Topical Vocabulary

the District of Columbia	округ Колумбия
to be situated on	располагаться на
skyscrapers	небоскребы
Capitol	Капитолий
to struggle	бороться
an English colony	английская колония

I. Answer the questions:

1. What is the capital of the USA?

2. Who found the place for the city?

3. Is it a beautiful city?

4. What things attract tourists to Washington, DC?

II. Fill in the blanks with suitable words.

1. Washington is not a … American city.

2. It is nice … not to have stone … in the city.

3. Every four years Pennsylvania Avenue plays the role of a … … for a president, … the White House and the Capitol.

4. Washington, … … is not only the city where the … lives and works.

Spoken Etiquette

In a Hotel

Two dialogues have been mixed up. One of them is about making a reservation, another is about making a claim. Restore them and then practise them with a partner.

1. Good morning. I would like to make a reservation for two nights for the 20^th and the 21^st of May.

2. Yes, it is.

3. Just push it and then turn the key.

4. Then here is your key.

5. Can you tell me how much it is?

6. I would like a single room with a shower.

7. The door won’t open.

8. Sorry, there are no vacant rooms with a shower. I can offer you a room with a bathroom. Is that all right?

9. It doesn’t help.

10. What room would you like?

11. 40 Euros including breakfast.

12. Oh, sorry. You have the wrong key. Your room is number 10, isn’t it?

13. As you wish.

14. OK. I think I’ll take it. Shall I pay in advance?

What would you say?

• You want to make a reservation for a double room for three nights.

• The TV set in your room is out of order.

• You don’t know when breakfast is served.

London

London is the capitalof the United Kingdom,its economic, politicaland commercial centre. It is one of the largest cities in the world and the largest city in Europe. Itspopulationis about 8 million.

London has been a capital for nearly a thousand years. Many of its ancient buildings still stand. The most famous of them are the Tower of London, where the crown jewels are kept, Westminster Abbey and St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Across the road from Westminster Abbey is Westminster Palace, or the Houses of Parliament, the seat of the British Parliament. The Clock Tower of the Houses of Parliament is famous for its big hour bell, known as “Big Ben”.

Buckingham Palace is the official residence of the Queen.

Different areas of London seem like different cities. The West End is a rich man’s world of shops, offices and theatres. The City of London is the district where most offices and banks are concentrated. The East End is the district where mostly working people live.

By the day the whole of London is busy. At night, offices are quiet and empty, but the West End stays alive, because this is where Londoners come to enjoy themselves. There are two opera houses here, several concert halls and many theatres, as well as cinemas.

Like all big cities, London has streets and concrete buildings, but it also has many big parks, full of trees, flowers and grass. In the middle of Hyde Park or Kensington Gardens you will think that you are in the country, miles away.