Comprehension check

I. Complete the sentences given below.

1. For centuries Great Britain has been famous for...

2. The shallow waters surrounding the island are important for...

3. Britain was able to create a powerful heavy industry because...

4. Birmingham is called "The Black Country" as...

5. The canal between Manchester and Liverpool is important because...

II. Answer the questions:

1. How can you characterize the climate of the British Isles?

2. What is the main engagement of the UK population?

3. What are the chief crops produced in Great Britain?

4. What are the main mineral resources found in Britain?

5. What is considered to be an advantage for the British economy?

6. What branches of industry are mostly developed in the UK?

7. What are the main industrial cities of the country?

III. Divide the text into four logical parts and entitle them.

1. Great Britain has a diversity of well-developed industries.

2. The reasons of Britain's being a leading industrial power.

3. Wool manufacture is very successful in the UK.

4. Great Britain is an agricultural country.

IV. You are to write an essay about British economy. What points should you mention?

A Visit to London

A Street in London

Pre-reading activity

1. In which part of London would you like to live?

2. In your opinion how do London streets look like?

If you can stay a few days in London, you won't have much time for your sightseeing, and how to spend your time to the best advantage is rather a problem. If I were you, I would make up my mind beforehand. It all depends on your tastes. You may, for instance, be interested in museums or in art galleries or shops, or you might prefer to start with the principal historical buildings and monuments.

In that case you might begin in the West End and see the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall and Nelson's Column. From there you could go along the Mall to Buckingham Palace and have a look at Queen Victoria's Memorial, facing the Palace. Then stroll up Constitution Hill to Hyde Park Corner and take a walk through the Park and Kensington to the Albert Memorial, facing the Albert Hall. That is really more than enough for one day, but, still, if you want to see more you might get on top of a bus, going towards the City.

The bus goes along Piccadilly to Piccadilly Circus and Charring Cross, then along the Strand and Fleet Street to Ludgate Circus. There you might as well get off and walk up to St. Paul's Cathedral.

After that you could go further East to the heart of the City and see the Bank, the Mansion House and the Royal Exchange and then, if you had time, and were not too tired you could go to the East End and see the Tower Bridge over the Thames.

We are now in Oxford Circus, half-way along Oxford Street, one of the busiest streets in the West End of London as well as Regent Sheet, famous all over the world for its splendid shops. Near one of the street corners you can see an entrance to the sub­way to the Underground Railway or tube as we call it.

On both sides of the street there are shops, banks and restau­rants. In the road there is a constant stream of cars, taxis, buses and lorries. In some parts of London there are trolley-buses and trams as well. The noise is deafening, but one soon gets used to it. The pavements are crowded with people and it is dangerous to attempt to cross the road until the traffic is stopped either by a policeman on point duty or by the red traffic lights. In any case before crossing the road, take care to look to your right, and when you reach the middle of the road, to your left.

At night the streets are lit by electricity or in some districts by gas. You can see lamp-posts and standards on the pavements, and on the islands in the middle of the road. The main streets are flooded with lights from the brilliant shop-windows and the illuminated ad­vertisements so that everything looks as bright as in broad day.