Trafalgar Square

New words and word-combinations to be remembered:

battle битва

Victory перемога

to erect monument спорудити пам'ятник

to attract притягувати

At the begirining of the 19th century there was a great sea battle at Trafalgar. Admiral Nelson was killed in this battle. It was a victory of the British Navy over Napoleon. Trafalgar Square was made to commemorate the victory of Nelson at Trafalgar. The Nelson Columnwas erected in 1843.The statue of Nelson on the top of the column was made by a well-known English sculptor Edward Bailey. Now, Trafalgar Square is a place of mass meetings and demonstrations. It attracts thousands of English people.

The Houses of Parliament

New words and word-combinations to be remembered:

membership членство

power влада

according to згідно з

to belong to належати (до)

to elect обирати

to be called називатись

On the bank of the Thames you see the Houses of Parliament with famous clock Big Ben. The Parliament consists of 2 Houses: the House of Lords (where lords sit) and the House of Commons (where the elected members of the Parliament sit). The House of Lords is larger in membership — more than 800, but the House of Commons has nearly all the power. All the time Parliament is in session, a flag flies at the top of Victoria Tower. The Queen is the head of the state. But according to the constitution, power in the country belongs to Parliament. The House of Commons is elected by the people. Big Ben is the name of the bell in one of the tall towers of the Houses of Parliament. The building was built in 1857.

Members of one House may not enter the other. The exception is the day of the State Opening of Parliament when the Queen makes the Throne Speech in the House of Lords. The Lord Chancellor sits on the woolsack. For hundreds of years wool had been known as one of the most important exports of the country. The House of Commons doesn't look as splendid as the House of Lords with its beautiful red benches. There is the Stranger's Gallery in each House. Seats in the galleries are reserved for the use of the public who are called "strangers" in the language of Parliament.

The Speaker in Parliament sits on a green chair. It has been given to the Commons by Australia. On the speakers chair there is a switch that puts on the light in the Clock Tower above "Big Ben" to tell Londoners that Parliament is in session. The Prime Minister's seat is on the Government front bench which is on the Speaker's right. And on the Speaker's left you can see the opposition front bench.

St. Paul's Cathedral

New words to be remembered:

to burn горіти

death смерть

to climb підніматись

wisper шепіт

Everybody coming to London for the first time wants to see St. Paul's Cathedral. This is the third cathedral with this name. The two others were burnt out. A well-known English architect Ch. Wren designed many palaces, fine houses, beautiful churches, including St. Paul's Cathedral. The inside of the cathedral is very beautiful. It took Ch. Wren 35 years to build this cathedral and when it was finished he was an old man. After his death he was buried in this cathedral. Such words are written on his grave: "If you want to see his monument, look around". From far away you can see the huge dome with a golden ball and cross on the top. If you climb 263 steps you will get to whispering gallery, which runs round the dome. You can also go down underneath the cathedral, into the crypt where many great men are buried.