London and its cultural and historical monuments

London is the capital of Great Britain. It is an ancient city. It grew up around the first point where the Roman invaders found the Thames narrow enough to build a bridge. They found a small Celtic settlement then known as Londinium and by 300 A. D. they had turned it into a port and important trading centre.

Over 8 million people live in London. The city dominates British life. It is the home of the nation's commerce and finance, the main centre of itslegal system and the press. It has the largest university and the greatest possibilities for entertainment and for sport in the country. London is one of the most famous capital cities of the world and every year it attracts crowds of visitors from home and abroad. They come to explore its historic buildings, to see its museums and galleries, its streets and parks.

London is a city of great contrasts. Itswestern part is the reachest part of the city with its cosy mansions, beautiful avenues, shops, restaurants and hotels. The East London is the district inhabited by the working people. Industry is chiefly found in that part of the city, grey with soot and smoke.

The heart of London is the City, its commercial and business centre. Here is situated the Tower of London that comes first among the historic buildings of the city. St. Paul's Cathedral, the greatest of English churches, is situated not far from the Tower. Not far away, in Westminster, where most of the Government buildings are situated, is Westminster Abbey,. Many English sovereigns, outstanding statesmen, painters and poets are buried here. Walking around London one can also see and admire Westminster Palace, Trafalgar Square, Whitehall, the British Museum and many other places in the city.

London is an ancient city with a rich history and cultural achievements. Such sights as the Tower, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster, Trafalgar Square, Picadilly Circus are well-known in the world. Besides these you are sure to have heard about the British Museum, the Tate Gallery and the National Gallery, in which the richest collections of art are exhibited. Large areas of London were destroyed by the Great Fire and equally devastating effect had the Second World War. New buildings continue to change the face of London, but it remains the centre of fasion, culture and artistic achievements.

Vocabulary

invader – завоеватель, захватчик

narrow – узкий

trading centre – торговый центр

possibility – возможность

entertainment – развлечение

to attract – привлекать

cosy – уютный

mansion – особняк

to inhabit – населять

soot – сажа, копоть

church – церковь

sovereign – монарх

to bury – хоронить

to admire – восхищаться, восторгаться

achievement – достижение

to exhibit – демонстрировать, выставлять

to destroy – уничтожать

devastating – разрушительный

TEXT 8

UK POLITICAL SYSTEM

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a constitutional monarchy. It means that the government of the United Kingdom is by a hereditary sovereign, an elected House of Commons and a partly hereditary House of Lords.

The sovereign has the title of King (or Queen). The Sovereign has very few functions that really matter, such as the function of the arbiter of last resort in some matters. These matters can be dissolution of Parliament and invitations to form a government when there is no clear majority.

The supreme legislative power is vested in the Parliament, which sits for 5 years unless sooner dissolved. The Parliament has two chambers: the House of Lords with about 830 hereditary peers, 26 spiritual peers, about 270 life peers and peeresses, and the House of Commons. The House of Сommons has 650 popularly elected members. The House of Commons is the real governing body of the United Kingdom. In order to become a law, a new bill proposed by the Cabinet must be approved by both houses of the Parliament. The Lords cannot veto a bill, but they can delay it for a maximum of one year. Financial bills cannot be delayed by the House of Lords.

The executive power of the Crown is exercised by the Cabinet, headed by the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, normally the head of the party commanding a majority in the House of Commons, is appointed by the Sovereign. Prime Minister appoints the rest of the Cabinet. All ministers must be members of one or the other houses of the Parliament. They are individually and collectively responsible to the Crown and the Parliament. The Cabinet proposes bills and arranges business of the Parliament.

Government in Britain since 1945 has alternated between only two political parties, the Conservatives (the Tory) and the Labour Party. No other party has been in office at all since 1945 and there have been no coalitions. The third long-established party, the Liberals, enjoyed the moments of success, but no member of the Liberal Party has held government office since 1945.

Vocabulary

a constitutional monarchy конституционная монархия

the government of управление (чем-либо)

a hereditary sovereign наследственный монарх

elected House if Commons выборная палата общин

partly hereditary House of Lords частично наследственная палата лордов

the title of King (or Queen) титул короля (королевы)

the arbiter of last resort арбитр последней инстанции

dissolution of Parliament роспуск парламента

to form a government сформировать правительство

clear majority чёткое большинство

the supreme legislative power высшая законодательная власть