Britain in World War I

The war turned out to be a great tragedy for the British. On July 1st 1916, 19 240 British troops died and many thousands more were injured - it was the single worst day in British military his­tory.

The “Pals Regiment” trained and died together. It was said that “they were two years in the training and ten minutes in the destroy­ing.” As many of the early volunteers were dead the Government introduced conscription which meant that it became compulsory for any man aged 18 and over to fight. Women took over their jobs and any man who didn't go willingly ran the risk of being given a white feather in public — the sign of cowardice.

There were also thousands of boys who were eager to fight and workers at the recruiting offices turned a blind eye to their age. The youngest known recruit was 14 years old. He ran away from home to fight. By the time his parents tracked him down it was too late, the boy was killed in action.

The families and friends left at home had little idea of the hor­ror in the trenches and troops were encouraged not to tell them in their letters about the conditions because it was bad morale and most of them did not want to upset their loved ones.

By 1918 practically every family in Britain had lost someone they knew but then on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month the Armistice was signed bringing an end to the war. The Kaiser gave up his throne and Germany recognized defeat.

Everybody at home could hardly believe it was all over. Despite the celebration they vowed the glorious dead would not be forgot­ten. Today memorials stand tall remembering the dead and. The British still remember those who gave their lives for their coun­try on Poppy Day. The red poppy continued to grow in the fields of Northern Europe during the combats and this flower now rep­resents those who died.

Millions stand silent for two minutes at 11.00 a.m. on the 11th of November every year to remember the dead. All over the coun­try people attend services to remember those who have laid down their lives.

For the two weeks prior to the 11th people wear poppies and the money raised from their sale goes to the British Royal Legion, who help care for war veterans.

a.m. - ante meridiem (лат.) - до полудня, в утренние часы

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

To be injured, tragedy, to give a white feather, to turn a blind eye, to track smb. down, poppy, prior to, to represent, celebration, to defeat.

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

Никто не верил; впервые было использовано химическое оружие; они были полны решимости преподать Германии урок; к Рождеству; для многих молодых людей она казалась; обе армии копали траншеи и ждали; чувство дружбы; война тянулась годами; не только британцы ощущали это; в канун Рождества; война обернулась для Британии большой трагедией; правительство ввело обязательную воинскую повинность; для всех мужчин, достигших 18 летнего возраста;     Германия признала свое поражение.

Ex.7 Correct the statements if necessary:

1. On July 1st 1918, 19 240 British troops died and many thousands more were injured. 2. Young children took over their jobs. 3. There were not many boys who were eager to fight. 4. On the 12th hour of the 12th day of the 112h month the Armistice was signed bringing an end to the war. 5. All over the country people attend restaurants to remember those who have laid down their lives.

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

1. The war turned out to be a great tragedy for the British. 2. Any man who didn't go willingly ran the risk of being given a white feather in public the sign of cowardice. 3. It was said that they were two years in the training and ten minutes in the destroying. 4. Everybody at home could hardly believe it was all over the youngest known recruit was 14 years old.

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

1. As many of the early volunteers were dead the Government … . 2. The families and friends left at home… . 3. By 1918 practically every family in Britain … . 4. The money raised from their sale goes … . 5. The red poppy continued … .

Ex.10 Answer the following questions:

1. How many people were dead on 1st 1916?

2. Were there any injured?

3. Why did the Government introduce conscription?

4. What did it mean?

5. Who took all the jobs?

6. Who turned a blind eye on their age?

7. Did families and friends left at home have any idea of the horror of the war? Why?

8. What flower represents those who died?

9. At what time can one see millions standing silent for two minutes on the 11^th of November?

10. Was the war a tragedy for the British?

11. What is Poppy Day associated with?

Ex.11 Reorder the items of the plan according to the logic of the text. Describe item 6 of the plan in detail.

1. Government introduced conscription which meant that it became compulsory for any man aged 18 and over to fight.

2. All over the country people attend services to remember those who have laid down their lives.

3. Troops were encouraged not to tell about the horror in the trenches to the families and friends left at home.

4. The war turned out to be a great tragedy for the British.

5. The British still remember those who gave their lives for their country on Poppy Day.

6. There were also thousands of boys who were eager to fight.

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

Text 3

Ex.1 Translate and memorize the following words:

Demagogue, mutiny, Nazi, resentment, allotment, a bomb, to bomb, to feed, ration, ration book, row, in a row, surrender.

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

1. In every newspaper the .. that happened yesterday in the capital was described brightly. 2. The ruler of the country of that period can be called a … . 3. The … of the population resulted in mutiny. 4. The city was … by the enemies’ planes. 5. The advertisement said that everybody could get the ration book. 6. He couldn’t resist any more and … . 7. All the chairs in the room were in … .

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

1. The unemployed marched from Glasgow to London holding meetings in every town they passed. 2. In Germany the resentment of the masses was exploited by Nazi demagogues. 3. In 1940 the Germans began massive bombing air raids of Britain. 4. In 1940 after the capitulation of France Hitler began to make preparations to invade Britain. 5. Living during the Blitz was a terrifying experience for civilians. 6. A council was set up to work out exactly how much a person needed to eat to stay healthy. 7. Hitler's invasion plan of Britain was not carried out. 8. After more than 5 years of war and millions of deaths, Germany had been defeated.

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

1. When did the economic crisis spread over Britain?

2. What was the most memorable event in 1933?

3. When did Hitler come to power?

4. Who supported the Spanish people?

5. Why was Аn International Brigade formed?

6. What country was on the brink of defeat?

7. Living during the Blitz was a terrifying experience for civilians, wasn’t it?

8. What changed the whole content of the war?

9. When was World War II the greatest war in the history over?