Part 2. London.

WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS:

a political (economic, commercial) [kə'mɜːʃl] centre to be different from smth., smb. to consist [kən'sɪst] of smth. to be the symbol of wealth [welθ], luxury ['lʌkʃərɪ]  Trafalgar [trə'fælgə] Square [skwɛə] to commemorate [kə'meməreɪt] Admiral Nelson’s victory at the Battle of Trafalgar the National ['næʃənl]  Gallery ['gælərɪ] the National Portrait ['pɔːtrɪt] Gallery Parliament ['pɑːləmənt] Square the Houses of Parliament Westminster Abbey [wɛstmɪnstərˈabi] Big Ben Poet’s Corner ['kɔːnə] St. Paul’s Cathedral [kə'θiːdrəl] Sir Christopher Wren the Tower ['tauə] of London the Tate Gallery the British Museum [mjuːˈzɪəm]

политический (экономический, торговый) центр отличаться от чего-либо, кого-либо состоять из чего-либо являться символом богатства, роскоши Трафальгарская площадь увековечивать победу Адмирала Нельсона в битве при Трафальгаре Национальная галерея Национальная Портретная галерея Парламентская площадь здания Парламента Вестминстерское Аббатство Биг Бен Уголок Поэтов собор Святого Павла Кристофер Рен Лондонский Тауэр галерея Тейт Британский музей

London.

London is the capital of Great Britain, its political, economic and commercial centre. It is one of the largest and busiest ports in Great Britain. It is situated on both sides of the river Thames. London is one of the largest cities in the world. London is a very old city. It is more than twenty centuries old.

London consists of many parts and they are different from each other. They are Westminster, the City, the East End and the West End.

The West End is the symbol of wealth and luxury. The best and the most expensive hotels, restaurants, clubs, theatres, cinemas and richest shops are there. There are splendid houses and gardens belonging to wealthy people. Trafalgar Square is the geographical centre of London. It was so named to commemorate Admiral Nelson’s victory at the Battle of Trafalgar. On the north side of Trafalgar Square are the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery.

Westminster is the political heart of the country. There is Parliament Square in Westminster with the Houses of Parliament on the left and the Westminster Abbey on the right. Big Ben is the name given to the clock and bell of the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament. Westminster Abbey is famous for its architecture, for its historic associations. Westminster Abbey has its world famous Poet’s Corner where many of the greatest English writers are buried: Chaucer, Dickens, Tennyson, Hardy and Kipling. There are memorials to Shakespeare, Burns, Byron, Scott, Thackeray and Longfellow.

The City is the oldest part of London. It is the financial and business part of London. Numerous banks, offices, trusts are concentrated in this part. There are some ancient buildings within the city, such as St. Paul’s Cathedral built by Sir Christopher Wren and the Tower of London which was built nine centuries ago and used as a fortress, a royal palace and a political prison. Now it is a museum.

The East End is the busiest district of London because the Port of London with many docks and warehouses is situated there. It is the fastest-developing district of London.

London is the centre of Britain’s cultural life. There are many museums and art galleries in London: the National Gallery, the National portrait Gallery, the Tate Gallery, the Natural History Museum and many others. The British Museum is well-known as one of the largest museums in the world. The museum has a rich library.

Exercise 1. Translate into Russian: the capital of Great Britain, the oldest part of London, the centre of Britain’s cultural life, the fastest-developing district of London, the political heart of the country, the symbol of wealth and luxury, on both sides of the river Thames, twenty centuries old, splendid houses, ancient buildings within the city, the fastest-developing district of London.

Exercise 2. Find the equivalents of these expressions in the text:политический, экономический и торговый центр; увековечивать победу Адмирала Нельсона в битве при Трафальгаре; географический центр Лондона; музеи и художественные галереи; финансовая и деловая часть города; справа, слева; один из самых больших городов мира.

Exercise 3. True or false?

1. The City is the oldest part of London.

2. The West End is the busiest district of London.

3. London is situated on the left side of the river Thames.

4. St. Paul’s Cathedral was built nine centuries ago and used as a fortress, a royal palace and a political prison.

5. There is Parliament Square in Westminster with the Houses of Parliament on the left and the Westminster Abbey on the right.

6. The best and the most expensive hotels, restaurants, clubs, theatres, cinemas and richest shops are in the City.

Exercise 4. Put the words in the following sentences in order.

1. doesn’t, the UK, depend, manufacturing, upon, countries, other, of.

2. also, the Irish Sea, the North Channel, is, the UK, by, washed, and.

3. is, off, situated, the North Sea, the UK, the Atlantic Ocean, Europe, between, coast, the, northwestern, of, and.

4. its, every, national, part, the UK, of, has, emblem.

Exercise 5. What do you know about the East End/Westminster/the West End/the City/the British Museum/St. Paul’s Cathedral/Trafalgar Square/Parliament Square/Big Ben/Poet’s Corner/the Port of London?