Newcastle, my home town

I was born in Newcastle, a city in the north-east of England. Newcastle is on the bank of the River Tyne. It is quite big, with a population of about 200,000 people. There is a cathedral and a university. There are five bridges over the River Tyne, which link Newcastle to the next town, Gateshead, where there is one of the biggest shopping centers in the world, the Metro Center.

A few years ago, the main industries were shipbuilding and coalmining, but now the chemical and soap industries are more important.

I moved from Newcastle ten years ago but I often return. I miss the people, who are so warm and friendly, and I miss the wild, beautiful countryside near the city, where there are so many hills and streams.

People who are born near the River Tyne have a special name. They are called “Geordies”. I am very pleased to be a “Geordie”!

UNIT 6

TAPESCRIPT 6A

St Petersburg University

St. Petersburg University is one of the most important educational and scientific centers in the country. Its history goes back to 1819. This educational institution gave the world such outstanding public men, writers and scientists as I.P. Pavlov, I.I. Mechnikov, D.I. Mendeleyev, and others.

The University occupies many buildings not only in St. Petersburg, but also in Petrodvoretz, one of its suburbs. The main building of the University was originally Peter I’s “Twelve Colleges”. Next door to it is a two-storey building which houses the faculties of Philology and Oriental Studies. The teaching staff of the University consists of professors, assistant professors and lecturers, many of them are well-known not only in this country, but also abroad.

In October 1994 Elizabeth II, Queen of Britain, visited St. Petersburg University during her State Visit. She met professors and students in the University main hall and visited some of the laboratories. In her speech addressed to the professors, undergraduates and graduates she said:

“We know that it was not faint-hearted who first created the splendours of St. Petersburg from flat and barren wasteland; and I am confident that the young people who will emerge from the lecture halls of this University to be a new generation of builders will be able to draw on those same qualities of vision and courage”.

TAPESCRIPT 6B

Some facts of the history of education in Russia

Between the 10th and 13th centuries Russia developed a high civilization, which formed the foundation of the Russian culture in the following centuries. During this period numerous cultural treasures were accumulated. The written works of the time show that the level of knowledge on most natural phenomena was as high as that of Ancient Greece.

Monasteries were cultural and educational centers. They had large libraries and well-equipped book-making shops, in which not only church manuscripts were copied and translated but original books were written. Today we can confidently say that Ancient Rus was a state of high culture and knowledge.

In pre-revolutionary Russia there was a network of primary schools for common people. Nevertheless illiteracy among common people was very high. Well-off people taught their children in grammar schools, commercial schools or secondary schools teaching no classics.

The history of higher education begins from 1755 when the first University was founded in Moscow on the initiative of M.V. Lomonosov.

UNIT 7

TAPESCRIPT 7A

Wales

Wales has been united with England for hundreds of years, and for centuries England and Wales have formed one single political and administrative unit. The son and heir of the monarch are given the title “Prince of Wales”, but his title has no political significance.

If you look at the bottom of the map you’ll see Cardiff, the capital of Wales. Financially and industrially, Cardiff is the most important city in Wales. Most of the inhabitants of Wales live and work in this city and the adjoining area. Apart from the docks Cardiff is a beautiful city.

If you go to Wales, and can’t understand what people are saying, don’t worry! They are not speaking English, they are speaking Welsh. Quite a lot of people speak Welsh, and children learn it at school. The Welsh language is a Celtic language and is very different from English. In general, this is the only distinctive national feature left in Wales.

The Welsh are famous for their singing. A lot of Welsh people play musical instruments, too. The Welsh national costume is still worn by some girls for folk dancing and music festivals. Wales has a very strong folk culture and many people still learn Welsh as their first language.

TAPESCRIPT 7B

William Shakespeare’s birthplace

William Shakespeare was born in the centre of England in Stratford-on-Avon. It is situated on the quiet river Avon. There are no mountains there but beautiful green fields and woods. A small house with small rooms in the centre of Stratford is Shakespeare's birthplace. There is a wooden desk that Shakespeare sat at when he was a pupil of the grammar school in Stratford.

Behind the house one can see the garden where all trees and flowers that Shakespeare mentioned in his plays are growing.

Shakespeare's parents were country people.

At twenty-eight Shakespeare was in London as an actor. Some years later he became a playwright. His plays were staged at a London theatre “The Globe”.

In the church where Shakespeare was buried there is a bust of Shakespeare made by a Dutch sculptor who lived near Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and saw Shakespeare many times.

Shakespeare is known as a writer of historical dramas and comedies, among them “Romeo and Juliet” and “Hamlet”.

The Shakespeare Memorial Theatre in Stratford has the best stage in England. One can see Shakespeare's plays there with best actors and actresses of England.

UNIT 8

TAPESCRIPT 8A

Trafalgar Square

This famous square is so named in honour of Brit­ain's great victory over the combined French and Spanish fleets at Cape Trafalgar of the coast of Spain in 1805 during the Napoleonic war. The national hero of this battle was Lord Horatio Nelson, admiral of the British fleet. A column 185 feet high with a 17 foot statue of Nelson on top was erected in 1843. The bronze reliefs are on sides of the pedestal: the battle of the Nile in 1798 (North); Nelson's death at Trafalgar in 1805 (South); the battle of Copenhagen in 1801 (East); the battle of Cape St. Vincent in 1797 (West).

Admiral Nelson lost an eye in one battle, an arm – in another, a leg – in the third, and his life in Trafalgar. His laconic command "England expects every man to do his duty" is carved in the granite on the southern side of the pedestal.

The four lions by Landseer (English painter and sculptor, 1802 – 1873) were added in 1867. When the sculptures were unveiled over a hundred years ago, they were des­cribed as being badly modeled and badly cast. The only consolation was that they could not last more than a few years. But, a hundred years later, the lions are still there. They have seen the passing of coronation processions and royal funerals, and have been in the midst of political demonstrations too.

TAPESCRIPT 8B

Big Ben

Big Ben is the name of the huge clock on the Clock Tower of the Houses of Parliament. One can get a good view of the Tower from Westminster Bridge. The Clock Tower is 313 feet high and 41 feet square. The present clock was made by Mr. Dent. It first came into service in 1859, and, except for a few stoppages, it has run continuously ever since.

When the great bell was cast in a London foundry in 1858, the question of its name was discussed in Parliament. One member said, “Why not call it Big Ben?” There was much laughter among the members because the Chief Commissioner of Works at that time was Sir Benjamin Hall, a very tall stout man, whose nickname was 'Big Ben’. From that time, the bell has been known as Big Ben.

The Clock has four dials each 22 feet in diameter. The Bell weighs 13.5 tons. It has four little Bens round him. Big Ben strikes only once an hour but the other four tell the quarters and the half hours. At the side of Big Ben there is a huge hammer weighing over 200 kilograms. The faces of the clock are very large. The minute hands are 14 feet long, the hour hands 9 feet, and the figures are 2 feet long.

People are allowed to get inside the tower if they wish to see the work of Big Ben. There is no lift in the Tower and there are three hundred and forty steps up to Big Ben.

Above the clock is an iron lantern, which is lit after sunset when the House is sitting.

UNIT 9

TAPESCRIPT 9A