The Crown Jewels are used in the most sacred monuments during the coronation.

Tower Bridge was opened in 1894.

Comments:

Crown Jewels – королевские регалии (короны, скипетры, державы и т.д.)

illustrious - знаменитый, известный

a menagerie – зверинец

a raven – ворона

Beefeater – бифитеры, «мясоеды» (прозвище дворцовой стражи Тауэра)

Ceremony of the Keys – церемония передачи ключей (проходит в 10 часов вечера), которая состоит в том, что старший страж закрывает ворота и после традиционного диалога-пароля с часовым передает ключи на хранение резиденту-коменданту [Resident Governor and Major]

Chief Yeoman Warder – старший лейб-гвардеец, страж Тауэра. Это отряд из 80 рядовых и 6 офицеров - личная охрана королевского семейства, выполняющая обязанности почетного эскорта во время традиционных церемоний. Форма гвардейцев существует с 1485 г.

a cloak - плащ, мантия

a bonnet – мужская шотландская шапочка

a lantern – фонарь

sacred – священный; святой

 

Trafalgar Square

Going down Oxford Street you come to Trafalgar Square which is yet another symbol of London. This square received its name from Trafalgar, the cape off which Admiral Lord Nelson defeated a Franco-Spanish fleet in 1805. Admiral Nelson, cast in bronze, stands on top of a tall column in the middle of the square guarded by a quartet of lions. Four bronze reliefs near the base are cast from French cannon captured at the naval battles they illustrate.

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. It contains a price­less collection of ancient manuscripts, coins, sculptures etc., and is famous for its library.

Trafalgar Square is frequented as much by pigeons as by people. A Christmas tree is sent as a gift each year from Norway and on New Year’s Eve crowds gather around the tree and the lions to herald in the new year.

Comments

a cape – геогр. мыс

to cast – отливать

to guard – охранять

a quartet – зд. четверка, четыре

a relief – рельеф (изображение)

a cannon – пушка, артиллерийской орудие

to capture – брать трофеи, трофейное имущество

to frequent [fri:'kwent] – часто посещать

to herald – возвещать; предвещать

 

Royal Residences

The Queen’s House. Described by Daniel Defoe as “the most delightful spot of ground in Great Britain” Greenwich has many attractions. Here are superb Royal Naval College, the Old Royal Observatory, and the fine restored Queen’s House. It was designed for James I’s wife, but was not completed until after her death when it became the home of another queen, Henrietta Maria, wife of Charles I.

Some of today’s Royals reside in Kensington Palace in Kensington Gardens. The first royal residents were William III and Queen Mary. This was their country mansion, and they asked Sir Ch. Wren to make necessary improvements. Thus Kensington expanded, and is still known as a royal borough. Today the palace is the setting for a glamorous Court Dress Collection, showing the fashions in vogue during two centuries.

St James’s Palace, an irregular picture-pretty brick building was created by Henry VIII. The gatehouse, parts of the Chapel Royal and the Tapestry Room survive from the 16^th century, much as they were when Mary I died here. Charles I spent his last days at this Palace, and since then, happier royal connections continued.

Magnificent Hampton Court Palace was built in the early 16^th century by Cardinal Wolsy but soon passed into the ownership of King Henry VIII and his successors. The Palace of Hampton Court is famous not only for its mellow exterior and splendid State Rooms but also for its superb setting beside the River Thames. First opened to the public by Queen Victoria, it has 60 acres of beautiful gardens including a knot garden, pond gardens, an orangery and smooth lawns.

Clarence House situated 200 meters from Buckingham Palace, along the Mall, for many years the residence of the former Queen Mother was built in 1825 for William IV when he was Duke of Clarence. It is adjacent to St James’s Palace.

Marlborough House was built for Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough who obtained a lease on land adjoining St James’s Palace from Queen Anne. The house, completed in 1711, was birthplace of the future George V in 1865. Nearly 100 years later the House was donated to the Government as a Commonwealth Center.

Comments

superb - великолепный; роскошный

borough – небольшой город, имеющий самоуправление

setting – окружающая обстановка; окружение

glamorous – очаровательный; эффектный

vogue – мода

irregular – нестандартный; несимметричный

gatehouse – сторожка у ворот

chapel – часовня; церковь

Tapestry Room – комната гобеленов

successor – последователь

mellow – зд. выдержанный в мягких тонах

exterior – внешний вид

acre – акр (~0,4 га)

knot garden – затейливо разбитая клумба со сложным орнаментом

pond garden – сад в водоеме, водный сад

adjacent, adjoining – прилегающий, примыкающий, соседний

a lease – аренда; договор об аренде

to donate – дарить, жертвовать

 

III. Prepare your own reports on the following topics (to get some additional marks):

1. Along the Thames

2. Theatres

3. Museums and Galleries

4. The Parks of London

 

Lesson Three. Questions for Revision

I. The United Kingdom

1. What does the abbreviation “UK” mean?

2. What is the geographical name of the country?

3. Where is the UK situated?

4. What is Great Britain?

5. What are the main countries of the UK?

6. What are their capitals?

7. What other languages do the people of the UK speak?

8. What do we call the flag of the UK?

9. What rivers, mountains and lakes in the UK can you name?

10. What can you say about the climate of the UK?

11. Why is the weather the favourite topic of conversation in the UK?

12. What natural resources is Great Britain rich in?

13. What are the largest cities in the UK?

14. What are the most important industries of the UK?

15. How was the UK formed? What dates are considered to be the most important in the history of the country?

16. What type of state is the UK?

17. Who is its head?

18. What are the powers of the Queen?

19. Who appoints all the Ministers?

20. What is the role of the British Parliament?

21. What chambers does British Parliament consist of?

22. Which of them is elected?

23. Who becomes Prime Minister?

24. What are the main political parties in the UK?

II. London

1. When and by whom was London founded?

2. Did any people live on the banks of the Themes when J. Caesar came there?

3. When did London become the capital of England?

4. What happened to London in 1666?

5. Why do we say that London does not have just one center?

6. Which of the two cities: London or St. Petersburg is older? How old is each of them?

7. What is the historical center of London?

8. What is the coronation place of the kings and queens in England?

9. What is the business center of London?

10. Why is the City very busy in the daytime? Why is it quiet in the evening?

11. What are the Downing Street, Whitehall, Trafalgar Square, the Oxford Street and Piccadilly Circus famous for? Where are they located?

12. Where is the center of the country’s judicial system found?

13. How many people live in it?

14. How many historical parts does London consist of? What are their names?

15. What part of London is called “the heart of London”? Why?

16. What is the name of “West End” associated with? What areas does the West End include?

17. In what part of London is the Port of London situated?

18. How did the East End start?

19. Where does the English Parliament seat?

20. What do you know about Westminster Abbey? Where is it located?

21. Where can you see Big Ben?

22. What can you see in Trafalgar Square?

23. What streets of London do you know?

24. What art galleries do you know?

25. What places of interest in London do you know?

26. Have you ever been to London?

 

CONTENTS

UNIT 1. THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
Lesson One The U. K …………………………………………………….. The English………………………………………………………………… Wales and the Welsh………………………………………………………. Scotland and the Scots…………………………………………………….. Ireland and the Irish………………………………………………………..
Lesson Two The Parliamentary System
The Political System………………………………………………………..
The House of Commons and the Electoral System………………………...
The House of Lords………………………………………………………...
Political parties of Great Britain……………………………………………
The British Monarchy………………………………………………………
The British Constitution……………………………………………………
Prince of Wales……………………………………………………………..
UNIT 2. LONDON
Introductory text London Overview ………………………………………
Lesson One The Greatest City in the World ………………………………..
Lesson Two The Tourist London ………………………………………….
Lesson Three Questions for Revision ……………………………………...
Contents…………………………………………………………………….