a birthplace – место рождения
famous – знаменитый
Practise the pronunciation of the following words:
official language [ə'fiSəl'læŋgwiG], area ['Fəriə], kilometer ["kilə'mJtə], relief [ri'lJf], beautiful ['bjHtiful], is called [iz'kLld], climate ['klaimit], warm [wLm], autumn ['Ltəm], typical ['tipikəl], parliamentary ["pRlə'mentəri], monarchy ['mOnəki], agricultural ["ægri'kAltSərəl], industry ['indəstri], industrial [in'dAstriəl], resources [re'sLsiz], textiles ['tekstailz], chemicals ['kemikəlz].
Mind some proper names:
The United Kingdom (UK) – Соединенное Королевство
Great Britain – Великобритания
England (English) – Англия (английский)
Wales (Welsh) – Уэльс (уэльсский, валлийский)
Scotland (Scottish) – Шотландия (шотландский)
Northern Ireland (Irish) – Северная Ирландия (ирландский)
Edinburgh ['edinbərə] - Эдинбург
Cardiff [' kRdif] – Кардифф
Belfast [bel' fRst] – Белфаст
London [' lAndən] – Лондон
Liverpool [' livəpHl] – Ливерпуль
Manchester [' mæntSəstə] – Манчестер
Birmingham [' bWmiNəm] – Бирмингем
Glasgow [' glRzgou] – Глазго
the British Isles [ailz] – Британские острова
Europe [' juərəp] – Европа
the English Channel (La Manche) – Английский канал (принятое в
Великобритании название пролива Ла-Манш)
Strait of Dover (Pas de Calais) – Дуврский пролив
the Atlantic Ocean – Атлантический океан
the Irish Sea [...'airiS...] – Ирландское море
the North Sea – Северное море
the Highlands ['hailəndz] – Хайлендс (северный, горный район Шотландии)
the Lowlands – Лоулендс (южный, низинный район Шотландии)
the Cheviot Hills – Чевиот-Хилз (горы)
the Pennines ['penainz] – Пеннинские горы
Ben Nevis – Бен Невис
the Severn ['sevən] – река Северн
the Thames [temz] – река Темза
the Avon – река Эйвон
Lake District – Озерный край (живописный район гор и озер на северо-западе Англии)
Loch Lomond – озеро Ломонд
Loch Ness – озеро Лох-Несс
Gulf-Stream – Гольфстрим
House of Lords – Палата Лордов
House of Commons – Палата Общин
Labour party ['leibə'pRti] – лейбористская партия
Conservative party – консервативная партия
Liberal party – либеральная партия
Read and translate the text “Great Britain”
When we speak about the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland we actually speak about four countries united into one state: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Each of these countries has its language, its capital, and its government. The capital of Scotland is Edinburgh, the capital of Wales is Cardiff, the capital of Northern Ireland is Belfast and the capital of England is London. At the same time London is the capital of the United Kingdom. English is the official language, but some people also speak Scottish, Welsh and Irish.
The population of the country is over 57 million people; about 80 per cent of them live in cities and towns. There are many beautiful cities in Great Britain: Liverpool and Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh, Belfast and York, Birmingham and Leeds, Nottingham and Brighton.
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is situated on the British Isles off the north-western coast of Europe. 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 kilometres. The English Channel (or La Manche) and the Strait of Dover (or Pas de Calais) separate them from the Continent. The Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea wash the West Coast of the country. The East Coast is washed by the North Sea.
The relief of the British Isles varies very much. The north and the west of England are mountainous, but all the rest - east, centre and south - is a vast plain. The mountainous northern part of Scotland is called the Highlands. The south, which has beautiful valleys and plains, is called the Lowlands. England is separated from Scotland by the Cheviot Hills, running from east to west. The Pennines extends from the Cheviot Hills to the south of England. Mountains in Great Britain are not very high. Ben Nevis in Scotland is the highest mountain in the UK (it is only 1,343 m high).
There are a lot of rivers in Great Britain, but they are not very long. The Severn is the longest river, flowing between England and Wales. One of its tributaries is the Avon, famed by Shakespeare. The Thames is the deepest and the most important river. London is situated on the Thames.
There are many lakes in Great Britain. Scotland is widely known for the number and beauty of the lakes. The famous Lake District is situated there. Scottish lakes are long and narrow. The largest and the most beautiful is Loch Lomond. The most famous of the Scottish lochs, however, is Loch Ness, because of the mystery of the monster “Nessie”.
The mountains and the warm waters of Gulf Stream influence the climate of the British Isles. It can be described as mild and temperate. Winters are warm, the rivers do not freeze in winter and snow never lies on the ground for a long time. At the same time summers are cool and wet. Rain falls all the year round. Thick fogs in autumn are typical of the climate of Great Britain.
The United Kingdom is a parliamentary monarchy. The Queen is the official head of the state. But it is more a tradition than a real fact. In practice the country is ruled by an elected parliament. The legislative power in the country belongs to the British Parliament, which consists of two chambers: the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The seats are partly hereditary in the House of Lords, but the members of the House of Commons are elected every 5 years.
In Great Britain there are three main political parties: the Labour, the Conservative and the Liberal. Every four years a general election is held. The leader of the party, which receives the majority in the House of Commons, is appointed Prime Minister.
Great Britain was originally an agricultural and sheep-farming country. The main agricultural products are wheat, barley, oats, and a big variety of food products. Britain usually imports tea, fruit, and tobacco.
The great disadvantage of Britain’s industry is that it has very few raw materials. Nevertheless the United Kingdom is a highly developed industrial country. The North Sea oil and gas can be considered as one of the major mineral resources. Moreover it has always been rich in coal and iron ore. Coal mining is one of the most important British industries. It is also known as one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of iron and steel goods, machinery and electronics, aircraft and navigation equipment, textiles and chemicals. One of the most important industries of the country is shipbuilding.
Great Britain is a birthplace of many famous people: Robert Burns and George Gordon Byron, Walter Scott and Charles Dickens, Bernard Shaw and Robert Louis Stevenson, William Thackeray and Oscar Wilde, William Somerset Maugham and John Galsworthy, Conan Doyle and Lewis Carroll, Thomas Gainsborough and Joseph Turner, Charles Darwin and Isaac Newton, Admiral Lord Nelson and Winston Churchill.
Answer the questions:
1. What is the official name of Great Britain?
2. What are the capitals of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland?
3. The capital of Great Britain is London, isn’t it?
4. What languages are spoken in the UK?
5. What is the population of Great Britain?
6. Where is the country situated?
7. What is the total land area of the UK?
8. What seas and oceans is Great Britain washed by?
9. The surface of Great Britain varies much, doesn’t it?
10. What are the main rivers in the country?
11. What river does London stand on?
12. Which part of Great Britain is known for its lakes?
13. Why is British climate mild?
14. What is characteristic of the Britain’s climate?
15. What kind of state is the UK?
16. Who rules Britain officially? Who rules Britain in practice?
17. What is the difference between the House of Lords and the House of Commons?
18. Who won the last general election? Who is the PM now?
19. What mineral resources can be found on the territory of the country?
20. What can you say about the economy of the country?
21. Do you know any famous Englishmen? Who are they?
Read the texts about some British sights
A. There are some unusual places in Great Britain. Let’s take the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland for example. The Causeway is a mass of stone columns standing very near together. The tops of the columns form stepping stones leading from the cliff foot and disappearing under the sea. There are about 40,000 of these stone columns. The tallest are about 42 feet (13 m) high. Visitors in modern times are told that it is the result of volcanic action, but the legend says it is a giant’s work. The ancient Irish knew that there lived the giant Finn McCool, the Ulster soldier, who was extremely strong. He fell in love with a lady giant that lived on an island in Scotland, and so he began to build this causeway to bring her to Ulster.
B. Stonehenge is perhaps the most famous, as well as the most mysterious, of all prehistoric engineering monuments. There is nothing else like it anywhere in the world. Started 5,000 years ago, it was remodeled several times in the centuries that followed. Yet, why it was built is remaining a mystery. Stonehenge consists of two circles of huge stone blocks. Inside these are two groups of stones in the shape of a horseshoe. On June the 21st , the longest day of the year, the rising sun faces the open part of the horseshoe and shines on the centre stone. At one time, people thought that Stonehenge was a Druid temple (храм друидов, жрецов древних кельтов), where they honoured the sun god but we shall never know precisely how it was used or what religious beliefs were celebrated there.
C. Stratford-on-Avon is the place where the greatest dramatist and poet of the English literature William Shakespeare was born and died (1564-1616). April 23rd is the day on which Shakespeare was born and also the day when he died. Stratford is a very interesting town in the centre of England. There are beautiful woods, green fields, a quiet river Avon and lovely country houses. The main centres of interest include the Birthplace itself, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage (the home of Shakespeare’s wife), foundations and gardens of New Place (where he died), Shakespeare Memorial Theatre and the beautiful Holy Trinity Church (Shakespeare’s burial place).
TERM 2
LONDON
Learn the following words and expressions:
a politician – политик
an invasion – вторжение, завоевание
to turn – повернуть
a misfortune – несчастье
to change – изменять
an image – образ
to destroy – разрушать
a church – церковь
ancient – древний
a guide – гид
a tower – башня
to defend – защищать
a fortress – крепость
a palace – дворец
an observatory – обсерватория
an arsenal – арсенал
a prison – тюрьма
a raven – ворон
a sight = a place of interest –достопримечательность
to leave – оставлять, покидать
a monarchy – монархия
to guard – охранять
remarkable – удивительный
impressive – производящий впечатление
a tomb – надгробный камень
to bury – хоронить
a time-keeper – часы (куранты)
royal – королевский
to reign – царствовать
a column – колонна
a statue – статуя
a fountain – фонтан
an inventor – изобретатель
to contain – содержать
a masterpiece – шедевр
an admission – вход, доступ
unique – уникальный
wax – воск
to enjoy – наслаждаться
to discover – открывать
curious – редкий, любопытный
a piece – часть, кусок
to investigate – исследовать
architecture – архитектура
plague – чума
a master – хозяин
a crown – корона
a jewel – сокровище
Mind some proper names:
Roman – римский
Londinium – древнее название Лондона
Westminster – Вестминстер
The City – Сити (исторический центр Лондона)
Stock Exchange – Лондонская фондовая биржа
The Old Bailey – Центральный уголовный суд
Mansion House –резиденция мэра Лондона
Tower of London – Лондонский Тауэр
William the Conqueror – Вильгельм Завоеватель
The White Tower – Белая башня (самая старая часть Тауэра)
London Bridge – Лондонский мост
Westminster Abbey – Вестминстерское Аббатство
The Poets’ Corner – Уголок поэтов
Gothic – готический
the Houses of Parliament – здание парламента
Big Ben – Биг Бен (колокол часов-курантов)
Buckingham Palace – Букингемский дворец
Changing of the Guard – смена караула
Queen Victoria Memorial – мемориал королеве Виктории
Trafalgar Square – Трафальгарская площадь
the National Portrait Gallery – национальная портретная галерея
the National Gallery – национальная галерея
St. Paul’s Cathedral – Собор Святого Павла
the British Museum –Британский музей
the Royal Opera House –королевская Опера
Royal Albert Hall – королевский концертный зал
Hyde Park – Гайд парк
the Speaker’s Corner – Уголок оратора
Kensington Gardens – Кенсингтон-Гарденз
St. James’s Park – Сент-Джеймс парк
Regent’s Park – Риджентс парк
Geoffrey Chaucer ['tSLsə]
William Shakespeare ['Seikspiə]
Robert Burns [bWnz]
George Gordon Byron
Charles Dickens
Rudyard Kipling
Charles Robert Darwin
Michael Faraday
Isaac Newton ['aizək 'njHtn]
Sir Benjamin Hall
Admiral Lord Nelson
Sir Christopher Wren ['sW 'kristəfə 'ren]