1. Reading

Task 1:

Complete the table with the correct dates from the text.

…….. The English Civil War begins.

……...The execution of Charles I

………The restoration of the monarchy

………Death of Prince Albert

………Victoria celebrates 60 years on the throne

………Edward VIII becomes king

………Edward VIII abdicates

………Elizabeth II becomes queen

………Prince Charles marries Princess Diana

………Prince Charles and Princess Diana divorce

………Princess Diana dies

………Elizabeth II celebrates 50 years on the throne.

Task 2:

Which British king or queen:

1. became less popular immediately after the death of Princess Diana?

2. became very private when her husband died?

3. came to the throne because his brother abandoned it?

4. couldn’t get married and become monarch?

5. wanted to take power away from parliament?

Task 3:

Read the newspaper article and answer the questions:

A JUBILEE SEA OF RED, WHITE AND BLUE

By Caroline Davies

Three balcony appearances and more than a million voices raised in a thunderous* rendition* of the National Anthem crowned* the Queen’s Golden Jubilee celebrations yesterday.

On the day that the Queen spoke of her “gratitude, respect and pride” in the nation, the nation responded with cheers*, applause and enough flag-waving to transform the Mall into a patriotic sea of red, white and blue.

Three times the crowd brought the Queen and Prince Philip to the balcony of Buckingham Palace and three times they were repaid in song, as the huge mass of spectators sang Land of Hope and Glory and God Save the Queen.

Task 4:

Find:

1. the name of the Queen’s husband.

2. the name of the Queen’s residence in London.

3. the name of the street in front of her residence.

4. the titles of two patriotic songs.

Task 5:

Answer the questions:

1. How many members of the public, according to the writer, sang to

the Queen on her jubilee day?

2. Why do you think the crowd was “red, white and blue”?

3. What impression do you get of the success of the jubilee

celebrations?

2. Speaking

Which other countries still have a monarchy? Do you think there is any place for kings and queens in the 21^st century?

NATIONAL CELEBRATIONS

Task 1:

Read the test A time to celebrate. Are the statements true or false?

1) England doesn’t have a national day.

2) The last Monday in August is a bank holiday in England.

3) Some English people want an extra bank holiday in the autumn.

4) Trafalgar day is already a bank holiday.

5) St. George is Scotland’s national saint.

A TIME TO CELEBRATE

England has no official national holiday, but with Scotland and Wales achieving more political independence recently, there is a growing group of patriotic English people who want to persuade the government to create one. Some people would like to create and extra bank holiday*. England has only eight official holidays per year, the lowest number in Europe, and there are no holidays between the last Monday in August and Christmas Day. One suggestion for a new autumn bank holiday is Trafalgar Day, on October 21^st, which commemorates a famous English naval victory.

Other people are trying to establish St. George’s Day (April 23^rd) as England’s official day of celebration, because St. George is England’s official saint. A new phenomenon is starting to appear in shops at the start of April – decorations and greetings cards for St. George’s Day.