A Brief History of Oxford city

1. Oxford was founded in the 9th century when Alfred the Great created a network of fortified towns called burhs across his kingdom. One of them was at Oxford. Oxford is first mentioned in 911 in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. According to legend, Oxford University was founded in 872 when Alfred the Great happened to meet some monks there and had a scholarly debate that lasted several days. In reality, it grew up in the 12th century when famous teachers began to lecture there and groups of students came to live and study in the town.

2. But Oxford was a fortress as well as a town. In the event of war with the Danes all the men from the area were to gather inside the burh. However this strategy was not entirely successful. In 1009 the Danes burned Oxford. However Oxford was soon rebuilt. In 1013 the Danish king claimed the throne of England. He invaded England and went to Oxford. In 1018 a conference was held in Oxford to decide who would be the king of England.

3. By the time of the Norman Conquest, there were said to be about 1,000 houses in Oxford, which meant it probably had a population of around 5,000. By the standards of the time, it was a large and important town (even London only had about 18,000 inhabitants). Oxford was the 6th largest town in England. Oxford probably reached its zenith at that time. About 1072 the Normans built a castle at Oxford.

4. In the 12th and 13th centuries Oxford was a manufacturing town. It was noted for cloth and leather. But in the 14th and 15th centuries manufacturing declined. Oxford came to depend on the students. It became a town of brewers, butchers, bakers, tailors, shoemakers, coopers, carpenters and blacksmiths. In the later Middle Ages Oxford declined in importance.

5. In the 16th century Oxford declined further in terms of national importance, though it remained a fairly large town by the standards of the time. Oxford was economically dependent on the university. The students provided a large market for beer, food, clothes and other goods. From 1819 Oxford had gas street lighting. In the late 19th century a marmalade making industry began in Oxford. There was also a publishing industry and an iron foundry. Oxford gained its first cinema in 1910.

6. The fate of Oxford was changed in 1913 when a man named Morris began making cars in the city. In 1919 a radiator making company was formed. By the 1930s Oxford was an important manufacturing centre. It was also a prosperous city. Furthermore it escaped serious damage during World War II. Oxford airport opened in 1938. Today the main industries are still car manufacturing and making vehicle parts and publishing. Today the population of Oxford is 121,000.

Задание № 2. Ответьте на вопросы:

1. When was Oxford University founded?
2. What happened to Oxford in 1009?
3. When did Oxford become a manufacturing town?

4. Who changed the fate of the town in 1913?
5. How many people live in Cambridge nowadays?

Задание № 3. Прочтите текст, раскройте скобки, употребив выделенные глаголы в нужной видовременной форме (Present Simple, Past Simple, Future Simple):

English around the world

English (be) the first language of many people in countries outside the United Kingdom. When you (to meet) speakers of English from around the world, you immediately notice that they (do not) all speak in the same way. There (be) also some differences in the words they (to use), including the names of common objects that (be) part of everyone’s daily life. But although pronunciation and vocabulary (be not) the same everywhere, it (be) interesting that English speakers from opposite sides of the world can (to understand) each other quite easily. It (do not) seem to matter where they learnt the language. And of course this (be) one reason why speakers of other languages (be) keen on learning English too. If you (to know) English, you (be) more likely to be able to study or work in all sorts of exiting places, such as the United States or Australia.

Задание № 4. Заполните пропуски в предложениях предлогами места, времени и движения:

1. There was a list of names but my name wasn’t … the list.

2. ….. the end of the street there is a path leading to the river.

3. Joe works …. the furniture department of a large store.

4. We stayed ….. a very nice hotel when we were …… Amsterdam.

5. Shall we travel …. your car or mine?

6. What are you doing …. home? I expected you to be ….. work.

7. We travelled overnight …. Paris and arrived …. 5 o’clock …. the morning.

8. The telephone and the doorbell rang …. the same time.

9. I like that picture hanging … the wall …. the kitchen.

10. I love to look up …. the stars ….. the sky …. night.

Задание № 5. В предложениях вставьте правильные предлоги после глаголов и прилагательных. В некоторых случаях предлог не требуется:

1. Kevin complained to the manager because he wasn’t satisfied …. his pay rise.

2. I took the wrong suitcase from the airport …. mistake.

3. I’ve been suffering …. toothache for days.

4. Denise was determined to carry ….. the task she’d been given, no matter how long it took.

5. We congratulated Shirley …. the success of her first book.

6. I looked …. the picture for a while, trying to understand it.

7. After the operation David had to give …. smoking.

8. Our teacher insists …. everyone doing their compositions on time.

9. He’s good …. speaking English.

10. Sarah was grateful ….. her friend ….. babysitting.

Задание № 6. Напишите нижеприведенные предложения в вопросительной и отрицательной форме:

1. She usually goes to work by car.

2. Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.

3. Kate phoned me last night.

4. Bees make honey.

5. Three foreign languages are taught at this college.

6. The university has modern teaching equipment.

7. Pupils are allowed to go to school alone.

8. The dictation was handed in to the teacher.

9. They will manage to solve the most difficult problems.

10. He will be able to come at 7.

Задание № 7. Заполните пропуски в предложениях, употребив прилагательные в скобках в необходимой степени сравнения:

1. What is (popular)sport in your country?

2. He is one of (rich) man in Britain.

3. I need the information quickly, so let me know as (fast) as possible.

4. As the conversation went on, Paul became (talkative).

5. It’s too noisy here. Can we go somewhere (quiet).

6. Is the word “unit” (short) than the word “chapter”?

7. Nick worked (hard)and (hard) as the end of the term came nearer.

8. Tony has a (good)handwriting than you. And of course Jane has the (good) handwriting of all.

9. It’s (bad) mistake you have ever made.

10. This story is (interesting) of all I have read this year.

Задание № 8. Выберите из данных глаголов (а-d) тот, который больше всего подходит к данному предложению:

1. Two hundred people ….. by the company.

a) Employed b) are employed c) is employed d) employ

2. I …….. the job, but I refused it.

a) am offered b) was offered c) was offer d) offered

3. You ….. plenty of time to decide.

a) shall be given b) will be given c) be given d) gives

4. We ……. up by a loud noise during the night.

a) was woken up b) wakes up c) will wake up d) were woken up

5. The Acropolis ….. by the ancient Greeks.

a) was build b) was built c) build d) will built.

6. The journey ….. awful because the train was so crowded with passengers.

a) be b) was c) were d) are

7. The window ……. with a hammer.

a) was broken b) was break c) were broken d) broke

8) The exhibition ….. by the mayor.

a) will open b) will be c) open d) will be opened

9. I …. people shouting at me.

a) will b) don’t like c) be liked d) am liked

10. She …. by an international company.

a) employs b) be employed c) is employ d) was employed

Задание № 9. Переведите предложения на английский язык:

1.Эксперимент завершат к концу этой недели.

2. Молодых рабочих обучают использовать это оборудование.

3. Академический год делится на два семестра.

4. В университете студентов обучают многим разным предметам.

5. Чем быстрее они завершат строительство завода, тем лучше.

6. Если вы будете слушать учителя более внимательно, вы поймете новый материал лучше.

7. Мне придется прийти в Институт завтра в восемь утра.

8. Домашняя работа должна быть выполнена к 5 часам.

9.Моя сестра может хорошо говорить по-английски, и сейчас ей нравится демонстрировать свои способности.

10.Я знаю, что его статьи всегда публикуются в этом журнале.

Задание № 10. Употребите слова в скобках в необходимой по контексту грамматической форме и заполните пропуски в предложениях полученными словами:

1. There is so much noise and ….. in towns and cities (pollute).

2. Tom has an amazing …. to make people laugh (able).

3. Deep – sea diving requires a lot of expensive ….. (equip).

4. I think shopping is boring, but that’s just my ….. opinion (person).

5. Tom is an interior designer and finds his work quite ….. (stress).

6. She is ….. than anyone else in the office (well-qualified).

7. The film lasted ….. than three hours and, believe me, it was ….. three hours of my life (long) (boring).

8. The toothache is getting ……. (painful).

9. I’d like to have a ….. car. The one I’ve got keeps breaking down (reliable).

10. Petrol is twice as ….. as it was a few years ago (expensive).

Контрольная работа № 1

Вариант 5

Задание № 1. Прочтите текст и переведите на русский язык: