Talking points

1.Read, learn and act out.

Dialogue A

-What are you looking at?

-Don’t you see? This is the map of the British Isles. I am going to have my agricultural practice in Great Britain this summer. I try to find the town I shall work near by.

-Can I help you?

-Certainly. I am looking for Londonderry.

-Is it in England or in Scotland?

-I don’t know exactly. I have spent almost half an hour, but all my efforts are in vain. I’ve only wasted time.

-It may be in Wales or in Northern Ireland.

-Oh, look. It is in Northern Ireland. That’s a pity, it is so far away from Belfast.

Dialogue B.

Volodymyr Vasylenko, a Ukrainian teacher of English, has been staying in London for a few months. Next Saturday morning he is leaving for Edinburgh. Last Tuesday Volodymyr saw Bernard Law, a London University lecturer and asked his advice.

V.: Bernard, could you do me a favour?

B.: I’ll be glad to if I can.

V.: Next Saturday morning I’m going to Edinburgh by car. What would you advise me to see on my way there?

B.: Well, it’s going to be a long journey. When are you expected in Edinburgh?

V.: Next Monday afternoon.

B.: You should try to see Oxford though it’s a little out of the way. I suggest you should also spend at least a few hours in Coventry and see the Cathedral.

V.: Is Robert Burns’s birthplace far from Edinburgh?

B.: I’m sorry to say I’ve never been there. You see Burns isn’t as popular in England as in Scotland and abroad. I’m sure you’ll easily find it out in Edinburgh.

V.: I really appreciate your help. Thank you very much.

B.: It’s a pleasure.

Dialogue C.

Elections in Great Britain.

V.: All your papers are writing about the coming election. Do you think the party in power will win the election?

B.: They hope so.

V.: Can you give me some idea of how the election works?

B.: Well, the Queen has to agree to the dissolution of the present Parliament. After that the election date is fixed. Then comes the nomination of candidates for the House of Commons.

V.: How many members are there in the Commons?

B.: About six hundred and thirty.

V.: Then, I suppose, the party that gains the majority form a government.

B.: Yes, the leader of the majority party becomes Prime Minister and he forms the Cabinet.

V.: And the opposition leader forms the Shadow Cabinet, doesn’t he?

B.: Yes, this is the way parliamentary elections are held in this country.

V.: Who is entitled to vote in this country?

B.: Anyone who’s reached the age of eighteen with the exception of lunatics, and also peers, who already have seats in the House of Lords.

V.: Are there any election qualifications?

B.: There is a residence qualification.

2.Ask for your English friend’s advice about what you should see in Britain

UNIT 17

Grammar: The Subjunctive Mood in Adverbial Clauses of Comparison (or Manner), in Object Clauses, in Predicative Clauses. Topic: London. The Sights of London Reading: Text A. A Day in London Text B. Things to See in London Talking Points