2. Read and discuss the text about Madame Tussaud. Learn the new vocabulary.

Marie Tussaud was born in Strasbourg in 1761. Her father died two months before she was born, and her family moved to Switzerland. Her mother worked for a German doctor. The doctor was a kind man who enjoyed making wax models of parts of the human body. He soon got a reputation for making good likenesses of people’s heads as well.

He moved to Paris because he wanted to earn money by making models of the rich and famous. Soon Marie and her mother joined him in Paris. When she was six years old, the doctor taught her how to work in wax. Her portraits became so popular that by the time she was twenty she was living in the Palace of Versailles because the royal family invited her to live there.

The French revolution started in 1789, and this was the beginning of hard times for Marie. However, she met and married Francois Tussaud, who was an engineer. They had three children, a daughter, who died and two sons.

In 1802 she received permission from Napoleon to go to London, because she wanted to take her waxwork collection to England. She went round Britain and Ireland with her four-year-old son, and her shows were a great success. She never saw France or her husband again.

She opened her exhibition centre in London in 1835, and it has been in the same place ever since. Marie died in 1850.

Madame Tussaud’s is now London’s most popular tourist attraction. About 2.2 million people visit it every year.

3. Concert ticket reservations

Carnegle Charge: May I help you?

Peter Grigoryev: I'd like to order two tickets on Friday, December 23rd.

C.C.: There are only orchestra and several balcony seats left.

P.G.: What about the balcony seats? Can one see and hear well from there?

C.C.: These are rather good seats. Just in the centre of the third row.

P.G.: Could I have a reservation for two seats on the balcony?

C.C.: Yes, of course. Your credit card?

P.G.: Visa.

C.C.: The information I need is: your first and last name, the number of credit card, its expiration date, and your telephone number.

P.G.: My name is Peter Grigoryev. The Visa card number is.......... It's valid until October 1.1990. My telephone number is (718) 379-2243. How much are the tickets?

C.C.: The price of these tickets is 15 dollars. For ordering them by telephone ticket you’ll be charged 36 dollars.

P.G.: Okay. Where can I get the tickets?

C.C.: You'll get the tickets at the box office on the day of the concert. Try to pick them up at seven thirty.

Unit 8 Cities

1. Learn the following text by heart to remember the models.

The Taylor family has lived in Brownsville for many years. And for many years, Brownsville was a very good place to live. The streets were clean. The parks were safe. The bus system was reliable, and the schools were good.

But Brownsville has changed. Today the streets aren’t as clean as they used to be. The parks aren’t as safe as they used to be. The bus system isn’t as reliable as it used to be, and the schools aren’t as good as they used to be.

Because of the changes in Brownsville, the Taylor family moved to Newport last year. In Newport the streets are cleaner. The parks are safer. The bus system is more reliable, and the schools are better.

The Taylors are happy in Newport, but they were happier in Brownsville. Although Newport has cleaner streets, safer parks, a more reliable bus system, and better schools, Brownsville has friendlier people. They’re nicer, more polite, and more hospitable than the people in Newport.

The Taylors miss Brownsville. Even though they’re now living in Newport, Brownsville will always be their real home.