The following texts give you some information on the most vital problems concerning the human health.

SARS

-FACT SHEET Basic Information About SARS August 19, 2003, 3:00 PM ET

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus, called SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV). SARS was first reported in Asia in February 2003. Over the next few months, the illness spread to more than two dozen countries in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. The SARS global outbreak of 2003 was contained; however, it is possible that the disease could re-emerge. This fact sheet gives basic information about the illness and what CDC has done to control SARS in the United States. To find out more about SARS, go to www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/ and www.who.int/csr/sars/en/

The SARS outbreak

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), during the SARS outbreak of 2003, a total of 8,422 people worldwide became sick with SARS; of these, 916 died. In the United States, there were 192 cases of SARS among people, all of whom got better. Through July 2003, laboratory evidence of SARS-CoV infection had been detected in only eight U.S. cases. Most of the U.S. SARS cases were among travellers returning from other parts of the world with SARS. There were very few U.S. cases among close contacts of travellers, including health-care workers and family members. SARS did not spread more widely in the community in the United States.

Symptoms of SARS

In general, SARS begins with a high fever (temperature greater than 100.4°F [>38.0°C]). Other symptoms may include headache, an overall feeling of discomfort, and body aches. Some people also have mild respiratory symptoms at the outset. About 10 percent to 20 percent of patients have diarrhea. After 2 to 7 days, SARS patients may develop a dry cough. Most patients develop pneumonia.

How SARS spreads

The main way that SARS seems to spread is by close person-to-person contact. The virus that causes SARS is thought to be transmitted most readily by respiratory droplets (droplet spread) produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Droplet spread can happen when droplets from the cough or sneeze of an infected person are propelled a short distance (generally up to 3 feet) through the air and deposited on the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, or eyes of persons who are nearby. The virus also can spread when a person touches a surface or object contaminated with infectious droplets and then touches his or her mouth, nose, or eye(s). In addition, it is possible that the SARS virus might spread more broadly through the air (airborne spread) or by other ways that are not now known.

What does "close contact mean?

In the context of SARS, close contact means having cared for or lived someone with SARS or having direct contact with respiratory secretions or body fluids of a patient with SARS. Examples of close contact include kissing or hugging, sharing eating or drinking utensils, talking to someone within 3 feet, and touching someone directly. Close contact does not include activities like walking by a person or sitting across a waiting room or office for a brief time.

CDC response to SARS

CDC worked closely with WHO and other partners in a global effort to address the SARS outbreak. For its part, CDC took the following actions:

Activated its Emergency Operations Centre to provide round-the-clock coordination and response.

Committed more than 800 medical experts and support staff to work on the SARS response.

Deployed medical officers, epidemiologists, and other specialists to assist with on-site investigations around the world.

Provided assistance to state and local health departments in investigating possible cases of SARS in the United States.

Conducted extensive laboratory testing of clinical specimens from SARS patients to identify the cause of the disease.

Initiated a system for distributing health alert notices to travellers who may have been exposed to cases of SARS.

In addition, CDC is continuing to work with federal, state and local health departments and other professional organizations to plan for a rapid recognition and response should SARS re-emerge.

CDC Recommendations

CDC issued recommendations and guidelines for people who might have been affected by the outbreak. These included:

For individuals considering travel to areas with SARS:

CDC issued two types of notices to travellers: advisories and alerts. A travel advisory recommends that nonessential travel be deferred; a travel alert does not advise against travel, but informs travellers of a health concern and provides advice about specific precautions. CDC updated information on its website on the travel status of other areas with SARS as the situation evolved.

For individuals who had to travel to an area with SARS:

CDC advised that travellers in an area with SARS should wash their hands frequently to protect against SARS infection. In addition, CDC advised that travellers might wish to avoid close contact with large numbers of people as much as possible to minimise the possibility of infection. CDC did not recommend the routine use of masks or other personal protective equipment while in public areas. For more information, read CDC’s interim guidelines for persons travelling to areas with SARS.

For individuals who thought they might have SARS:

People with symptoms of SARS were advised to consult a health-care provider. They also were told to tell their health-care provider about any recent travel to places where SARS had been reported or whether there was contact with someone who had these symptoms in order to help the health-care provider make a diagnosis.

For family members for someone with SARS:

CDC developed interim infection control recommendations for patients with suspected SARS in the household. It was advised that these basic precautions be followed for 10 days after respiratory symptoms and fever were gone. During that time, SARS patients were asked to limit interactions outside the home (not go to work, school, or other public areas).

 

Shots for Safety

Shots - or immunisations - are not just for children! Adults also need to be vaccinated from time to time to protect themselves against serious infectious diseases. In fact, some shots are more important for adults than for children. Every year, thousands of older people die needlessly. The Federal Government's Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) strongly encourage older adults to be immunised against flu, pneumococcal disease, tetanus and diphtheria, and chickenpox, as well as measles, mumps, and rubella.

If you are a Medicare beneficiary and have received a phone call to participate in a survey of flu and pneumonia vaccine utilisation and would like additional information you can visit the official project website www.flustudy.org, send an e-mail to [e-mail], or call the toll-free hotline at 1-800-MEDICARE. HCFA appreciates the participation of the selected Medicare beneficiaries in this survey. The information these studies provide will help HCFA to better its efforts to improve the quality of the health care services provided to Medicare beneficiaries.

Flu

Flu - the short name for influenza - is a highly contagious infection that causes fever, chills, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, as well as headache, muscle aches, and often extreme fatigue. Flu usually is a mild disease in healthy children, young adults, and middle-aged people. However, it can be life threatening in older adults.

Flu viruses change all the time. For this reason, you need to get a flu shot every year. To give your body time to build the proper defence, it's important to get a flu shot between September and mid-November, before the flu season usually starts.

Although side effects from the flu shot are slight for most people, some soreness, redness, or swelling may occur on the arm where the shot was given. About 5 to 10 percent of people have mild side effects such as headache or low-grade fever, which last for about a day after vaccination.

The flu shot is the primary method of preventing and controlling the flu. However, four drugs have been approved to treat people who get the flu: amantadine (Symmetrel), rimantadine (Flumadine), zanamivir (Relenza), and oseltamivir (Tamiflu). When taken within 48 hours after the onset of illness, these drugs reduce the duration of fever and other symptoms. These drugs are available only by prescription.

Pneumococcal Disease

Pneumococcal disease is a serious infection. Many people are familiar with pneumo-coccal pneumonia, which affects the lungs. But the bacteria that cause this form of pneumonia also can attack other parts of the body. When the same bacteria invade the lining of the brain, they cause meningitis. When they enter the bloodstream, they cause bacteremia. They also can cause middle ear and sinus infections.

The CDC recommends that people 65 and older get the pneumococcal vaccine. The shot is safe and can be given at the same time as the flu shot. Most people only need a single dose. However, the CDC advises people 65 and older to have a second dose of the pneumococcal vaccine if they received the shot more than 5 years previously and were younger than 65 when they were vaccinated the first time. No one should receive more than 2 total doses of the pneumococcal vaccine available now.

About half of the people who get the shot have minor side effects - temporary swelling, redness, and soreness at the place on the arm where the shot was given. A few people (less than 1 percent) have fever, muscle pain, or more serious swelling and pain on the arm.

Pneumococcal disease is treated with antibiotics. However, in recent years the bacteria that cause pneumococcal disease have become more and more resistant to penicillin. This is one reason why prevention and the development of newer, more effective vaccines are so important.

Tetanus and Diphtheria

Tetanus (sometimes called lockjaw) is caused by the toxin (poison) of a bacterium. The bacteria can enter the body through a tiny pinprick or scratch but prefer deep puncture wounds or cuts like those made by nails or knives. Tetanus bacteria commonly are found in soil, dust, and manure. Tetanus is not spread from person to person. Common first signs of tetanus are headache and muscle stiffness in the jaw, followed by stiffness of the neck, difficulty swallowing, muscle spasms, sweating, and fever.

Diphtheria usually affects the tonsils, throat, nose, or skin. Like tetanus, it is caused by the toxin, or poison, of a bacterium, but it can spread from an infected person to the nose or throat of others. It can lead to breathing problems, heart failure, paralysis, and sometimes death. Diphtheria may be mistaken for a severe sore throat. Other symptoms include a low-grade fever and enlarged lymph nodes in the neck. A second form of diphtheria causes sores on the skin that may be painful, red, and swollen.

Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself against tetanus and diphtheria. Most people receive their first vaccine as children in the form of a combined diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine or DTP. For adults, a combination shot, called a Td booster, protects against both tetanus and diphtheria. You need a Td shot every 10 years throughout life to protect yourself against these rare, but dangerous, illnesses. During everyday activities (such as gardening), the tetanus bacteria can enter a break in the skin and cause infection. It's particularly important to have a booster shot if you have a severe cut or puncture wound and haven't had a booster in the past 5 to 10 years.

The Td vaccine is safe and effective. Most people have no problems with it. When side effects do occur, they usually are minor and include soreness, redness, or swelling on the arm where the shot was given.

Chickenpox

Chickenpox - also known as varicella - is a very contagious disease that is caused by a virus. It is spread easily through the air by infected people when they sneeze or cough. The disease also spreads through contact with an infected person's chickenpox sores. People who have never had chickenpox can get infected just by being in the room with someone who has the disease.

While chickenpox is a mild disease for children, adults usually get much sicker. Early symptoms include aching, tiredness, fever, and sore throat. Then, an itchy, blister-like rash appears.

People who have had chickenpox are protected from getting it again. A vaccine is available to protect people who have not had chickenpox. Two doses of the vaccine are recommended for people 13 years of age and older. Most people who get chickenpox vaccine don't have problems with it. The most common side effects are mild and include pain and swelling on the arm where the shot was given. Fever or a mild rash may develop.

Some people who have had chickenpox may develop shingles later in life. Shingles is caused by a reactivation of the same virus that produces chickenpox.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases currently is testing a shingles vaccine at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. The vaccine they are testing is similar to the one used to immunize against chickenpox. After the shot, some people have had some discomfort around the area of the injection. In addition, a few people have had a low-grade fever. For more information about this study, call 1-800-411-1222.

Measles, Mumps, and Rubella

Measles, mumps, and rubella were once very common diseases in the United States, but they have become rare because of the use of vaccines to prevent them. As with many other diseases, measles, mumps, and rubella generally are more severe in adults than in children. Most adults are immune to all three infections because they had them (or a vaccine) as children.

Everyone born in or after 1957 should have received at least one dose of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine sometime after his or her first birthday. Some adults - such as health care workers and people who travel out of the U.S. - may need a second dose. People born before 1957 may be vaccinated if they believe they've never had one of these diseases. There's no harm in receiving the vaccine if you already are immune to the infection.

Travel

If you are planning to travel abroad, check with your doctor or local health department about the shots that you need. Sometimes a series of shots is needed, so it's best to get them well in advance of your trip. For information about specific vaccines required by different countries, general health measures for travellers, and reported outbreaks, call the CDC information line for international travellers at 1-877-394-8747. The Web site address is http://www.cdc.gov/travel.

Keeping a Shot Record

It's helpful to keep a personal immunisation record with the types and dates of shots you've received, as well as any side effects or problems that you had. The medical record in your doctor's office also should be kept up to date.

Widespread use of vaccines can reduce the risk of developing a number of contagious diseases that seriously affect older people. You can protect yourself against these illnesses by including vaccinations as part of your regular health care.

 

3. Brain & Body

One day in 1935, in an ordinary English garden, an Indian called Kuda Bux was watched by a group of scientists while he walked more than two metres across a bed of fire. He seemed to feel no pain, and his feet were not damaged, although the temperature on top of the fire was measured as 430° C.

People walk through fire without getting hurt in Greece, India, Japan, Africa, and the islands of the Pacific. How do they do it? Some scientists think that they must walk in a special way; and some believe that they are able to slow down their brain waves, so that they do not fell pain.

We know that when we walk, or talk, or play music or football, our brain is controlling our body. But some people seem able to do this better than others.

People who practise yoga seem able to slow down their brain waves and even their heart. After years of practice, some of them can stop themselves from feeling the cold, or from bleeding when cut with a knife.

At one time, scientists thought that this also explained how people could lie on nails without feeling pain. But in 1918, an American University teacher was introduced to his new class while lying on a bed of nails. He explained that it was not dangerous because there were so many nails that each one was only holding about 50 or 60 grams of his body!

Doctors are also interested in using hypnotism to control illnesses of the body and the brain. When you are hypnotised, you are no longer controlling your own body: another person is controlling you. Perhaps you have seen a magician do it at the theatre or on television?

The person who is hypnotised appears to be both awake and asleep, and they obey the magician, instead of their own brain.

Hypnotism can be frightening to watch; the person hypnotised seems almost to become somebody different. Sometimes people even remember things that they did not know that they knew. In one test, a young man started speak Japanese, a language that he had only heard when he was a very small child. In another, a girl sang a song in a foreign language that she had once seen in a library many years before. Although hypnotism appears at first to be magic, scientists can study and use it. The police sometimes hypnotise people to help them remember car numbers, or the faces of robbers. But this is not something to try for yourself!

 

Alison Baxter

From Strange but True

© OUP

From "Speak Out", N4, 2004.

 

III. Topic 'City' (London, Moscow)

London places of interest.

Royal London.

The Buckingham Palace – it's the main official residence of the queen. It has been the official London residence of Britain's sovereigns since 1837. It has 19 State Rooms that are opened for eight weeks a year, and more than 50,000 people visit them each year. It has 625 rooms and halls and a large park behind the building with a huge lawn. That lawn is used for tea parties in June and other official ceremonies. The palace was built for the Duke of Buckingham in 1703; it was bought sixty years later by King George III for £28,000. His extravagant but stylish son, King George IV commissioned John Nesh, the court architect, to remodel it in 1824, His successor, Queen Victoria, made it the permanent home of the court in 1837, but by 1846 the palace was too small for her growing family. So an east wing was added in 1847. The present classical front appeared in 1913. The first floor balcony is the scene of formal appearances of the royal family on important occasions. Below it in the forecourt, the colourful ceremony of Changing the Guard takes place. The Royal family occupies the north wing of the palace and the Royal standard is above the palace when the queen is in. The interior of the palace is opened to the public, during the months of August and September, for a rare glimpse of the splendours inside. The State Rooms are used to receive visiting heads of state and for the ceremonies where the Queen and other members of the royal family bestow titles, honours and awards for outstanding service.

The Mall – It leads to the Buckingham Palace and it is the route of royal and state processions whose name derives from the game of 'paille-maille', similar to croquet, that was popularly played here during the 17^th century. At the head of The Mall is the Queen Victoria Memorial. The statue of the seated monarch lies in the shadow of the best-known palace in the world.

The Queen's Gallery – it's a gallery with a lot of pictures, drawings, watercolours, sculptures and objects of applied art that have been collected by the royal family or that have been presented to the family on different occasions for a period of five centuries. The queen's gallery is situated in a side wing of the Buckingham Palace.

The Royal mews – it's a place where all coaches and carriages of the royal family of different times are on display. This is one of the finest working stables in existence and a living part of Britain's heritage. The Royal Mews is currently home to horses used in pulling the coaches. The Mews staff and their families live on site.

The Banqueting House – is the only remaining remnant of the old royal complex in Whitehall Palace, the largest in Europe. Designed at the beginning of the 17^th century by the architect Inigo Jones this building was very unusual for that time. Its Palladian splendour was completely different from the brightly painted red, black and white Tudor buildings of the time. From the days of Henry VII until its destruction by fire in 1698 this palace was the Sovereign's main London residence. The Banqueting House has been the setting for many historic ceremonies, including 'Touching for the King's Evil' and Royal Maundy. 'Touching for the King's Evil' was an ancient custom where it was believed that the touch of royal hands could cure the skin disease scrofula. On Royal Maundy the feet of the poor were washed by the sovereign and they were given food, clothing and money. It is probably most famous for a single event which took place on January 30, 1649. On that day King Charles I stepped out of the window of the Banqueting House onto a scaffold and he was beheaded in front of the crowd. He was the only British monarch to suffer such a fate. Today, restored to its former glory, the Banqueting House has returned to its original role. As well as being open to the public it is a majestic venue for modern banquets, concerts, receptions and conferences. It is famous for its painting by Rubens made on the ceiling of the main hall.

The Tower – Among the first historic buildings is the Tower of London, built in 1087. It was founded by William the Conqueror. It was begun with the aim of protecting Londoners from the invasion by the river. The oldest building there is the White Tower. Since then the Tower has served as fortress, palace, state prison and royal treasury. During the reign of Henry VII part of it became a menagerie. Now it is a museum. There is a very interesting ceremony of the Keys every evening. Safely locked away in the Tower of London are the Crown jewels, symbolizing 800 years of the British monarchy. The bulk of the present collection was actually made for Charles II in 1681, after the restoration of the monarchy.

Kensington Palace – was formerly the home of the Earl of Nottingham. King William III, an asthmatic who found the air of Whitehall disagreeable and crowds objectionable, bought the house in 1689 for £18,000 and employed Sir Christopher Wren, an architect of St: Paul's, to rebuild it. Since then it was slightly renovated and improved. Kensington is one of the London's royal boroughs. The Prince and Princess of Wales lived there. It is still used as one of the royal residence. But it was opened to the public in 1975 when the State Apartments were restored. There is an exhibition of personal belongings of Queen Victoria who was born, christened and lived in the Palace. Also there are two permanent exhibitions – of painting and applied arts of the 19^th century and the court dress.    

St. Paul 's Cathedral – This is the third cathedral with this name that London has had. The two others were burnt down, the first in 1086, and the second in 1666. Christopher Wren was an architect who created that cathedral. The construction lasted for 35 years. There are two towers at the cathedral's main west front. The north tower contains a peal of 12 bells and the south houses a clock and Great Paul, the largest bell in England, weighing over 16 tons. It also has the Dome, the second largest in the world after St. Peter's in Rome, with its Whispering Gallery. One can whisper a word into the wall that can be clearly heard on the other side of the gallery. St. Paul's contain monuments in the basement to the nation's heroes, including Admiral Nelson and the Duke of Wellington; statesmen, writers and artists. But the simplest and humblest epitaph is to St. Paul's architect, Sir Christopher Wren. Translated from Latin it says: "Reader, if you seek a monument, look about you." This is one of two churches of the royal family. In this cathedral all christening ceremonies and weddings of the members of the royal family take place.

Westminster Abbey – it's the Royal Peculiar Cathedral. It was built in the 11^th century by the order of Edward the Confessor and partly renovated in the 13^th century. Its name refers to its position to the west of the City of London – 'west monastery' or Westminster. Minster means 'large church'. It is the place of coronation of all British monarchs since the 12^th century. Many English monarchs as well as Many famous people of the kingdom are buried there. There is also the Poet's Corner where there were Charles Dickens, William Shakespeare buried. Monuments to those who were born to high rank and those who achieved glory line the walls of the Abbey. There is a black marble slab in the nave that is tomb of an unknown warrior. Beside it is a green marble slab to the memory of Sir Winston Churchill. In the Sanctuary one can see the oak Coronation Chair with the famous Stone of Scone underneath it. That stone used as the coronation seat of the kings of Scotland from the 8^th century. In the Chapter House, an octagonal chamber in the east of the Abbey one can see the place of the meeting of the first parliament of England from the 14^th to the 16^th centuries.

 

London of Government

Whitehall – There used to be a palace here once, where from the 12^th to the 16^th centuries the English kings and queens lived. It stretches from Parliament Square to Trafalgar Square. Now it is just the street of government offices, leading to Westminster Abbey and to the Houses of Parliament. There one can find the Admiralty, the Ministry of Defence, the Treasury, Horse Guards Headquarters, Foreign Office, and at the side street off it the official residence of Prime Minister, who lives at number 10. Next door at number 11 lives the Chancellor of Exchequer. The only remaining house of old Whitehall is the Banqueting Hall.

The Houses of Parliament – см. учебник.

The Parliament Square – a patch of green uniting the House of Commons on one side, Westminster Abbey on another. Whitehall and Parliamentary Street run to the Parliament Square and further goes Millbank. The Square was laid out by Sir Charles Barry, architect of the Houses of Parliament. Sir Winston Churchill's statue is among those famous statesmen and former Prime ministers in the Square facing the Houses of Parliament. 

Downing Street, N10 – it's the official residence of Prime Minister. It's situated off the main street of Whitehall. The street is closed for tourists. In the opposite house number 11 is the residence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who is responsible for financial planning and the British economy. House N 12 is occupied by Chief Whip.

London of Finance and Press

The City – it is the heart of London, its commercial and business part. Numerous banks, offices, firms, and trusts are concentrated there. The area of the City is about a square mile to the east of the centre of the city. It includes the site of the original Roman town. Only five thousand people live in the City. Before and after the business hours the streets of the City are crowded with more than a million people who come here to work.

It is so difficult to talk about the City. Every block in the City is remarkable for its historical associations. Take any place you like, ST. Bartholomew's hospital for example. You can find there a part of a real ancient building of the Roman times. Hogarth, the famous English painter was born there in 1697; Milton, the famous English poet was hidden at the time of the Restauration (Restoration) in 1666; Washington Irving, the great American writer lived here too, And at this hospital the head doctor William Harvey discovered the circulation of blood.

In certain parts of the City almost every wall, every house is Saxon, or Roman, medieval or Dickensian, reminding us of some famous men, some famous book, some historic event.

All the principal streets – Cheapside, Threadneedle Street, King William Street and others – lead us to the heart of the City. And the 'heart ' is represented by three buildings: the Mansion House, the Royal Exchange and the Bank of England. Next to them is the Lloyd's.

The City is rather independent from the rest of the metropolis. Why is it so?

The Mansion House  - it’s the official residence of the Lord Mayor situated in the City near the tube station “Bank”. Since the time of Richard Whittington, who was the Mayor of London in 1397, 1398,1406 and 1419, the election of a new Lord Mayor has been celebrated by a pageant, known as the Lord Mayor’s Show. This is held every year on November 9. On this day the new Lord Mayor rides through the streets of London in his splendid coach drawn by six horses from the City to the Law Courts in Fleet Street where he makes a solemn promise to carry out his duties faithfully. And the Lord Chief Justice hands the Mayor his sword of office. Then the procession continues to Westminster, and returns to the Mansion house.

The Bank of England – it was established in 1694 originally to raise money to fund foreign wars. It is the only bank in England permitted to issue bank notes and houses Britain’s gold reserves in its terrorist-proof underground vaults. It regulates and supervises the banking system and manages the national debt. It is situated in Threadneedle Street. The Bank is popularly known as the "Old Lady of Threadneedle Street" – a reference to the sculpture of Britannia over the main entrance. On this site there is also the Bank of England Museum. In the foreground one can see the statue of the Duke of Wellington.

Lloyd's of London – Taking its name from the coffee house where ship-owners and insurance brokers used to do business in the late 17^th century, Lloyd’s of London soon became one of the world’s most famous insurance company – Rudolph Nureyev’s legs were insured here, as was Titanic. There is a tradition to ring the bell – one time when the news is bad and twice when the news is good. Lloyds Register of Shipping is the world's premier ship classification society and a leading independent technical inspection and advisory organization.

Royal Stock Exchange – the original building was erected in 1567 and opened by Queen Elisabeth I, but was burnt down almost one hundred years later in the Great Fire of London in 1666. Afterwards it was rebuilt, but fire again destroyed it in 1844. Trading in stocks and shares is now conducted on the telephone or through automated on-screen-dealing systems. The market capitalisation of the London Stock Exchange is over £2000 billion of overseas stock as well as £820 billion in British shares and government stocks.

Guildhall – It is the seat of London's Municipal government since the 12^th century. It has twice survived great fires and has witnessed the trials of traitors, the welcoming of heroes and glittering state occasions. It is situated at the crossing of King Street and Gresham Street not far from the tube station "Moorgate".

Fleet Street and Whapping – Fleet Street is the place where many offices of newspaper were. It is still called the street of the fourth power. Whapping is an area in the East-End where there were warehouses, factories, and docks. Now this district is reconstructed and many of the offices of famous newspapers have moved to Whapping from Fleet Street.

Old Bailey's – The other name of the Old Bailey's is the Central Criminal Court and it was built in 1902 on the site of the notorious Newgate Prison which had stood there since the 12^th century. In the 1780s the gallows were moved from Tyburn to outside Newgate Prison.

 

Museums

The British Museum – Sir Hans Sloane was a great collector. He filled his house with rare books and pictures, precious stones, stuffed animals, and butterflies, and ancient remains from all over the world. There had never been a collection like that. The visitors were amazed by what they saw. When Sir Hans Sloane died in 1753, his will let the king buy the whole collection for just £20,000 so that it could belong to the nation forever. This was the start of the British Museum. It took thirty years and thousands of stone to complete the building and the forty-four massive columns, which decorated the front. The building of the British Museum was finished in 1948. 

  It can't be compared with any other museum of the world. It has fine introduction of Egyptian, Greek, and Roman arts in all their branches, there is pottery and sculpture from all over the world. Its antiquity department is of the same level as in Louvre in Paris or the prewar Pergamon Museum in Berlin. The British Museum Library contains about 6 million books and the large circular. In its Reading Room in the centre of the museum building there is a reference section of 30,000 volumes on open shelves and also the catalogues for the whole library.

The National Gallery – it is in Trafalgar Square. It has one of the best-balanced picture collections in the world. It contains the paintings of Italian artists from the medieval to Renaissance, Spanish collection with El Greco, Velasquez, and Ribera leading, a great variety of Flemish and Dutch painters, a most valuable display of French painting from the 16^th century to the Impressionists, and, of course, the bulk of the finest English painting, with Gainsborough, Turner, Constable, and Reynolds.

The National Portrait Gallery – it is behind the National Gallery, a pictorial hall of fame whose treasures include a painting of Queen Elisabeth I after the triumphant defeat of the Spanish Armada. It also contains about 50,000 portraits and photos of famous people of Great Britain. But a portrait of a living person can't be on display at this gallery.

The Tate Gallery – This Gallery, built at the expense of Sir Henry Tate, the sugar refiner, was opened in 1897 in Millmank, and housed the national collections of British painting from the 16^th century to the present day, including the greater part of the Turner Bequest. It has a collection complementary to that of the National Gallery, for it presents modern masters of England and France. Its collection of French Impressionists is outstanding, and there are some fine examples of modern sculpture.

The Science Museum – Its extensive collection of over 200,000amazing objects and exhibits guides you through centuries of technological and scientific discovery and demonstrates the use and application of these inventions in our everyday life. Most frequently people visit the following galleries of the museum: the Exploration of the Space, Land Transport, Ships, Aeronautics, Time Measurement, the Science and Art of Medicine, Electricity and Magnetism, Heat and Temperature, Nuclear Physics and Power, Optics, Chemical Industry, Plastics, Telecommunications. Usually people visit 'hands-on' galleries where every exhibit is an experiment or demonstration to try for yourself.

The Natural History Museum - The Museum houses the finest natural history collection in the world – 68 million specimens of animals, plants, minerals, rocks and fossils. The Natural History Museum was first open to the public on Easter Monday in April 1881. The Museum was originally just a department of the British Museum. The enormous private collection of Sir Hans Sloane, a wealthy physician, formed the basis of the British Museum on his death in 1753. Then during the 19^th century the natural history collections outdrew their British Museum accommodation and a stunning terracotta building was designed and built to rehouse them in South Kensington. There are vast educational programmes for adults and children. Each year more than 1,7 mln people visit this museum. But it is also a very important scientific research centre. Beyond the public galleries more than 300 scientists study the diversity of nature using the museum's collections. The scientists and curators work in five departments: Botany, Entomology, Mineralogy, Paleontology and Zoology.

The Victoria and Albert Museum – it is situated in Brompton Road and has a splendid collection mainly of the applied arts, of all countries and periods, also a new Costume Court, and many exhibits of interest to any student of the visual arts. There is a gallery with computers for designing of one's own coat-of-arm and emblems for linen, cutlery and so on. At the end of excursion one can get a self-made design printed.

The Museum of London - It is quite close to the Barbican. It is the largest and most comprehensive city museum in the world. It is dedicated to the story of London and its people that begins with the first hunter-gatherers arriving in the Thames Valley 400,000 years ago. The city itself was founded by the Romans around AD50 and covered less than a square kilometre at the place of a small settlement called Lin-Din. Throughout 2000 years of city life, London has attracted people from all parts of the United Kingdom and the world. The collections displayed in the Museum's permanent galleries reflect the influences, which have made London the cosmopolitan city it is today.

The Museum of Madame Tussaud – During the French revolution Madame Tussaud made her living from producing death masks from the heads that had toppled from the guillotine. She came to London in 1802 with her touring exhibition of waxworks. Londoners have been able to 'mingle with the famous' at the present waxwork museum on Marylebone Road since 1835. The collection moved to its present site in 1884. Now the exposition of the museum contains the wax effigies of the most famous people of the planet. One of the most interesting displays is the Royal family. Likenesses of world statesmen, the British royal family, sportsmen, writers and artists, film and TV stars are featured. To Madame Tussaud's original skill of sculpting in wax has been added the hi-tech refinements of modern electronics and robotics to show pop stars in motion.

The London Planetarium – The London Planetarium in Baker Street just over the corner from the Madame Tussaud's museum reveals during the day the mysteries of the sky at night. It is combined with Madame Tussaud's and its Astronomer's Exhibition has wax effigies of Einstein and Galileo. It was opened in 1958.

The Museum of Sherlock Holmes – just over the corner from the Madame Tussaude’s, in Baker Street, 221B, is the museum of Sherlock Holmes, an imaginary book character created by Conan Doyle. It is situated in a tall four-storeyed building. The furnishing is restored in accordance with the time of Queen Victoria. The museum workers get a lot of letters addressing to Sherlock Holmes with requests to help them in solving their cases. Our actors B. Livanov and V.Solomin starring in several films about Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson are considered to be the best in the world. 

The National Postal Museum – it is situated not far from St. Paul’s Cathedral. It tells about the history of post and postal services. As Great Britain was the first country using stamps there is a huge collection of them including the first stamp the Penny Black. It was devised by Rowland Hill in 1840.

The Theatre Museum – it is in Covent Garden dedicated to all major performing arts. Exhibits include the brass plaque from the Windmill Theatre proclaiming “We never closed” (it was the only London theatre not to close during World War II) and outfits belonging to Charles Stratton, better known as Tom Thumb, the American midget made famous by Phineas T. Barium.

The Imperial War Museum – Founded in 1917 the Museum houses relics of both world wars. The building it occupies in the Lambeth Road was formerly Bethlem Hospital ("Bedlam") where mental sufferers were detained.

The Museum Cabinet War Rooms – Located in the basement of a government building in the heart of ceremonial London (at the crossing of Horse Guards Road and Birdcage Walk overlooking St. James's Park), the Cabinet War Rooms were hurriedly converted on the eve of the World War II as emergency underground accommodation to protect the Prime Minister, then Sir Winston Churchill, and the British Government against air attacks. There were in operational use from 27 August 1939 to the Japanese surrender in 1945. Today, visitors can view the original complex of 21 historic rooms, and marvel at the Spartan conditions endured by those who worked in them, preserved exactly as they were before the lights were finally switched off after six years of war.

Apsley House – The Duke of Wellington, the 'Iron Duke' hero of the Battle of Waterloo lived in the house that faces the busiest traffic island in London. Apsley House built in 1771-1778, is now the Wellington Museum, containing relics of the old soldier. He was a ranger of Hyde Park, which forms the backyard to his old home. Letters simply addressed 'Number 1 London' used to reach Wellington at Apsley House.

The Wallace Collection – it is set out in Hertford House, an 18^th century mansion. It was formerly the home of the Marquesses of Hertford and the collection is the result of acquisitions by successive generations of the family. The collection is notable for its valuable 17-18^th century French paintings, European and Oriental arms and armour. Works by English, Dutch, Spanish and Italian artists are included in the treasures. It was given to the nation in 1897 and opened to the public at the turn of the century. 

The Hermitage Rooms at Somerset House – several years ago the ministries of culture of Great Britain and Russia signed a document according to which there is a permanent exhibition of paintings from St/ Petersbugh Hermitage. The exhibition has a great popularity with the English. 

The Florence Nightingale Museum – Florence Nightingale (1820 – 1910) was the first person who became a professional nurse. She came from a very rich family and she got a very good education. But ever since Florence was a girl she had nursed the villagers and sick domestic animals and wanted to be a professional nurse. She spent some time working as a nurse in hospitals in France and Germany. She took part in the Crimean war between Russia and Great Britain with a group of other nurses. There she came to the conclusion that a proper care after wounded soldiers was not less important than the work of doctors and surgeons. She established the first professional school of nursing at St. Thomas' Hospital in 1860. She changed the whole system of hospital organization of the army; she wrote books on nursing. The Medal of Florence Nightingale is the highest award for every nurse in the world. Now in St. Thomas' Hospital that is situated on the bank of the Thames just opposite the Houses of Parliament one can visit a museum in her honour. This is the oldest hospital of London, possibly founded as early as 1106 on the site of Southwark Priory.

The Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood – it is opened in1872. Part of the Victoria and Albert Museum it holds a remarkable collection of children's toys, books and costumes. It is situated close to the metro station "Bethnal Green" in the north of London.

 

Parks

Hyde park	St. James Park	Green Park
Regent Park with the Zoo	Kensington Gardens	Richmond Park
Greenwich Park	Battersea Park	Kew and the Royal Botanic Gardens

In general London is a very green city. Practically near every house one can find a patch of a lawn, or several trees, or several flowerbeds, or, at least, two flower shrubs in pots at the porch.

There are a lot of small or big parks, public gardens or alleys in the city. The capital's parks were labelled "the lungs of London" by an 18^th century Prime Minister, William Pitt. The cool, calm and peaceful swatches of green are for London's citizens and visitors a refuge from the roar of a city going about its business. They are also the sanctuary for a wide variety of waterfowl, birds and other wildlife. Every park has its own charm and peculiarity. London's royal parks were once the private hunting places and later the palace playgrounds of princes and monarchs. While they still belong to the Crown today, they are freely open for all to enjoy.

Greenwich Park was the first to be fenced and reserved for privileged use in 1433. It was favourite hunting ground of Tudor monarchs until King Charles II ordered it to be laid out as a park by Le Notte, the landscape gardener of the French king Louis XIV. The park is still riddled with ancient underground tunnels, probably water conduits for the royal palaces that formerly existed at Greenwich. Flamsteed House, dating from 1675, in the park is the former home of the Royal Observatory. The zero line of longitude passes through the house and is marked by a plate on a patch. A visitor can claim to be straddling two halves of the globe by placing a foot at either side of the line.

Before 1530, St. James's was marshy land surrounding the leper house (лепрозорий) of St. James's. King Henry VIII acquired it for the garden and deer park of his new palace and it is today considered the most beautiful of all the royal parks. Three royal palaces used to border it – Whitehall (burnt down in 1698), Westminster and St. James's. In King James I's reign, a menagerie existed in the park. An aviary was added in the reign of King Charles II, of which the name of Birdcage Walk is now the only legacy. The park was remodelled in 1826 when the architect John Nesh created the lake where assorted waterfowl now live – including pelicans, originally presented by the Russian ambassador in the 17^th century. St. James's park fans out to one side of the Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace.

Green Park continues on the other side. It is rather small and it is the plainest of London's parks. It runs up to Hyde Park Corner and the Wellington Arch. The name itself shows that there are only trees, rather old with huge shadowy crowns and superb lawns. If you want some tranquility, calmness and a bit of loneliness but at the same time without losing bonds with a busy life of the megapolis – this park is just for you.

Hyde Park is 360acre tract, once part of the minor of Eia owned by Westminster Abbey. It was acquired by King Henry VIII to make it to another private hunting ground. A century later, King James I and his son Charles I opened it to the public. Hyde Park is separated from Kensington Gardens by the Serpentine Lake. Together they form the largest open space in central London, a round walk of four miles. The Serpentine is the 40-acre habitat of ducks and waterfowl, plus assorted hardy bathers who take a dip every morning of the year, even if it means breaking the ice on its surface. Hyde Park was the venue for national celebrations and spectaculars through the ages. In 1851 Hyde Park was the setting for the Great Exhibition, a showcase for British skills, goods and crafts under Paxton's glass masterpiece, the Crystal Palace. Later the Crystal Palace was taken away and re-erected in the south-east of London. Duels of honour were traditionally fought in Hyde Park. Modern day, spectaculars include pop concerts and protest meetings. But of course the most famous part of Hyde Park is Speaker's Corner in the north-east corner of it. It is the place where numerous speakers propound (предлагают на обсуждение) the most extraordinary ideas in front of heterogeneous (разнообразная) public. Another attraction of Hyde Park is the horse-riding lane known as Rotten Row.

Kensington Gardens is famous for its Kensington Palace with its Royal Ceremonial Collection of Court dress. This palace was the official residence of Princess Diana. Just in front of it one can see the monument to Queen Victoria who was born in this palace and spent her childhood there. Near the palace is gracious Round Pond. The large expanse of Kensington Gardens with its numerous trees and flowers, especially in Secret garden, the lovely statue of Peter Pan, Speck's monument, the monument to Energy and charming tiny Italian garden with fountains and the monument to Walter Scott also constitutes a most attractive spectacle.

Regent Park is next in size after Hyde Park. It is situated in the northern part of central London. It was also acquired by King Henry VIII as a hunting ground. This park is roughly circular in shape with two lakes and two roads, the inner Circle and the Outer Circle. An open theatre within the Inner Circle stages mainly Shakespearean plays in summer. Also Regent Park is a home of the Zoo, one of the largest and oldest in Europe.

On the south bank of the River Thames Battersea Park was laid out on the site of Battersea fields. It contains a subtropical garden, sculptures by Henry Moore and a striking pagoda.

Kew and the Royal Botanic Gardens lie upstream from Westminster. There is one of the most famous collections of plants and flowers in the world. Thirty thousand varieties of plants and trees grow on the 300-acre site including tropical and water species. The Princess of Wales's conservatory features lilies six feet wide. A further seven million dried specimens are preserved in the Herbarium. Kew was the inspiration of Princess Augusta, mother of King George III, who began the garden as a hobby in 1759. As the project literally blossomed, she commissioned temples and the 10-storeyed pagoda to add interest among the greenery. Kew was presented to the nation to enjoy in 1841 yet its most important role is as a scientific institution.

Richmond Park is at a short distance off Kew and the Royal Botanic Gardens to south-east. The 2,500 acres of unspoiled ground help to make the area one of London's most attractive riverside residential suburbs.`

 

Monuments

The Cenotaph – is a memorial to those who died in the 20^th century wars, it forms an island in the centre of the road. It is situated in Parliament Street. Each year on Remembrance Day (in November) a two-minute silence is observed during the service attended by the Queen and the members of the Royal family, statesmen and representatives of the armed forces and Commonwealth.

The Tower Bridge – It was built in 1894. In medieval times there was a bridge over the Thames with shops and houses on it. It was destroyed during the Great Fire in 1666. It is one of London’s most famous landmarks. It was the combined work of engineer John-Wolfe Barry and architects Sir Horace Jones and G.D. Stevenson. Its original design is said to be based on the lifting bridges over the canals of Holland. The two towers conceal updated electric lifting machinery and house lifts to take its visitors up to 800ft glassed walkway offering exceptional views over the Thames. In the towers of the bridge is a museum of the Tower Bridge.

Albert Memorial – is within Kensington Gardens. The elaborate memorial to Prince Albert, Consort to the Queen Victoria, was erected between 1863-76. The prince in gilt-bronze is depicted under an ornate canopy, a copy of the catalogue of the Great Exhibition on his lap. He inspired the idea of the Great Exhibition in 1851 as a showcase of British artistic and engineering expertise and craftsmanship. The exhibition also raised money to build Kensington's museums nearby.

War Memorial –

Monument – it was built to commemorate those who died in the Great Fire of London in 1666. It was designed by Christopher Wren. It is 202 ft high, the exact distance that the monument stands from the baker’s shop in Pudding Lane where the fire started.

 

Places of Interest

HMS Belfast – it is the last survivor of the Royal Navy’s gun ships that served in World War II. It lies at peace on the Thames by Morgan Lane, Tooley Street. The cruiser, which was involved in the D-day landings in Normandy and the battle of North Cape in the Arctic, is now a floating museum.

The Wembley Stadium -

Trafalgar Square and Admiral Nelson Column – It's one of the nerve-centres of London. It and Nelson's column both commemorate the famous Admiral whose greatest victory has given the square its name. That battle took place on the 21^st of October 1805 at Cape Trafalgar at the mouth of the Strait of Gibraltar. The British fleet under the command of Admiral Nelson defeated the combined French-Spanish fleet. Nelson was fatally wounded by a shot, which broke his backbone. The granite Corinthian column on which Nelson stands is 184 feet high and at the base are four bronze bas-reliefs cast from the metal of captured French cannon, depicting the scenes from the battles of Aboukir, Copenhagen, St. Vincent and Trafalgar. The lions are the work of Sir Edwin Landseer. The statue of Nelson itself, placed facing towards the sea he loved measures 17 feet (more than 5 metres) in height. There are two large oval fountains on the square situated symmetrically.

To the north-west of Trafalgar Square there is a building of the National Gallery of Art, and behind is the National Portrait Gallery. To the north-east is one of the most charming churches – St. Martin in the Fields. St. Martin is the patron saint of beggars. South Africa House bounds the east side of the square; Canada House the west. Admiralty Arch was erected in 1910 as one of the national memorials to Queen Victoria. From that Place goes The Mall.

Quite often the square becomes the location for meetings and in it crowds of Londoners congregate to celebrate political rallies. Every year the Norwegian people send a fine fir-tree for Christmas thanking Great Britain for giving a shelter for their Royal family during World War II.

Covent Garden – The fruit and vegetable wholesalers long gone from Covent Garden Pizza and made way to specialty shops and stalls selling everything from horoscopes to hand-made sweaters. Street entertainment, ranging from string quartets to magicians and jugglers, is a tradition of the area and has been so since the first Punch and Judy show was performed under the portico of St. Paul's church in the mid-17^th century. Eclectic, artistic and fun, Covent Garden can be exhausting but there are plenty of restaurants and bars, many pavement seating, in which one can relax and watch the world to go by. Here is the famous Royal Opera House, home of great plays and actors for 200 years, and today a leading home of international opera and the ballet

Big Ben – this is a bell in a tower of the Westminster Palace. Why is it called “Big Ben”? When the great bell was cast in London foundry in 1858, the question of its name was discussed in Parliament. One member said, “Why not call it Big Ben?” There was much laughter among the members because the man in charge of public buildings was Sir Benjamin Hall, a very tall stout man whose nickname was “Big Ben”. The bell is 7 foot 6 inches high, and 9 foot 6 inches across the mouth. It weighs about 13,5 tons (about the same as two double-decker buses). “Big Ben” is the name of the bell only – not the clock, and not the tower. 

Barbican – The Barbican was constructed a little more than 20 years ago. Now it is an impressive venue in the City which runs a year0round programme of art, music, film and theatre – and it's also home to the London Symphony Orchestra. There are events for everybody, beginning from the youngest spectators to pensioners. There are special Barbican Family programmes with its events, exhibitions and workshops. There's also a lake bursting with fountains, plus bars, restaurants and cafes to suit every taste and pocket.

Piccadilly Circus with the monument to Eros – Piccadilly Circus is the centre of night life in the West End. It is actually quite small, and most people are rather disappointed seeing it for the first time. This square is a dynamic and picturesque place with a happy and lively cosmopolitan atmosphere. There are always crowds of people from all over the world. They like to gather around a bronze fountain topped by a figure of Eros, the pagan god of love, work of Sir Alfred Gilbert. But it was designed as a memorial to Lord Shaftesbury, a 19^th century philanthropist and intended to present Christian charity. The name Piccadilly stems from a 17^th century dressmaker who lived in the area and created a frilled collar called a 'piccadil'.

The Old Curiosity Shop -

London Television Centre -

Horse Guards – The 'Horse Guards' means both the 18^th century building in the street called Whitehall and the queen's cavalry. The Parade takes its name from the four regiments of cavalry raised for his personal protection in 1660 by King Charles II. In the forecourt of the Horse Guards building can be seen one of London's most popular ceremonies, Changing of the Guard each morning at 11 (10 a.m. on Sundays).

Cleopatra's Needle – It is London's most ancient outdoor exhibit. The obelisk was erected as one of a pair at Heliopolis by Pharaoh Thothmes III about 1450 B.C. In 23 B.C. the Emperor Augustus Caesar transported them to Alexandria where Cleopatra had died a few years earlier, and the obelisk became associated with her name. It was presented to the British people in 1819 in recognition of Nelson's victory over the French fleet at the Battle of the Nile in 1798. In 1878, after a precarious sea voyage, and an almost disastrous storm off the Bay of Biscay, the obelisk was brought to London. It is situated on the Victoria Embankment not far from the tube station "Charing Cross".

London eye – it is a huge observing wheel built in the very centre of London.

Harrod's – London is a paradise for shoppers. Its best known department store is Harrods situated just next to the tube station 'Knightsbridge'. It began life in 1849 in Brompton Road as a small grocery shop run by Charles Henry Harrod. Now the store occupies an entire block of a red terracotta building and employs more than 5,500 staff. Its interior decoration includes Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles. Its proud boast is that it can supply anything to anyone, anywhere and any time. Harrods was the first store in the world to install an escalator.

Leciester Square – it comes to life at night, when cinema fans throng the square, which is surrounded by large cinema complexes. The square was laid out in the 17^th century and named after the Earl of Leciester, who lived nearby. The painters Hogarth and Reynolds were also famous residents. Gentlemen used to fight duels of honour in the square, but it was converted in 1874 into a public garden and now features statues of two giants of the entertainments - William Shakespeare and Charles Chaplin.

 

Theatres – The names of some London theatres are given below.

Royal Albert Hall	Covent Garden	National Youth Theatre	Coliseum
Royal Opera House	Globe Playhouse	Dominion	Royal festival Hall
Old Vic	Young Vic Company	Adelphy	Apollo
Her Majesty's	Picadilly	Prince of Wales	Criterion
Aldwych	Whitehall	Phoenix	Astoria

Theatrical life in London is rather hectic. There are a lot of quite different theatres in London, form those that stage classical plays to fringe ones. More that 30 theatres are concentrated within a square mile in the centre of the capital. The tickets are not hard to get but they are very expensive. Regular seasons of opera and ballet are given at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden; the National Theatre stages modern and classical plays; the Royal Shakespeare Company produces plays mainly by Shakespeare and his contemporaries when it performs in Stratford-on-Avon and modern plays in its two auditoria in the City's Barbican Centre. Shakespeare's Globe Playhouse is reconstructed on its original place. There are many theatres and theatre companies that stage plays for children and young people, for example: the National Youth Theatre, the Young Vic Company.

 

Greenwich

The National Maritime Museum, Queen's House and Old Royal Observatory are all set in the beautiful surroundings of Greenwich Park. Close by is the bustling riverside town of Greenwich with its historic buildings, street markets, specialist shops, plentiful pubs and restaurants.

Gypsy Moth IV – it is the yacht which Sir Francis Chichester in 1966-67 became the first person to sail single-handed around the world.

Cutty Sark – Launched in 1869 for the China tea trade this clipper was one of the fastest in the world. There were competitions among such clippers and Cutty Sark usually won.

National Maritime Museum – Britain's seafaring history is displayed in an impressive modern museum including the new Neptune gallery. It was founded in 1934 to promote understanding of the history and future of Britain and the