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 16^th 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?