Dates

- William the Conqueror invaded England, 1066

- The War of Roses, 1455-1485

- Hundred Years War, 1337-1453

- Civil War in England, 22 August 1642 – 3 September 1651 (9 years, 1 week and 5 days)

- Civil War in the US, April 12, 1861 – May 9, 1865 (by declaration) (4 years, 3 weeks and 6 days) (last shot fired June 22, 1865)

- Oliver Cromwell and the Republic, Charles I executed, 1649

- when these kings and queens reigned:

• William I [25 December 1066 – 9 September 1087]

• Henry VIII [21 April 1509 – 28 January 1547]

• Elizabeth I [17 November 1558 – 24 March 1603]

• Queen Victoria [20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901]

- Elizabeth II –

• born, 21 April 1926

• became the Queen, February 6, 1952, at age 25

• Coronation, 2 June 1953

• Golden Jubilee, 2002

• Diamond Jubilee, 2012

- Declaration of Independence signed in the US, July 4, 1776

- Boer Wars, during 1880-1881 and 1899-1902

- James Cook's 1st voyage, August 26, 1768 to July 13, 1771

Questions

1) The Commonwealth (what is it historically and nowadays, how many members, where are they situated, name some of the countries, what is the purpose) [что сказать про historically и situated]

2) Early history of Britain - Celtic people (when,their influence on the country, language, people etc)

3) Early history of Britain - Roman invasion (when, where from, their influence on the country, language, people etc)

4) Early history of Britain - Anglo-Saxons (invasions , when, where from, their origin, kingdoms, their influence on the country, language, people etc)

5) Early history of Britain - Vikings (invasions , where from, Danelag, when,their influence on the country, language, people, Alfred the Great)

6)Early history of Britain - Normans (invasions, their origin, when, influence on the country, language, people etc)

7) The Royal family (Elizabeth II, her parents, children, grandchildren, how did she become a queen?, Queen Mother, Prince Philip, Charles, Diana, William & Kate, Camilla, the attitude to monarchy in modern Britain)

8) William of Normandy (who, where from, what for, what important events happened in 1066, language) [what does it mean – what for, language]

9) Black death (what is it, how did it spread and why, when and from where, consequences)

10) 1337-1453 The Hundred Years’ war (Edward III, Welsh longbow, Agincourt, Joan of Arc, who took part, important events, what was the purpose and how it ended)

11) 1455-1485 The War of Roses (House of York vs House of Lancaster, main participants, where it took place, how it ended, consequences)

12) Henry VIII (wives, Church of England, his children)

13) Edward VI – Jane Grey – Bloody Mary – Elizabeth I (dates, important events, country at that time)

14) Age of Elizabeth I (Renaissance, Caxton, Francis Drake, Spanish Armada, Mary Stuart the Queen of Scots)

15) William Shakespeare (main works, the Globe, his life, name at leas 3 tragedies, 3 comedies and 3 historical plays)

16) Holidays in Great Britain (St. George, St. Patrick, St. David, St. Andrew, Remembrance Day, Red Nose Day, Guy Fawkes Night – what are they, when and how are celebrated, origins of Halloween, traditions, Jack-O-Lantern)

17) Oliver Cromwell (Charles I, Civil War, Charles II, New Model Army)

18) James I (James IV of Scotland, Guy Fawkes)

19) Queen Victoria (her life, Victorian Britain, Industrial Revolution, colonies, writers and inventors, don't forget to name at least 3 works by Ch.Dickens)

20) Discovery of Australia (James Cook, Abel Tasman, First Fleet, explorers of the Outback)

21) Russian problems in the American speech (historical and religious reasons, friend, double negation, Politically correct language, time, politeness, food, body language)

22) American literature (pick up a dozen of most significant writers and be ready to say a few words about the books they wrote)

23) States of the USA (speak about several states and their important features)

1. The Commonwealth

The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of more than 50 independent sovereign states [54 nations; UK+14], which provide support to each other, and work together toward international goals. The Commonwealth is described as a "family" of nations, originally linked together in the British Empire, and now building on their common heritage in language, culture and education, which enables them to work together in an atmosphere of greater trust and understanding than generally prevails among nations.

The modern Commonwealth emerged in 1949 when it was agreed that India could remain a member on becoming a republic (prior to that, members shared a common allegiance to the British Crown).* Its growth accelerated in the 1950s and 1960s with the independence of many new member countries in Africa, the Americas, Asia, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and the Pacific.

The association has member countries all over the globe, rich and poor, large and small. It includes the world's largest territory (Canada) and second largest in terms of population (India), and many of the smallest and most remote, including Nauru, the world's smallest republic.

The Commonwealth:

• promotes partnership and co-operation among its members

• promotes understanding and tolerance among its citizens

• reduces prejudice, ignorance, disease and poverty

• promotes democracy and good governance, sustainable economic and social development, respect for human rights and the rule of law, gender equality and protection of the environment.