Ask your neighbour:

1) where London is situated;

2) when it was founded;

3) how old it is;

4) what center it is;

5) what sights there are in London;

6) if it is situated on the river Thames;

7) how many bridges there are across the Thames;

8) if he knows the legend of the ravens;

9) how the main timekeeper of the country is called;

10) where the column of Admiral Lord Nelson is;

11) what galleries and museums there are in London;

12) if the British capital is the center of theatres and concert halls;

13) if Hyde Park is the best place to have rest.

Exercises

1. Fill in the blanks with prepositions if necessary.

1. One can see all the history … the nation … the history … London.

2. … the course … time a small village turned … a big important city.

3. It was founded … the 11^th century … William the Conqueror.

4. … the east … the Tower you can see a bridge … the Thames.

5. There are … 30 bridges … the Thames.

6. The Abbey is famous … the Poets’ Corner … the tombs and memorials … many British poets and writers.

7. Westminster Abbey is associated … the history … all the British Isles.

8. The Clock Tower, which is called Big Ben… Sir Benjamin Hall, is known … its clock.

9. When the flag is … the top … the Palace it means that the Queen is … home.

10. These pictures belong … the public.

11. Here you can see the works … man … prehistory … the present day.

12. It is situated … famous Baker Street.

13. London is very rich … parks and squares.

2. Read the sentences translating the words in brackets into English.

1. London was founded on the river Thames, (причемрасположение города было очень удобным).

2. Tower is the most ancient building in London, (он был основан во одиннадцатом столетии Вильгельмом Завоевателем).

3. London is known as the home of the oldest monarchy in Europe, (это официальная резиденция британской королевской семьи).

4. Hyde Park is the most famous park, (который когда-то был местом королевской охоты).

5. Trafalgar Square is the geographical center of London, (а колонна Нельсона делает площадь особенно красивой).

6. The Sherlock Holmes museum situated in famous Baker Street (привлекает внимание как взрослых, так и детей).

7. London is a unique city where the old and the new (находятся рядом).

3. Translate the following sentences into English.

1. Современный Лондон расположен на месте двух старинных городов Лондона и Вестминестера.

2. Сердцем Лондона является Сити.

3. Великий пожар разрушил 3000 домов и почти все церкви.

4. Лондонский Тауэр был крепостью, королевским дворцом, обсерваторией и тюрьмой, сейчас это музей.

5. Британское правительство заседает в здании парламента.

6. Букингемский дворец – это официальная резиденция английской королевы.

7. Национальная галерея содержит более 2000 шедевров живописи.

8. Одним из самых уникальных соборов является Собор Святого Павла.

9. Если вы любите ходить по музеям, то Лондон лучшее место для этого.

10. Лондонцы любят свои сады и парки, это лучшее место для отдыха и прогулок.

4. Read the texts and speak about some London sights.

A. St. Paul’s Cathedral is near the middle of the City. It is one of the finest churches in Europe. From far away you can see the huge dome with a golden ball and a cross on the top.

Old St. Paul’s, that stood on the same site, was destroyed by the Great Fire of 1666. The present Cathedral was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and was being built for 35 years. The Cathedral contains monuments and memorials to many national heroes, among them the Duke of Wellington and Lord Nelson, Sir John Moore and Sir Christopher Wren. The interior of the Cathedral is very beautiful.

After looking round you can climb 236 steps to the Whispering Gallery, which is inside the dome. It is called so because if one whispers close to the wall on one side of the hall, a person with his ear close to the wall on the other side can hear what is said. If you want to reach the foot of the ball, you have to climb 637 more steps. Outside we have a magnificent view of London.

This jewel of London was chosen by Prince Charles and Princess Diana for their wedding in 1981.

B. Piccadilly is a fine street not far from Hyde Park. Piccadilly Circus is a dynamic and picturesque place with a happy and lively atmosphere. For centuries Piccadilly has been the heart of London’s West End. Piccadilly Circus is one of the busiest places in London. The Underground station “Piccadilly Circus”, its shops and newsstands are used by over 150,000 people a day. Piccadilly is a fashionable shopping centre. People come here to the shops in the daytime, and at night they come for a night out. It is the centre of nightlife in the West End.

Five important streets meet at Piccadilly Circus. The cars, the tourist coaches, the red London buses, and the black taxis go round its famous fountain with a statue. It’s not a statue of a famous man or woman. It is the statue of Eros, the Greek god of love, which attracts crowds of tourists. This is one of the most popular meeting points of London. There are a number of theatres and cinemas in the streets around Piccadilly Circus, so this part of London is generally called «Theatreland».