Ex. 2. Answer the questions. 1. Is London the largest city in Britain?
1. Is London the largest city in Britain? 2. What is its population? 3. Is there much heavy industry in London? Light industry? 4. What parts does London consist of? 5. What area does the City occupy? 6. How many people work and live in the City? 7. Why is the City called “ the financial centre” of the UK? 8. How can the West End be called? What places of interest are situated in the West End? 9. What is the name "West End" associated with? 10. What is the most famous park in London? 11. Why is Trafalgar Square named so? 12. Where were British monarchs crowned? 8. London is a big cultural centre, isn't it? 13. Why is Buckingham Palace so interesting for tourists? 14. What is the financial centre of Great Britain? 15. Is the East End of London attractive in appearance? 16. Who lives there? 17. What famous museums would you like to visit in London? 18. What is the symbol of London and Great Britain? 19. If you found yourself in London what would you like to visit first? 20. What are the best known streets of London?
Ex. 3. Match the words.
| 1) historical | a) parks |
| 2) crowning | b) area |
| 3) famous | c) centre |
| 4) planning | d) place |
| 5) unattractive | e) symbol |
| 6) vast | f) palaces |
| 7) student | g) land |
| 8) wooded | h) authorities |
| 9) important | i) appearance |
| 10) touching | j) quarter |
Ex. 4. Match the antonyms.
| 1) to allow | a) light |
| 2) wealth | b) beautiful |
| 3) wide | c) famous |
| 4) urban | d) joy |
| 5) heavy | e) to ban |
| 6) grief | f) defeat |
| 7) unknown | g) poverty |
| 8) unattractive | h) to contract |
| 9) to spread | i) rural |
| 10) victory | j) narrow |
Ex. 5. Complete the sentences.
1. London _____ upon both banks of the River Thames.
2. There is little ____ in London, but there is a wide range of ____ in it.
3. The City _____ over an area of about 2.6. square kilometres in the heart of London.
4. Trafalgar Square is so-named in _____ of Nelson’s great victory.
5. Westminster Abbey is the _____ place of British monarchs.
6. The name “West End” _____ with wealth, luxury, and goods of high quality.
7. The University of London _____ in the West End.
8. The East End of London is _____ in appearance, but very _____ to the contrary’s commerce.
9. The Government has decided that London must _____ no farther.
Ex. 6. Tell about London using a plan:
1) the location of the city;
2) population;
3) the City;
4) the West End;
5) the East End;
6) the most famous places of interest.
7) the best-known streets and their history.
Text B
The Tower of London
The Tower of London bears the official title of "Her Majesty's Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London." The name "Tower of London" has long been used for the whole of the great fortress and palace founded by William the Conqueror. William raised the Tower to defend the city, placing it at the south-east corner of the city. The strategic position gives the Tower control of the River Thames and London Bridge as well as the city itself. Since then it has, in turn, been used as a fortress, palace and prison – it witnessed murders, executions, and years of solitary imprisonment. It is one of England's finest castles and as one of the strongest and most impregnate, fortresses in the land, is the guardian of the Crown Jewels. It alsohouses Britain's finest collection of arms and armour and many other displays depicting nine colourful centuries of British history.
The two young princes Edward and Richard were the sons of King Edward IV. When the King died in 1483 the elder of two brothers, Edward, became King Edward V. But two months later Gloucester, who was the princes' uncle and “protector”, sent the boys to the Tower of London. This was in July. No one saw the two princes alive again. The same month Gloucester became King Richard III.
In 1674 some workmen found a chest containing the skeletons of two children under a staircase in the Tower of London. The remains were reinterred in the “Innocents' Corner” at Westminster Abbey by the command of Charles II. Most historians think that they were the bones of the two young princes, Edward and Richard. Historians also believe that the boys died of suffocation and that their uncle Richard gave an order to murder them because he wanted to be King. That's why some people call the Tower “the Bloody Tower”, a name possibly bestowed based on this incident.
Ex. 7. Read the last sentence of the story "That's why some people call the Tower the 'Bloody Tower'". Discuss in pairs what you think is meant by this sentence.
Ex. 8. Answer the questions:
1. Who was the princes' father? 2. How old was Edward when he became King? 3. Who was the princes' “protector”? 4. When did the princes disappear? 5. What did some workmen find in 1674? 6. Where did the workmen find them? 7. How do historians think the princes died?
Ex. 9. Correct the statements:
1. Richard III was a good king. 2. He sent the princes to Westminster Abbey. 3. Richard III was the princes' father. 4. Workmen found the skeletons in a garden. 5. Historians believe the two princes died naturally.