The Black Death

In June 1665 London was affected by the greatest epidemic - the plague. It was the worst attack since the Black Death three centuries earlier. The narrow airless streets of London, bad sanitation helped the disease to spread. To show that someone in a house had the plague and that no one might go near it, a red cross was painted on the door. About 70 000 people died of the disease that year. The streets of London were empty, shops were closed and no boats were seen on the Thames. The rich population of London escaped to their country houses. However, the great mass of poor people could not leave.

Nothing could stop the plague from spreading. The Lord Mayor¹ ordered the fires to be burnt in the streets to purify the air. By the end of November the plague began to die down. The cold weather of December stopped it at last. And then, just when the worst months of the plague were over, another disaster occurred: fire.

Lord Mayor¹ - мэр

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

The greatest epidemic, the worst attack, narrow airless streets, bad sanitation, boat, rich population, spreading, to order, red cross.

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

Маленькие душные улицы; ничто не могло остановить чуму от распространения; мэр приказал жечь на улицах костры, чтобы очищать воздух; случилась другая беда.

Ex.7 Correct the statements if necessary:

The narrow airless streets of London, bad sanitation helped the disease to die down. 2. To show that someone in a house had the plague and that no one might go near it, a red cross was painted on the window. 3. The Lord Mayor ordered the fires to be burnt in the streets to purify the air. 4. And then, just when the worst months of the plague were over, another disaster occurred: flood.

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

In June 1665 London was affected by the greatest epidemic - the plague. 2. About 70 000 people died of the disease that year. 3. The streets of London were empty, shops were closed and no boats were seen on the Thames. 4. By the end of November the plague began to die down.

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

1. The narrow airless streets of London, bad sanitation … . 2. The rich population of London … . 3. The Lord Mayor¹ ordered the fires … . 4. And then, just when the worst months of the plague were over … .

Ex.10 Answer the following questions:

1. Why did the plague spread so quickly in London?

2. What did the people do during the epidemic?

3. When did the epidemic stop?

Ex.11 Reorder the items of the plan according to the logic of the text. Describe item 4 of the plan in detail.

1. The rich population of London escaped to their country houses.

2. And then, just when the worst months of the plague were over, another disaster occurred: fire.

3. About 70 000 people died of the disease that year.

4. In June 1665 London was affected by the greatest epidemic - the plague.

5. The cold weather of December stopped it at last.

6. The narrow airless streets of London, bad sanitation helped the disease to spread.

7. The Lord Mayor ordered the fires to be burnt in the streets to purify the air.

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

Text 3

Ex.1 Translate and memorize the following words:

Spot, fire brigade, flame, tent, slum, safe, to break out, to remind, to put up, to destroy, to take part.

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

1. The Olympic … is always carried by some famous sportsman. 2. Fire … in the hospital last night. 3. The English … the monastery and half a century afterwards rebuilt it. 3. There was one … in Rome which was calm. 4. The war … people of great sufferings. 5. Many beggars in New-York live in … . 6. Is this beach safe for bathing? 7. The rest were organized into three … , and sent off in different directions. 8. The troops … … on the bank of the river. 9. World War II … in 1939. 10. Our sportsmen always … in the Olympic games.

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

1. On September, 2, a great fire broke out in the city. 2. Most of the houses in London were of wood. 3. The fire burnt for four days and five nights, and nothing could stop it. 4. Thirteen thousand houses and eighty-seven churches had been burned to the ground. 5. Wide streets and brick houses appeared in London after the Great Fire.

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

1. Did the Great Fire spread very quickly? 2. Were there fire brigades at that time? 3. Did the fire destroy much of the city? 4. Did the fire do great good? 5. Did Sir Christopher Wren, the famous architect, take part in rebuilding the city?