Places of interest in Great Britain

Britain is rich in its historic places which link the present with the past.

The oldest part of London is Lud Hill, where the city is originated. About a mile west of it there is Westminster Palace, where the king lived and the Parliament met, and there is also Westminster Abbey, the coronation church.

Liverpool, the “city of ships”, is England’s second greatest port, ranking after London. The most interesting sight in the Liverpool are the docks. They occupy a river frontage of seven miles. The university of Liverpool, established in 1903, is noted for its School of Tropical Medicine. And in the music world Liverpool is a well-known name, for it’s the home town of “The Beatles”.

Stratford-on-Avon lies 93 miles north-west of London. Shakespeare was born here in 1564, and here he died in 1616.

Cambridge and Oxford Universities are famous centres of learning.

Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument, presumably built by Druids, members of an order of priests in ancient Britain. Tintagel Castle is King Arthur’s reputed birthplace. Canterbury Cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, head of the Church of England.

The British Museum is the largest and richest museum in the world. It was founded in 1753 and contains one of the world’s richest collection of antiquities. The Egyptian Galleries contain human and animal mummies. Some parts of Athens’ Parthenon are in the Greek section.

Madam Tussaud’s Museum is an exhibition of hundreds of life-size wax models of famous people of yesterday and today. The collection was started by Madam Tussaud, a French modeler in wax, in the 18^th century. Here you can meet Marilyn Monroe, Elton John, Picasso, the Royal Family, the Beatles and many others: writers, movie stars, singers, politicians, sportsmen, etc.

1. Прочитайте и переведите текст письменно.

2. Ответьте на вопросы к тексту письменно.

1. What is the oldest part of London?

2. What is the Westminster Palace?

3. Which city is called “city of ships”?

4. Why is Stratford-on-Avon famous?

5. What are the famous centers of learning?

6. What is Stonehenge?

7. Who is the head of Church of England? What is his seat?

8. What is the largest and the richest museum in the world?

3. Напишите эквиваленты к следующим словам: второй по величине порт, знаменитые образовательные центры, доисторический памятник, глава Английской церкви, самая богатая в мире, восковые фигуры в полный рост.

4. Дополните предложения.

1. Westminster Palace is the place…..

2. The docks are …….in Liverpool.

3. The Archbishop of Canterbury is…

4. The British Museum was founded in….

5. The exhibition of wax models……. by Madam Tussaud.

5. Выпишите из текста глаголы в форме Passive.

6. Переведите предложения на английский язык.

1. Великобритания богата историческими местами.

2. Ливерпуль это родной город « Битлз».

3. Друиды это члены ордена священников в древней Британии.

4. Британский Музей содержит коллекцию античных предметов.

5. Сотни восковых фигур знаменитых людей есть в музее.

7. Переведите предложения и определите время и залог.

1. The film was much spoken about.

2. New subjects will be studied next year.

3. This book was written by our teacher.

4. The letter had been written before we came.

5. These toys are made by children.

6. The conference will be held in May.

Вариант 10

The USA: Traditions and customs.

The majority of Americans live in or near large cities, but small living-town is still widespread. A suburb ( a small community near a big city) offers the advantages of safer, more intimate small-town life with the recreational and cultural activities of the big city nearby. For the typical American family, home may be at different place every five or six years. Most movers relate to new job opportunities, but sometimes the American pioneering spirit and desire for adventure inspire the move.

About two-thirds of Americans live in homes or apartments that they own. But many people rent their living quarters. Some high-rise apartments are very expensive and elegant, but many are built for moderate or even law-income families. Many apartment buildings are condominiums or cooperative apartments, which means that each family owns the unit it lives in. More than 10 million Americans live in mobile homes, living quarters built on wheels. They can be moved, but are generally brought to a site that becomes more or less permanent. Because they cost less than conventional homes, mobile homes are especially popular with young couples and retired couples with a limited incomes.

Americans like to think the United States is a young country, but really it has a long and interesting history. You can see some of its history in the styles of the houses. The lovely pueblo houses of Native American villages, the old pioneer log cabins, the plantation houses in the south, the beautiful colonial homes of the Northeast – they are part of American history. They are part of modern America too, because people copy the old styles in new houses.

Americans eat a lot. They have three meals a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Most of Americans don’t eat home but prefer to go to restaurants. There is a great number of ethnic restaurants in the United States. Italian, Chinese and Mexican food is very popular.

An American institution is the fast food restaurant, which is very convenient but not very healthy.

Americans drink a lot of juices and soda, eat a lot of meat, fruits and vegetables, not much bread.

In the morning Americans have cereal or scrambled eggs, milk or orange juice. Chicken or fish, fried potatoes, vegetable salads, and desert: this is the most common menu for lunch. Dinner is probably the most important meal of the day, some people have family dinner, when all members of family have to be there. For dinner Americans usually have meat, fried or baked potatoes with ketchup or sour cream, corn, peas, sometimes spaghetti and cheese; ice-cream, fruit or cake may be for dessert.

1. Прочитайте и переведите текст письменно.

2. Ответьте на вопросы к тексту письменно.

1. Where do the majority of Americans live?

2. What is a “suburb”?

3. Do many people rent their living quarters?

4. What is mobile home?

5. Why are mobile houses so popular with young couples?

6. Why do Americans change their houses often?

7. Do Americans like to eat at home?

8. What kind of restaurants are popular in the US?

3. Дополните предложения.

1. Small living-towns are…….