Text 8 Famous Englishmen

Exercise 1 Look at the photos. Who are the people? What are they famous for?

Read 4 Biographies and write down the surnames before each text. Match the texts with the photos.

1. ____________ was a British prime minister and statesman who led the country to victory against Nazi Germany and the Axis powers in World War Two.  He was known for his domineering presence, sharp wit, and uncompromising resilience in the face of adversity, when lesser men would falter.  His epic speeches often paraphrased and parodied. He was captured during the Boer War. Yet, he escaped the prison and returned home. Some people say that such event was the most important thing happened within his life which may motivate him to contribute better to his country.

2. ____________ was an English chemist and physics, known for his pioneering experiments in electricity and magnetism. Many consider him the greatest experimentalist who ever lived. Several concepts that he derived directly from experiments, such as lines of magnetic force, have become common ideas in modern physics. But he refused to accept a knighthood and declined becoming the President of the Royal Society. He turned down the British Governments request to assist them with the manufacture of chemical weapons that they intended to use in war.

3. ____________ was an English musician, singer and songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as a founder member of the Beatles, the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed band in the history of popular music. He was the Beatles' most committed rock & roller, their social conscience, and their slyest verbal wit. Lennon strove to break taboos and to be ruthlessly, publicly honest. He was killed by a crazed fan named Mark David Chapman.

4. ___________ was an English writer and social critic. Over the course of his writing career, he wrote the beloved classic novels Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol, Nicholas Nickleby, David Copperfield, A Tale of Two Cities and Great Expectations. His writing overlapped. He started Oliver Twist when halfway through Pickwick Papers, and Nicholas Nickleby halfway through Oliver Twist. He had a pet raven called 'Grip'. After it died, he had it stuffed. He loved nicknames. He had a number of different nicknames for himself and he also gave his children nicknames. He loved magic, cold showers and knew shorthand.

For more information see:

http://www.biography.com/people

Text 9 British Holidays

Before reading

Divide into 3 groups. Each group reads about one of the British Holidays. Then each group presents the holiday answering the following questions:

1. When is the holiday celebrated?

2. What occasion is commemorated/celebrated on this day?

3. What do the British usually do on this day?

Notes:

Good Friday - Великая пятница, пятница на страстной неделе, является официальным выходным днем. В этот день по традиции едят горячие булки с крестами.

Boxing Day - день рождественских подарков, второй день рождества, 26 декабря, официальный выходной день. В этот день принято дарить подарки. Состоятельные люди делают небольшие денежные подарки прислуге, почтальону и т.д.

the Battle of the Boyne – битва на реке Бойн (1690), принесла победу королю Вильгельму III над войсками Якова II, завершила процесс покорения Ирландии Великобританией (по названию реки в Ирландии, на которой проходило сражение).

England and Wales. Most public holidays in the United Kingdom are also known as “Bank Holidays’. These holidays are: New Year’s Day (January 1^st), Good Friday, Easter Monday, May Day (first Monday in May), Spring Bank Holiday (last Monday in May), August Bank Holiday (last Monday in August), Christmas Day (December 25^th), Boxing Day (December 26^th).

Scotland. The Scots do not usually celebrate Good Friday or Boxing Day. In the winter they concentrate instead on Hogmanay, their version of New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, which is even more of a festive occasion than Christmas.

Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland has several additional festivals of its own, namely, St. Patrick’s Day in Catholic communities (March 17^th) and Orange Day, in Protestant communities, celebrating the Battle of the Boyne (July 12^th).