Деловой английский интенсивный курс. Шевелева С. А. Ш37 Деловой английский. Ускоренный курс Учебник
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Unit twenty oneThe Bank of EnglandText After the session on Banking Sector Mr. Hill suggested that in the afternoon the participants should visit the museum of the Bank of England. It was one of the external visits of the Programme. The museum of the Bank of England is located practically in the building of the Bank, in the City of London. The museum has a lot of exhibits showing the history of the Bank from its foundation in 1694 to its role today as the nation's central bank. Visitors can also see a video on the history of the Bank. Here is a part of the text of the video: To understand the role and importance of the Bank better we should learn first how it emerged. During the seventeenth century banking in England was in the hands of goldsmiths who held deposits, made loans to the merchants and the Crown. But even the wealthiest goldsmiths could not carry on a deposit and lending business on the scale the Government required. So in sixteen ninety four a joint stock company to raise money for the Government and finance wars was incorporated. It later got to be known under the title "Bank of England". Although privately owned and financed, the Bank of England developed essentially as a government bank, raising money to finance the needs of the British Government, managing its national debt, printing banknotes and minting coins. In 1946 the Bank was nationalized and it operates today as the UK's central bank executing monetary policy on behalf of the Government and supervising the markets in one of the world's largest and most sophisticated centres. Besides the Bank has always been a repository of gold... After seeing the video the participants of the Programme made a round of the museum and asked Mr. Hill a few questions. Participant: Excuse me, Mr. Hill. May I ask you a question? Mr. Hill: Why, certainly. Participant: One day I heard the nickname of the Bank. Old Lady. Such a funny name! Where does it come from? Mr. Hill: Nobody knows exactly. Different explanations are given. Many of us associate this nickname with an old cartoon. This cartoon shows the Prime Minister asking an old lady sitting on the money-chest marked "Bank of England" for gold coins. Participant: So, that's it! Very fascinating indeed! Words and expressions
Exercises 1. Read the following:
He suggested that the participants should go to the museum of the Bank. 2. Underline the answers true to the text:
3. Underline the verbs and translate the sentences into Russian: To understand the role and importance of the Bank better we should learn first how it emerged. In 1694 a joint stock company to laise money for the Government and finance wars was incorporated. This Bank is privately owned and financed. It raises money to finance the needs of the British Government. It manages the national debt. It prints banknotes and mints coins. In 1946 the Bank was nationalized. It operates today as the UK's central bank. It executes monetary policy on behalf of the Government. It supervises the markets in London. Besides it has always been a repository of gold. 4. Sum up what the film said about the history of the Bank of England. 5. Complete the dialogue: — Excuse me, Mr. Hill, may I ask you. — Why, ... — One day ... Old Lady ... funny. Where ... from? — Nobody ... Different ... are given. Many of us ... nickname ... old cartoon. This cartoon shows ... marked ... for gold coins. — So, that's it! ... fascinating ... 6. Repeat where the nickname of the Bank conies from. 7. Make sentences:
8. Make complete dialogues:
Is the Bank a joint stock company now? Is it a private company now? Is it a state owned bank? Is it nationalized? When was it nationalized? 9. Role play: Imagine you are an English lecturer. Read a short lecture on the history of the Bank of England. 10. Say what you know about the Central Bank of Russia. |