Текст книги "Практический курс английского языка 2 курс"
Автор книги: Владимир Аракин
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printing and atomic physics. There is a gallery where children can experiment with working models.
The Museum of London in the City presents the biography of London, from the founding of London
by Romans to the Greater London of today. Within a sguare kilometre or so in London's theatre-land
are over thirty theatres, showing a large range of old and modem plays. Smaller "fringe" theatres27
perform in clubs, pubs and at lunch time.
London is full of parks and green spaces. Hyde Park, originally a royal hunting forest, is the
largest park in London. In summer the Serpentine canal which flows through the park is always full
of swimmers, rowers and sunbathers. Just south of the Serpentine is. Rotten Row, a fashionable spot
for horse-riding, and in one corner, near Marble Arch is Speakers' Comer; where everyone can go
and air their views to anyone who will listen. Beyond Hyde Park lies another royal park, Kensington
Gardens. Children gather by the statue of Peter Pan, James Barrie's28 well-known storybook
character, or sail their model boats on the Round Pond. In the north of London is Regent's Park with
a zoo and an open-air theatre. A trip along Regent's Canal in a riverboat gives a chance to see
London Little Venice, a quiet countryside area for rich people only as the land here is very
expensive.
Like many capital cities, London grew up along a major river. The Thames divides London
sharply in two. Most of central London is on the north bank of the river. The Thames at London is
tidal and there have been several serious floods. The risk of this is increasing as southern England is
sinking in relation to sea level. Threat of disaster, however, has been lessened by the construction of
a flood barrier.
It is always interesting for tourists to take a trip along the Thames in a boat as it gives a
striking panorama of London. The best way to see the city quickly is from the top of London red
double-decker buses. Special tourist buses go on two-hour circular tours. The other quick and easy
way of getting around London is by "tube" – the Underground railway. During the "rash hours",
when office workers hurry to and from work, the tube train doors can hardly close behind the
crushed crowds.
London is an ancient city. But it is also a living city and like all living cities it is constantly
developing.
VOCABULARY NOTES
1. historicadj исторический (имеющий историческое значение, вошедший в историю),
е.g. historic place, date, speech, event, battle, etc. 1812 was a historic year for Russian people.
historicaladj исторический (связанный с историей, имеющий отношение к истории),
е.g. historical materialism, science, principles, method, approach (to); historical novel, picture, play,
film; historical department, museum, etc.
26 Constable, John (1776-1837): a famous English painter.
27 a "fringe" theatre stages experimental theatrical plays performed by amateurs.
28 Barrie, James M. (1860-1937): a Scottish novelist. Peter Pan – a fairy-tale boy who refused to grow up preferring to lead
children into his magic "Never-Never Land" where they fought pirates.
historyn история, е.g. the history of our country, the history of the language; a history
lesson; the History Museum.
Note 1: In names of academic subjects no article is used, е.g. History of the English language
is a difficult subject
Note 2: The Russian word история has several English equivalents: а) история (ход
развития чего-л.) – history, е.g. This town has an interesting history.; b) рассказ, повествование
– story, е.g. I don't like stories of such kind. He told us the story of his whole life.; с)
происшествие – event, е.g. Tell us something about this strange event. But: A funny thing
happened to him. (С ним произошла забавная история.) There's a pretty kettle of fish! (Вот так
история!)
2. worthn ценность, е.g. It's a discovery of great worth. This information is of no worth.
worthadj predic стоящий; worth smth., е.g. This picture is not worth the money you've
paid for it. This problem is not worth our attention. This job is not worth the time we've spent on it.;
worth doing smth., е.g. This film is worth seeing. Books of that kind are not worth reading. This
problem isn't worth discussing. His illness is hardly worth troubling about.; worth while, е.g. It isn't
worth while seeing the film. It isn't worth while sitting here till 5 o'clock. It is worth while trying to
catch the train, I think it's worth while speaking to him about it. Cf.: This book is worth reading. – It
is worth while reading this book.
worthy adj достойный, е.g. She is a very worthy woman.; to be worthy of smth., smb., е.g.
His behaviour is worthy of great praise.
unworthyadj недостойный
3. masterpiecen шедевр
piecen 1. кусок, ps a piece of chalk (wood, paper, etc.)
Syn. lump, slice. A slice is a thin, flat piece cut off from anything, as a slice of bread (cheese,
lemon, ham, etc.). A lump is a small specially shaped or shapeless piece, as a lump of sugar (butter,
etc.).
to pieces на куски, е.g. The cup fell and was broken to pieces.
2. отдельный предмет, часть, е.g. a piece of furniture; a, piece of poetry (стихотворение); a
piece of painting (картина); a piece of advice (совет); apiece of news (новость);
3. монета, е.g. a two-shilling piece, a gold (silver) piece
Syn. coin (used more often than piece)
4. humanadj человеческий, свойственный человеку, е.g. a human nature, the human
body, human affairs, a human being (человек); hu'mane adj гуманный, человечный
Ant. cruel
inhumanadj бесчеловечный, as inhuman treatment
humanityn ( uncountable) 1. человечество, as a crime against humanity
Syn. man'kind n (uncounfable). But 'mankind мужчины, мужской пол
2. гуманность, человечность, as to treat people with humanity
the Humanities гуманитарные науки; syn. the Arts, е.g. Are you interested in the
Humanities (the Arts) or in the Exact Sciences (естественные науки) ?
5. to strike (struck, struck) υt 1. ударяться, бить; to strike smb., to strike smb. (smth.)
on smth. е.g. He struck the boy a violent blow. The man struck Lanny on the face. He struck his fist
on the table.
Syn. to hit (hit, hit), е.g. Why did he hit the boy?; to hit one's hand (foot, head, etc.) on
smth., е.g. I hit my head on the low shelf.
Note: strike and hit may be used in the same sense – to strike or to hit smb. – but care
should be taken to use the proper verb m traditional word combinations such as to strike a match
чиркнуть спичкой, e, д. Somebody struck a match so that we couid see each other.
2. бить (о часах), е.g. It has just struck half past four. This tower clock strikes the hours.
3. поражать, удивлять, а д. We were struck by bis strange behaviour. It struck me that he
had grown so old. Many things might strike us as unusual in a foreign country.
Syn. to surprise, to astonish, to puzzle
Nоte: to be struck means «to be filled suddenly with a strong feeling of surprise». That
distinguishes the verb to strike from its synonyms to astonish and to surprise; to astonish is
stronger in meaning than to surprise, е.g. I shouldn't be surprised if it rained. I'm not surprised at
seeing you here, I've been told about your arrival. I was astonished at seeing him so changed. I was
struck by his sudden death.; to puzzle means "to make a person think hard before finding an
answer", e.g. His letter puzzled me. (= I didn't know why he had written it)
strikingadj, as striking likeness (news, contrast) stricken pp. terror-stricken; horror-
stricken; panic-stricken
Note: the verb to strike has homonyms: a) strike υi бастовать, b) strike n забастовка, е.g.
All the railway workers joined the strike.; to go on strike объявлять забастовку
6. circularadj круглый, круговой, е.g. There is a circular railway running round Moscow.
A circular staircase led to the top of the tower.
circulateυ 1. циркулировать, е.g. Blood circulates in the body.; 2. передаваться,
распространяться, е.g. Bad news circulates quickly.
circulationn 1. циркуляция, е.g. The circulation of air is rather bad here, that's why it is
stuffy.; 2. распространение, обращение ( денежное), е.g. Only silver and copper coins are in
circulation now.
blood-circulation n кровообращение
circlen 1. круг, окружность, е.g. It's almost impossible to draw a circle without a pair of
compasses (без циркуля).; 2. группа, круг людей, е.g. Не belonged to the business circle of the
town.
NOTES ON HOMONYMS
Homonyms are words that coincide in form, but have different meanings and. may (or may
not) belong to different categories or parts of speech. Homonyms may coincide both in phonetic and
in graphic form, as ball, n (мяч) and ball, n (бал) or fair, adj (светлый, справедливый и др. знач.)
and fair, n (ярмарка). They may coincide only in pronunciation, but have different graphic forms, as
sea, n and to see, v. They may coincide in spelling, but be differently pronounced, as lead [led] n
(свинец) and to lead [li:d] υ (вести).
ESSENTIAL VOCABULARY (I)
Words
ancient adj
finance n
piece n
astonish υ
flood n
possibility n
built-up adj
historic adj
pound n
circle n
historical adj
puzzle υ
circular adj
human adj
sea level
circulation n
humanity n
settlement n
coin n
(the) Humanities
slice n
commerce n
lump n
stretch υ
currency n
mankind n
strike υ
double-decker n
masterpiece n
striking adj
entertainment n
Parliament n
traffic n
exhibit υ
parliamentary adj
worth n, adj
worthy adj
Word Combinations
to break to pieces
to go on a tour
to turn smth. into
smth.
a panorama (view) of
to have a possibility for
to be a surprise to
to stand for smth.
to strike a match
to be worthy of
smth.
to strike a blow
a piece of advice
to go on strike
fine and applied arts
to be a surprise to smb.
to take a trip
Proper Names
Roman
the Victoria and Albeit Museum
the Thames
Constable
Londinium
the Natural History Museum
Westminster
the Science Museum
Whitehall
the Museum of London
Downing Street
Hyde Park
Fleet Street
the Serpentine
St. Paul's Cathedral
Marble Arch
South Kensington
Kensington Gardens
Regent's Park
EXERCISES
1. Read the text and talk as the following points (A. Grammar, B. Word usage,
С. Word-formation):
A. 1. What tense group is mainly used in the text and why?
2. Find passive voice constructions and translate the sentences with them.
B. Translate the sentences beginning with just as ... so into Russian.
C. Search the text for compounds, comment on their structure. Find derivatives with the
suffixes -ment, -er, -ly and classify them according to the category of speech.
II. a) Search tee text and the footnotes for the English equivalents of the
sentences and phrases listed below:
A. 1. превратить маленькое кельтское поселение в крупный торговый город; 2. иметь
возможности для развлечений и занятий спортом; 3. музей стоит осмотреть; 4. великолепное
собрание произведений изобразительного и прикладного искусства; 5. совершить прогулку на
речном трамвае по Темзе; 6. обозначать, подразумевать; 7. открывается панорама города.
B. 1. солидные, «серьезные» газеты; 2. сообщения о событиях внутри страны и за
рубежом; 3. спортивные новости; 4. сплетни, не представляющие интереса; 5. перейти на
десятичную денежную систему; б. монета в 50 пенсов.
b) Use them in sentences of your own.
III. a) Spell and give the four forms of the following verbs:
[grEu], [bIld], [q'trxkt], [send], [dI'spleI], [flEu], [laI], ['hArI], [straIk], [pAzl].
b) Transcribe the following words:
Celtic, settlement, commerce, finance, explore, kilometre, parliamentary, magnificent,
ceramics, metalwork, photography, atomic, royal, canal, sunbather, major, barrier, panorama, double-
decker, disaster.
c) Write the degrees of comparison of:
narrow, small, great, old, quiet, worthy, busy, easy.
d) Find homonyms in Text of Unit Three.
IV. a) Analyse the morphological structure of the word sizable, explain its
meaning and give its Russian equivalent
b) Form adjectives from these verbal stems by adding the negative prefix
fprrjuks] on-, and the adjective-forming suffix -able. Explain the meaning of the
derivatives and translate them (in one word):
eat, read, break, forget, pardon, describe, desire, imagine, believe.
V. Write questions based on the text. Use in your questions the suggested
word combinations. Ask your questions in class:
1. to turn smth. into; 2. buildup area; 3. the home of; 4. to stand for; 5. the official home of
the Prime Minister; 6. "the square mile"; 7. the central banking institution; 8, to be full of; 9. fine and
applied arts; 10. the Science Museum; 11. theatreland; 12. to air one's views; 13. to gather by; 14. to
grow up; 15. threat of disaster; 16. to give a panorama; 17. the "rush hours".
VI. Try your hand at teaching. (See «Classroom English», Sections VI, VIII, IX,
X.)
A. Preparation. Write 2—3 special questions about each paragraph of the text and footnotes.
See to it that new words, phrases and patterns are used either in your questions or in answers to
them.
B. Work in class. Put your questions to the class and comment on the answers (express your
approval or disapproval; correct the mistakes, if there are any; add some details if necessary, etc.).
VII. Make up a dialogue based on one of the paragraphs of the text or the
footnotes. Speak for a Russian and an English student. Try and give an additional
piece of information on the topic Use the prompts:
Have you heard (about)...?; Do you happen to know...?; Have you got any idea?; Someone
has told me that...; That's what I heard; I'm afraid I don't know much about...; I wonder if you
remember...; Have I got it right?; Am I right to believe?; Absolutely; Exactly; That's very surprising!;
That's amazing!
VIII. a) Comment on the dialogue below:
A.: How can you be so stupid as to think that London is beautiful!
В.: Stupid! What nonsense! Of course it's beautiful. Look at all the parks and Buckingham
Palace and all the churches.
A.: Rubbish! They're filthy and full of junk.
В.: For goodness sake, why don't you open your eyes? Walk around instead of just driving
round in a taxi all day!
(Hargreaves R. and Fletcher M. Making Polite Noises,
Lad., 1982)
b) Make up similar dialogues on the sights of your native town. The following
phrases might help you:
I don't agree at all. You must be joking! There's no evidence for that. Oh, that's ridiculous!
Nonsense! Rubbish! I don't believe that at all. You don't know what you're talking about. You're
completely wrong about that.
IX. Fill in a suitable word or phrase: a) surprise, astonish, strike, puzzle:
1. I won't be ... if he gets a "five", he is a very bright boy. 2. We were ... by the contrasts
between wealth and poverty in Delhi. 3. His question ... me. I didn't know how to answer it. 4. I
was ... to meet him in town, I was sure he had not come back yet. 5. His cruelty. . us. We always
thought that be was kind and sympathetic.
b) piece, lamp, slice:
1. Pick up the ... of the broken cup and throw them out. 2. Give me a... of paper. I'll show you
how to make a boat for the child. 3. I'd like to take one more ... of cake. May I? 4. I never put more
than two ... of sugar into my tea. 5. I need a short ... of string to tie the parcel with. 6. I'd like to have
a ... of lemon with my tea.
c) historic or historical:
1. Red Square is a ... spot: many ... events took place in it. 2. In his ... novels Walter Scott
gave a wonderful description not only of ... events, but of whole ... epochs. 3. The ninth of May is
one of our most important... dates: we celebrate our ... victory in World War II. 4. There are many ...
monuments in Moscow.
X. Retell the Text Use the map of London on pp. 114-115.
XI. a) Fill in preposition» wherever necessary:
Please remember: traffic ... Britain keeps ... the left! So when crossing a street look right
first then left. If possible cross ... zebra crossings, sometimes indicated ... flashing orange lights ...
either side ... the road.
Speed limit ... Britain is 70 mph (= miles per hour); ... built-up areas 30 mph. Careful
riding is essential as there are many narrow and winding roads.
Roads ... fast long-distance driving are called motorways. The best known is the motorway
... London and Leeds. Road signs are mostly the same as those used ... the continent. The same
goes ... traffic lights.
b) Speak about the traffic in this country using the word combinations in bold
type.
ХII. a) Explain the meaning of these proverbs. Translate them. Give their
Russian equivalents:
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. The game is not worth the candle. An hour in the
morning is worth two in the evening. Between two evils 'tis not worth while choosing.
b) Say whether you agree with Lord Goring's opinion that "It is always worth
while asking a question, though it is not always worth while answering one." (O.
Wilde. «An Ideal Husband»)
ХIII. Translate the sentences into English, using a) be well worth + ger/ n or b)
j ust as... so:
1. He стоит кататься сегодня по Темзе, ветер слишком сильный. 2. Стоит прислушаться
к его совету. 3. Не стоит тратить время на вещи, которыми вы не интересуетесь. 4. Стоит
посетить Музей науки в Лондоне и посмотреть, как дети занимаются моделированием. 5.
Подобно тому как Вестминстер часто обозначает парламент Великобритании, так Сити – ее
финансовый центр. 6. Подобно тому как под «гуманитарными» науками подразумевают
историю, литературу, иностранные языки, так под «естественными» науками – физику,
химию, ботанику и др.
XIV. Arrange micro-dialogues on the following topics:
1. How old Moscow is. Where and how it started. 2. What money is in circulation in this
country. 3. What the most popular papers in Moscow are. 4. Why Muscovites like their underground
railway. 5. What the most popular museums in Moscow are. What is exhibited-there? 6. What you
know about parks in Moscow. 7. The traffic in the capital.
XV. a) Read and translate the text:
Apart from more important news printed on the first page with big headlines in bold type
there are many other sections in the paper. Some people turn at once to classified ads (called by that
name because advertisements are arranged in groups like: "to let", "property wanted", "situation
vacant", etc.). For those who are interested in clothes there are fashion pages. You can find out
what's on by looking in the advertisement guide. Some like to look through the whole paper reading
a headline here, glancing at an interesting article there, looking at a political cartoon, maybe, or
reading some of business news.
b) Answer the suggested questions:
1. Do you read papers to catch up with the latest news or are you interested in some
particular problems? Why? 2. Where can we find the most important political, business and cultural
news in our papers? 3. In which of our newspapers can you find advertisements? Are they classified
in any way? 4. Are there any political cartoons and amusement guides in our papers? 5. Are you used
to studying a newspaper thoroughly or just glancing at an article here and there?
XVI. Translate the sentences into English:
1. Докладчик говорил о будущем человечества. 2. Эта картина всегда привлекает
восетителей музея. 3. Надпись на памятнике озадачила туристов: никто из них не сталкивался
с древнеанглийским языком. 4. Мы удивились, когда узнали, что в Гайд-парке у Марбл-Арч
любой человек может высказывать свои суждения по любому поводу, часто там можно
услышать много чепухи. 5, Вот объявление, которое вам нужно, 6. Поверьте мне, этот
молодой человек достоин вашего уважения. 7. Теперь в Англии в обращении фунты и пенсы.
8. 1945 год – исторический год для всего человечества 9. Каждая английская газета имеет
определенный круг читателей. 10. В Лондоне, как и в любом столичном городе с большим
движением, бывают дорожные происшествия. П. С Воробьевых гор открывается удивительная
панорама Москвы. 12 Помещение обогревается горячей водой, циркулирующей по трубам. 13.
Сотни новых домов вырастают во всех городах нашей страны. 14 Богатая коллекция
произведений изобразительного и прикладного искусства привлекает посетителей этого
музея. 15. Экспонаты Исторического музея в Москве знакомят посетителей с развитием
цивилизации на территории России. 16. Предельная скорость в жилых районах Москвы 60
км/час.
ХVII. a) Read the text. Retell it adding some more Information about Parliament
The first Westminster Palace was built by Edward the Confessor in about 1050 and was used
as a royal residence, then as the seat of Government and finally, after 1547, as the meeting place
for Parliament. The fire of 1834 destroyed most of the original buildings. The new building for
Parliament was designed by Sir Charles Barry in 1840. The general style is gothic.
There are two «Chambers» or «Houses» of Parliament – that of the Commons and that of
the Lords. The more important and powerful of these is the House of Commons, whose members
are elected by the public. The Prime Minister and most of the Government are Members of the
House of Commons. The House of Lords is made up of Lords who have inherited their titles and the
right to sit in the House, and "life peers" who are appointed by the Queen on the advice of the
Government of the day.
Half of the building of Parliament is used by the Commons and the other half by the Lords.
At the Westminster Bridge end is the residence of the Speaker, who presides over meetings of the
House of Commons and at the other end is the residence of the Lord Chancellor, who presides over
the House of Lords.
Parliament's most important function is the making of laws. Before a new law (or Bill)
can come into effect, it must pass through three stages in each House and be given the Queen's
approval. It then becomes an Act of Parliament.
(See: Mountefield
A. London. Lnd., 1979)
b) Say what you know about the Russian Parliament, i. e. two chambers: the
Duma and the Council of Federation.
XVIII. Give the idea of the text in English:
После более чем десяти лет споров по поводу того, стоит ли допускать телевидение в
британский парламент, лорды, наконец, разрешили установить камеры в своей палате. Однако
палата общин отказывается принять такое же решение. Один из основных противников
телетрансляций заседаний парламента – премьер-министр М.Тэтчер. Она оправдывает свою
позицию тем, что подобные передачи потребуют слишком больших затрат. Но, как считает
лондонский корреспондент американской газеты «Крисчен сайенс монитор», причина
упорного сопротивления Тэтчер кроется в нежелании делать достоянием гласности
критические выступления в адрес ее правительства. А как заявил во время недавних дебатов
лорд Уайтлоу, немалую проблему представляет и тот факт, что многие парламентарии на
заседаниях попросту спят. Появление на телеэкранах дремлющих законодателей отнюдь не
послужит росту их авторитета.
(«За рубежом», № 9, 1985)
XIX. Read and comment on the following:
REMEMBRANCE DAY (POPPY DAY)
Remembrance Day is observed throughout Britain in commemoration of the million or more
British soldiers, sailors and airmen who lost their lives during the two World Wars. On that day
wreaths are laid at war memorials throughout the country and at London's Cenotaph (a war memorial
in Whitehall) where a igreat number of people gather to observe the two-minute silence and to
perform the annual Remembrance Day ceremony. The silence begins at the first stroke of Big Ben
booming 11 o'clock and is broken only by the crash of distant artillery. When the two-minute silence
is over, members of the Royal Family or their representatives and political leaders come forward to
lay wreaths at the foot of theXenotaph. Then comes the march past the memorial of ex-servicemen
and women, followed by an endless line of ordinary citizens who have come here with their personal
wreaths and their sad memories. On that day artificial poppies, a symbol of mourning, are
traditionally sold in the streets and people wear them in their button-holes.
(From Customs, Traditions and Festivals of Great Britain
by T. Khimunina, N. Konon, L. Walshe. M, 1974)
XX. a) Collect information on English traditions and customs.
b) Arrange a talk between Russian and English students on their national
traditions, customs and habits. (One of the students should conduct it: introduce the
participants to each other, make a short introductory speech on the subject, ask
questions, etc. to keep the talk running on, sum up the discussion.)
LABORATORY EXERCISES (I)
1. listen to the text "Introducing London".
2. Respond to the following using the suggested models.
3. Complete the sentences using the given suggestions.
4. Translate the sentences into English, using the Essential Vocabulary of Unit Three. Check
your sentences with the key.
5. listen to some text and write it as a dictation, check the spelling with the key. Retell the
text.
6. Listen to the text "The House of Commons" or some other text on the same topic. Retell
the text, add more Information on the topic.
TOPIC: CITY
TEXT A. SOME MORE GLIMPSES OF LONDON
London is one of the biggest and most interesting cities in the world.
Traditionally it is divided into the West End and the East End. The West End is famous for its
beautiful avenues lined with plane trees, big stores, rich mansions, expensive restaurants, hotels,
theatres and night clubs. The East End used to be a poor area filled with warehouses, factories, slums
and miserable houses. Quite a lot of people lived from hand to mouth here. For the recent years this
area including Dockland has turned into a new housing development.
The heart of London is the City – its commercial and business centre. Here is situated the
Tower of London that comes first among the historic buildings of the city. If you want to get some
glimpses of London it's just from here that you had better start sightseeing.
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 residence and a prison. Now it is a museum of armour
and also the place where the Crown Jewels are kept. In present days, just as many centuries ago, the
Ceremony of the Keys takes place at its gates. Every night when the guard is changed at each gate
there is the cry: "Haiti Who goes there?" Then the guard replies: "The Keys." "Whose Keys?"
"Queen Elizabeth's Keys!" "Pass, Queen Elizabeth's Keys! All's well." And so the Tower of London
is safely closed for the night.
A twenty minutes' walk from the Tower will take you to another historic building – St.
Paul's Cathedral, the greatest of English churches. It was built by a famous English architect, Sir
Christopher Wren (1632-1723). St. Paul's Cathedral with its huge dome and rows of columns is
considered to be a fine specimen of Renaissance architecture. In one of its towers hangs one of the
largest bells in the world, Great Paul, weighing about 17.5 tons. Wellington,29 Nelson30 and other
great men of England are buried in the Cathedral.
Not far away, in Westminster, where most of the Government buildings are situated, is
Westminster Abbey. Many English sovereigns, outstanding statesmen, painters and poets (Newton,
Darwin, and Tennyson among them) are buried here.
Across the road from Westminster Abbey is Westminster Palace, the seat of the British
Parliament. Its two graceful towers stand high above the city. The higher of the two contains the
largest clock in the country and the famous bell Big Ben that strikes every quarter of the hour.
If now we walk along Whitehall, we shall soon come to Trafalgar Square. It was so named in
memory of the victory in the battle of Trafalgar, where on October 21, 1805 the English fleet under
Nelson's command defeated the combined fleet of France and Spain. The victory was won at the cost
of Nelson's life. In the middle of Trafalgar Square stands Nelson's monument – a tall column with
the figure of Nelson at its top. The column is guarded by four bronze lions.
The fine building facing the square is the National Gallery and adjoining it (but just round the
corner) is the Portrait Gallery.
Not far away is the British Museum – the biggest Museum in London. It contains a priceless
collection of different things (ancient manuscripts, coins, sculptures, etc.). The British Museum is
famous for its library – one of the richest in the world.31 In its large circular reading room Marx,
Engels and later Lenin used to work.
And now, even if you have almost no time left for further sightseeing, you cannot leave the
city without visiting Hyde Park or "the Park" as Londoners call it. When you are walking along its
shady avenues, sitting on the grass, admiring its beautiful flower-beds or watching swans and ducks
floating on the ponds, it seems almost unbelievable that all around there is a large city with its heavy
traffic.
TEXT B. SIGHTSEEING
– Is it possible to see anything of London in one or two days?
– Well, yes, but, of course, not half enough.
– What do you think I ought to see first?
– Well, if you are interested in churches and historic places you should go to Westminster
Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, St. Paul's and the Tower. Do you like art galleries?
– Rather!
– Then why not go to the National Gallery and the Tate?
– I'm told one ought to see the British Museum. Do you think I shall have time for that?
– Well, you might, but if I were you, I should leave that for some other day. You could
29 The Duke of Wellington (1769-1852): a famous British general whose army defeated Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815
30 Nelson, Horatio (1758-1805): an English admiral who won the battle of Trafalgar (the Atlantic coast of Spain)
31 In 1973 the library of the British Museum and four other biggest libraries were joined into one – the British Library, which is the
biggest national library in the United Kingdom and one of the biggest and best present-day libraries in the world.
spend a whole day there. It's much too big to be seen in an hour or so.
– I suppose it is. What about going to the Zoo?
– That's not a bad idea. You could spend a couple of hours there comfortably, or even a
whole afternoon, watching the wild animals, birds and reptiles. You could have tea there too.
