Vocabulary

United Kingdom – Объединенное Королевство

Romans – римляне

Saxons – саксы

Danes – датчане

Normans – норманны

settle – селиться, обосновываться

prosperity – процветание

the Plague [pleIg] – великая чума

The Tower [tauq] – лондонский Тауэр

Westminster Abbey [‚westmInstq ′xbI] – Вестминстерское Аббатство

Sir Christopher Wren [sq:′kristqpq′ren] – Сэр Кристофер Рен

Westminster Palace – Вестминстерский Дворец

tremendous destruction – огромное разрушение

British Parliament – БританскийПарламент

Big Ben bell – колокол Биг Бен

Caesar [si:zq] – Цезарь

Trafalgar Square [trq′fxlgq′skweq] – Тарфальгарская площадь

British Museum – Британский музей

Hyde Park [haId pa:k] – Гайд парк

were laid in ruins – лежали в руинах

to defeat – разбить, победить

Vocabulary Notes

curious piece of life – любопытная часть жизни

to take a sightseeing tour – побывать на экскурсии

a double – decker bus – двухэтажный автобус

cosy mansions – удобные особняки

gray with soot and smoke – серый от сажи и дыма

the French and Spanish fleets – франко-испанский флот

are buried – похоронены

Answer the questions:

1. Give the main points of London’s history.

2. What made London one of the biggest ports in the world?

3. Can we say that London is an ancient city and at the same time a modern one?

4. What is the population of London?

5. Why is London considered to be a city of great contrasts?Where are rich mansions, hotels and restaurants to be found in London?

6. Where is industry chiefly found in London?

7. What is the City?

8. What building is considered to be one of the oldest in London?

9. What are the chief places of interest in London?

10. What is "Great Paul"? Is this bell the largest in the world?

11. In what district of London are most of the Government buildings situated?

12. What does the building of the British Parliament face?

13. What is Big Ben?

14. Why is Trafalgar Square called “Trafalgar”?

15. In whose memory was the monument in the middle of Trafalgar Square set up?

16. What is the British Museum like?

17. Which park is the largest in London?

Self check

Ex. 1. Use the prepositions in brackets (of, on, in, from, with, by, to, across, about, at, under, with, without), read and translate the sentences.

1. London is the capital ... England and ... the United Kingdom situated ... the Thames river.

2. It is the largest city ... the world.

3. ... the earliest times the Romans, the Saxons, the Danes and the Normans settled there ... turn.

4. The existence ... London depended ... its water-born trade which still makes London one ... the word’s largest ports.

5. Historical and geographical circumstances have turned London ... one ... the word’s most important commercial and cultural centres.

6. The World War II brought tremendous distruction to the city: a great number ... buildings ... historic value were laid ... ruins.

7. One ... the best ways to acquaint yourself ... the city when you first arrive is to take a sightseeing tour ... a double – decker bus.

8. It is a city ... great contrasts.

9. The East End is the district inhabited ... the workers and the poor.

10. The Tower of London was founded ... Julius Caesar and in 1066 rebuilt ... William the Conquerer.

11. A 20 minutes ... walk ... the Tower will take you ... another historic building – St. Paul’s Cathedral.

12. In one ... the towers hangs one ... the largest bells ... the world, Great Paul, weighing 17.5 tons.

13. Nelson and other great men ... England are buried ... the Cathedral.

14. Across the road from Westminster Abbey is Westminster Palace, the seat ... the British Parliament.

15. Its two graceful towers stand high ... the city.

16. Trafalgar Square was named ... memory ... the victory ... the battle ... Trafalgar, where ... October 21, 1805 the English feet ... Nelson’s command defeated the combined fleet ... France and Spain.

17. ... the middle ... the square stands Nelson’s monument – a tall column ... a figure ... Nelson ... its top.

18. You cannot leave the city ... visiting one more place ... interest – Hyde Park, which is the largest ... London.