London (р. 354)

London is the capital of Great Britain, its political, economic and cultural centre. London is an ancient city. It is more than twenty centuries old. The population of London, including its suburbs is more than ten million people.

London consists of four important sections: the West End, the East End, the City and Westminster.

The City is a small part of London but it is the financial and the business centre of the country. There are a lot of banks and various offices here. It is the ancient part of London. One of the greatest English churches — St. Paul's Cathe­dral — is here. It was designed and built by an outstanding English architect Christopher Wren in 1710. Inside the Cathe­dral we find monuments erected to many generals and admirals. Nelson is also buried here.

Not far away is Westminster — the administrative centre of London. The Houses of Parliament are situated here. It is the seat of the British Government. The building is very beautiful with its two towers and a big clock called Big Ben.

Westminster Abbey where kings and queens are crowned is opposite the Houses of Parliament. This ancient building was founded in the eleventh century.

The West End is the part of London where the rich people live. Fine houses, wide streets, numerous parks are to be found in this part of the capital. The best cinemas, theatres, concert halls, famous shops, comfortable hotels, restaurants, large mu­seums are situated here. The most beautiful London park — Hyde Park — is in this district too. 'Theatreland,' London's main theatre district, which contains approximately forty venues, is located in the heart of the West Endof Central London, and is traditionally defined byThe Strandto the south,Oxford Streetto the north,Regent Streetto the west, andKingswayto the east. Prominent theatre streets includeDrury Lane,Shaftesbury Avenue, and The Strand. The works staged are predominantly musicals,classicor middle-brow plays, and comedy performances.

Beyond the West End are the Royal National TheatreandOld Vic, inSouthwark; and theBarbican Theatre, in the City of London. London also has many smaller theatres, both around the West End and its periphery.

The East End is the poorest part of London. It includes the Port, the docks stretching for miles and the great industrial areas, which depend on shipping. The workers and the unem­ployed live here. There are no beautiful houses and parks here, the streets are narrow. The East End is unattractive in appear­ance but it is very important in the country's commerce.

London is famous for its outstanding places of interest. There are many architectural, art and historic monuments in London such as the British Museum, the Tower of London, the National Gallery, Buckingham Palace, the Nelson Column and many oth­ers. Thousands of tourists from all parts of the world come to London to admire its art treasures.

Диалоги (р. 362 – 363)

1

— Excuse me, can you tell me the way to Trafalgar Square?

— Certainly. Go down Regent Street to Piccadilly Circus.

Turn to the left and in less than a minute you'll be in Trafalgar Square.

— Thank you very much. How far is it from here?

— If you walk, it’ll take you 10 minutes, or a quarter of an hour.

—Is there a bus?

— There's sure to be. But you'd better¹ ask the policeman over there. He'll give all the information you want.

— Thank you.

2

A.: Excuse me, can you tell me the way to the British Museum,

please.

В.: Sure. Cross the road, go straight as far as that high building,

then take the second turn to the right.

A.: Is it very far?

В.: It's a fifteen-minute walk, but you can get a bus.

A; Which bus?

В.: Number 10.

A.: Where does it stop?

В.: Over there. Near the traffic lights.

A.: Thank you very much.

В.: You are welcome.

V семестр

From the History of the Bolshoi Theatre

More than two hundred years ago (in 1776) a rich Moscow nobleman (дворянин) Prince (князь) Urusov asked the govern­ment for the privilege of founding a Russian theatre in Moscow. He said that he would erect a stone building for it within (за) five years and that the building of the theatre would improve the appearance of the city, would make it more attrac­tive.

The privilege having been given, Prince Urusov organized the first company (труппа) which consisted of serfs (крепостные). It was the birth of the Moscow Opera House. But as the building of the theatre was not ready yet the performances for some years took place in different city halls.

In the meantime (тем временем) Prince Urusov and an En­glishman Michael Maddock bought a piece of land in Petrovka street in Moscow where the famous Bolshoi Theatre building is still standing today, although (= though) its facade has under­gone (подвергаться) numerous changes and transformations.

However (однако) before the construction started Prince Urusov went bankrupt (обанкротиться) and the work was done by Maddock alone. Maddock was able to organize the work in such a way and he himself worked so hard that the building was finished in five months instead of five years as it had been first planned.

The official opening ceremony took place in December 1780.

In 1806 the theatre became a state property (собственность). But due to the fire (пожар) which took place the same winter the building was completely destroyed. For nearly twenty years per­formances took place in various city houses and halls, including a specially built wooden (деревянный) building which was also destroyed when Napoleon's troops (войско) entered Moscow.

The new building completed in 1824 was more impressive than the old one, its interior being second (уступать) only to the theatre in Milan.

Another fire (пожар) in 1853 destroyed the theatre again, leaving nothing but the walls and the front colonnade. Three years later the necessary repairs (ремонт) were completed. Five tiers (ярус) were added and the acoustics was greatly improved.

Bronze horses decorated the pediment (фронтон). This is how the building looks today.