_ПРАВКА_лексика разг.речи_. _ПРАВКА_лексика разг. Министерство образования и науки
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Remembrance Day is observed throughout the Commonwealth and dates back to November 11, 1918 when all fighting in the First World War ended. It now commemorates British soldiers, sailors and airmen who gave their lives in the two World Wars. Special services are held and wreaths are laid at the Cenotaph, a war memorial at Whitehall, where thousands of Londoners observe the two-minute silence and participate in the remembrance ceremony. Similar ceremonies are held throughout the country. TEXT 11. Look through the text. Render its contents into Russian. Sport and Competition in Britain Think of your favourite sport. Whatever it is, there is a good chance that it was first played in Britain, and an even better chance that its modern rules were first codified in Britain. The public schools of the Victorian era believed that organized competitive games had many psychological benefits. These games appealed to, and developed, the British sense of «fair play». You had to be a «good loser». To be a cheat was shameful, but to lose was just «part of the game». Team games were best, because they developed «team spirit». Modern sport in Britain is very different. “Winning isn’t everything” and «it’s only a game» are still well-known sayings, but to modern professionals, sport is clearly not just a game. These days, top players in any sport talk about having a «professional attitude» and doing their «job» well, even if, officially, their sport is still an amateur one. Sport probably plays a more important part in people’s lives in Britain that it does in most other countries. For a very large number, this is especially true for men, it is their main form of entertainment. Millions take part in some kind of sport at least once a week. Many millions more are regular spectators and follow one or more sports. One of the chief spectator sports in British life is horse-racing. Lots of people are interested in the races and risk money on the horse which they think will win. The Derby is perhaps the most famous single sporting event. There are hours of televised sport each week. Every newspaper, national or local, quality or popular, devotes several pages entirely to sport. Sometimes the traditions which accompany an event can seem as important as the actual sporting contest. Wimbledon, for instance, is not just a tennis tournament. It means summer fashions, all white, strawberries and cream, garden parties and long, warm English summer evenings. Many of such events have become world-famous. Therefore, it is not only the British who tune in to watch. The Grand National, for example, attracts a television audience of 300 million. The cup finals of other countries often have better quality and more entertaining football on view – but more Europeans watch the English Cup Final than any other. The standard of British tennis is poor, and Wimbledon is only one of the world’s major tournaments. But if you ask any top tennis player, you find that Wimbledon is the one they really want to win. Every footballer in the world dreams of playing at Wembley, every cricketer in the world of playing at Lord’s. Wimbledon, Wembley and Lord’s are the “spiritual homes” of their respective sports. Sport is a British export! TEXT 12. Read and translate the text. Be ready to discuss. Four Characters of the British It is interesting to know something about the people who live in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The best way of describing them to you is to «invent» four different characters on our own. They are Michael Wallingford-Smith, from England; Paddy O’Donoghue, from Ireland; Robby McGregor, from Scotland; David Jones, from Wales. The stories about them are meant to be funny. What Is an Englishman? This is Michael Wallingford-Smith. He is an Englishman. He was born on November 23 rd, 1960. He lives in a small country town outside London. Every morning, he goes to his local station, buys a copy of The Times and catches the 8.14 train to London. (He says: «I catch the 8.14 to Town».) Mr. Wallingford-Smith works there for a bank in the City. He has worked there for twenty-four years, and he has never missed the 8.14 train. Mr. Wallingford-Smith has a pretty wife, called Marion. They have two children: a boy, called Mark, who is thirteen, and a girl, called Sylvia, who is nineteen. Mark goes to the same school his father went to, and Sylvia is engaged to a young man who also works for a bank in the City. Mr. Wallingford-Smith likes: The Times, the Queen, money, people who call him «Sir», big dogs, and his umbrella. He doesn’t like: the Rolling Stones, and girls in mini-skirts. What Is an Irishman? This is Paddy O’Donoghue. He is an Irishman. He was born on March 15th, 1963. Paddy lives in a grey brick house with five rooms, in Dublin, the capital of Southern Ireland. He dislikes work very much; if he didn’t have to work, he would be a very happy man. He says: «Well, you see, I’ve got a wife and six children and they all need food and clothes». So to earn money, Paddy writes about horse-racing every week for a Dublin newspaper. Paddy loves talking and telling stories. If he didn’t have to work every day, he says, he knows exactly what he would do: he would get up late in the morning and eat a big plate of bacon for breakfast. He would then go to his favourite «pub» and have three glasses of beer, and tell everybody what he did the day before. In the evening, he would have a big meal and then dance and sing with his wife, and friends. Paddy likes: a good fight, his coloured ties, the bar-maid in the pub, singing, beer, and Ireland. He doesn’t like: rich Englishmen, people who don’t listen to his stories, and work. What Is a Scotsman? This is Robby McGregor. He is a Scotsman. He was born on August 6th, 1965. Robby’s house is in the hills, in the north of Scotland. He is married and has three children – all boys. He is very proud of his kilt and the McGregor family tartan. He goes to work every day wearing trousers but he wears a kilt at the weekend and on special occasions. Robby works in a factory which makes tartans. He says: «Only true Scotsmen should wear the kilt. I am a true Scotsman». Robby, like most Scotsmen, is a proud man. He likes to work hard and earn a lot of money, but doesn’t like to spend it. (He always feels guilty if he goes out for an evening and enjoys himself.) Robby’s youngest son is learning to play the bagpipes – Scotland’s traditional instrument. This makes Robby feel very proud. The bagpipes, however, are a difficult instrument to play: they sound beautiful if someone plays them well but they sound horrible if a learner tries to play them. Robby likes: his kilt, fishing, Scotch whisky, and the Highland Games. He dislikes: people who say he looks stupid in his kilt, the English, and people who wear kilts and are not Scotsmen. What Is a Welshman? This is David Jones. He is a Welshman. He was born on March 1st, 1958. David lives in a mining village in South Wales. Most of the men in his village work in a coal-mine. Every day, after work, they meet in «The Black Spade» and drink and sing together. David loves to sing: he sings in chapel every Sunday, and he sings in the coal-mine when he is working. David’s wife, Glynis, says: «He sings in his bath every night, too». David speaks Welsh, his country’s language. But if he speaks Welsh in England, Ireland or Scotland, nobody can understand him. He thinks that everybody should speak Welsh because it is a very musical language. David’s eldest son, John, plays rugby for his school team; his daughter, Jenny, is learning to play the harp, the national instrument of Wales. David sometimes takes his wife and children to London, but he thinks it is too big. He doesn’t like London very much because none of his friends live there, and there are no mountains in London. David likes: music, poetry, fresh air, singing in the bath, his family, and his friends in the coal-mine. He doesn’t like: people who say the Welsh language is old-fashioned, big cities, and English cuisine. TEXT 13. Read and translate. Name 3 things you associate with the English. Some Views on the English Character Foreigners have many ideas about what the English are like. For example, some people say the English are always cold and reserved, some believe they eat porridge for breakfast and read The Times every day. Many Australians believe that the English always whine and call them 'whining poms'. We asked some English people and some people from other countries who live in England to name three things that they most closely associate with the English. Here's what they say. «Undoubtedly, the cuppa (an affectionate name for a cup of tea), football and queuing». Sandie, 24 (English). «Red double-deckers, the Royal Family and the BBC». Clair. 15 (English) «I'd say that the English are very cold and reserved, the food is horrible and the weather is too cold and wet». Annalisa, 19 (Italian student) «Sherlock Holmes, good manners and politeness». Tanya, 13 (German student) «Sense of humour, cricket, pubs. Marina, 16 (Russian student) «Eccentricity, sense of superiority towards foreigners or class snobbery, fish and chips». Jessica, 17 (American student) So, is all this true? Yes and no. Like many things, the truth is somewhere in the middle. So don't be surprised if you meet an Englishman who hates gardening, adores home cooking and greets his friends with a big hug. TEXT 14. Read and translate the opinion. Do you agree with it? Personal Impressions of London What are foreigners usually taught before they travel to Britain? First of all, they are told that the English tend to be rather stiff, snobbish and suspicious of foreigners. Well, maybe it’s true but my experience makes me doubt its accuracy. Take a policeman – a symbol of power in any country. The one I met in Covent Garden gave me a happy smile and readily agreed to pose for me. And, believe it or not, he showed no signs of suspicion! Another bobby – though quite busy dispersing the crowd of onlookers trying to get to the Houses of Parliament allowed me to take a photo of him against the famous building. Another time it was a greengrocer who was proud to demonstrate those huge potatoes his shop specialized in selling. He eagerly let me take his photo and seemed neither stiff nor suspicious. Frankly speaking, I was a bit afraid to approach a group of imposing Londoners buying their favourite cigars. I had to wait till they finished discussing the latest news before asking them to pose for me outside the shop. They didn't object and were pleased to puff away big clouds of smoke while I was taking photos. One Londoner saved me when I got lost in one of those poorly lit streets which, surprisingly, are so typical of central London. It was raining and no wonder there was nobody in sight. I felt like crying. Suddenly a man appeared as if from nowhere. He was jogging in my direction. Not only did he show me the way but actually followed me to the station — a twenty minutes' walk — matching his tempo to my steps. Could anything like that happen in Moscow? I don't think so. TEXT 15. Read and translate the text. Answer the questions below. Sights of London Londoners are proud of St. Paul’s Cathedral, the largest Protestant Church in England. It is a masterpiece of the greatest architect Sir Christopher Wren. The building was completed in 1710. Wren is buried under the roof of his own great work. «If you want to see his monument, look around», is written on his tomb. The Tower of London is a real attraction for tourists. It is one of the first and most impressive castles built after the Norman invasion of England in 1066. William the Conqueror built it to protect the City of London. The Tower has been used as a royal palace, an observatory, an arsenal, a state prison where many famous people have been executed. It is now a museum where one can see the Crown Jewels, the finest precious stones of the nation and a fine collection of armour, exhibited there. The security of the Tower is ensured by “Beefeaters” or the Yeoman Warders who still wear their picturesque Tudor uniform. People say that as long as there are six ravens at the Tower, England is safe from invasion. The Houses of Parliament, a symbol of London, are situated on the north bank of the Thames. This structure is a remarkable example of Gothic architecture. The Clock Tower called «Big Ben» is known all over the world. Its hour bell is named after Sir Benjamin Hall, the first Comissioner of Works. The Houses of Parliament, called officially the Palace of Westminster, were formally a palace for kings and queens. Until the 16th century it was used both as a royal residence and as a Parliament house. After the royal family moved to Whitehall Palace, the Westminster Palace was occupied by the Parliament and became its permanent home. Opposite the Houses of Parliament Westminster Abbey is situated. It’s a national shrine where the kings and queens are crowned and famous people are buried. It was founded by Edward the Confessor in 1050. The construction lasted 300 years. One of the greatest treasures of the Abbey is the oaken Coronation Chair made in 1300. Near the west door of the Abbey the Unknown Warrior lies in a simple grave commemorating the men who died in the First World War. The memorials to G.G. Byron, R. Burns, W. Shakespeare, W. Scott attract tourists to the Poets’ Corner. Buckingham Palace is the official residence of the British Monarchy. In fact, it has 19 state rooms, 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 182 staff rooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms, a swimming pool and a cinema. About 450 people work in the palace. The Monarch receives there a large number of formal and informal visitors, including the Prime Minister, foreign and British ambassadors and high commissioners, bishops and senior officers of the armed and civil services. The Changing of the Guard is at 11:30 am. It takes place every day in summer and every second day for the rest of the year. The highlight of royal entertaining, however, is the banquet, usually for about 170 guests, given by the Monarch on the first evening of a state visit of a foreign head of state to the United Kingdom. Trafalgar Square is the geographical centre of London. It is usually full of students feeding pigeons and looking at the statues and fountains. In the middle of the square we can see Nelson’s Column with the statue of Nelson at the top. This monument was erected to commemorate Nelson’s victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 where he defeated the French and Spanish fleets. On the North side of Trafalgar Square is the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery. Not far away is the British Museum – the biggest museum in London. Five important streets meet at Piccadilly Circus in London’s West End. It is a very busy place. It is busy day and night. Piccadilly Circus is the centre of London’s nightlife. Its neon lights are famous all over the world. The Eros fountain is a great meeting place if you want to go to one of the plenty restaurants, bars, nightclubs, concert halls, cinemas or theatres nearby. Madame Tussaud’s is the most popular wax museum in the world. There are wax models of the famous and infamous, living and dead, from every sphere of life. The Royal Family, Elvis Presley, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Marilyn Monroe, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Britney Spears, David Beckham … There is no other place where you can see all the celebrities at once, even if they are only wax figures. There’s usually a long queue in front of the museum. No wonder! Many tourists consider their trip to London worthless if they didn’t visit the famous Madame Tussaud’s. There are several halls at the museum. Highlights include the Grand Hall, the Chamber of Horrors and «The Spirit of London» exhibition. The wax figures are standing and sitting and sometimes even moving and talking. They are extremely realistic. Computer controlled figures (they are called audio animatronics) are especially popular with the visitors. Over the years hundreds of celebrities have made their way to Madame Tussaud’s studio. Most people agree to be portrayed, but some refuse. Mother Teresa was one of the few who declined, saying her work was important, not her person. Questions 1. Who is the architect of St. Paul’s Cathedral? 2. Where do the ravens live as symbols of British safety? 3. What is the seat of the British Parliament? 4. What is Big Ben? 5. Where are the queens and kings crowned and buried? Where is the Poet’s Corner situated? 6. What is the official residence of the British Monarchy? 7. What ceremony takes place near the Buckingham Palace? 8. What is the geographical centre of London? What can you see in the middle of it? 9. What is the centre of London’s nightlife? 10. What museums and galleries can you visit in London? TEXT 16. Read and translate the text. Be ready to speak on the topic. Great Britain The UK is situated on the British Isles. The British Isles consist of two large islands, Great Britain and Ireland, and about five thousand small islands. Their total area is over 244, 000 square kilometers. The population of the country is about 60 million people. The United Kingdom is made up of four countries: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Their capitals are London, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast respectively. Great Britain includes England, Scotland and Wales. In everyday speech «Great Britain» is used to mean The United Kingdom. The capital of the UK is London. The British Isles are separated from the continent by the North Sea and the English Channel. The western coast of Great Britain is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea. The main rivers of Great Britain are the Severn and the Thames. The climate of the country is mild and fog is its most typical feature. Great Britain is a constitutional monarchy. The Queen is at the head of the state but her power is limited by the Parliament which consists of two chambers: the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The country is ruled by the elected government with the Prime Minister at the head. The Prime Minister is usually the leader of the party in power. The main political parties of Great Britain are the Labour Party, the Conservative Party and the Liberal Party. The UK is a highly-developed industrial country. The main branches of British economy are engineering, mining, ship-building, motor vehicle manufacturing, textile, chemistry, electronics, and food processing. The country is one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of machinery, electronics, textile, aircraft and navigation equipment. London is the capital of Great Britain, its political, economic and commercial centre. Traditionally it is divided into several parts: the City, Westminster, the West End and the East End. The heart of London is the City, its financial and business centre. Westminster is the historic and governmental part of London. The West End is the richest and the most beautiful district of the capital, the symbol of wealth and luxury. The East End was the poorest area of London, but now it is changing rapidly. London is famous for its sights, such as Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace, The Houses of Parliament, the Tower of London, Big Ben, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Piccadilly Circus, the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery, the British Museum, Madam Tussaud’s Museum and others. |