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Файл:Практика английской речи = English Speech Practice 2-й курс
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Part II
Magnificent scenery with imposing castles on just about every vital hill top, a long
and colourful history, a country where its
people have maintained a separate identity, an ancient language and a passion for
their song and poetry… this, unquestiona-
GREAT BRITAIN: LAND OF INSPIRATION
bly, is Wales.
You'll know you are in a different country as soon as you cross the border from
England and see the road signs in English
and Welsh. The Welsh word for their country is 'Cymru' meaning 'the land of comrades'. And it goes without saying that
you'll find the Welsh open, friendly, and
good at making people welcome.
The Welsh people with a rich and ancient culture that is instilled in everyday life
even today, are famed for their love of poetry and song. The Welsh gift for singing in
harmony is praised worldwide and male
choirs can be found almost in every village.
The best places to hear their song are at
festivals of music, the best known of which
is the Eisteddfod.
Yet this is not just a 'Land of Song', it is
also a land of mountains, a heaven for
those invigorated by fresh air and open
spaces. The rugged and untamed Snowdonia National Park lies to the north, a favourite with walkers and climbers.
Wales is also renowned for its enchanting castles. There are more castles to the
square mile than in any other country in the
world. These mighty fortresses and romantic ruins are reminders of historic battles.
They were built by Welsh princes as a defence from their neighbours, then more
castles were constructed by the Normans,
and later still the English to keep the fiery
Welsh at bay.
Cardiff, the capital of Wales, is a rich
tapestry of culture and history. Wherever
you walk in this truly cosmopolitan city you
will discover art and architecture that echo
many ages and ideals. One of the chief
glories of the capital is the magnificent
Cardiff Castle, started by the Romans, enhanced by the Normans and lavishly
adorned more recently.
If you like impressive castles and nature
at its most dramatic, have a love of poetry,
song… and British team sports like rugby…
Wales will not disappoint you.
Hardly 85 miles from top to bottom,
Northern Ireland
can be explored in just a
week. The delightful variety of Northern
Ireland's scenery – blue mountains, forest
parks, island-studded lakes, and a spectacular coastline – is matched by the country's richly varied cultural inheritance.
There are ancient tombs, Celtic crosses,
early monasteries, and a range of exciting
visitor attractions, which put this heritage
into context.
Highlights of the northern coast include
the extraordinary volcanic formations of the
Giant's Causeway and the oldest licensed
whiskey distillery in the world.
Belfast's lively cultural scene, with concert halls, theatres and world-class musical
entertainment, draws in visitors from all
over. The largest arts festival in the whole
of Ireland is held in Belfast each November.
Discover the delightful beauty of Northern Ireland, and you soon realise that this
is a country just pretending to be small.
Britain is a land so rich in diversity that it
is only the beginning of your journey of discovery. But we do hope that it is a pleasant
start – and a taste of things to come!
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Word Meaning
Ex. 15 Answer the questions.
1. What type of countryside would the word rugged be applied to?
2. What is meant by the expression to maintain a separate identity?
3. What is a choir?
4. Can you find another word for heritage?
5. In what meaning is the word fiery used in the text?
6. What is meant by the expression to keep somebody at bay?
7. What is meant by to echo many ages and ideals?
8. What kind of lakes can be described as island-studded lakes?
9. What is meant by tapestry?
Ex. 16 Find synonyms in the text.
a) variety
b) striking, impressive
c) famous for
d) all over the world
e) to attract visitors
f) to enliven, to refresh, to energise
Ex. 17 Say in other words.
a) to teach someone a way of thinking or behaving over a long period of time
b) something that reminds you of something that happened or existed in the past
c) without any doubt
d) something that is especially beautiful or makes you feel proud
e) a grave, especially a large one above ground
Word Use
Ex. 18 Match the words with their definitions and choose the most suitable one to
complete the sentences.
1. frontier a) the official line that marks the edge of an area of land, for example of a
farm, or a local area within a country;
2. border b) the official line that separates two countries or the area of land near to
this line;
3. boundary c) the actual point where people and vehicles are allowed to cross from
one country to another.
1. All traffic crossing the _________ will be thoroughly searched.
2. That line of trees over there marks the school _____________.
3. As soon as we crossed the ___________ we began to see signs of poverty.
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4. He was stopped by soldiers at a ___________ post.
5. The Mississippi River forms the ________ between Tennessee and Arkansas.
6. The river runs along Mexico's __________ with the US.
7. Jeumont is a small town on the French-Belgian __________.
8. She has never gone beyond the __________ of the city.
9. They were shot trying to cross the ___________.
10. The farmer put up a high fence to mark the _____________ of his land.
Ex. 19 Match the words with their definitions and choose the most suitable one to
complete the sentences.
1. bank
2. seaside b) the land along the edge of the sea or along the edge of a lake.
3. beach c) an area of sand or small stones next to the sea or a lake.
4. coast d) a place at the edge of the sea – use this especially to talk about
5. shore e) land along the side of a river.
1. We could see a boat about a mile from the ____________.
2. By nine o'clock the ____________ was already crowded with people
3. The ship slowly made its way along the west ___________ of Africa.
4. They walked hand in hand along the ___________.
5. There was a little cabin on the opposite __________.
6. He landed on the _________ of South Carolina.
7. A river ___________ is a fine place for a picnic.
8. There are several beautiful sandy ________ along that stretch of the ________.
9. The sailors were warned not to get into trouble while they were on ___________.
10. We spent two weeks at / by the ___________ in the summer.
11. He jumped in and swam to the opposite ____________.
12. The waves were breaking against the ___________.
a) the part of the country that is close to the sea.
somewhere you go for a holiday or to enjoy yourself.
Ex. 20 Supply prepositions or postpositions where necessary.
a) to draw ____ visitors
b) to be famed _____ their love of song
c) to be a favourite ____ walkers
d) to echo _____ many ages and ideals
e) to be praised ____ world wide
f) ____ top ____ bottom
g) to be rich ____ diversity
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Ex. 21 Complete the sentences using the words from the text. To help you, the
first letter of each word is given.
1. These beautiful churches are part of our national h__________.
2. Jim's death is a r_________ to all of us of the dangers of drugs.
3. Such strange events are all part of life's rich t __________.
4. Eric has a l_________ interest in Eastern cuisine.
5. She admired his r__________ good looks.
6. Your support is v__________ to / for the success of my plan.
7. He raised the hammer and struck the rock a m__________ blow.
Class Discussion
Ex. 22. Answer the questions.
1. What do you see when you cross the border from England?
2. What is the meaning of "Cymru"?
3. What are the Welsh famed for?
4. What is the most famous National Park in Wales?
5. Why is Wales sometimes called a land of castles?
6. Is Cardiff, the capital of Wales, an ancient city?
7. What origin are the Irish?
Stratford-upon-Avon, famous the world
over as the birthplace of William Shakespeare, is situated – almost symbolically –
at the heart of England. Surrounded by
countryside notable for its natural and
historical appeal, the town enjoys a pleasant
riverside setting. No town has a more fascinating history. Originating as a river-crossing
settlement, the site of Roman and Saxon
occupation, it became an important focus of
roads, and from an early age served as the
market centre of the surrounding countryside.
Stratford is a town with a character and atmosphere of its own. Apart from the beauty
of its river, its streets and buildings preserve
many links with its past: the layout and the
names of its central streets have changed
little since medieval times. It is, however,
the fame of the properties associated with
William Shakespeare and his family,
Stratford-upon-Avon
and of the Shakespeare Festival centred
on the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, that
makes Stratford-upon-Avon a Mecca for
visitors from all over the world. Shakespeare’s plays are now produced here for
nearly eight months of each year to an audience representative of practically every
nation in the world. At the same time Stratford has become a centre of cultural and
academic activities.
William Shakespeare retired to live in
Stratford in 1613, after the Globe Theatre,
where his company was performing, had
been burnt down. He died on April 23,
1616, and he was buried in the parish
church where he had been baptised. Today people come to see the places associated with him, but surely the finest monuments of all is the wonderful series of
plays and poems that he wrote.
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Word Meaning
Ex. 23 Find the synonyms in the text.
a) centre, core, heart
b) famous, remarkable, noteworthy
c) to focus, concentrate
d) to save, to keep, to maintain
e) honour, glory
f) almost, practically, virtually
Word Use
Ex. 24 Complete the expressions.
a) to centre _______
b) famous the world _____ _____the birthplace _______ William Shakespeare
c) the places associated _______ him
d) surrounded _______ the countryside
e) to preserve _________ many links ________the past
f) to serve _________ the market centre
g) to change little ______medieval times
h) a Mecca ______visitors all _______the world
Class Discussion
Ex. 25 Answer the questions.
1. What makes Stratford-upon-Avon famous the world over?
2. Where is Stratford-upon-Avon situated?
3. What made Stratford-upon-Avon an important market centre?
4. Why is Stratford-upon-Avon notable for its historical appeal?
5. What is the most famous event in the life of Stratford-upon-Avon?
6. What places in Stratford-upon-Avon are associated with William Shakespeare?
Writing
a) You live in Stratford-upon-Avon. Write a letter of invitation to your friend inviting him to
spend his holiday at your place.
b) You have been staying in Stratford-upon-Avon for a week. Write a letter home describ-
ing the impressions of your stay there.
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The Lake District – the most beautiful corner of England
Some of the deepest lakes, the highest mountains, the quietest valleys and the most
dramatic panoramas in England are to be found within this diverse landscape covering an
area of 900 square miles.
«It’s mostly rocks», wrote a female visitor to the Lake District in 1698. This may be a
truthful observation, yet how much it leaves out! Certainly the rocks are there, piled into
craggy mountain massifs and wearing a necklace of sparkling lakes. The great attraction of
the lakes which enthralled the early tourist is, of course, the scenery. This is best seen by
the walker, but for the less energetic sightseer there is an almost unlimited fund of places
to visit which are reasonably accessible to the motorist. The climate of the District is muchmaligned: certainly it is an area of high rainfall, but though the rain falls heavily there is still
a good proportion of rain-free days. However, if one is able to time a visit to take advantage of the best climatic and scenic conditions, then June is the month to choose. Every season, however, has something to offer, and the visitor who finds himself in love with
the lakes in August may return in winter, spring or autumn to find a treasury of new beauties.
Word Meaning
Ex. 26 Say in other words.
a) criticised by a lot of people often unfairly;
b) to fill something or cover a surface with a lot of something;
c) very steep and covered in rough rocks;
d) a spoken or written remark about something you have noticed;
e) to shine in small bright flashes;
Ex. 27 Find the synonyms in the text.
a) honest, sincere, frank;
e) to captivate, to enchant
b) approachable, available f) to omit, to miss, to overlook;
c) riches, wealth; g) part, fraction, percentage;
d) endless, immeasurable h) to schedule.
Word Use
Ex. 28 Without looking back at the text, try to supply the nouns which were used
with the following adjectives.
scenic
much-maligned rain-free
dramatic sparkling
diverse energetic
craggy unlimited
high. accessible
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truthful
Class Discussion
Ex. 29 Answer the questions.
1. Why did a female visitor describe the Lake District as ‘It’s mostly rocks’?
2. Is it a truthful observation?
3. What enthralls the visitors to the Lake District?
4. Why is the climate of the Lake District much-maligned?
5. What month would you choose to visit the Lake District?
Class Improvisation
1. You have just returned from England where you spent your holidays working on a farm.
Share your impressions with your fellow students.
2. Your friend has just returned from his working holiday in England. You were in England
last year. Share your impressions.
3. If you were planning to visit England, what part of the country would you choose? Give
your reasons. Try to persuade your friends to go with you to this particular area for a
holiday.
Writing
Write an essay ‘My Imaginary Journey about England’.
In the Highlands
The drive from England to Scotland provides the traveller with many pleasant changes
of scenery. As it is a fairly long journey, it is good to be able to travel with a friend who can
take turns with you at the wheel.
A patriotic Scotsman travelling with an English friend may tell him he is going to see in
the Highlands the finest scenery in the world. This may sound exaggerated, but on arriving
in the Highlands most people readily agree that the scenery is indeed magnificent.
The Highlands are, as the name implies, the hilly or mountainous region of the country.
On the first night in Scotland, a tourist may choose to put up at a hotel in the little town
of Callander, which is known as one of ‘the Gateways to the Highlands’. On the following
day, he can set out to see various lakes, or rather ‘lochs’, in the neighbourhood, and will be
delighted with the wild and romantic aspect of the countryside. When he returns to his hotel
he will be glad to eat a copious ‘high tea’. This is a meal which, in Scotland and many
parts of northern England, takes the place of tea and dinner. It consists of one substantial
course, such as one would have at dinner, followed by bread-and-butter, with jam or honey, and some kind of cakes; tea is drunk with the meal, which is taken at about six o’clock
in the evening. One has a light supper late in the evening.
The next morning many tourists journey on to the west coast, passing on their way Loch
Lomond, one of the largest and most famous of the Scottish lakes. The road twists and
turns, dips and climbs, but is not dangerous. The greatest hazard is the black-faced sheep:
these animals are as active and impudent as goats, and frequently wander recklessly into
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the road. The tourist may also see a herd of long-haired Highland cattle, which look savage
but are no more so than ordinary cattle. Eventually, the road runs parallel with the sea,
along a coastline fringed with little islands and made ragged with rocky bays and the deep
inlets that are also called ‘lochs’.
Word Meaning
Ex. 30 Answer the questions.
1. What is meant by to take turns?
2. What wheel is meant in the expression to take turns at the wheel?
3. What are the names given to the meat of these animals: cows, sheep, pigs, calves,
deer?
4. What is the opposite of a reckless person?
5. What is the difference between a wild animal and a savage animal?
6. What is the meaning of eventually?
7. ‘Deep water’. What is the opposite of deep?
8. On what might one find a fringe?
9. ‘A herd of cattle’ and a _______________of sheep.
Word Use
Ex. 31 Complete the following sentences. Insert one word in each blank space.
The word must be an a d j e c t i v e o r a n a d v e r b , a n d i s to be f ound in the text ‘In the
Highlands’.
1. Some Scotsmen are so ___________ that they claim that England is a peninsula to the
south of Scotland.
2. My uncle has left me a ____________ amount of money.
3. It is ____________ to play with fire.
4. _____________ we shall all die.
5. He is a badly brought-up _____________ boy.
6. You should think before you act, and not do things ____________.
7. He dug a _____________ hole and buried the treasure in it.
8. I felt very sleepy after my ___________ meal.
9. The house had a ____________ large garden.
10. He ___________ obeyed.
Class Discussion
Ex. 32 Answer the questions.
1. Does it take long to drive from England to Scotland?
2. What may make a long journey less tiring for a driver?
3. What sort of country are the Highlands?
4. Where might a tourist stay on his first night in Scotland?
5. What is meant by high tea?
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6. What do Scotsmen often have in place of dinner?
7. What is the road to the west coast like?
8. Why are Highland sheep sometimes dangerous?
9. What other animals may one see there?
10. What is a loch?
Edinburgh
Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, is a fine old city built partly in the valley of the River
Leith and partly on the rolling hills which surround it. The city is dominated by the castle, an
ancient fortress standing on the summit of a massive rock, which has been the scene of
many battles and sieges throughout centuries of Scottish history. Today what remains of
the original castle is preserved as a museum piece and a home for military relics.
For three weeks every summer, Edinburgh is alive with exhilarated festival-goers and
performers who come from all over the word, and the city is gay with flags and decorations.
This international festival of the arts fills every theatre, concert hall, exhibition gallery and
assembly room with performances of opera, dancing, music, plays, revues, films, puppet
shows and recitals, and specially-mounted exhibitions of painting and sculpture. The festival is not limited to indoor activities: every weekday the noise of the city’s traffic is lost in
the sound of music as the Scottish pipers march along Princes Street with kilts swinging
and drums beating. But the most spectacular event of the festival is undoubtedly the military tattoo. This takes place under searchlights on the Castle esplanade – the scene of
many executions in the past – with the floodlit castle in the background. Nowhere could
one find a natural setting more impressive and appropriate.
Word Meaning
Ex. 33 Answer the questions.
1. What sort of hills are rolling hills?
2. What is the summit?
3. Define massive.
4. What is a siege?
5. What is a relic?
6. What is a thoroughfare? What does the fare part of the word mean?
7. How does one feel when one is exhilarated?
8. What is a puppet?
9. What do you do if you floodlight a place?
Word Use
Ex. 34 Match the words of the two columns.
rolling
international
military
appropriate
spectacular
original
event
rock
exhibitions
setting
hills
city
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floodlit
massive
old
specially mounted
impressive
relics
castle
festival
tattoo
Ex. 35 Without looking back at the text ‘Edinburgh’, try to supply the missing
word that completes these expressions.
− to be ________ by the castle;
− ________the centuries of Scottish
history;
− to take place ________ searchlights;
− the floodlit castle in the________;
− to march _________ Princess Street;
− a home _________military relics;
− to be _________ as a museum piece;
− to be ________ in the sound of music.
Class Discussion
Ex. 36 Answer the questions.
1. What is the location of the city of Edinburgh?
2. What building dominates the town? What is it used for?
3. When is the Edinburgh Festival held?
4. What sort of festival is it?
5. Mention three activities which go on during the Edinburgh Festival.
6. What is the city’s most spectacular event and where does it take place?
Ex. 37 Read these three short text and discuss with your partner the things that
seem interesting to you.
Scottish names
Many people in Scotland have the name MacDonald or MacKenzie. ‘Mac’ means ‘son
of’ and people with this name usually feel they belong to the same family or clan. Campbell
or Cameron are other common surnames. Common boys’ names are Angus, Donald or
Duncan, and girls’ names are Morag, Fiona or Jean.
The names Jimmy and Jock are so common that many English people call a man from
Scotland ‘a Jimmy’ or ‘a Jock’!
Scottish words
Many Scottish people still use some Scottish words when they speak English.
‘Wee’, meaning small, is often heard in such expressions as ‘wee laddie’- small boy. ‘A
bonnie lass’ is a pretty girl and a ‘bairn’ is a young child. If someone answers your questions with ‘aye’ they are agreeing with you: ‘aye’ means yes. Finally, if you are offered a
‘wee dram’ be careful: you’ll be given some whisky to drink and you will probably have to
drink it all in one go!
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