Vocabulary:

conduct - поведение

generation - поколение

date back – относиться (к прошлому), брать начало

well off – обеспеченный, хорошо снабженный

keep up – сохранять, поддерживать

to a greater extend – в большей мере

incompatible with – несравнимый с

bowler hats – шляпа-котелок

royal occasions – королевские церемонии, традиции

superstitions – суеверия, предрассудки

Questions to the text

1. What does the English proverb say about traditions?

2. What does the combination of words tradition a custom mean?

3. How can English traditions be subdivided?

4. Why do we get acquainted with customs and traditions?

5. How old are most of the English traditions?

6. What are the most famous English customs and traditions?

7. What is considered part of the British way of life?

Ex. 1. Give the English equivalents from the text:

- передаваемые от поколения к поколению

- отражение истории страны

- которыми они могут гордиться

- высокоразвитая страна

- длинное меню традиционных британских блюд

- часть британского образа жизни

Ex. 2. Make up as many word combinations as possible.

keep up traditions and customs

famous people

preserve way of life

British

Ex. 3. Complete the sentences:

1. … means to understand the people better.

2. The British have many traditions … .

3. Foreigners are impressed by … .

4. … are famous all over the world.

5. There’s the ling menu … .

6. There are songs, … .

7. English traditions can be subdivided … .

Ex. 4. Are these statements true or false?

1. Customs and traditions are different things.

2. All British traditions are connected with the royal family.

3. Customs and traditions reflect people’s psychology.

4. Bowler hats are famous all over the world.

5. A great number of ceremonies seems strange and old – fashioned.

6. There are a few traditional British dishes.

Ex. 5. Retell the text.

Text b The Trooping of the Colour

The Queen is the only person in Britain with two birthdays. Her real birthday is on April 21st, but she has an "official" birthday, too. That's on the second Saturday in June. And on the Queen's

official birthday, there is a traditional ceremony called the Trooping of the Colour. It's a big parade with brass bands and hundreds of soldiers at Horse Guards' Parade in London. A "regiment" of the Queen's soldiers, the Guards, march in front of her. At the front of the parade is the regiments flag or "colour". The Guards are trooping the colour. Thousands of Londoners and visitors watch in Horse Guards' Parade. And millions of people at home watch it on television.

The Changing of the Guard

This happens every day at Buckingham Palace, the Queen's home in London. Soldiers stand in front of the palace. Each morning these soldiers (the "guard") change. One group leaves and another arrives. In summer and winter Y) tourists stand outside the palace at 11.30 every morning and watch the Changing of the Guard.

Maundy Money

Maundy Thursday is the day before Good Friday, at Easter. On that day the Queen gives Maundy money to a group of old people. This tradition is over 1,000 years old. At one time the king or queen washed the feet of poor, old people on Maundy Thursday. That stopped in 1754.