- •Lesson 17 the life in the 21stcentury
- •Words and expressions
- •Questions
- •Lesson 18 a high-tech life. What are pros & cons?
- •2. Some pieces of technology are more important for us than others.
- •Are the statements below true or false?
- •Lesson 19
- •Lesson 20 - 21 choice of profession
- •Key vocabulary
- •Verbs (глаголы)
- •Across:
- •Lesson 22 - 23 my future profession is a programmer
- •Working vocabulary:
- •Lesson 24 – 25
- •New zealand
- •The commonwealth of australia
- •Lesson 26 – 28 great britain
- •Questions
- •Lesson 29 – 30 from the history of london
- •Uk Political System
- •Topical Vocabulary
- •Answer the questions:
- •Translate into English:
- •Lesson 31 – 33 london
- •Questions
- •Lesson 34 – 35 bank holidays in the united kingdom
- •Topical Vocabulary
- •Answer the questions:
- •Translate into English:
- •Lesson 36 - 38 william shakespeare
- •Robert burns
- •Words and expressions:
- •Answer the questions:
Lesson 29 – 30 from the history of london
In the year 55 before our era a Roman legion headed by Julius Cesar crossed the English Channel that divides the British Isles from the continent of Europe. Having landed in Britain the Romans founded a military station on the northern bank of the river Thames.
Being skilled in the art of building they started fortifying their settlements with thick massive walls and laying roads across the country leading to the sea coast. After staying in Britain for two centuries the Romans returned to the continent having left behind excellent roads and strong fortifications. One of Roman settlements was called Londinium Augusta. Four centuries later, according to some historians, the capital of Britain was founded in its locality, part of the Roman wall still lying deep under the ground beneath modern London.
No other ancient monuments of Roman times have remained in the city. The earliest historical monument of English architecture is the so called Tower of London which has retained its name up to the present day. Being erected on the ruins of a Roman fortress, it consists of parts belonging to different periods of English history, its central and most ancient part being the huge square tower four stores high. It was called the White Tower, deriving its name from the white stone it was built of. The White Tower was surrounded with a double row of walls with smaller towers forming the inner and outer court with the scaffold in the back of it.
Uk Political System
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a constitutional monarchy. This means that Great Britain is governed by the Parliament and the Queen is Head of State.
The legislative power in the country is exercised by the Houses of Parliament. The British Parliament consists of two chambers: the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The House of Lords is composed of hereditary and life peers and peeresses. The members of the House of Commons are elected by the people. They are elected from the constituencies in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The House of Commons is the real governing body of the United Kingdom.
The executive power is exercised by Prime Minister and his Cabinet. The governments usually formed by the political party which is supported by the majority in the House of Commons. Prime Minister is the majority party leader and is appointed by the Queen. Prime Minister chooses a team of ministers; twenty of the ministers are in the Cabinet.
The second largest party becomes the official opposition with its own leader and the Shadow Cabinet. The two leading parties in Great Britain are the Conservative Party (the Tories) and the Labour Party.
The judiciary branch of the government determines common law and is independent of both the legislative and the executive branches.
There is no written constitution in Great Britain, only precedents and traditions.