

Ex.11 Reorder the items of the plan according to the logic of the text. Describe item 3 of the plan in detail. 1. His famous signal was hoisted on the flagship.

2. The industrial power of England continued to grow.

3. Nelson’s bravery as a naval commander was never doubted.

4. The only country that escaped the conquest was England.

5. Britain was the main rival of France.

6. Napoleon had to dive up his invasion plans.

Ex.12 Give a written summary of the text in 5-7 sentences.

Text 2

Ex.1 Translate and memorize the following words:

To advance, body (ship), inventor, bulb, cargo, forerunner, mantle, screw propeller, severe, spiritual, vulgar, representative, to struggle, discovery.

Ex.2 Insert the words from exercise 1 in the gaps:

1. The greatest discovery was the electric light … . 2. One of the greatest … was G.G Byron. 3. He called the people to … for a better time. 4. Many scientists and … became world famous through their …and inventions. 5. Gas lighting was not safe until the gas … was invented. 6. The intellectual and … life in England was very important.

Ex.3 Translate the following sentences from English into Russian:

1. In 1800 science began to play a very important role in technological development. 2. The engine had a top speed of 24 km an hour. 3. The revolution in natural science was associated with the name of Charles Darwin. 4. They protested against the severe and vulgar reality and chose the world of adventure. 5. The British inventor built a new type of ship with a large iron body and screw propeller.

Ex.4 Read the text and give answers to the following questions:

1. What did the progress in science make possible? 2. Who became world famous through the discoveries and inventions? 3. What was a top speed of the engine? 4. What were the forms of the lighting until 1800s? 5. What was associated with the name of Ch. Darwin? 6. Where were the social and political developments in Britain reflected?