Vосаbulаrу

ruins руины, развалины

ancient древний

picturesque живописный

change of scene перемена обстановки

to discover открывать

city-dweller горожанин

to bathe купаться

to laze in the sun валяться на солнце

holiday-maker отдыхающий

to take pictures of фотографировать

church церковь

castle замок

Types of transport:

Train (aero)plane car bus taxi bicycle/bike motorbike/motorcycle underground boat ship helicopter

Exercise 1. Read and translate the phrases, pay attention to the words in bold type:

Can I have a single/return ticket to Moscow please? (single = Ufa → Moscow; return = Ufa ↔ Moscow)

I’d like to book/reserve a seat in advance.

How much is the (train/bus/taxi/air) fare?

Was the journey long?

By train

The train arriving at platform 3 is the 16:50 train to Paris.

The Edinburgh train departs/leaves from platform 6.

Is there a buffet/restaurant car on this train?

Do I have to change trains for London? (=get off one train and go onto another)

By plane

You have to check in an hour before the plane takes off. (= leaves the ground).

I went through customs but nobody checked my passport.

Give your boarding card to the flight attendants when you get on the plane.

Have a good flight.

The plane landed in Moscow at 5.30.

By car

We hired a car for a week. We had to fill it up with petrol.

Can I give you a lift? I’m going into town.

Exercise 2. Match the words on the left with the definitions on the right:

1. land a) a place to eat on a train

2. fare b) bags and suitcases

3. buffet car c) it says when trains depart and arrive

4. ship d) what you must pay when you travel

5. timetable e) planes do this at airports

6. platform f) it travels on water e.g. the Titanic

7. luggage g) where you stand when you are waiting for a train

Exercise 3. Read and translate the dialogue:

Julia and Paul are in the street. They decided to visit a picture exhibition but they don’t know the way to the Exhibition Hall and Paul asks a passer-by for help.

Paul: Excuse me, please.

Passer-by: Yes?

Paul: Could you tell us how to get to the Exhibition Hall?

Passer-by: Oh, well, let me see. Walk down the road. Take the first turn to the right and walk straight until you come to the river.

Paul: River?

Passer-by: Yes, you can’t see it quite clearly from here. When you come to it, there is a bridge. Just walk across it.

Paul: Down the road, turn to the right, then straight again and across the bridge. Am I right? Thank you very much.

Passer-by: Not at all.

Julia: Is it very far? I mean how long it will take us to walk there?

Passer-by: About 15 minutes, if you walk quickly.

Paul: Thank you.

Passer-by: Don’t mention it.

Text D. Read and translate the text.

Great Britain

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is situated on the British Isles. It consists of four parts: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. England, Wales and Scotland occupy the territory of Great Britain. Northern Ireland is situated in the northern part of Ireland.

The territory of the United Kingdom is about 244.000 square kilometres, it is the 75^th place among other countries in the world. The population is over 56.5 million. About 80% of the population is urban. The capital of the country is London.

The surface of Great Britain varies greatly. The northern and western part of the country is mountainous and is called the Highlands. All the rest (south, east and centre) is a vast plain which is called the Lowlands. The mountains are not very high. The rivers are not long. The most important of them are the Severn and the Thames. There are many beautiful lakes in the mountainous parts of the country.

The mountains, the Atlantic Ocean and the warm waters of the Gulf Stream influence the climate of Great Britain. It is mild the whole year round.

Great Britain is a highly developed industrial country. It is known as one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of iron and steel products, machinery and electronics, chemicals and textile, aircraft and navigation equipment. One of the chief industries of the country is ship building.

Great Britain is a country with old cultural traditions and customs. The most famous educational centres are Oxford and Cambridge Universities. They are considered to be the intellectual centres of Europe.

The United Kingdom is a monarchy and the Queen is the head of the state. But in practice it is ruled by the elected government with the Prime Minister at the head.

Exercise 1. Answer the questions:

1. Where is the UK situated?

2. What parts does it consist of?

3. What is the territory and the population of GB?

4. What goods does the British industry produce?

5. What are the main political parties in GB?

Exercise 2. Translate the following sentences into English:

1. Британские острова расположены на континентальном шельфе (shelf). 2. Пролив Ла-Манш отделяет Великобританию от континента. 3. Великобритания – одна из наиболее густонаселенных стран мира. 4. Уэльс – один из крупнейших шахтерских районов страны. 5. Северная Ирландия была первой колонией Англии.

Text E. Read and translate the text.

London

London is the capital of Great Britain, its political, economic and commercial centre. It is one of the largest cities in the world and the largest city in Europe. Its population is about 8 million.

London is one of the oldest and most interesting cities in the world.

Traditionally it is divided into several parts: the City, Westminster, the West End and the East End. They are very different from each other and seem to belong to different towns and epochs.

The heart of London is the City, its financial and business centre. Numerous banks, offices and firms are situated there including the Bank of England, the Stock Exchange and the Old Bailey. Few people live here, but over a million people come to the City to work. There are some famous ancient buildings within the City. Perhaps the most striking of them is St Paul’s Cathedral, the greatest of English churches. It was built in the 17^th century by Sir Christopher Wren. The Tower of London was founded by Julius Caesar and in 1066 rebuilt by William the Conqueror. It was used as a fortress, a royal palace and a prison. Now it is a museum.

Westminster is the historic, the governmental part of London.

Westminster Abbey has more historic associations than any other building in Britain. Nearly all English kings and queens have been crowned here. Many outstanding statesmen, scientists, writers, poets and painters are buried here: Newton, Darwin, Chaucer, Dickens, Tennyson, Kipling, etc.

Across the road from Westminster Abbey is Westminster Palace, the Houses of Parliament, the seat of the British Parliament. The Clock Tower of the Houses of Parliament is famous for its big hour bell, known as “Big Ben”.

A Buckingham Palace is the official residence of the Queen.

The West End is the richest and most beautiful part of London. It is the symbol of wealth and luxury. The best hotels, shops, restaurants, clubs, and theatres are situated there. There are splendid houses and lovely gardens belonging to wealthy people.

Trafalgar Square is the geographical centre of London. It was named in memory of Admiral Nelson’s victory in the battle of Trafalgar in 1805.The tall Nelson’s Column stands in the middle of the square.

The Eats End is the poorest district of London. There are a lot of factories, workshops and docks here. The streets are narrow, the buildings are unimpressive. East End is densely populated by working class families.

Exercise 1. Answer the questions:

1. What parts does London consist of?

2. What is the population of London?

3. How can you describe the City?

4. When was the Tower of London founded?

5. What is Westminster Abbey famous for?

6. What is the difference between East End and West End?

Exercise 2. Translate the following sentences into English:

1. Лондон – экономический, политический и культурный центр, один из крупнейших портов страны и один из крупнейших городом в мире.

2. Самые знаменитые древние здания – Лондонский Тауер, Вестминстерское аббатство, собор Святого Павла, Парламент, Букингемский дворец.

3. Вест-Энд - район магазинов, офисов и театров, район богатых людей.

4. В Сити сконцентрированы банки, офисы, в том числе Лондонская биржа и Банк Англии.

5. Ист-Энд – беднейший район города, там живут рабочие.