lntroduction

Dear students,
we want to present you а new book about Great Britain. We hope you already know some facts about
this country. Try to answer the questions of this quiz. Put а tick next to the correct answer.
1) The Union Jack is
О а) the central chamber of the Houses of Parliament;
О Ь) the flag of the United Кingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland;
О сч..t:Ь.е most valuaЬle prize in а game.
2) The Welsh national symbol is the leek or the daffodil, but the symbol for Scotland is
О а) the rose;
О Ь) the thistle;
О с) the shamrock.
3) An М. Р. is
0 а) а Member of the Police;
О Ь) а Master of Political Science;
О с) а Member of Parliament.
4) А puЬlic school is
О а) а state school;
О Ь) а private school;
О с) а religious school.
5) New Scotland Yard i.s
О а) the material used to make bagpipes;
О Ь) the headquarters of the police in London;
О с) а place in Scotland.
6) А zebra crossing is
О а) а place to cross the road safely;
О Ь) а television screen for Ыасk and white reception;
О с) а design of two bones used on flags.
7) А Tory is
О а) а numbered ticket in а lottery;
О Ь) а coin worth f 20;
О с) а supporter of the Conservative Party.
8) А Building Society is
О а) an organization that preserves historic buildings;
О Ь) а business which lends money to buy а house or а flat;
О с) а house joined to the house next door.
9) G. С. 8. Е. is
О а) а system of examinations for school children;
О Ь) the national gas and electricity boards;
О с) the highest award given Ьу the Queen for bravery.
10) А Trade Union is
О а) an important export agreement;
О Ь) an exhibition of commercial products;
О с) an organization of workers.
Was it difficult to answer the questions? If you couldn't answer some of them try to read the book and
find the answers.
Have а good time!
4
 Unit
1 Country and Peo_ple
(Britain and the British)

I wandered lonely as а cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw а crowd,
А host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
W. Wordswortli

Pre-Reading Task 1. When you think about Britain, what things or places соте into
your mind? Write down as many things as you can. Compare
your list with other students.

England

Northern
Ireland

Scotland

2. Think of your country, and especially the part of it where you

live. What do you particularly like about it?

3. Are there any differences in your country between:

-North and South;

-East and West;
Wales
-Towns and rural areas.
Consider the possiЫe differences: language, dialects, clothing, cus­
toms, food, temperament, cliшate.
Compare your ideas witl1 other students.
5
Reading 1. Read the text and find the answers to the following questions.
Why is it incorrect to call the whole country England?
What process took several hundred years and was completed in 1800?
How did the four nations of Great Britain differ from each other?
What languages are spoken in the UК?

WHO ARE ТНЕ BRITISH?

People often refer to Britain Ьу another name. They call it
"England". But this is not strictly correct, and it can make some
people angry. England is only one of the four nations of the
British Isles (England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland). Their po­
litical unification was а gradual process that took several hun­
dred years. It was completed in 1800 when the Irish Parlia­
ment wasjoined with the Parliament for England, Scotland and
Wales in Westminster, so that the whole of the British Isles
became а single state - the United Кingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland. However, in 1922, most of Ireland became а sep­
arate state.
At one time the four nations were distinct from each other
in almost every aspect of life. They were different racially. Тhе
people in Ireland, Wales and highland Scotland belonged to the
Celtic race; those in England and lowland Scotland were main­
ly of Germanic origin. This difference was reflected in the lan­
guages they spoke. People in the Celtic areas spoke Celtic lan­
guages: Irish Gaelic, Scottish Gaelic and Welsh. People in the
Germanic areas spoke Germanic dialects (including the one
which has developed into modern English).
Today these differences have become Ь�. But they have
not completely disappeared. Although there is only one govern­
ment for the whole Britain, and people have the same passport
regardless of where in Britain they live, some aspects of gov­
ernment are organized separately in the four parts of the United
Кingdom. Moreover, Welsh, Scottish and Irish people feel their
identity very strongly.
Historical and poetic names of the country and its parts:
Alblon is а word used in some poetic or rhetorical contexts
to refer to England. It was the original Roman name for Brit­
ain. It may come from the Latin word albus, meaning "white".
The white chalk cliffs around Dover on the south coast are the
part of England to Ье seen when crossing the sea from the Euro­
pean mainland.
Britannia is the name that the Romans gave to their south­
ern British province. It is also the name given to the female
figure of Britain, always shown wearing а helmet and holding
а trident (the symbol of power over the sea). The figure of
Britannia has been on the reverse side of many British coins for
more than 300 years.
Caledonia, Cambria and Hibernia were the Roman
names for Scotland, Wales and Ireland. The words are com­
monly used today in scholarly classifications and for the names
of organizations.
Erin is а poetic name for Ireland. "The Emerald Isle" is another way of referring to Ire­
land, evoking the lush greenery of its countryside.

6
 Musical instruments. The harp is an emЫem of both Wales and Ireland. The bagpipes
are regarded as distinctively Scottish.
Characteristics. There are certain stereotypes of national character which are well­
known in Britain. For instance, the Irish are supposed to Ье great talkers, the Scots have
а reputation for being careful with money, and the Welsh are famous for their singing aЬili­
ty. These characteristics are, of course, only caricatures and are not reliaЫe descriptions of
individual people from these countries.
The Union Jack. The flag of the United Кingdom is known as the Union Jack. (Jack is
а sailing name for а flag). It has been used as the British flag since 1603, whenScotland and
England were united. The original design comЬined the red cross of England with the white
diagonal cross on а Ыuе background ofScotland. The red diagonal cross oflreland was added
in 1801, when Ireland became part of the United Кingdom. Wales is not represented on the
Union Jack because it is а principality of England. The red dragon of Cadwallader, which is
now often used as the national flag of Wales, dates from the 1950s. The Union Jack is most
often seen flying from puЬlic buildings or at sports events. Children may wave small Union
Jacks when а member of the royal family visits their town. During national celebrations
string�f small flags are hung across the street as bunting.

After-Reading 1. Look at these maps and match them with the correct phrases.

1. England 2. Scotland 3. Northern Ireland

4. Wales 5. Britain/Great Britain 6. The Republic oflreland

а) I'm form England. I'm English/I'm an Englishman.

Ь) I'm from Ireland. I'm Irish/I'm an Irishman.
с) I'm from Wales. I'm WelshЛ'm а Welshman.
d) I'm from N orthern Ireland. I'm Irish.
е) I'm fromScotland. I'm а Scot/I'm ScottishЛ'm а Scotsman.
f) I'm from Britain. I'm British.

8
 2. Now read the sentences and answer where these people come ·
from.

1. The United Кingdom or The 2. The British Isles

United Кingdom of Great (The United Кingdom plus the
Britain and Northern Ireland RepuЬlic of Ireland)

1) "I'm British, but I don't come from England or Wales".

Не comes from ___________________
2) ''Yes, I'm а citizen of the United Кingdom, but I don't live in Great
Britain".
Не comes from ___________________
3) "This is а map of the British Isles. I live just here. No, I'm not from
the UК!"
Не comes from ___________________

Discussion 1. Do you know that in Britain:

-strangers usually don't talk to each other in trains;
-it is polite to queue for everything: buses, theatre tickets, in
shops;
-people say "Thank you" when they give money to а shop as­
sistant;
-people do not shake handswhen they greet each other;
-people don't take their shoes offwhen they enter а house.

In your country do you talk to strangers? Do you find any British

haЬits strange and unusual? Do you share any of these haЬitswith
the British?

2. lmagine you are а foreigner in your own country. What would

you find strange? List three of your most unusual hablts.

2 О. Карпенк.о
9
 GEOGRAPНICAL OUTLINE
The British Isles lie to the north-west of the continent
ofEurope and consist of two main islands, the larger of which
is Great Britain, the smaller is Ireland. There are over
5 hundred small islands known collectively as the United
Кingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, with а to­
tal area of 244,100 square kilometres and population of
58,837 thousand people. Great Britain is made up of Eng­
land, Wales and Scotland. Among the smaller coastal is­
lands forming administrative counties of the mainland one
should mention the Isle of Wight off the southern coast of
England, the Isles of Scilly off the extreme south-west and
Anglesey to the west. The north-west and west of Great
Britain is surrounded Ьу the Atlantic Ocean. In the west
the country is also washed Ьу the Irish Sea. The eastern
coast is openio the waters of the North Sea. The south­
eastern tip of Great Britain is separated from France Ьу
theEnglish Channel which is 32 kilometres wide at its nar­
rowest point. Northern Ireland which lies to the west of
Great Britain is separated from it Ьу the North Channel
and is washed Ьу the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea.
Great Britain is very irregularly shaped, being deeply
indented Ьу numerous gulfs of the sea; no part of the country
is more than 120 kilometres from the sea.
The seas surrounding Great Britain are not very deep,
they are good for fishing. The remains of extinct species of
animals and plants help to estaЫish the dates when the Brit­
ish Isles became separated from the continent.
The island ofGreat Britain is quite distinctly divided into
two parts: mountainous (north and west) and lowland, some­
times hilly (south and east). The most important mountain
territories are those located in the north ofScotland. Geologi­
cally these mountains are among the oldest in the world
formed Ьу ancient hard rocks with traces of volcanic activity.
The largest valley - the central lowlands - divides these
mountain ranges into the Southern Uplands and the North­
ern Uplands. The narrow valley ofGlen separates the North­
west mountains from theGrampians where the highest point
of the British Isles Ben Nevis (1343 metres) is with its ma­
jestic beauty. From the Southern Uplands of Scotland the
mountains stretch to Wales Peninsula. То the south of the
deeply inlanded Solway Firth Gulf, along the Western Coast
runs the mountain range of Cumberland. То the east of this
massif lies the central upland known as the Pennines - the
backbone of Britain, stretching up to the river basin of the
Trent, verging on the English Midlands. Lowland Britain ex­
tends from the mouth of the river Tyne in the north-east of
England to the mouth of the river Ехе.
The rivers of Britain are short, their direction and char­
acter are determined Ьу the position of the mountains. Most
of the rivers flow in the eastward direction.
Due to the humid climate the water-level is always high.
The rivers seldom freeze in winter, most of them remain ice­
free but they are not navigaЬle for ocean liners. The most
important rivers are the Severn, the Thames, the Ouse, the
Tyn e, the Tees, the Tweed, and the Eden.

13
Speaking 1. Answer the questions.
Which part of Britain would you choose to live in? Why? Is this
the same part that you would like to visit for а holiday? Why?

2. Work in pairs and make up а dialogue between а travel agent

and а customer, who wants to visit the country and wants to
know something about it. Use the facts from the text.

3. Read the text and make the similar report about Ukraine.

The land and climate in Britain have а notaЫe lack of extremes. Britain has mountains,
but none of them are very high; it also has flat land, but you cannot travel far without encoun­
tering hills; it has no really Ьig rivers; it doesn't usually get very cold in the winter or very hot
in the summer; it has no active volcanoes, and an earth tremor which does no more than
rattk.1eacups in а few houses is reported in the national news media.

Discussion 1. Here are some facts about the weather in Britain. Which do you
think are the most important for а visitor to know? Why do you
think so?
- The climate is temperate, neither very hot in summer (average
temperature 15 Centigrade) nor very cold in winter (average
5 Centigrade).
- The weather often changes rapidly throughout the day.
- Тhere is no dry season.
- The west ofBritain has much more rain than the east: typically
about 400 cm per year, compared to 60 cm.
-Britain lies in the zone of contact between tropical and polar
air. This makes its weather very complex to predict.
- In summer the sunniest and warmest places in Britain are on
the south coast. They get around 1700 hours of sunshine а year,
compared with totals of 1100 to 1200 hours further north.
- In winter, the east of Britain tends to Ье colder than the west.
- The weather is а favourite topic of conversation in Britain.
- There are at least 150 weather forecasts every week on the five
main British television channels.

2. Organize а discussion оп the_ following questions.

What practical advice would you give to а visitor about the weather
in Britain?
What clothes should they bring_ in summer? In winter?
What advice would you give to а British visitor to your country?

Listening 1. Listen to the text and then fill in the Ыanks with the proper words.
Comprehension Check
Тhе climate ofBritain is more or less the same as that of the north-
western part of the European _______ (1). Тhе popular
belief that it _______ (2) all the time inBritain is simply
not true. The amount of rain that _______ (3) on а town
in Britain _______ (4) on where it is. Generally speak-
14
ing, the further west you go, the more rain you get. The mild
_______ (5) mean that snow is а regular feature of the
higher areas only. Occasionally, а whole winter goes Ьу without
any _______ (6) at all. The winters are in general а Ьit
_______ (7) in the east of the country than they are in
the west, while in summer, the south is slightly ______ (8)
and sunnier than the north.
Why has Britain's climate got such а bad _______ (9)?
Perhaps it is for the same reason that British people always seem
to Ье talking about the ______ (10). This is its change-
aЬility. There is а saying that _______ (11) doesn't have
а climate, it only has weather. It may not rain very much alto-
gether, but you can never Ье _______ (12) of а dry day;
there can Ье cool days in July and some quite warm days in Jan­
uary.
The lack of extremes is the reason why the country seems to Ье
totally unprepared for hot or cold days. А Ьit of snow and а few
days of _______ (13) and the trains stop working and the
roads are Ыocked; if the thermometer goes _______ (14)
27 °С, people behave as if they were in the Sahara and the tempera­
ture makes front-page headlines. These things happen so
________ (15) that it is not worth organizing life to Ье
ready for them.

15
 known today as Scotland, lived peoples called the Picts and the
Scots. They resisted Roman rule and attacked Roman settlements
in the south. То keep them out, Roman soldiers built great walls
with forts and towers. The greatest monument they left is Hadri­
an's Wall, betweenEngland and Scotland. Тhе Romans also had
difficulties in the area that they did rule. Тhеу could not win
over the Celts. Most Celts lived in their own villages and were
not interested in or influenced Ьу the Roman culture. Roman
rule in Britain began to crumЫe during the fourth century AD.
This was because Roman soldiers were called home to defend the
empire's borders against the invasions Ьу the Germans and the
Huns.
The Anglo-Saxons. After the last legions left in 410 AD
the island was gradually invaded Ьу groups from northern Ger­
many and Denmark called Angles, Saxons, and Jutes. They were
strong-warriors and Ьу the seventh century AD controlled most
of the island. The Angles, Saxons, and Jutes united to become
the Anglo-Saxons. They built settlements, farmed the land, and
set up several small kingdoms. The southern part of Britain
soon became known as Angleland, orEngland. The people be­
came known as theEnglish. The Anglo-Saxon kingdoms ofBrit­
ain followed the Germanic religions. Роре Gregory I decided to
convert the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity. In 597 AD he sent
а mission of 411 monks toEngland under the leadership of the
monk Augustine. Ву 700 AD, all England was Christian. The
Роре was the head of the church. Many monasteries were built
in England and they became centres of religion and culture.
One of the monks, Bede, was а great scholar. Не wrote the first
history of theEnglish people.Even though they acceptedChris­
tianity, the Anglo-Saxons kept much of their old culture. They
told and retold old legends about brave warriors fighting mon­
sters and dragons. One such legend was about а warrior named
Beowulf. In the eighth century AD, it was written down as an
epic poem calledBeowulf which became known as the most im­
portant work of Anglo-Saxon literature.
Тhе Hundred Years' War. In the early 1300s, theEnglish
still held а small part of southwest France. Тhе kings of France,
who were growing more powerful, wanted to drive theEnglish out.
In 1337, the English king, Edward III, declared himse1f king of
France. Тhis angered the French even more. In 1339, the French
andEnglish fought the first in а long series of battles known as the
Hundred Years' War.
The Hundred Years' War began when theEnglish defeated
the French fleet and won control of the sea. The English then
invaded France. They defeated the French at the Battle ofCre­
cy in 1347 and again at the Battle of Agincourt in 1417. Ву
1453, the English held only the French seaport at Calais, and
the war саше to an end.
Тhе Wars of the Roses. Реасе did not соте toEngland after the Hundred Years' War.
In 1455, two nоЫе families, York and Lancaster, began а struggle for the throne which lasted
many years. The York symbol was а white rose, and the Lancaster symbol was а red rose. For
this reason the struggle between York and Lancaster was called the W ars of the Roses. All
rivalry between the Roses ended Ьу the marriage ofHenry VII, the Lancastrian with Princess
Elizabeth, daughter ofEdward IV, the Yorkist in 1485.

3 О. Кврпенко 17
After-Reading 1. Around the year 1500, about 5 million people used the English
language - less than the population of England at the time. To­
day, it is estimated that at least 600 million people use English
regularly in everyday life - at least ten times the present popu­
lation of Britain. Why has the use of English expanded so much
in the last 500 years?
2. Have you read any historical novels written Ьу English writers?
What were they? What were they about and what period of the
British history did they describe?
3. lmagine you have а British pen-friend who have never visited
Ukraine. Choose any fact of the Ukrainian history and write
а short letter to your pen-friend describlng it.

Listening 1. Answer the questions.

Comprehension Check Were medieval towns just like ours?
How did they differ?
Nowadays in Great Britain some people have surnames like
"Baker", "Butcher", "Smith" and so on. What reason can you think
of for names like these?
2. Describe the old English towns.

3. Find the words from the text in the grid, write them out and make
sentences with these words. - t i "-.

т о w Е R s L к D u
'
А s А о Е V м u 1
N
/

х z L м к т с V т о
N G L с L А х F у р
Е F в о с \. s R u Q
G
)

z V у u V R у т р w
I z R N в Е s G о Е
т с о т N т V А L D
1 м 1 Е м у с А L F
с н· u R с н s F т Е

18
and escaped to the villages in the surrounding countryside. In
1666 the Great Fire of London ended the plague, but it also
destroyed much of the city. Although people returned to live in
the rebuilt city after the plague and the Great Fire, there were
never again so many Londoners living in the city centre.
These days not many people live in the city centre. Today
the metropolis ofGreater London covers some 610 square miles
(1580 square kilometres) and the suburbs of London continue
even beyond this area. The gradual growth of the city helps to
explain the fact that London does not have just one centre, it
has а number of centres, each with а distinct character: the
financial and business centre called the City, the shopping and
entertainment centre in the West End, and the government
centre in Westminster.
i
The City o London is one of the major banking centres of
the world and you can find banks of many nations in the fa­
mous Threadneedle Street and the surrounding area. Here you
will find the Bank of England. Nearby is the Stock Exchange
which is like а busy market, except that here no food but shares
in commercial companies are bought and sold.
The East End covers а wide area to the east of the City.
There are many docks and warehouses there. It is also one of
those areas of London where people from abroad have come to
find work. The East End is also famous as the centre of the
clothing industry in London.
The W est End is the
name given to the area of
central London north from
The Mall to Oxford Street.
It includes Тrafalgar Square,
the main shopping areas,
and the entertainment cen­
tres of Soho, Piccadilly Cir­
cus and Shaftsbury Avenue.
Its name is associated with
glamour and bright lights.

23
24
 _ .....
w ,..- __

CENTl\�L LONDON
4 О. Керпенко
 2. Finish the sentences.
London was built at а place where ___________

In 1665 there was а terriЫe plague in London, so _____

Today the metropolis of Greater London covers ______

The gradual growth of the city helps to explain the fact ___

The City of London is one of the major banking centres of the

world and _____________________
3. Ask questions for these answers.
Threadneedle Street.
Shares in commercial companies.
То the east of the City.
The clothing industry.
Glamour and bright lights.
4. lmagine that you visited London. Tel1 your classmates about it.

Places to see i n London 1. Read the text, choose any place and make up а dialogue. Advise
your friend to visit this place and explain why you think it is
worth while seeing.

ТНЕ TOWER OF LONDON

The Tower of London is the most outstanding link in the chain of the history of the coun­
try. William the Conqueror ordered the building of the great stone tower, later called the
white Tower.
The Tower of London long continued to Ье both а fortress and а palace. It was also а prison.
At first prisoners were often foreign princes and noЫes, who had been captured in war. But
later on, in Tudor times, the Tower became the place where famous and the infamous people
were sent. Among the great men beheaded in the Tower was Sir Thomas More - the author
of the famous Utopia.
For centuries the Tower housed the royal menagerie. The wild animals are not kept in the
Tower now, but one can see six ravens there. There is а legend that the Tower will fall if it
loses its ravens. Therefore the Ьirds with clipped wings are carefully guarded.
Nowadays the Tower is still а prison. Usually, а prison is а place where criminals are
locked up. But in this prison the jewels are locked up. The jewels are the fщ:gous "crown
jewels" of England. Crown jewels are treasures that belong to king or queen. According to
tradition the Tower is guarded Ьу tlie Yeoman Warders, or Beefeaters. They still wear their
16th century bright and colourful Tudor uniforms.

26
 WESTMINSTER АВВЕУ
Westminster АЬЬеу is also full of history. It was founded
in 1050 as а monastery, but later it was rebuilt Ьу Henry III.
In the 18th century the West Towers were added. The present
building dates from about 1480. Nearly all the kings and
queens ofBritain were crowned and buried there. As the scene
of coronation ofEnglish kings, Westminster АЬЬеу continues
а tradition estaЫished Ьу William the Conqueror who was
crowned on Christmas Day, 1066. When Queen Elizabeth II
was crowned on June 2, 1953, the ritual was essentially the
same although setting has changed.
Beneath the roof of the Gothic building there are also the
graves and memorial slabs of statesmen, philosophers, men
of lett$.S and other distinguished people. Newton, Darwin,
Chaucer, Charles Dickens, Thomas Hardy are buried in the
АЬЬеу. One of the treasures of the АЬЬеу is the ancient Coronation Chair and the Stone of
.Scone upon which Scottish kings were crowned. Westminster АЬЬеу is а symbol of English
tradition at its best..

BUCКINGHAM PALACE
Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of Her Majesty the Queen and her
family. It was built in the 18th century and rebuilt later Ьу the architect John Nash.
Nash began his work in 1825, but the palace was not completed until 1837. The first
monarch who took residence there was Queen Victoria.
Above the State Entrance is the central balcony where the Royal Family appear on occa­
sions of national importance.
The Royal Standard flying over the east front of Buckingham Palace is the sign that the
Queen is in the residence. The absence of the Royal Standard over Buckingham Palace means
that the Queen is absent from London.
Buckingham Palace is partially open to the puЬlic, but the ceremony of the Changing of
the Guard in front of it is а great tourist attraction. Royal Horse Guard's ceremony takes
place daily in the forecourt at 11.30 а. m. and lasts half an hour. One group of palace guards
in their traditional bearskins gives the palace keys to another group.

4*
 ST PAUL'S CATНEDRAL
Sir Christopher Wren - the most famous of all English architects, designed St Paul's
Cathedral. St Paul's Cathedral is the fifth church built on the same site. The earliest
cathedral was erected in 604. The second, built in stone in 675-685, was burned Ьу the
Danes in 962, and the third was destroyed Ьу fire in 1087. The Normans rebuilt it in 1180.
After its destruction in the Great Fire of London in 1666,
it was rebuilt Ьу Sir Christopher Wren. It took him 35 years
to plan and build St Paul's Cathedral, which was completed
in 1710.
The most notaЫe feature of it is the enormous dome. The
Whispering Gallery which fascinates all visitors is situated
beneath the dome. In this Gallery the slightest whisper is
audiЬle 100 feet away. In the North Tower of the Cathedral
there is а peal of twelve bells, while in the South or Clock
Tower there is the largest bell in England, the Great Paul.
Inside the cathedral one can
see many monuments to
generals and admirals. Ad­
miral N elson is buried here
too. W hen Christopher
Wr.en died he was buried in
the cathedral which his gen­
ius and toil had created. On
his tomb one can read the
Latin inscription "If you look
for his monument - look
around".

МАDАМ TUSSAUD'S MUSEUМ

Madame Tussaud, а friend of Louis XVI's sister, arrived in England in 1802 fleeing
from the French revolution. She brought with her а collection of death masks of guillo­
tined aristocrats. First opened in the Strand, the waxwork exhiЬition was later moved to
Marylebone Road. The exhiЬition continued to grow as Madame Tussaud added to her
collection models of English murderers. Today one will find models of well known sports
personalities, musicians and film stars, statesmen from around the world, and even the
Royal Family.
One can have fun in the new Superstars and Legends section Ьу searching for his per­
sonal hero or heroine, or find his favourite film star and tel1 them he is their·greatest fan...
One can visit the Garden Party and meet stars of sport and television.
The Grand Hall, hung with chandeliers and lined with oil paintings, provides an appro­
priate setting for а get-together of royalty, statesmen, clerics and generals. All well-known

28
 personalities from medieval times to the present day are here.
What everyone comes to see is the infamous Chamber ofHorrors.
Scared, horrified or frightened you may Ье, but you will not Ье
disappointed. Murderers from down the ages await the visitors;
some of the serial killers have а whole section of their own. There
is even an authentic guillotine! As one enters the reconstruction
of а foggy street in the east end ofVictorianLondon, well known
to Jack the Ripper, one will gasp in horror at what he finds there.
All this and much more will keep the shivers running down the
spine during the visit.
"The Spirit ofLondon" is а magnificentjourney throughLondon's history. The cabs travel
past the figure ofW. Shakespeare, Sir ChristopherWren, who directs the rebuilding of St Paul's
Cathedral. This is the place that is well worth visiting.

2. Speak about places of interest in London.

1
The Tower of is - the most outstanding link in the chain of the history of
London the country.
- guarded Ьу the Yeoman Warders, or Beefeaters.
- а museum and houses the Crown Jewels and other
treasures.
became - the place where famous and the infamous people were
sent.
was - а fortress and а palace.
- а prison.

2
Westminster lS - full of history.
АЬЬеу - а symbol of English tradition at its best.
was - founded in 1050 as а monastery
All the kings and were - crowned and buried there.
queens of Britain

3
Buckingham lS - the official London residence of Her Majesty the Queen
Palace and her family.
- partially open to the puЬlic
was built in the 18th century and rebuilt later Ьу the architect
JohnNash.
The first monarch who took - residence there was QueenVictoria.
The Royal Stan- lS - the sign that the Queen is in the residence.
dard flying over the
east front of Buck-
ingham Palace

29
 З. Agree or disagree. Put "+" next to the true sentences and "-"
next to the false ones.
D 1) St Paul's Cathedral was designed Ьу Sir Christopher Wren -
the most famous of all English architects.
D 2) It took him 25 years to plan and build St Paul's Cathedral,
which was completed in 1710.
D 3) There were three churches built on the same site.
D 4) he most notaЫe feature of it is the enormous dome.
D 5) The Whispering Gallery which fascinates all visitors is situated
beneath the dome.
D 6) In this Gallery the slightest whisper is audiЬle 100 feet away.
D 7) In the South or Clock Tower there is the largest bell in Europe,
the Great Paul.
D 8) Inside the cathedral one can see many monuments to generals
and admirals. Admiral Nelson is buried here too.
D 9) When Christopher Wren died he was not buried in the cathedral.
4. Make а report about one of the sights of your city or country.

Listening 1. Listen to the text and finish the sentences.

Comprehension Check Most British parks were created in the 19th century, when _· _

Regent's Park. А park in central London designed Ьу John Nash

for _______________________

It contains an outdoor theatre, flower gardens, sports fields and

Zoological Garden - one of the most famous zoos in the world

because of ____________________

Today the Zoo is an important centre for the study of animals,

and breeds animals that are _____________

Kew Gardens- а park in west London, which contains ___

Its official name is the Royal Botanic Gardens and it was __

It is very popular with tourists and British people, and among

its famous buildings are the Chinese Pagoda and ______

Hyde Park- а large puЬlic park in central London next to _

It is famous for Speaker's Corner, where people can make __

Kensington Gardens contains _____________

London Zoo in Regent's Park, London, was estaЫished ___

30
 1) Spotted the highest mountain in Great Britain.
Day: _____________________
2) There was an evening service in the cathedral, England's largest.
Day: _____________________
3) At lunch we visited the Roman Bath and а Georgian house.
Day: _____________________
4) Wе visited the castle and Laura bought а beautiful tartan kilt.
Day: _____________________
5) We also visited the house where this famous writer was born.
Day: _____________________
6) Had short walk on the golf course where British Open is some­
times played.
Day: _____________________
7) Wе had an unforgettaЫe walk in the Lake District.
Day: _____________________

2. Now draw а map of Great Britain in your notebook showing the

route of the 7-Day Tour and the names of the places visited.

Reading 1. What British city would you like to live in if you had such ап
opportunity? What do you think is better to live in а large city,
а town or а village?

2. lmagine you are ап advertising agent. You have to write а bro­

chure for а travel agency describlng the British cities and giving
important and interesting information. Read the text and do the
task.

ТНЕ BIG CITIES

Birmingham is the largest city in Britain after London.
From а small medieval town, specializing in metal work, it
grew quickly into а large industrial city. It had coal and iron
deposits which could Ье fully exploited with the development
of а transport system - canals and railways. ..._
In the 1870s Birmingham was the best run city in the
kingdom because of the reforms made Ьу its mayor, Joseph
Chamberlain. From this period dates the great Council House,
with its 49 metre clock tower known locally as Big Brum.
Corporation Street, reflecting in its name the new civic pride,
replaced in 1875-1882 an area of slums; it is now largely
redeveloped, but there are still at the north end the splendid
Victoria Courts.
Next door to the Council House there is the Museum and
Art Gallery. Among the descriptive arts there is а special
emphasis on silver and ceramics. The art-gallery's greatest
strength is the Pre-Raphaelite paintings.
ln the city there is also the National ExhiЬition Centre, the International Conference
Centre, the National Indoor Arena and the Symphony Hall.

32
 Manchester is situated on the east bank of the river Irwell; on the west bank stands the
separate city of Salford. From 79 AD Manchester was the Roman fort of Mancunium, and its
inhabitants are still known as Mancunians. The textile industry began to develop in the 14th
century, but the transformation of а market town into а great metropolis of cotton began only
in the 18th century. The opening of the Liverpool and Manchester railway in 1830 and of the
Manchester ShipCanal in 1894 made possiЫe the export of big quantities of the textile goods.
Among the places of interest in the city there is the Central Library which is England's
largest municipal library with а round reading room which can almost rival the one in the
British Museum. Nearby, in Albert Square, is one of the greatest of Victorian town halls,
Gothic in style with а huge clock tower built in 1867-1876. Platt Hall, а Palladian house of
the mid-18th century, has one of the largest displays in the country illustrating the history of
costume. Two of Manchester's historic railway stations have recently been put to new uses.
The site of the original passenger station for the Liverpool and Manchester railway is now
part of а Museum of Science and Industry. On а larger scale, theCentral Station, opened in
1876, has been turned into the Greater Manchester Exhibition and Events Centre.
Liverpool is а city and port on the north bank of the estuary of the Mersey. lt became
important mthe 18th century with the development of manufacturing industry inLancashire.
The docks fell into decay with the decline of the port but have
recently been restored as museums. Among them а northern
extension ofLondon's Tate Gallery, the Merseyside Maritime
Museum and а museum describing а local success story, the
Beatles. As every city, Liverpool has its places to see. The
county Museum, founded in 1860, has among its treasures
the Кingston Brooch. Next door the Walker Art Gallery has
а broadly based collection of European painting of the 14-
20th centuries.
In 1900 Liverpool had no cathedral. It now has two. The
Anglican cathedral is the largest church in the country. lt
was built in а severe Gothic style and was completed in 1978.
The RomanCatholic MetropolitanCathedral ofChrist is :very different. It has а round tent­
like structure in the shape of crown and it was built in 1962-1967.
Oxford. There has been а town where Oxford now stands for many centuries - even
before 912, the first written record of its existence. The University began to estaЫish itself in
the middle of the 12th century, and Ьу 1300 there were al-
ready 1,500 students. At this time, Oxford was а wealthy
town, but Ьу the middle of the 14th century, it was poorer,
because of its decline in trade and because of the terriЫe
plague, which killed many people in England. Relations be­
tween the students and the townspeople were very unfriend­
ly, and there was often fighting in the streets. Nowadays,
there are about 12,000 students in Oxford, and the Universi­
ty and the town live happily side Ьу side. Oxford is famous
for its architecture. In the 20th century, it has also developed
quickly as an industrial and commercial centre.
Cambridge is the city on the riverCam. It is an admin­
istrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire. The town
developed round an Anglo-Saxon bridge over the river and
William I built а castle on the hill in 1068. It is the round
Church of the Holy Sepulchre and is Cambridge's best Nor­
man monument. But the city's fame is as the home of the
second oldest university in Britain. The three-Cambridge's
best-known buildings are: the parish and university church
of Great St Mary, the Senate House, in which formal univer­
sity functions are carried out, and the jewel of Cambridge's
architecture, Кing's CollegeChapel.
Parallel toКing's Parade, on the other side ofКing'sCol­
lege, are the Backs - а continuous line of riverside gardens

5 О. Кврленко
33
 and lawns linking half а dozen colleges, and the scene of many parties in summer. The bridge
at the southern end linking two parts of St John's College is known as the Bridge of Sighs
because it leads to the state prison. The wooden bridge at the north end, the Mathematical
Bridge in Queens' College, is traditionally said to have been designed Ьу Newton in such
а manner that it stands without nails. But it is not true. The bridge dates from 1749 and has
always had iron bolts.
Glasgow is an industrial city in south-west Scotland. It stands on the river Clyde. It is
Scotland's largest city and major port. It used to Ье an important centre for shipbuilding, and
when this and several other industries closed down in the
late 20th century it became well-known for proЫems connected
with unemployment, drugs and crime. Glasgow has many
interesting and attractive buildings, as well as schools, uni­
versities and museums. In the 1990s it has developed into
а major centre for culture, the arts and education. ln 1990 it
was named the European City of Culture.
In Glasgow one can visit the Hunterian Museum and Art
Gallery, which belongs to the University of Glasgow, Glas­
gow Greens, а municipal park, which is the oldest in Britain, the Theatre Royal, which is the
home of the Scottish Opera, and the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall opened in 1990.

Discussion 1. lmagine you have to live in опе of the following places: Man­
chester, Glasgow, Birmingham, London, Liverpool, Oxford, Cam­
bridge.
1) Find these places on the шар.
2) Find as much additional information as you can about each place,
including its weather, distance from London, the size, and the
places of interest you could visit in it.
3) Decide which place you would prefer to live in.
4) Discuss your choice with any other students who have chosen the
same place and make а list of your reasons for living there.

Listening 1. Listen to the text and answer the following questions.

Comprehension Check How important is tourism in Britain?
Which of the tourist attractions mentioned would you Ье most in­
terested in?
What other features of British life would attract tourists?

2. Describe the attractions of Bradford and York to the visitors.

34
 U nit
7 Outstanding People

Fame usually comes to those who are thinking

about something else.
Holmes

Pre-Reading 1. Answer the que�tions and do the task.

с .:;,
-
What famous people of contemporary Britain do you know? What
are they famous for? Choose one of them and make а report.

Reading 1. Read the text about British famous people. Find out the facts
and fill in the tаЫе.

The place Their

Name Уears of living Occupation achievements
of studying

LAURENCE OLMER
English actor 1907-1989
Even when he was still а child people noticed how good Lau­
rence Olivier was acting, so when he left school he went to study
at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London.
The first "hit" that he acted in was Private Lives Ьу Noel
Coward, but he became really well-known in 1935 when he
played Romeo in Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. А year
later he was the leading actor at the Old Vic, an important Lon­
don theatre, and took several major parts in Shakespeare's
plays. Не then became an international star when he appeared
in films such as Wuthering Heights (1939) and Henry V (1944).
Не was knighted in 1947.
As well as being an actor, Olivier directed many plays and
in 1962 he was made the first Artistic Director of the National
Theatre Company. Не was made а life peer, becoming Lord Olivier, in 1990.

5* 35
 ISAAC NEWTON
English scientist 1642-1727
Isaac Newton went to Cambridge University when he was
19, and was already doing important research in his second
year. But then, because of the great plague, he had to go home
to Lincolnshire for two years until the danger of catching the
disease was past.
Many people have heard the story of Newton watching
an apple fall from а tree. Не was only 23 but was already
thinking about the movement of the earth, the Moon, and
the planets. Не realized that, just as the force of gravity pulled
the apple to Earth, gravity keeps the Moon in its orЬit. It is
rather like а piece of string tied to а stone that you whirl around your head; if the string
breaks, the stone is flung away. Without gravity the Moon would fly off into space.
Newton tried to make а telescope to study the stars, but found that if he used lenses the
bright images had coloured edges. In trying to find out why this happened, he invented the
mirror telescope. This does not give coloured edges, and many of our present-day telescopes
are based on Newton's design. Не was so persistent in asking questions about the coloured
edges that he was the first person to discover that white light is а mixture of all the different
colours. Raindrops make а rainbow and а prism makes а spectrum Ьу splitting up the white
light. Before Newton, people thought that the raindrops or the prism added the colour.
Newton's greatest book, written in Lati-11 and usually called The Principia (1686-1687),
has had an enormous effect on the way scientists, and especially physicists, have thought
ever since.

JOHN CONSTABLE
English landscape painter 1776-1837
John ConstaЫe's father was а corn mer­
chant who owned Flatford Mill in East Anglia.
Не expected his son to continue the successful
family business, but John did not seem happy.
So his father allowed him to train as an artist
and at the age of 23 John began his studies at
the Royal Academy School in London.
ConstaЫe devoted himself almost entirely
to landscape painting. Unlike а lot of earlier
landscape artists, who painted pleasant but im­
aginary scenes, ConstaЫe chose to show real places under differing conditions of light and
weather. Не caught the movement of clouds, and the drama of storms, painting with vigorous
strokes of the brush. Most of all he enjoyed painting the places he knew and loved best, particu­
larly Suffolk countryside.

ALEXANDER FLEMING
English discoverer of penicillin 1881-1955
Alexander Fleming trained as а doctor at St Mary's Medical School, London, and then
spent his entire working life there. Не became interested in the infections caused Ьу bacteria
that resulted in so much disease. Не joined researchers looking for vaccines that would kill
such bacteria.
One day in 1928 when Fleming was working in his laboratory, he noticed that а mould
had formed on one of his experimental dishes containing live bacteria. The bacteria next to
the mould were dying. Fleming realized that the mould was producing а substance which
killed the bacteria. The mould was called Penicillium notatum.

36
 Fleming showed that penicillin could kill many dangerous bacteria, but he was slow to
see that it could Ье used as а medical treatment and, in any case, he found it very hard to
produce, except in very small quantities. So there was little interest in penicillin until 1941,
when Howard Florey, an Australian pathologist, Ernst Chain, а German-born Ьiochemist,
and other scientists at Oxford University found а way of making enough penicillin to begin
treating patients with serious infections. The results were spectacularly successful. In 1945
Fleming, Florey, and Chain shared а Nobel prize for their work.

FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE
English founder of modern nursing 1820-1910
Florence Nightingale decided she wanted to Ье а nurse, but
this caused Ьitter arguments with her family, who thought that
nursing-.was not а job for respectaЫe women. It was not until
1851 that Nightingale got her own way and started work in
а small London hospital. She was so successful that the Secre­
tary of State for War asked her to go to the Crimean War to
take charge of the nursing of wounded British soldiers.
She set sail in 1854 with 38 nurses. Within а month they
had 1000 men to look after. Nightingale worked 20 hours а day
to improve the nursing of ordinary soldiers. Every night she
visited the wards, and the soldiers loved her as "the lady with
the lamp". Her story was puЫished in newspapers back home
and she became а national heroine. The puЬlic donated f 45,000
for her to spend as she saw fit. In 1860 she spent it on the development of the Nightingale
training school for nurses at St Thomas's Hospital, London. In 1907 she became the first
woman ever to Ье awarded the Order ofMerit.

JAMES СООК
English navigator and explore,· 1728-1779
James Cook went to sea when he was 18 as а ship's Ьоу on
а coal ship. In 1755 Cook volunteered for the Royal Navy as
а seaman. Не soon proved himself to Ье an outstanding navi­
gator and was quickly promoted.
In 1768 the Royal Society organized а scientific voyage to
Tahiti. Cook was given command of the ship Endeavour, taking
on board some famous scientists. The voyage lasted three years.
On thejourney, Cook insisted that the sailors ate plenty of fresh
fruit, and so became the first captain to save his crew from
scurvy, а terriЫe disease caused Ьу lack of vitamin С.
Cook became the first European to chart the coast of New
Zealand, and the first to discover the eastern coast of Australia.
Не claimed these lands for the British Empire. Не named one Ьау "Botany Вау" because of its
many fabulous plants. It later became а prison colony for British convicts.
On his second voyage (1772-1775), Cook sailed south to Antarctica and then charted the
Pacific and its many islands.
On his third voyage (1776-1779), the Admiralty ordered him to explore а possiЫe sea
route around North America from the Pacific. Не discovered the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii),
explored the Alaskan coast, then passed through the Bering Strait, before returning to Ha­
waii where he was killed Ьу islanders in а scuffle on shore.

37
2. Write about Charlotte Brontё's life. Use the given word-combl­
nations.

to Ье born; autoЬiographical novels; to die; to look after the

family; to create the fantasy worlds; to Ье sent to school; to
damage one's health; life-long friends; to give up the post; to
fall hopelessly in love; to Ье successful; to agree to marry

39
 Education and Culture

I am always ready to leam, but I do"Dot always

like being taught.
W. Churcliill

Pre-Reading 1. How many names of school subjects do you know in English?

Write down as many as you сап.

SCHOOL

2. Answer the questions.

What subjects do you have? What subjects do you think. are most
important for you? Why?
Are there subjects which you think are import'мlt but which you
do not study? What kinds of schools do you have in your country?
Are there independent schools? Who are they for?
Do you think independent schools are а good idea? Try to find
some reasons to justify views for and against.

Reading 1. Read the text and find the correct words for the given defini­
tions.
а) something that must Ье done;
Ь) school for boys and girls together;
с) а group of people working together in school;
d) school at which fees are paid for learning;
е) а person who lives in а boarding school receiving board and
lodging as well as lessons;
f) one of the periods into which the academic year is divided;
g) а period of rest from school;
h) а course of study in school.
40
 АТ SCHOOL AND COLLEGE
Over 90 per cent of British children attend state-sup­
ported schools between the age of 5 and 16, when education
is compulsory. While state-run primary schools (from age 5 to
11) are co-educational, state-supported secondary schools
are both single-sexed and co-educational. There is а number
of different types of state schools, including those totally
owned and run Ьу local education authorities; those whose
premises are owned Ьу voluntary bodies, mainly Ьу the
church; and those that are funded Ьу central government and
who employ their own staff and own their premises. There
are also specialist schools, for example those that emphasize
technology, or languages, or the arts, as well as schools
dedicated to teaching children with special educational needs.
About 7 per cent of school-age children attends fee-pay-
_j_ng independent or private schools (the larger of which are
also rather confusingly known as "puЬlic" schools). Many in­
dependent schoolchildren are there as 'Ъoarders", which
means they spend school terms living at the school and the
holidays with their families. Some independent schoolchild­
ren are "weekly boarders", returning to their homes at week­
ends.
Increasing number of young people stay on for further edu­
cation, between the ages of 16 and 18.
There are three school terms in the educational year,
which starts in September and ends in July. Holidays are
normally three weeks over Christmas and Easter and six
weeks during the summer. Уoung people in state schools also
enjoy а full week of half-term holiday in each of the Christ­
mas, Easter and Summer terms. Independent schools have
their own rules but tend to have longer holidays and shorter
half-term breaks.
Those not staying at school or going on to college are le­
gally allowed to leave at 16, when they have completed their
General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) exami­
nations.
The education service is administered separately in England and Wales, in Scotland, and
in Northern Ireland.
In England and Wales, the National Curriculum for all pupils from the age of 5 to 16 has
the subjects to develop academic and practical abllities.
From an early age, children learn English, mathematics, science, history, geography, art,
music and physical education. Later, at least one modern language is added. Ву the age of 14
the oЫigatory subjects include English, mathematics, science, technology, physical educa­
tion, and а modern language.

6 О. Карnенко
41
 In Scotland, pupils aged 5 to 14 follow а common, broad-based curriculum consisting of
mathematics, the English language, environmental studies, expressive arts, religious and
modern education, personal and social development. Courses after the age of 14 are charac­
terized Ьу national certification.
The system in Northern Ireland is similar to England and Wales. The curriculum includes
six educational themes: education reform, mutual understanding, culture heritage, informa­
tion and communication technology, careers' education, and economic awareness. The Govern­
ment has provided substantial grants for schools that integrate Catholic and Protestant pupils.

After-Reading 1. Answer the questions.

Some people leave home after school to enter the universities. Do
you think it is good to leave home at this age? What are the ad­
vantages and disadvantages?
There are British people who believe that if you do nothing more
than study hard at university, you will have wasted а great op­
portunity. What do they mean and do you agree?
2. Choose any proЫem-question and organize debates.
Do you think education should Ье free? Are there advantages in
а fee-paying system?
What are your views of boarding schools? Would you like to have
attended one yourself?
How usual is it to go to university in Ukraine? Is it difficult to get
in? Is а university education necessary for professionaljobs? What
other ways are there to get professional qualifications?

Listening 1. Agree or disagree. Put "+" next to the true sentences and "-"
Comprehension Check next to the false ones.
D 1) British young people do not spend their free time with their friends.
D 2) Only few young people attend youth clubs.
D 3) Most young people are more interested in activities that do not
cost money.
D 4) Because of the lack of money young people spend their time
with friends, window-shopping, cycling or skateboarding.
D 5) Those who have insufficient income can do anything they like.
D 6) Over 60 per cent of young people aged 15 to 24 have а disposa­
Ыe income of more than f 50 per week.
D 7) Young men and women who have started earniйg,properly spend
time in pubs, go to dances, concerts, discos and the cinema.
D 8) Young people, aged 12 upwards, earn money Ьу washing cars
or windows, doing "paper rounds" (delivering the early morning
newspaper before school), mowing lawns and so on.
D 9) Young people do not want to spend money buying things.
2. Answer the questions.
Do you think young people have more freedom in Britain than in
Ukraine?
When do people in Ukraine start earning money?
Is it easy for them to find а good work?

42
 British Way of Life

An Englishman's house is his castle.

Ап Englisli prouerb

Pre-Reading 1. Answer the questions.

Тhere is а saying "An Englishman's house is his castle". How do you
understand it? Why do you think houses are so important for the
British?
Тhere is no place like home. Do you agree? Why? What is home for you?
Does the notion 'Ъоmе" differ from the notion ''house"? In what way?

43
 2. Look at the advertisements for properties in Britain and find the
following:
а) а house in Scotland;
Ь) an 18th-century flat;
с) а four-bedroomed house;
d) а house with а big garden;
е) а house with douЫe glazing;
f) а house with а hot-house;
g) the cheapest house;
h) the most expensive house.

SOUTH GLEN AFRIC, DEPTFORD WEST FOREST

CAMBRIDGE- SCOTLAND Two bedroomed WIMBLEDON HILL
SHIRE Traditional stone- first floor flat in 1920s 3 bed- Spacious Edward-
3 bedroomed built cottage in the Georgian roomed house ian 4 bedroomed
detached bunga- picturesque village house built about in quiet street. semi-detached.
low, quiet street, in the most beauti- 1780. Central Well maintained Many original
large plot, douЫe ful glen in Scot- heating. Close to throughout. features, quiet
garage, hot-house, land. ¼ acre tubes, buses, 17 foot fully fitted road. Beautiful
stone fireplace, garden, 2 recep- shopping. Garden, kitchen, 2 recep- 29 ft lounge,
large kitchen, tions, 3 bedrooms, off-road parking. tions, douЫe second reception,
fitted bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, f 59,900 glazing replace- excellent decora-
5 miles Cambridge. full central heating. ment windows. tive order. Sunny
Convenient shops. Inverness 25 miles. Small sunny garden. Close to
f 87,500 f 46,000 30 foot garden. London.
f 102,950 f 142,500

What place would you choose to live in? Why?

Reading 1. Read the text and answer the questions.

What differences are there between housing in Britain and
Ukraine?
What type of accommodation do the majority of British people like
to live in? Can you think of any reasons?

HOUSING IN GREAT BRITAIN

Almost everybody in Britain dreams of living in а de­
tached house; that is, а house which is а separate building.
The saying, "An Englishman's home is his castle" illustrates
the desire for privacy and the importance attached to owner-
...,,,,_
ship which seem to Ье at the heart of the British attitude to
housing.
А large, detached house not only ensures privacy. It is
also а status symbol. At the extreme end of the scale there is
the aristocratic "stately home" set in а Ьig garden. Of course,
such а house is an unrealistic dream for most people. But
even а small detached house, surrounded Ьу garden, gives
the feeling of rural life which is dear to the hearts of many
British people. Most people would Ье happy to live in а cot­
tage.
Most people try to avoid living in Ыocks of flats. Flats,
they feel, provide the least amount of privacy. With а few
exceptions, mostly in certain locations in central London, flats
are the cheapest kind of home. The people who live in them
are those who cannot afford to live anywhere else.

44
 The dislike of living in flats is very strong. In the 1950s
millions of poorer people lived in old, cold, uncomfortaЫe nine­
teenth century houses, often with only an outside toilet and
no bathroom. During the next twenty years many of them
were given smart new ''high rise" Ыocks of flats to live in
which, with central heating and bathrooms, were much more
comfortaЫe and were surrounded Ьу grassy grounds. But
people hated their new homes. They said they felt cut off
from the world all those floors up. They missed the neigh­
bourliness. They couldn't keep а watchful еуе on their child­
ren playing down there in those lovely grounds. The new
high-rise Ыocks quickly deteriorated. The lifts broke down.
The lights in the corridors didn't work. Windows got broken
and were not repaired. There was graffiti all over the walls.
In theory, there is no reason why these high-rise Ыocks could not have been а success. In
other countries millions of people live happily in flats. But in Britain they were а failure
because t�y do not suit British attitudes. The failure has been generally recognized for sev­
eral years now. No more high-rises are being built. At the present time, only 4 % of the
population live in one.
People prefer to live in houses а little Ьit set back from the road. This way, they can have
а front garden. These areas are not normally very Ьig. But they allow residents to have low
fences, walls or hedges around them. Usually, these barriers do not physically prevent even
а two-year old child from entering, but they have psychological force. They announce to the
world exactly where the private property begins. Even in the depths of the countryside, where
there may Ье no road immediately outside, the same phenomenon can Ье seen.

After-Reading 1. Put the words and expressions into groups according to their
meaning. Give each group of words а title.

high-rise, detached, flat, financial, semi-detached, tax, rented,

architect, rural, builder, terraced, Iow-rise, street, developer,
house, urban, cost, privately-owned, council, cottage

2. Ask questions for these answers.

Almost everybody dreams to live in а detached house. ____

It is also а status symbol.

А house surrounded Ьу garden gives the feeling of rural life.

Flats are the cheapest kind of home. __________

High-rise Ыocks of flats were а failure because they do not suit

British attitudes. __________________

45
Listening 1. Listen to the text and retell it i·п English using the given words
Comprehension Check and expressions.

to get up, to take а shower, to dress up, to have breakfast, to

leave home, to have an hour's break, fast-food restaurant, to
watch television, to go for а walk, а kind of а club, to grow
flowers and vegetaЫes, to go to the cinema, to visit friends,
to take the family to the seaside town, to catch fish, to dis­
cover the picturesque countryside, to Ье ready to start

46
 Sport

Тhere's а breathless hush in the Close to-night­

Ten to make and the match to win -
А bumping pitch and а Ыinding light,
An hour to play and the last man in.
And it's not for the sake of а ribboned coat,
Or the selfish hope of а season's fame,
But his captain's hand on his shoulder smote -

----
"Play up! play up! and play up the game!"
Н. Newbolt

Pre-Reading 1. How many names of sports can you think of in English? Write
down as many as you can.

2. Answer the questions.

What is an individual sport?
What is а team sport?
Do you know the names of any famous British sportsmen or women?

Reading 1. Look at the figures given in the tаЫе and answer the questions.
After that read the text to find out more about some of the sports
popular in Britain.

47
 Played Ьу% Watched
Ьу (mil-
Sports lions per
Men Women year)

Car and motorcycle racing - - 8

Cricket
(county and international) - - 1
Darts 11 4 -
Fishing 6 1 -
Football 7 - 22
Golf 6 1 -
Greyhound racing - - 5
Horse racing - - 4
Rugby - - 4
Swimming (indoor) 11 12 -

Snooker, Ьilliards, pool 19 3 -

Walking, ramЫing, hiking 24 22 -

Уoga, keep fit classes 1 6 -

2. Find four examples of:

а) spectator sports;
Ь) participant sports.
What are the most popular sports in Britain? Are they spectator
or participant sports?

SPORT IN BRITAIN
The British are regarded to Ье stolid and phlegmatic. True
or not, their traditional sports are rather slow and effortless.
А good example of such а sport is darts thrown at а circular
board with the аiш of scoring а particular number of points.
As darts is popular among working class, golf is played Ьу
the upper classes. This is an obl Scottish game for two or four
persons who hit small hard balls with special golf-clubs into
9 or 18 holes on а mown ground called а golf-course.
Cricket is even more sophisticated. The cricketeF-Б are usu­
ally men traditionally wearing white clothes. The game is played
Ьу two teams of 11 people on а mown grass field with special
bats and wickets.

48
 The English also like snooker (very similar to billiards) and
bowls, а game in which а heavy wooden ball is rolled over а lawn
in such а way that it stops as close as possiЫe to а small white
ball.
Another British sport is polo (reserved for the elite), а ball
game played on horseback with mallets.
The sports mentioned above may Ье considered as typically
British but it does not mean that they are the most popular
ones. The vast majority ofBritish people take part in individu­
al sports such as swimming, cycling, fishing, aeroЬics or just
walking. However, only 10 per cent of adults practise sports
regularly. Other prefer watching sports on ТV. The favourite
spectator sports are football (the national game), rugby, athlet­
ics and tennis.

After-Reading 1. Answer the questions and organize а discussion.

Of the sports described which ones are your favourite?
2. Look at the pictures and answer the questions.

Can you name these American sports?

One of these sports is the fastest growing team game in Britain.
Which one?
Аге any American games played in your country? Which one(s)?

Compare your answers with the class.

3. Make а report about one of the. sports. Don't forget to mention

the following:
Is it а team or an individual sport?
Is it popular inBritain?
What equipment do you need to play it?
Who is the champion?
What is your favourite sport?

4. Look at some of sporting expressions and metaphors which have

entered the everyday language, learn them and make up your
own sentences with them.

49
 From cricket
on а sticky wicket: in а difficult situation
on oil easy wicket: in а fortunate situation
play with а straight bet: do something in an honest and straight­
forward way
it's not cricket: it is not the proper or fair way of doing something
(cricket is supposed to Ье the perfect example of the concept of
"fair play")
off one's own bat: without help from anyone else

From boxing
saved Ьу the bell: saved from а bad or dangerous situation Ьу
а sudden event
on the ropes: in а weak position; close to defeat or failure
floored: defeated or confused in an argument or discussion
throw in the towel: admit defeat

From horse-racing and riding

first past the post: the winner
to Ье given free rein: to Ье allowed to do exactly what one wants,
without restrictions
in the saddle: in control (in modern times, the expression "in the
driving seat" is often used instead)

From other sports or sport in general

team player: somebody who is good at co-operating with other
people in groups
run with the pack: have no individual principles but just Ыindly
follow the majority
win hands down: win easily
go to the dogs: start to lead an aimless and self-destructive life
а safe pair of hands: а reliaЫe person

The majority of people live in towns and cities, where space for team sports is limited. То
keep fit, most people take part in individual sports. They usually go walking, swiщOE_ng,
cycling, or do aeroЬics. Taking part in all of these sports is informal and casual. Most people
just want to relax. If they do aeroЬics or go swimming, they usually go to the sports centre,
but not many people join а sports club.
Although many British people are interested in staying healthy, not many people do very
much about it. А recent survey proved that many people were not as active as they thought
and incorrectly believed that they did enough exercise to stay hea�tлy. Only 10 per cent of
adults take part in sport more than twice а week.
Тhere are 2000 sports centres in Britain: one for every town, large or small. They were
built mostly in the 1980s to encourage the puЬlic to take part in sport. The number of people
who take part in sport has risen, but not many people exercise more than once а month.
One of the most popular individual sports for men in Britain is fishing, also called ang­
ling. The most expensive type of fishing is for salmon and trout: these fish are only found
in private rivers and lakes. Nearly 4 million anglers in Britain wait hours beside canals,
rivers and lakes to catch а fish. Then they weigh it and usually throw it back into the water
again.

50
Listening 1. Listen to the text and put the number of each mentioned sport
Comprehension Check next to its Ukrainian equivalent. Then write down (in English)
the facts you remember about each kind of sports.
гра у м'яч

крикет _____________________

бадмiнтон ____________________

риболовля

кеглi ______________________

- - -
гольф ----------- - -------

снукер (вид бiльярдно'i гри) _____________

'iзда на велосипедi _________________

кидания дротика _________________

тенiс ----------------------

футбол

регбi ______________________

51
 England

Тhе Wish
О fields! О woods! when, when shall I Ье made
The happy tenant ofyour shade?
А. Cowley

Pre-Reading 1. Answer the following questions and prove your statement.

Do you think you would enjoy living in Britain?
Do you agree that "the British are а strange race"? What is
"strange" about them?

2. Discuss the following questions.

Great Britain is divided into four parts. Аге people the same in all
the parts? Or do they feel their national identity?
Do you think that people living in different parts of the country
should Ье friendly to each other or not? Why?
Аге there any proЫems in Ukraine, connected with nationalities
of people? How are they solved?

Reading 1. Read the text and write answers to the questions.

What part of England would you like to visit?
Would you like to live in England? Where exactly? Why?
Аге there any economical proЬlems in England today?

2. Find the sentences with the following words and translate them
into Ukrainian.

Moors, backbone, valleys, countryside, decline, leisure.

52
 ENGLAND
Population: 49,181,000.
Area: 129,249 square kilometres.
England lies in the southern and eastern part of the island
of Great Britain, and ranks as the largest of the four countries
that make up the United Кingdom. With more than 80 per cent
of the total British population,England is а densely populated
country. About 95 per cent of its people live in urban areas, but
outside the crowded city centres stretches the scenic English
countryside, with its charming villages, green pastures, and neat
hedges.
Land. In general,England's land slopes from the north and
west to the south and east. Characteristic features include moors
(open grasslands), downs (hilly grasslands), fens (marshlands),
and wolds (low, chalky hills).
Tl1e Pennines - the country's major mountain system -
extend from Scotland to centralEngland, and are often called
the "backbone ofEngland". West of the Pennines lies the Lake
District, known for its beautiful mountain scenery, including
England's highest point - the 3,210 foot (973 metres) Scafell
Pike.
А large plateau called the Midlands covers east-centralEng­
land. Much of this land is broken Ьу rolling hills and fertile
valleys drained Ьу the Thames, Severn, Trent, and Ouse rivers.
Along the North Sea coast, the Midlands are low and flat, par­
ticularly in the Fens, where much of the land has been reclaimed
from the sea.
SoutheasternEngland is crossed Ьу ranges of hills consist­
ing of layers of limestone and chalk. Along the English Chan­
nel, the hills drop sharply to form steep cliffs, including the
famous white cliffs of Dover.
England's westernmost point- Land'sEnd- and the south­
ernmost point in the British Isles - Lizard Point - sit on the rugged Southwest Peninsula.
England's offshore islands include the Isle ofWight, off the southern coast, and the Scilly
Islands, off Land'sEnd.
Economy. Until the early 1800s, mostEnglish people lived in the countryside and worked
on farms. However, during the Industrial Revolution, huge numbers of people moved to cities
and towns to work in the new factories. Today, about 40 per cent of the population live in
seven large metropolitan areas. Greater London, with nearly 7 million people, is the largest
metropolitan area in England and one of the largest in the world. The other metropolitan
areas include Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds-Bradford, Liverpool, Sheffield, and Sunder­
land-Newcastle upon Tyne.

53
 The shift in population from rural to urban areas reflected the shift from an agricultural
to an industrial economy. In recent years, however, many of the factories built near coal
fields, their source of power, have closed. Nuclear energy, oil, and gas are the modern energy
sources. As а result, many new industries have developed around London and in the south­
eastern section of England, where there is little coal. The decline of the factories around the
country's northern coal fields has led to а drop in that region's prosperity, and the new indus­
tries in the south have drawn even more people to an already crowded area.
Service industries are also important to England's economy. About 75 per cent of the
workers in London and southeastern England work in service industries, particularly in so­
cial services, wholesale and retail trade, and financial services.
Other service industries are concerned with communication and leisure activities. Many
English people have much more free time than their rural ancestors enjoyed. The leading
leisure activities include gardening, sports, watching television, and attending movies, plays,
and concerts. Тhе neighbourhood puЬlic house, or pub, is also а favourite social centre for
many people. In addition, hotels and restaurants serve not only English people but also many
foreign tourists and business travellers.

After-Reading 1. Make up your own sentences with the following words and word­
comblnations.
major mountain system ________________

its beautiful scenery __________________

fertile valleys ___________________

in the countryside __________________

are concerned with ________________ ___

2. Make up а dialogue between you and your friend. You have just
returned from England. Tel1 about your journey to your friend
and advise him to go to England as soon as possiЫe.

Listening 1. Complete the sentences.

Comprehension Check
The Channel Islands are а group ___________

The Isle ofMan lies in the Irish Sea midway between ____

The six main __________ __________

__ are Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, Herm, and Jethou.
The total population of the Channel Islands �-�,...,..----

54
English and French _________________
and English is used most, but many islanders speak а French di­
alect that varies from island to island.
Four of the islands - Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, and Sark -
have their _____________________

Jersey, the largest of the islands, is known for _______

"jerseys".
In the 1600s so many men abandoned their farmwork to knit the
jerseys that а law was introduced to ban knitting in the summer
months.
Alderney and Guernsey ________________
for their cattle, and Guernsey is also noted for its fine tomatoes
grown in greenhouses.
Sark, the smallest self-governing unit in the United Кingdom, has

headed Ьу а seigneur, or feudal lord.

The use of cars is prohiЬited on Sark, and the people travel Ьу
horse-drawn carriage or Ьicycle.
The leading industry in the Channel Islands is _______

Th� pleasant beaches and historic landmarks draw many visitors.

The Isle ofMan has an area of 227 square miles (588 square kilo-
metres) and ____________________
of about 65,000.
p
The people s eak English, and some also speak а Celtic language
called Мапх.
Crowds of tourists visit summer resorts on the Isle ofMan, and its
international motorcycle race, held each June, draws many
enthusiasts.
In addition to tourism, important industries include _ _ __

55
 Scotland

Не who has not seen Scotland

does not really know Great Britain.
Scottisli saying

Pre-Reading 1. Answer the following questions.

Do you know anything about Scotland?
Isn't it funny that шеn in Scotland wear skirts, called kilts?
What else would you like to learn about this country: custoшs,
traditions, holidays?

Reading 1. Read the text. Look in the encyclopaedia or reference-book and

find more information about the Highland Games. Make an inter­
esting report.

SCOTLAND
Population: 5,122,000.
Area: 78,772 square kilometres.
Capital: Edinburgh (with population about 439,672 resi­
dents).
Scotland occupies the northern third of the island ofGreat
Britain, but only 9 % of the total population of the UK live
there. Most of the population is concentrated in an industrial
area located in the central part of the country.
Although the Scots have kept numerous symbols of their
long and colourful history, industrialization has eliminated
many of Scotland's old traditions and ways of life. The his­
toric Scottish clans (groups of related families) have lost much
of their importance, and kilts are usually worn only on spe­
cial occasions.
Today Scotland elects 72 members to Britain's House of
Coшmons, and the country's day-to-day administration is
conducted in Edinburgh Ьу various departments of the Scot­
tish Office.
Land. Scotland has three main land regions: the Highlands, the Central Lowlands, and
the Southern Uplands. The Highlands are а magnificent, rugged region that cover the north­
ern two-thirds of Scotland. The area's two major mountai;-;�es, the Northwest Highlands

56
 and the Grampian Mountains, are divided Ьу а deep valley called
Glen More, or the Great Glen, and the Highlands are dotted
with sparkling lochs, or lakes.
The Central Lowlands, an area of scenic green valleys, fer­
tile fields, and scattered woodlands, has Scotland's richest farm­
land, most of its mineral resources, and about 75 % of its peo­
ple. The region includes two of the Scotland's leading cities -
Glasgow, its largest city, in the west, and Edinburgh, its capi­
tal, in the east.
The Southern Uplands consist of rolling moors, which are
broken in places Ьу rocky cliffs. Sheep and cattle are raised on
the rich pastureland that covers most of the lower slopes.
Economy. The petroleum industry, which received а Ьig
boost following the discovery of oil and gas under the North Sea
in the 1960s and 1970s, provides jobs in northern Scotland. And
one of the Scotland's most valuaЫe resources is its excellent
fishing grounds off the east and north coasts. Other important
products include chemicals, electronic equipment, steel, textiles,
and whisky.
In their leisure time, the Scots enjoy sports, including golf,
which is believed to have originated in Scotland, and soccer.
Highland Games, held throughout the Нighlands during the
spring, summer, and early autumn, include field .events, foot
races, and dancing and bagpipe competitions.

After-Reading 1. Match the two parts of the sentences.

1) Scotland occupies the а) which is believed to have

northern originated in Scotland.
2) The country's administration Ь) has Scotland's richest farm-
is conducted in Edinburgh land and most of mineral
resources.
3) In their leisure time, the с) located in the central part of
Scots enjoy sports, including the country.
golf,
4) The Highlands are а magnifi­ d) which are broken in places Ьу
cent region that rocky cliffs.
5) The Southern Uplands е) third of the island of Great
consist of rolling moors, Britain.
6) Most of the population is f) cover the northern two-thirds
concentrated in an industrial of Scotland.
area
7) The Central Lowlands, an g) Ьу various departments of
area of scenic beauty, the Scottish Office.
57
 2. Solve the crossword puzzle
using the information about
Scotland.
Across: 3. capital city;
5. coloured checks; 7. the word
that m_eans "valley"; 8. one of the
largest cities of Scotland; 10. the
7
sport that is believed to have orig­
6

inated from Scotland; 11. people

9 in Scotland (nationality)
Down: 1. national dress
worn Ьу men; 2. the word that
means "family"; 4. one of the re­
10 gions ofScotland; 5. products pro­
duced in Scotland; 6. Scotland is
situated to the ... of England;
11

9. administration is conducted
Ьу the departments of the Scot­
tish ...

Listening 1. Read the sentences and choose the correct word from the two
Comprehension Check given in brackets.
Edinburgh, the capital of _______________
(Scotland/Wales), is the centre of government and commercial life.
It is also а popul ar __________________
(tourist / business) destination. The city is famous for its pictur­
esque location, fine buildings and the annual international
(fair / festival).
The event which draws thousands of __________
(visitors / students) to the capital of Scotland is the famous Edin­
burgh Festival.
Edinburgh is full of beautiful _ ____________
(commercial / historical) buildings. One of them is Hollyrood House,
а large mansion built in the early 16th century and used as the
official residence of the Queen whenever she is in Edinburgh. Most
of the old buildings in Edinburgh stand along the Royal Mile, the
ancient ______________________
(square / street) leading from the castle.
One more place worth visiting in Edinburgh is Calton Hill. On the
top there is а collection of monuments, including the National
monument (а partly completed сору cf the Greek Parthenon) and
the Nelson monument.
Edinburgh is the cultural centre of Scotland. The city's pride are
numerous art galleries, theatres, museums, old university (1582)
and the Edinburgh Academy.

58
 Unit
13 Wales

Homeland! I am devoted to my country;

So long as the sea is the wall to this Ьeautiful land,
Мау the ancient language remain.
Welsh national antliem

Pre-Reading 1. Answer the questions.

Do you know the words of the Ukrainian anthem?
Why in the Welsh anthem there are the words "I am devoted to
my country"?
Are you devoted to your country? What do these words mean?

Reading 1. What do these figures mean? Find them in the text and translate
the sentences into Ukrainian.
10 % 20 % 5%
1000 38 2/3
1,085 3 mln

WALES
Population: 2,861,000.
Area: 20,768 square kilometres.
Capital: Cardiff (with population about 278,900 residents).
Wales covers about 10 per cent of the island of Great Britain, but has only about 5 % of the
population of the UК. About 20 % of the people speak Welsh, an ancient Celtic language.
English and Welsh are both official languages.
Wales is а country of poets and singers with а literature that dates back more than 1,000
years and an ancient choral music tradition. А festival called Eisteddfod, featuring musi­
cians, poets, and singers, is held twice а year.

59
 As part of Great Britain,Wales elects 38 of the 659 mem­
bers of the House of Commons. The country's daily adminis­
tration is carried out Ьу the Welsh office in Cardiff, the capi­
tal of Wales. The head of the Welsh Office is appointed Ьу
the British Prime Minister and is а member of the CaЬinet.
Land. The Cambrian Mountains cover about 2/Зds of
Wales. The highest peak in the country, Snowdon, reaches
3,561 feet (1,085 metres). Coastal plains and river valleys
cover about а third of the country. The longest rivers are the
Severn and Wye, which both empty into the Bristol Chan­
nel. The Isle of Anglesey, а large island off the northwest
coast ofWales, is separated from the mainland Ьу the Menai
Strait.
Wales had three national parks - Snowdonia, the Bre­
con Beacon, and the Pembrokeshire Coast. These and other
protected areas provide а refuge for endangered species.
Economy. The largest urban areas in Wales are Car­
diff, Swansea, and Newport, all located on the southern coast,
and the majority of the country's nearly 3 mln people live in
the southeast. А major increase in Wales's population oc­
curred during the Industrial Revolution in the 1700s, when
large numbers of people immigrated from England to work
in the coal mines. Many Welsh people also left the farms to
find work in the coal-mining towns of southernWales, where
most mining activities were concentrated. Today the econo­
my of Wales depends primarily on manufacturing and serv­
ice industries.
Everyday life in industrialWelsh cities and towns is sim­
ilar to life in the industrial areas elsewhere in Great Britain.
Mter work, many people enjoy watching TV or socializing at
the local pub. Other popular pastimes include Rugby foot­
ball - the country's national sport - as well as soccer and
cricket.

After-Reading 1. Organize а discussion.

Which of the tourist attractions mentioned in the text would you
Ье most interested in? Why?
Do you like travelling? If you had enough time and money, what
countries would you like to visit?
Do you agree that tourists in а foreign country should behave as
the people living in it?
Discuss the question in groups of four and after that tell your
opinion to the rest of the class.

The Welsh Language. Wales has а very strong Celtic culture. Many Celtic languages
have almost disappeared, but Welsh is still used. Until 1825 about 80 per cent of the popula­
tion spoke Welsh. During the nineteenth century there were fewer Welsh speakers, because
many English and Irish workers moved to SouthWales andWelsh people moved to the cities
where less Welsh was spoken. At school, children were punished for speaking \Velsh.
Recently, there has been more interest in Welsh. It is now spoken as а first language Ьу
more than 20 per cent of the population. It is used as а first language in more and more
schools and it is_ studied as а second language in all other schools in Wales.
Welsh is recognized as а minority language Ьу the EU andWales receives money to help
its language stay alive. There are television and radio stations with Welsh-language pro­
grammes, even soaps.

60
Listening 1. Retell the text in English using the given expressions as prompts.
Comprehension Check / '
The capital city, the southeast coast, current population, an
important administrative, commercial, cultural and indus­
trial centre and port, to grow quickly, to become prosperous,
major industrial town, an attractive and interesting place to
live in, а city of contrasts, а modern shopping centre witЪ
many shops, the greatest tourist attraction, an astonishing
range of exЬ.ibits in natural science, arcЪeology, botany, zo­
ology and art, in tЪе late Gothic style, an attractive and in­
teresting place to see

61
 Northern lreland

The Irish Dancer

I am of Ireland
And of the holy land
Oflreland
Good sir, pray I thee,
Of sainte charity
Соте and dance with me
In Ireland.
A,юnymous

Pre-Reading 1. Define the following words using the dictionary.

to create ______ ______________

province _________________________

militant ______________________

to force __________ _____________

capital _______________ _______

pastime

Reading 1. Read the text, find the sentences with the words given in the
previous task and translate them into Ukrainian.

NORTНERN IRELAND
Population: 1,597,000.
Area: 14,121 square kilometres.
Capital: Belfast (with population about 301,600
residents).
Northern Ireland consists of the north-eastern
section of the island of Ireland. It is often called
Ulster. lЛster was the name of а large province of
Britain-controlled Ireland until 1920. In 1920,
Great Britain separated Northern Ireland from the
rest of Ireland in order to create separate govern­
ments for the predominantly Protestant north and

62
.1

the mostly Roman Catholic south. The majority of theNorthern Irish people, who are Protes­
tants of English or Scottish descent, supported the separation. But many Roman Catholics in
both the north and the south refused·to accept the division. In 1921, the south became the
self-governing Irish Free State, now the independent RepuЬlic of Ireland. Northern Ireland
continues to Ье united with Great Britain.
Beginning in 1921, militant Irish groups, particularly the
Irish RepuЬlican Army (IRA), attacked British government
installations inNorthern Ireland, hoping to force the British
to give up control. Protestant groups retaliated. In the 1960s
the Roman Catholic minority held marches demanding an end
to economic and political discrimination. The police reacted
with violence and riots broke out. In 1968, the IRA resumed
its campaign of violence. In 1972, Britain established direct
rule overNorthern Ireland and sent in troops.
Land. Northern Ireland is а land of rolling plains and
low mountains. The fertile plains cover the central part of
the country, and scenic green valleys and low mountains lie
along the country's coast. The countryside of Northern Ire­
land is dotted with smooth, clear lakes. LakeNeagh, the larg­
est in the British Isles, covers 396 square kilometres near
the centre ofNorthern Ireland.
Economy. About 20 per cent of the people of Northern
Ireland live in Belfast, the capital and largest city. Belfast is
also the country's manufacturing and trading centre, and
many ofNorthern Ireland's linen mills, ship-yards, and air­
craft plants are located there. However, the country's econo­
my depends mainly on service industries, which employ about
75 per cent of the workers.
Since fertile pastureland isNorthern Ireland's chief natu­
ral resource, agriculture is also an important industry. About
30 per cent of the population live in rural areas.
Life inNorthern Ireland is like British life. Such sports
as soccer, cricket, and golf are popular pastimes, and pubs
play an important role in social life.

63
After-Reading 1. Answer the questions and discuss them in the class.
What is the cause of trouЫes in Northern Ireland?
Do you think they should use all the methods in their struggle for
independence or solve the question in а peaceful way?
2. Write an essay on "lndependence is vitally important for people
to Ье happy".

3. Now you have studied the parts of Great Britain. Look through
the texts again and fill in the tаЬ/е.

England Scotland Wales Northern Ireland

Population
Area
Capital city
Mountains

Lakes and rivers

Mineral resources
Official language
Pastime

Listening 1. Listen to the text carefully and write it down in English.

Comprehension Chek

64

Unit 1
The British are often viewed
as the most boring people in the
world. They wear unimaginative­
ly formal clothes, eat tasteless
food, practise slow sports and
have а specific sense of humour
which is usually not understood
Ьу foreigners. They are also said
to Ье conservative, reserved and
cool. Indeed, the British are not
very open or spontaneous. They
do not kiss or embrace Ьу way of
greeting so as not to allow famili­
arity. They always keep а certain
distance and are not willing to
manifest their feelings and emo­
tions. They are even accused of
being hyp ocritical because they
might think one thing and say
another. It is not easy to make
friends with them but once you
have made а friend, it is а friend
for life.
The English are said to Ье the
masters of trivial conversation.
Their "small talk" usually deals
with the weather or some general
questions as it is not accepted to
interfere in someone's private life.
Unit 2
The climate of Britain is more
or less the sam9 as that of the
north-western part of the Euro­
pean mainland. The popular be­
lief that it .r:ains all the time in
Britain is simply not true. Lon­
don gets no more rain in а year
than most other major European
cities, and less than some.
Texts for Listening Comprehension
ТНЕ BRITISH CНARACTER
The British are very polite.
They always queue when they
are waiting for а bus and hold the
door open for the person behind
them. Also, the British bobЬies
have а reputation of being the
most friendly and helpful police­
men in the world. On the other
hand, the English football fans
are regarded as hooligans and
vandals аЫе to tear the stadiums
into pieces. Generally speaking,
however, the British are well­
mannered.
''Тhere is no place like home" -
say the British. This adage best
expresses an Englishman's tradi­
tional love of his home. About 70
per cent of British people have
their own houses. Most homes
have а garden in which the Brit­
ish spend а lot of time growing
flowers and looking after the
lawn - а national pride. Many
houses, especially the older ones,
are surrounded Ьу hedges, which
symbolizes the desire of the Brit­
ish to protect their privacy. "Му
house is my castle" - this well-
CLIМATE IN GREAT BRITAIN
The amount of rain that falls
on а town in Britain depends on
where it is. Generally speaking,
the further west you go, the more
rain you get. The mild winters
mean that snow is а regular fea­
ture of the higher areas only.
Occasionally, а whole winter
goes Ьу without any snow at all.
known proverb reminds а visitor
that unless he is invited, he may
expect to Ье treated as an in­
truder.
The English not only love their
homes but also their pets. Many
people keep cats, dogs and other
animals at home: They are com­
pletely crazy about pets. There
are more animal rights groups in
Britain than anywhere else in the
world. Paradoxically, the English
still love the hunting of wild ani­
mals, such as foxes or hares, with
the aim of killing them.
It is not easy to decide on the
typically British characteristics.
Not all English people are cold,
uncominunicative or boring, not
all of them are crazy about lawns
or animals. Still, there is one
thing that is typically British:
а strong attachment to tradition
and а desire to keep their coun­
try's uniqueness. Some people
say that the British live in the
past, but they are simply proud
of their originality.
The winters are in general а bit
colder in the east of the country
than they are in the west, while
in summer, the south is slightly
warmer and sunnier than the
north.
Why has Britain's climate got
such а bad reputation? Perhaps
it is for the same reason that Brit-
65
i8h people alway8 8eem to Ье talk­
ing about the weather. Thi8 i8 it8
changeability. There i8 а 8aying
that Britain doe8n't have а cli­
mate, it only ha8 weather. It may
not rain very much altogether,
but you can never Ье 8Ure of а dry
day; there can Ье cool day8 in July
and 80me quite warm day8 in
January.
The lack of extremes is the rea­
son why the country 8eems to Ье
totally unprepared for hot or cold
days. А bit of 8now and а few days
offrost and the trains 8top work­
ing and the road8 are Ыocked; if
the thermometer goe8 above
27 °С, people behave as if they
were in the Sahara and the tem­
perature make8 front-page head­
line8. The8e thing8 happen 80
rarely that it i8 not worth organ­
izing life to Ье ready for them.

Unit З
А МEDIEVAL TOWN

Long ago many town8 had
wall8 around them. А8 you walked
round а town you came every hun­
dred yard8 or 80 to tower8 that
8tood out from the wall8 and ro8e
high above them, 80 that no ene­
my could come up to the wall. On
each 8ide of the gate8 the tower8
were higher and 8tronger than
U8Ual. From а long way offit wa8
possiЫe to 8ее the church towers
rising high above the red-tiled
roofs of the houses.
On bu8y day8 the road8 lead­
ing to the gate8 of the town were
crowded. Farmers came to sell
cheese, butter, eggs and other
thing8 to the citizen8. The toll
collector stood at the gate8. The
farmer8 had to рау duty on every­ tough wood. The fir8t 8torey over­
thing they brought in for sale. hung the ground floor, and had
Let's look at the 8treets and rather Ьig windows, and the roof
8hops. The 8hops were place8 wa8 covered with tile8.
where people made thing8 as well The people wore 8trange
as 801d them. They had no glass clothes. The 8treets were very
windows. Acro8s the front of each dirty because they were never
8hop there ran the counter with 8Wept up. But everybody seemed
different thing8 expo8ed for sale on jollier than the Engli8hmen who
it. The shopkeeper8 stood behind walk the street8 nowaday8. Per­
them. All of them 8houted without hap8 they made а living more
stopping: "What can I do for you?" ea8ily than we do. Perhaps they
Some of the hou8es of the town trouЫed themselves less about
were built of 8tone and wood,just the things we think important.
like old hou8es in 80me of the They had more time to do things
pre8ent-day village8. Sometimes they liked than we have, becau8e
the ground floor wall wa8 made they did not spend all day at busi­
of 8tone and had 8mall windows. nes8. No wonder old England i8
The door was broad, made of called "Merry England".

Unit 4
PARLIAMENT

Parliament is the supreme
legislative authority and consist8
of three 8eparate elements: the
Sovereign, the Hou8e of Lord8
and the elected House of Com­
mon8. Over the centuries the bal­
ance between the three part8 of
the legislature has changed, 80
that the Queen'8 role i8 now only
formal and the Hou8e of Com­
mons has gained supremacy over
the House of Lord8.
The Hou8e of Commons is
а popular а88еmЫу elected Ьу al­
most universal adult 8Uffrage.
There are 659 Members of Par­
liament · (MPs) - each member
66
representing one of the 659 geo­
graphical areas (constituencie8)
into which the country is divided
for electoral purpo8e8. If an МР
die8, re8ign8 or is made а peer,
а by-election i8 held in that constit­
uency to elect а new МР. Leaders
of the Government and Opposi­
tion 8it on the front benche8 of the
Common8, with their supporters
(back-benchers) behind them.
The House is presided over Ьу the
Speaker.
The main function of the
Hou8e of Common8 i8 to legi8late,
but the 8trong party sy8tem in
Britain has meant that the initi-
ative in government lie8 not with
Parliament but with the Govern­
ment (mo8t Bill8 are introduced
Ьу the Government, although
they may also Ье introduced Ьу
individual MPs) and party mem­
ber8 ai11108t automatically pas8
whatever i8 put before them Ьу
their party.
The Hou8e of Lords, which is
pre8ided over Ьу the Lord Chan­
cellor, is рrоЬаЫу the only upper
House in the democratic world
who8e members are not elected.
It is made up of the Lord8 Spiri­
tual and the Lord8 Temporal; the
former con8i8t of the repre8enta-
 · es of the Church of England House of Lords can revise Bills from becoming law for а maxi­
the ArchЬishops of York and sent to it Ьу the House of Com­ mum of 12 months.
Canterbury and 25 Ьishops). The mons but it can only delay а Bill

Unit 5

PARKS

Most British parks were cre­
ated in the 19th century, when
more people moved in to the
towns. InLondon there are sev­
eral parks. Some of them deserve
special attention.
Regent's Park. А park in cen­
tral London designed Ьу John
Nash for the Prince Regent and
completed in 1828. It contains an
outdoor theatre, flower gardens,
sports fields and а large lake, and
London Zoo is in its north side.
The park is surrounded Ьу sever­
al grand buildings in the Regency
style, known as the Terraces. Zo­
ological Garden - one of the most
famous zoos in the world because
of the number and variety of its
species. It was estaЫished in 1826
Ьу the Zoological Society of Lon­
don. Today the Zoo is an impor­
tant centre for the study of ani­
mals, and breeds animals that are
in danger of disappearing in their
native environments.
England is Ыessed Ьу several
institutions now of internation­
al fame. Many of these institu­
tions are in some way connected
with nature. Such is Kew Gar­
dens - а park in west London,
which contains а large collection
of plants, trees, etc. from all over
the world and is а major centre
for the study of plants. Its offi­
cial name is the Royal Botanic
Gardens and it was opened to the
puЬlic in 1840 Ьу Queen Victo­
ria. It is very popular with tour­
ists and British people, and
among its famous buildings are
the Chinese Pagoda and several
very large green houses, includ­
ing the Palm House (opened in
1848). Joseph Banks (1743-
1820) an English naturalist who
discovered and collected many
unknown plants, especially in
Australia, and helped to start
the famous collection of plants at
Kew Gardens where people come
to wander among orchids, child­
ren are brought Ьу their parents
to greet the first daffodils of the
year.
Hyde Park - а large puЫic
park in central London next to
Kensington Gardens. It is famous
for Speaker's Corner, where people
can make puЬlic speeches on any
topic, Rotten Row, а riding track
for horses, and the Serpentine
lake. In 1851 the Great ExhiЬi­
tion was held in Hyde Park.
Kensing ton Gardens -
а park in south-west London,
next to Hyde Park. It was former­
ly the garden of Kensington Pal­
ace, and was opened to the pub­
lic in the 1830s. It contains the
Albert Memorial and а famous
statue of Peter Pan.
London Zoo is in Regent's
Park, London. It was estaЫished
in 1826 Ьу the Zoological Society
ofLondon.

Unit 6

BRITISH TOURIST TOWNS AND CITIES

Many of Britain's historic
towns and cities are important
tourist centres. They are very im­
portant in attracting large num­
bers of foreign visitors toBritain.
London is Britain's most import­
ant tourist centre. Day visitors
and British and foreign holiday­
makers are attracted to London
Ьу its historic buildings, ceremo­
nial events, museums, art gal­
leries, theatres, shops and special
tourist attractions.
Уork is one of Britain's most
important tourist cities. It has
а long history and many build-
ings survived from the Middle Bradford has much to offer. You
Ages when it was one ofBritain's can discover its history and in­
largest cities. Its major attrac­ dustrial heritage, spend time in
tions to visitors are: Minster Li­ the city's museums and galler­
brary, Treasurer's House, St Wil­ ies which include the N <J.tional
liam's College, Art Gallery, St Museum of Photography, Film
Mary's АЬЬеу, Yorkshire Muse­ and TV - Britain's newest na­
um, W ах Museum, the ShamЫes tional museum. You can also
(medieval street) and many others. hunt for textile bargains in the
It has major museums besides millshops.
many historic buildings. Beyond the city centre,Bradford
Bradford is а city which has encompasses open moors and val­
made great eff orts to develop leys. Тhе villages have their own
tourism. It promotes itself as attractions: Haworth, the Worth
а centre for touring the sur­ Valley steam railway; Saltaire, the
rounding area. For many visitors, Victorian "model" village.
67
 Historic towns which attract
many visitors face difficult deci­
sions when planning for the fu­
ture. Their residents expect ser­
vices and amenities to Ье deve­
loped just as in other towns. This
needs to Ье done whiL-e still con-
Unit 7
Charlotte Brontё was the most
admired of the Brontё sisters in
her lifetime. Her four puЫished
novels, which are in part autoЬi­
ographical, are still widely read
today.
Born in Thornton, Yorkshire,
in 1816, Charlotte Brontё was the
third daughter of Patrick Brontё,
а clergyman oflrish descent, and
Maria Branwell. In 1820 they
moved to Haworth. After the
death of Charlotte's mother in
1821, her mother's sister, Eliza­
beth, came to look after the fam­
ily, and the children, five daugh­
ters and а son.
Unit 8
WНАТ DO YOUNG PEOPLE DO IN SPARE ТIМЕ?
When they are not at school,
eating, or doing their homework,
young people in their "teens"
spend а lot of their time in their
own neighbourhoods with friends,
either in the streets or parks or
in each others' homes. Surveys
show that only few young people
attend youth clubs. The younger
age group of 11 to 15 year-olds
most often attend youth clubs
and centres, although less than
20 per cent of this population are
regular attenders. Most young
people are more interested in ac­
tivities that do not cost money.
Lack of their own money in the
younger age groups means that
а great deal of time is spent with
friends, window-shopping in
town, cycling or skateboarding.
In the older age group, those
who are still at school, or who are
68
serving the historic buildings
and their features which attract
the visitors. Old town centres
with narrow streets are unsuit­
aЫe for the smooth flow of traf­
fic. The pressure of visitors may
lead to other proЫems such as
CНARLOTTE ВRОNТЁ
Children read а lot and created
the fantasy worlds of Angria and
Gondol, writing stories and news­
papers for these imaginary places.
In 1824, the four eldest girls were
sent to Cowan Bridge school,
which Charlotte described as
Lowood in Jane Eyre. Its poor
conditions caused the deaths of
Maria and Elizabeth and dam­
aged Charlotte's health. The time
Charlotte spent at her second
school, Roehead, was far happier.
Here she made one or two life­
long friends, who appear in her
novels. She later returned here
as а teacher but gave up the post
unemployed and on low-paid
training schemes, have insuffi­
cient income to do what they
please and are therefore restricted
in their activities. Over 60 per
cent of young people aged 15 to
24 have а disposaЬle income of
less than f: 50 per week. Уoung
men and women who have started
earning properly spend time in
pubs, go to dances, concerts, dis­
cos and the cinema.
Parents do not always give their
children а set amount of pocket
money each week. Some parents
give money in return for children
taking part in household chores,
ranging from washing up dishes,
to clearing bedrooms or washing
the family car. Other parents make
no demands of this kind.
Young people, aged 12 up­
wards, earn money Ьу washing
litter, inadequate car parking,
accommodation shortages and
the development of some tourist
attractions and shops which do
not fit in with the character of
old towns.
to set up her own school at Ha­
worth with Emily. То get further
qualifications the two sisters
went to Brussels, where Char­
lotte fell hopelessly in love with
М. Heger, later described in her
novel Villette. Her first novel, The
Professor, was not puЫished, but
she went on to write Jane Eyre,
which was very successful. Char­
lotte refused three offers of mar­
riage but in 1854 she agreed to
marry her father's curate, А. В.
Nicholls. The marriage was not
long because she died the follow­
шg year.
cars or windows, doing "paper
rounds" (delivering the early
morning newspaper before
school), mowing lawns and so on.
For those aged 14 years and
above, baby-sitting is Ьу far the
most popular means of earning
extra money.
At 15 years old and above,
young people often find them­
selves "Saturday jobs" working as
assistants in shops. But money is
always а proЫem. There are
а great many things that young
people wish to buy, including
clothes, magazines, CD and cas­
sette tape music, computer
games, and enough money to go
to the cinema, discos and dances
or even to go climЬing or canoe­
ing.
Unit 9

AN ENGLISHМAN'S DAУ

А typical Englishman gets up politics, weather and some local fun. The most frequently visited
at 7 а. m., takes а shower, dresses affairs with his old friends. places are Brighton in the south
up and has а quick breakfast usu­ On Saturday morning, the and Blackpool in the north of
ally consisting of toast and jam, Englishman traditionally does England. If he likes fishing (of­
or cornflakes with milk. Не the shopping for the whole week ten called angling), he heads to­
leaves home at 8 o'clock so as not to соте. Не usually goes to а local wards some canal, river or lake
to Ье late for work. Не usually supermarket or drives to а shop­ and waits hours beside them to
works from 9 а. m. to 5 р. m., but ping complex outside town where catch fish. Не also likes to dis­
he has an hour's break for lunch he can buy products cheaper and cover the picturesque countryside
at 12 noon. Не spends it in the at one place. During the day he and walk small parts of long-dis­
nearest pub or а fast-food restau­ spends а lot of time mowing the tance footpaths which cross Brit­
rant gossiping with his colleagues grass and growing flowers and ain (the longest one runs from the
and having some light meal. Не vegetaЫes in his garden. In the south-west part ofEngland to the
comes back home at about half late afternoon he goes to the far north of Scotland!). The coun­
past five and enjoys dinner with cinema or to а restaurant, visits tryside with its green fields, low
his family. In the evening, he usu­ friends or spends some of his hills, rivers and small woods is
ally watches television and goes leisure hours in а club. The club an ideal place for а Sunday ex­
for а walk with his pet. Не also for sport or hobbies serves the cursion.
likes to drop into а local pub for Englishman's desire to associate Refreshed after the weekend,
а pint of beer. А pub is an unof­ and to share his particular pas­ the Englishman is ready to start
ficial meeting-place, а kind of sion with others. another busy Monday.
а club where а workingEnglish­ On Sunday, the Englishman
man can relax, listen to music, takes his family to some seaside
play darts or bar billiard, discuss town to bathe and to have some

Unit 10

SPORT

1 Fishing - one of the most and for years the world champion 7 Snooker - а game like Ьil­
popular individual sports (note has been from Pakistan. liards played with fifteen red balls
that most of the fish are put back 6 Darts - an indoor game and six coloured balls (yellow,
in the river or lake!). that is very popular in pubs and green, brown, Ыuе, pink and Ыасk)
2 Football - а game theEng­ clubs. The steel darts are thrown and а white cue ball. Players use
lish claim to have invented. at а circular board (the dart cues to try to remove all the balls
3 Tennis - the annual cham­ board). The aim is to score points from the tаЫе in а certain order.
pionship at the All England Ten­ which are suЬtracted from the Snooker is one of the most popular
nis Club in WimЬledon, South original total of 301 or 501. television sports in Britain.
London is still the greatest tour­
nament in the world.
4 Rugby - а game in which
fifteen players try to carry an oval
ball across the line of the oppo­
sition.
5 Squash - indoor game
played in an enclosed court. Тhе
ball is а small rubber ball and the
racket is like а tennis racket but
smaller and lighter. The ball is hit
off any wall but must hit the front
wall above а line painted above the
floor. Outside Britain squash is
popular in Australia, New Zealand
69
 8 Golf - invented in Scotland
it is now played all over the world.
9 Cricket - the English na­
tional game which is also played
with great enthusiasm in coun­
tries which were colonies like the
West Indies, Pakistan, Australia,
N ew Zealand.
1О Cycling - in parts of Eng­
land, especially Oxford and Cam­
bridge, the cycle is used as
а means of transport as well as
а source of exercise.
11 Bowls - а game where
players try to put a heavy wooden
ball as close to а small white ball
or jack as possiЫe. It is played
on very smooth lawns or on car­
pets indoors.
12 Badminton - an indoor
rackets game played with
а feather shuttlecock rather
than а ball.

Unit 11

CНANNEL ISLANDS AND ISLE OF МАN

The Channel Islands are
а group of islands in the English
Channel. Although they lie only
about 10 to 30 miles (16 to 48 kilo­
metres) off the coast of France,
the islands have been attached to
the English Crown since 1066.
The Isle of Man lies in the Irish
Sea midway between England
and Ireland. Great Britain has
controlled the Isle of Man since
1765. But British laws do not
apply to the island unless it is
specifically named in the legisla­
tion.
The Channel Islands. The
six main islands of the Channel
Islands are Jersey, Guernsey,
Alderney, Sark, Herm, and
Jethou. Along with numerous
70
smaller isles, the islands cover 75 Several of the islands have
square miles (195 square kilo­ their own distinguishing charac­
metres). The total population of teristics. For example, Jersey, the
the Channel Islands is about largest of the islands, is known
130,000. English and French are for its cows and for its sweaters,
the official languages and Eng­ which are often called "jerseys".
lish is used most, but many is­ In the 1600's so many men aban­
landers speak а French dialect doned their farmwork to knit the
that varies from island to island. jerseys that а law was introduced
The islands, which have been to ban knitting in the summer
largely self-governing since the months.
1200s, are divided into two ad­ Alderney and Guernsey are
ministrative units. А lieutenant known for their cattle, and
governor assigned to each unit Guernsey is also noted for its fine
represents the British monarch tomatoes grown in greenhouses.
and handles international affairs. Sark, the smallest self-govern­
Four of the islands - Jersey, ing unit in the United Кingdom,
Guernsey, Alderney, andSark - has а democratic form of govern­
have their own parliaments to ment headed Ьу а seigneur, or
regulate internal affairs. feudal lord. The use of cars is pro­
hibited on Sark, and the people
travel Ьу horse-drawn carriage or
Ьicycle. However, the island is
only 3 miles (4.8 kilometres) long
and 1 1/2 miles (2.4 kilometres)
wide.
The leading industry in the
Channel Islands is tourism: the
pleasant beaches and historic
landmarks draw many visitors.
The mild climate and fertile soil
help make farming important as
well. Farmers grow fruits, vege­
taЫes, and flowers, and raise cat­
tle. Banking and other financial
services are also major economic
activities, especially on Jersey.
А dependency of the Brit­
ish Crown, the Isle of Man is
an island in the Irish Sea,
about halfway between England
and Ireland and about 20 miles
(32 kilometres) south ofScotland.
The island has an area of 227
quare miles (588 square kilo­
metres) and а population of about
65,000. The people speak Eng­
lish, and some also speak а Celt­
ic language called Мапх.
А representative ofGreat Brit­
ain oversees the island's foreign
affairs. However а 1,000-year­
old parliament called Tynwald
Court regulates the island's con­
cerns.
Crowds of tourists visit sum­
mer resorts on the Isle of Man,
and its international motorcycle
race, held each June, draws many
enthusiasts. In addition to tour­
ism, important industries include
agriculture and fishing. Many
new residents and industries
have settled on the island since
1961, when the Isle ofMan great­
ly lowered its taxes.

Unit 12

EDINВURGH - ТНЕ CAPITAL OF SCOTLAND

Edinburgh, the capital ofScot­ Edinburgh is full of beautiful ing to 335 ft, it offers an impres­
land, is the centre of government historical buildings. One of them sive view of the city centre (espe­
and commercial life. It is also is Hollyrood House, а large man­ cially the wide busy Princes
а popular tourist destination. sion built in the early 16th centu­ Street) andFirth ofFourth (а gulf
The city is famous for its pictur­ ry and used as the official resi­ on the North Sea). On the top
esque location, fine buildings dence of the Queen whenever she there is а collection of monu­
and the annual international is in Edinburgh. Another well­ ments, including the National
festival. known building is Lady Stair's monument (а partly completed
The most imposing structure House dating from 1622 and con­ сору of theGreek Parthenon) and
is Edinburgh Castle, а famous taining literary relicts of Robert the Nelson monument.
fortress built on а hill in the cen­ Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Ro­ Edinburgh is the cultural cen­
tre ofEdinburgh. Тhе oldest parts bert LouisStevenson. Most of the tre of Scotland. The city's pride
of the castle date back to about old buildings inEdinburgh stand are numerous art galleries, the­
1100. А special tourist attraction along the Royal Mile, the ancient atres, museums, old university
is theEdinburghMilitary Tattoo street leading from the castle. (1582) and the Edinburgh Acad­
which takes place annually on One more place worth visiting emy.
the grounds of the castle. This in Edinburgh is Calton Hill. Ris-
spectacular military parade lasts
three weeks in August and Sep­
tember and is an impressive dis­
play of marching, military music
and fireworks.
Another event which draws
thousands of visitors to the capi­
tal of Scotland is the famous
Edinburgh Festival. This inter­
national arts festival started in
1947 and since that time it an­
nually brings to Edinburgh the
finest performers and produc­
tions from all over the world. It
is held at various centres ofEdin­
burgh at the same time as the
Tattoo and includes theatre, mu­
sic, opera, dance and comedy. Тhе
unofficial part of the Edinburgh
Festival is called the Fringe and
it has а reputation for its experi­
mental or_ avant-garde produc­
tions. In fact, more plays and con­
certs take place on the Fringe
than at the official festival.
71
 .,..
.

Unit 13
CARDIFF- ТНЕ WELSH CAPITAL

Cardiff is the capital city of
Wales. It lies on the southeast coast
of Wales on the Bristol Channel.
Although Cardiff is not а metropo­
lis (its current population is only
about 300,000), it is an important
administrative, commercial, cul­
tural and industrial centre and port.
Cardiff has been the official
capital ofWales since 1955. There
has been а community here for
hundreds of years, but it began
to grow quickly and to become
prosperous during the nineteenth
and early twentieth centuries.
This was the period when the
coal, iron and steel industries
were developing in SouthWales,
and Cardiffbecame major indus­
trial town and an important port.
Today it is an attractive and in­
teresting place to live in, with
good communications, plenty of
parks and а varied population
which includes nearly 10,000
university and college students.
Cardiff is а city of contrasts.
The famous Cardiff'Castle dating
back to Roman times, stands
alongside а modern shopping cen­
tre with many fashionaЫe shops,
excellent restaurants and hotels.
The Castle, built in 1090, is the
greatest tourist attraction.
Cardiff is also known for its
beautiful parks covering hun­
dreds of acres in the city. The
major commercial buildings are
found around Cathays Park. Car­
diff has also one of the world's
great Civil Centres including the
Law Courts; the University Col­
lege; the National Museum of
Wales with an astonishing range
of exhiЬits in natural science, ar­
cheology, botany, zoology and art;
and the Welsh Industrial and
Maritime Museum housing а col­
lection of boats and railway ve­
hicles. If you like music, there is
the famous national concert hall,
St David's Hall, or the New The­
atre, which is the home of the
Welsh Opera Company.
Visitors to Cardiff may also
admire Llandaff Cathedral built
in the late Gothic style, and the
richly decorated building of City
Hall.
Although Cardiffis not so excit­
ing as London, it is still an attrac­
tive and iriteresting place to see.

Unit 14
BELFAST- ТНЕ CAPITAL OF NORTHERN IRELAND

Belfast is the capital, largest
city, and chief industrial centre
72
and port of Northern Ireland. Тhе Next to university are the Botan­
city lies on Belfast Lake, а Ьау at ical Gardens, which surround
the mouth of the River Lagan on Ulster Museum. The Parliament
Northern Ireland's east coast. Buildings of Northern Ireland lie
Donegull Square lies in the cen­ just outside the city. Docks and
tre ofBelfast. In the square stands shipyards border the harbour on
City Hall. The main street in Bel­ the east shore of Belfast Lake.
fast's business district runs north For many years, shipbuilding
from the square. Queen's Univer­ and textile manufacturing pro­
sity, to the south, is the largest vided most of the jobs in Belfast.
university in N orthern Ireland. During the mid-1900s, these two
 dustries declined, though they
remain important. Belfast ship­
: ards have built many warships
and ocean liners, including the
amous British liner Titanic. Tex-
cile factories produce delicate
Irish linen that is famous
throughout the world. Since the
930s, the construction of aircraft
has become and important part
of Belfast's economy. Other ma­
jor products include clothing,
machinery, processed foods, rope,
оар, and tobacco.
English and Scottish settlers
estaЫished Belfast as а trading
centre in 1613. During the 1800s
Belfast became an industrial city
and major port. In 1920, when
Ireland became independent
and Northern Ireland remained
а part of the United Кingdom,
Belfast became the capital of
orthern Ireland.

73

Unit 1
· .. ��
.. >\,·
,�··i',�
J-��
Dear Olha,
I've been in England for three
months now. I'll soon Ье starting
my studies at Кing's College and
I've been learning about England
and British ways of living.
I find some customs new and
interesting. People here do not
shake hands as much as we do.
During the first few weeks I was
Unit 2
The drive from England to
Scotland provides the traveller
with many pleasant changes of
scenery. As it is а fairly longjour­
ney, it is good to Ье аЫе to travel
74
Texts for Home-Reading
.�
ALETTER
often surprised because people
did not put out their hands when
t
-... :.
I met them. Men raise their hats
;;. •. to women but not to each other.
When you go to а friend's house
for а meal, it's not the custom to
say "Thank you" at the end of the
meal as in our country. Here you
wait until you are leaving to go
home and then you say "Thank
you" for having been asked to
come.
I always thought that the last
meal of the day was dinner. Му
English friends usually call it
supper. They tel1 me that it's
more convenient to have а light
meal about seven or half-past.
Half-past seven is the time at
many of the London theatres.
Sunday is а very quiet day in
London. All the shops are closed
and so are the theatres and most
of the cinemas. Londoners like to
go out on Sundays. There are
thousands of cars on the roads
into the country. The south coast
is only fifty or sixty miles away
and people like to go down to the
sea for the day.
There are very few outdoor
cafes here. That's because the
IN ТНЕ HIGHLANDS
with а friend who can take turns
with you at the wheel.
А patriotic Scotsman travelling
with an English friend may tel1 him
he is going to see, in the Нigblands,
weather changes so often and so
quickly, I suppose. The sun may
Ье shining one minute and then,
а few minutes later, it may Ье
raining.
What а lot of foreigners there
are in London! When I travel on
the buses I hear different lan­
guages. London is fu.11 of people
from all parts of the world in
the summer. I've often stopped
people in the street to ask the way
and have found that they, like
me, are not Londoners. Now, if
I want help, I ask а policeman.
The London policemen are al­
ways ready to help.
English people do not talk as
much as we do. I've often travel­
led Ьу train and nobody has spo­
ken to me during the journey.
I know one Englishman who is
unusual: he speaks seven lan­
guages. And he can Ье silent in
seven languages!
This is а long letter, isn't it?
I must stop and say "Goodbye" to
you now. Please write and tel1 me
how you are and what you and
your friends are doing.
Love
Natalie.
the finest scenery in the world. Тhis
may sound exaggerated, but on ar­
riving in the Нigblands most peo­
ple readily agree that the scenery
is indeed magnificent.
 The Highlands are, as the
name implies, the hilly or moun-
ainous region of the country;
they form the greater part of the
western half of Scotland north of
Glasgow.
On the first night in Scotland
а tourist may choose to put up at
а hotel in the little town of Cal­
lander, which is known as one of
"the Gateways to the Highlands".
On the following day he can set
out to see the various lakes, or
rather "lochs", in the neighbour­
hood, and will Ье delighted with
the wild and romantic aspect of
the countryside. When he returns
to his hotel he will Ье glad to eat
а 'Ъigh tea". This is а meal which,
in Scotland and many parts of
northern England, takes the
place of tea and dinner. It consists
of one substantial course, such as passing on their way Loch Lo­ also see а herd of long-haired
one would have at dinner, fol­ mond, one of the largest and most Highland cattle, which look sav­
lowed Ьу bread-and-butter, with famous of the Scottish lakes. The age but are no more so than ordi­
jam or honey, and some kind of road twists and turns, dips and nary cattle. Eventually the road
cake or cakes; tea is drunk with climbs, but is not dangerous. The runs parallel with the sea, along
the meal, which is taken at about greatest hazard is the Ыack­ а coastline fringed with little is­
six o'clock in the evening. One has faced sheep: these animals are as lands and made ragged with
а light supper late in the evening. active and impudent as goats, rocky bays and the deep inlets
The next morning many tour­ and frequently wander reckless­ that are also called "lochs".
ists journey оп to the west coast, ly into the road. The tourist may

Unit 3
QUEEN ELIZABETH'S REIGN

Elizabeth I came to throne in а reformed Catholic Church that

1558. She had many of her fa­
ther's, Henry VII, qualities in­
cl uding common sense and
strength of character. Like him,
she understood people. She loved
hunting and dancing. She travel­
led а lot round the country. She
wanted to know her people and
to Ье known Ьу them. Нег soldiers
and sailors admired her courage.
She could speak Latin, Greek and
several modern languages. She
enjoyed a joke.
During her reign Queen Eliz­
abeth solved her first proЫem,
the Church. The Anglican
Church under Elizabeth followed
а middle course. Most people in
Britain wanted what her father,
Henry VIII, had given them:
used the English language and
was free from foreign influence.
And they got what they wanted.
Elizabeth's next proЫem was
to keep her enemies quiet until
her country was strong enough to
defend itself. The greatest dan­
ger came from Spain. In July
1588 the Spanish Armada of one
hundred and thirty Spanish ships
arrived in the Channel. The Eng­
lish ships were faster than the to different lands. They tried to
slow Armada. The English guns find а quick way to India round
could shoot farther. After the bat­ the north of Russia. England
tle less than half of the proud wanted to trade peacefully with
Armada came back to its home other countries and to find emp­
ports. This defeat of Spain was ty lands where it could plant her
very important for England. own colonies.
During Queen Elizabeth's In those years the first Eng­
reign England sent its explorers lishman sailed round the world.
75
That was Francis Drake who in
1577 started for South America.
Не explored the coast of Califor­
nia and made his way across the
Pacific and Indian Oceans, round
Africa, and returned to England
in 1580. QueenElizabeth's reign
Unit 4
The Queen reigns but does not
rule. The United Кingdom is gov­
erned Ьу Her Majesty's Govern­
ment in the name of the Queen.
There are still many important
acts of government which need
the participation of the Queen.
The Queen summons, prorogues
and dissolves Parliament. Nor­
mally she opens the new session
with а speech from the throne
which outlines her Government's
programme. Before а bill which
has passed all its stages in both
Houses of Parliament becomes
а legal entactment it must re­
ceive the Royal Assent, which is
usually declared to both Houses
Ьу their Speakers.
The Queen is the "fountain of
justice" and as such can pardon
or show mercy to those convicted
of crimes under English law. As
the "fountain of honour" the
Queen confers peerages, knight­
hoods and other honours. She
76
was also famous for arts and the­
atre development. Elizabeth was
а good musician herself. English
music, especially church music,
was then among the best in Eu­
rope. Many great men wrote po­
etry, drama was also famous.
FUNCTIONS OF ТНЕ MONARCH
appoints or dismisses Govern­
ment ministers, judges, members
of diplomatic corps. As Com­
mander-in-Chief of the armed
services (the Royal Navy, the
Army and the Royal Air Force)
she appoints officers, and as tem­
poral head of the estaЫished
Church ofEngland she makes ap­
pointments to the leading posi­
tions in the Church. The Queen
has the power to conclude trea­
ties, to declare war and to make
реасе, to recognize foreign states
and governments.
An important function of the
Sovereign is the appointment of
а Prime Minister. Normally the
appointment is automatic since it
is а convention of the constitution
that the sovereign must invite the
leader of the party commanding
а majority in the House of Com­
mons to form а government. If no
party has а majority, or if the
party having а majority has no
William Shakespeare's plays
were written in the years of her
reign and are а guide to the life
of the period. They not only show
to us how men in those times
looked, talked and behaved but
how they thought and felt.
recognised leader, the Queen has
the duty of selecting а Prime Min­
ister. In such circumstances she
would Ье entitled to consult any­
one she wished.
The Queen's closest official
contacts are with the Prime Min­
ister (who has an audience of the
Queen on average once а week,
when the Queen is in London)
and, through him, with the Cab­
inet. She also sees other minis­
ters, generally in order to discuss
the affairs of their departments,
and sees all the Cabinet papers.
The Queen is responsiЫe for dis­
solving Parliament, and this is
normally done at the request of
the Prime Minister.
The Queen, as inheritor of
а continuous tradition going back
11 centuries, is the personal sym­
bol of the State and of national
unity. Royal marriage and funer­
als are still marked Ьу ancient cer­
emonial although to а lesser de-
gree than in former days; and the
birthday of аSovereign, formerly
he occasion of many royal and
public functions, is today official­
ly celebrated early in June Ьу
Тrooping the Colour. The Queen's
Birthday is also celebrated as
Commonwealth Day.
Hundreds of royal visits to
various parts of the country for
puЬlic functions keep the royal
family in close touch with new de­
velopment. They often visit the
events of local importance or
some national events such as the
Royal Agricultural Show or the
opening of а new bridge or dock.
There are also royal film, variety
and concert performancf:s in aid
of charity and visits to schools,
universities, hospitals and facto­
ries. The Queen visits many im­
portant sports events.
In addition to being head of all
3 armed services, the Queen is
Colonel-in-Chief of several regi­
ments and corps in the United
Kingdom and other Common­
wealth countries.
One of the most important du­
ties the Sovereign performs is to
act as а host to the heads ofStates
of Commonwealth and other
countries when they visit the
United Кingdom. When а state
visit is involved, guests stay at
Buckingham Palace, Windsor
Castle or the Palace of Holyrood­
house. Their entertainment in­
cludes banquets, receptions, often
а special ballet or opera perform­
ance and visits to places of par­
ticular interest throughout the
country.
It is customary at Christmas
for the Queen to speak on radio
and television to all people of the
Commonwealth as their head.

Unit 5
ТНЕ BRITISH MUSEUМ

The British Museum, consist­ quate for the museum's constant­

ing of the national museum of
archaeology and ethnography
and the national library, is the
richest of its kind in the world.
The museum was founded in
1753 Ьу an act of Parliament
which set up а body of Trustees.
Its nucleus was formed Ьу the
priceless collections ofSir Robert
Cotton, whose manuscripts had
been acquired at the end of the
17th century and stored away in
vaults at Westminster, and Sir
Hans Sloane, who left his enor­
mously varied collection to the
nation upon his death in 1753. То
this diverse collection of manu­
scripts, works of art, antiquities,
and natural history items the
Trustees added the extensive li­
brary accumulated Ьу the Har­
leys, Earls of Oxford. А сору of
every book puЬlished in the coun­
try has to Ье presented free to the
museum.
The act of Parliament setting
up the museum provided for
а puЬlic lottery to Ье held to raise
funds for housing and maintain­
ing these collections. The lottery
raised enough cash for the Trus­
tees to purchase а 17ili century
building called Montagu House
and in 1759 the museum was
opened to the puЫic. Montagu
House proved woefully inade-
ly expanding collections, and Ьу
the early 19th century temporary
buildings had been erected to ac­
commodate many of the larger
exhiЬits.
In 1823Sir RobertSmirke was
commissioned to design а perma­
nen t extension and produced
plans for the complete replace­
men t of Montagu House. Be­
tween 1823 and 1852 the old
structure was pulled down and
the present museum took its
place. In 1857 the famous Read­
ing Room was built.
It is impossiЫe to list here
more than а tiny fraction of the
wealth of objects that the mu­
seum contains. Visitors are ad­
vised to equip themselves with
а guide book and select а number
of specific exhiЬits that can Ье
comfortaЬly looked at in the time
availaЬle.
The superb Elgin MarЫes are
housed in the Duveen Gallery
and should not Ье missed. The
collection is named after the sev­
enth Earl of Elgin, who sold it to
the nation at а consideraЫe loss.
The Elgin MarЫes are sculptures
from the Greek Parthenon in
Athens. They were brought back
to Britain in 1802. They show the
Ьirth of Athena and processions
to honour her. According to leg-
77
/
end she was born out of the head
of God Zeus, when another God
hit him with а hammer to get rid
of his headache. The collection
includes brilliantly executed
statues, friezes, and stonework.
The museum is famous for
Egyptian mummies. The Egyp­
tians thought that life would con-
Unit 6
Every year more than 11 mil­
lion tourists visit Britain. In fact,
tourism is an important industry,
employing thousands of people.
Most visitors соте in the summer
months, when they can expect
good weather. In July and August,
the streets of London are full of
the sounds ofFrench, Italian, Jap­
anese, AraЬic and German.
Tourists usually spend а few
days in London, then go on to
some of the other well-known
cities. Oxford and Stratford­
upon-Avon are visited most often.
But Bath in the west, with its
Roman ruins and beautiful 18th
century streets, is also very pop­
ular. So is York, the oldest city in
the north, and Edinburgh, the
capital of Scotland.
The main tourist places are
crowded with coaches and ice-
78
tinue after death, so they preserved
the body for the dead person's spirit
to live in. It was buried with treas­
ure, household goods and even
servants to use in the next life. Уou
can see mummies of kings, queens
and their servants.
The Sutton Ноо treasure
comes from the burial site of а 7th
TOURISM
cream sellers. But in the quiet
country areas, there are many in­
teresting places that few tourists
find. Some, like the old yellow
stone villages of the Costwolds, in
central England, have already
been "discovered". But there are
beautiful villages in other parts of
the country too. In the typical
English village the cottages crowd
round an old church, which is of­
ten full of history.
And nearby there might Ье
а Ьig, old house, once lived in Ьу
the "squire" and his family, now
open to the puЬlic. There are no
coach tours or hotels there. Visi­
tors go to the houses with the
"Bed and Breakfast" signs. It's
more fun - and much cheaper -
to stay with а British family.
Perhaps the least visited places
in Britain are the old industrial
century Anglo-Saxon Кing in
Suffolk. Не was buried in а com­
plete ship along with а rich treas­
ure hoard to use in the afterlife.
Among the many items on show
are drinking horns, beautiful gold
buckles and the king's helmet. It
was been restored from over 500
pieces.
In the centre of the Egyptian
Sculpture Gallery is the Rosetta
Stone, which dates from 195 ВС
and inscribed with the texts
which enaЫed scholars to de­
cipher Egyptian hieroglyphics.
The Rosetta Stone was the key to
understand ancient Egyptian pic­
ture writing. It саше from an old
wall in the village of Rosetta in
Egypt. Its inscription is repeated
in three different types of writ­
ing - in hieroglyphs, in another
form of Egyptian writing and in
Greek. Ву translating the Greek
scholars were аЫе to work out the
hieroglyphs and begin to under­
stand the ancient Egyptian lan­
guage. The writing tells of battles
of the time.
towns. But many people think
that 19th century cities, like Man­
chester, Liverpool, Birmingham
and Glasgow, show the real Brit­
ain. The greatness of the past is
still to Ье seen in their old streets
and squares. But their golden age
of industrial wealth is over. They
have serious difficulties with un­
employment and bad housing.
Some buildings stand empty
waiting to Ье pulled down. The
cheap concrete buildings of the
1960s already look old and dirty.
But for the adventurous tourists
these cities are full of life and col­
our. Local рор groups play in
busy pubs. The plays in their
theatres are often as good as
those in London. International
musicians and entertainers per­
form in their concert halls and
opera houses.
 Тhе easiest way to see Britain the guide. That way, you'll see the Ье many other things you won't
to join а coach tour and follow tourist face ofBritain, but there'll see at all.

Unit 7
ROBERT BURNS

Poet Robert Burns (1759- tunes. Не now had unrivalled

1796) was the eldest son of а pro­ authority as а songwriter and
fessional gardener and unsuccess­ collector, conferred Ьу his first­
ful farmer in Ayrshire. Growing handfamiliarity with new sources
up to а life of hard physical work of song, as well as Ьу natural ap­
and poverty, he began to write po­ titude.
etry. Ву his mid twenties he was Eventually,Burns returned to
an accomplished poet and song­ farming in south-west Scotland.
writer, especially in his native For а time he combined Excise
Scotland. In the summer of 1786, work withfarming, then decided
when he was on the point of aban­ to give up farming completely
doning farming in Scotland and and became а full-time excise of­
emigrating to the West Indies, ficer in Dumfries. His most fa­
essentially because of а broken mous poem, Tarn о' Shanter,
love affair, he published his first was written in 1790 while he was
collection of poems, in an edition farming at Ellisland, but for the
of 612 copies printed in the coun­ most part he devoted his leisure affection and acceptance. It is as
ty town of Кilmarnock. Poems, hours in his later years to his life­ ifBurns is being saluted in а very
chiefly in the Scottish dialect met long passion for writing and col­ down-to-earth way, as а creative
with such acclaim in Ayrshire and lecting Scottish songs. From 1788 geni us certainly, but also as
among west of Scotland people in until his death he was editor in someone who does not stand on
Edinburgh that he changed all his all but name of the greatest of all his dignity, а friend to the com­
plans and travelled to the capital, Scottish song collections. mon man. In keeping with this
where he was enthusiastically Не died in Dumfries on 21 tradition, people meet at Burns
welcomed Ьу а number of leading July. Suppers all over the world each
literary figures. In common with certain other year on and near his Ьirthday, 25
In 1787,Burns made а number Scots who have contributed to January. The Burns cult is
of tours, to theBorders and, more national myth - Robert I (the unique, and despite having many
than once, to the Highlands. Bruce), Mary Queen of Scots and detractors, is evidently unstop­
In the course of his travels, he Bonnie Prince Charlie - Burns paЬle.
had come across people interested has an international reputation. Widespread identification of
in song tradition in different His is an exceptionally personal Burns's name with а haЬit offall­
parts of Scotland, had visited kind of literary fame. Although ing in love is accounted for part­
places associated with historic celebrated for poetry, which is ly Ьу the eloquence ofAe fond kiss
events and ballads both north usually thought of as an intellec­ and О ту luve is like а red, red
and south of the Highland line, tual pursuit, he is very often re­ rose - two of the best-known
and had listened attentively to ferred to as "Rabbie Burns". The among literally hundreds of love
many Highland and Lowland familiar form of his name signals songs.

МУ НEART'S IN ТНЕ ШGНLANDS

Му heart's in the Нigblands, my heart is not here, Farewell to the mountains high cover'd with snow,
Му heart's in the Higblands, a-chasing the deer, Farewell to the straths and green valleys below;
a-chasing the wild deer, and following the roe­ Farewell to the forests and wild-hanging woods,
My heart's in the Higblands wherever I go! Farewell to the torrents and loud-pouring floods!

Farewell to the Higblands, farewell to the North,
The birth-place of valour, the country of worth!
Wherever I wander, wherever I rove,
The hills of the Higblands forever I love.
Му heart's in the Higblands, my.heart is not here,
Му heart's in the Higblands, a-chasing the deer,
a-chasing the wild deer, and following the roe­
My heart's in the Higblands wherever I go!
Robert Burns

79
/
Unit 8
There are 46 universities in
Britain. Good "А" Level results in
at least two subjects are ne­
cessary to enter one. However,
good exam passes alone are not
enough. Universities choose their
students after interviews, and
competition for places at univer­
sity is fierce. For all British citi­
zens а place at university brings
with it а grant from their Local
Education authority. The grants
cover tuition fees and some of the
living expenses.
Unit 9
In many countries breakfast is
а snack rather than а meal, but
the traditional English breakfast
is а full meal. Some people espe­
cially in the winter begin with
porridge, which is prepared from
oatmeal, and eaten with milk or
cream, and sugar or salt. Then
comes haddock or fried herrings
or what is more usual bacon and
eggs. Afterwards comes toast with
butter and marmalade. This meal
is accompanied Ьу tea or coffee.
Most English people do not now
take such а meal on weekdays, but
only on Sunday mornings.
Lunch is а light meal and
taken at midday.
Dinner, the main meal, is
sometimes served at midday, but
80
LIFE АТ COLLEGE
When the time comes to pick
а college, 18 and 19 year-olds
usually choose one as far away
from home as possiЬle! So, many
students in northern and Scottish
universities соте from the south
of England and vice versa. It is
very unusual for university stu­
dents to live at home. Although
parents may Ье а little sad to see
this happen, they usually ap­
prove of the move, and see it as
а necessary part of becoming an
adult.
MEALS
usually in the evening when all
members of the family are at
home. Most members of the fam­
ily are out at midday and either
take their meals in а canteen or
at а self-service restaurant.
А favourite English meal is
beefsteak accompanied Ьу roast
potatoes, or potatoes done in their
jackets; а second vegetaЫe and
Yorkshire pudding(baked batter,
а mixture offlour, eggs, milk and
salt). Much fish is eaten, served
often with chips and а vegetaЫe.
А traditional sweet is apple pie
with custard or, sometimes with
fresh cream. English puddings of
all flavours are served especially
in winter with some sauce or
other.
Anyway, the three university
terms are only ten weeks each,
and during vacation times fam­
ilies are reunited.
When they first arrive at col­
lege, first year students are called
"freshers". А fresher's life can Ье
exciting but terrifying for the first
week, because many freshers feel
homesick for the first week.
During the first week, all the
clubs and societies try to per­
suade the new students to join
their society. The freshers are
told that it is important for them
to соте into contact with many
activities during their time at
university.
At college students have lec­
tures and seminars. Once or
twice а term, students have а tu­
torial. This means that they see
а tutor alone to discuss their work
and their progress. In Oxford and
Cambridge, and some other uni­
versities, the study system is
based entirely around such tuto­
rials which take place once
а week. Attending lectures is op­
tional for "Oxbridge" students!
Much social contacts take
place in people's homes and an
invitation to tea is а common way
of keeping in touch with friends
and relatives. Besides endless
cups of tea, there is bread and
butter with jam, meat or fish
paste and some home-made or
bought cakes. On special occa­
sions the family may go out to
tea - to the tea-shop or the cafe
and order high tea, that is а fair­
ly substantial meal, often consist­
ing of fish and chips, or boiled
ham and salad, followed Ьу bread
and butter and cakes.
Supper is usually а snack or
simply а drink of milk, or some
other "nightcap".
Unit 10
Traditionally, the favourite
ports of the British upper class
are hunting, shooting and fish­
ing. The most widespread form of
hunting is foxhunting - indeed,
that is what the word 'Ъunting''
usually means in Britain. This is
а popular pastime among some
members of the higher social
classes and а few people from
lower social classes.
Killing Ьirds with guns is
known as "shooting'' in Britain.
It is а minority pastime confined
largely to the higher social classes.
The Ьirds which people try to
shoot (such as grouse) may only
Ье shot during certain specified
Unit 11
The tourist trail, for visitors
to England, often goes straight
from London to Stratford. This
ANIМALS IN SPORT
times of the year. The upper
classes often organize "shooting
parties" during the "season".
The only kind of hunting which
is associated with the working
class is hare-coursing, in which
greyhound dogs chase hares.
The one kind of ''hunting"
which is popular among all social
classes is fishing. In fact, this is
the most popular participatory
sport in Britain. Between four
and five million people go fishing
regularly. When fishing is done
competitively, it is called "ang­
ling''.
Horse-racing is also popular in
Britain. Some members of the
SНAКESPEARE'S BIRTHPLACE
old market town, Stratford­
upon-Avon, the .Ьirthplace of
William Shakespeare, has be­
come one of the world's most fa­
mous tourist centres. From April
to October, it attracts thousands
of visitors who come to see the
poet's life from the cradle to the
grave.
Stratford is best explored on
foot, and the main points of in­
terest can Ье seen in а walk tak­
ing about two hours. From
Shakespeare's Ьirthplace, а half­
timbered early 16th century build-
royal family own racehorses and
attend certain annual race meet­
ings (Ascot, for example).
The chief attraction of horse­
racing is the opportunity it pro­
vides for gamЫing. Greyhound
racing is still popular for the
same reason. In this sport, the
dogs chase а mechanical hare
round а racetrack. It is easier to
organize than horse-racing and
"the dogs" has the reputation of
being the "poor man's racing''.
ing in Henley Street, the route
runs down Bridge Street to Clap­
ton Bridge, built in the 15th cen­
tury. From the bridge а road ·on
the west bank passes the red
brick Shakespeare Memorial
Theatre, built in 1932.
The poet was born in the house
in Henley Street in 1564. The
house was his father's home and
workshop, and in Shakespeare's
lifetime it was two separate
buildings. Built in the early 16th
century, it is а typical middle­
class dwelling.
81
/
Тhе gardens of the Shakespeare
Memorial Theatre run down to the
river bank to Southern Lane and
to the tree-lined approach to Holy
Trinity Church. This beautiful
church overlooking the river is
Shakespeare's burial place. His
tomb and those of some of his fam­
ily are marked Ьу simple engraved
stones in front of the altar.
Many hotels and shops in
Stratford-upon-Avon have been
Unit 12
The name "tattoo" has an in­
teresting origin. Тraditionally the
soldiers were told to return to the
living quarters each night Ьу
а beat of the drum which sounded
like "tat-too".
The word "clan" means "fam­
ily" and the great clans of the 16th
and 17th centuries were really like
big families, ruled Ьу powerful
chefs. Sometimes there were bat-
Unit 13
The National Eisteddfod of
Wales сап Ье traced back to 1176
when it is said that the first Eis­
teddfod was held, under the aus­
pices of Lord Rhys, at his castle
1
Gaelic [ge · 1 · k] - гаельська мова (будь-яка мова кельтсько1 групи, на яких говорять небагато жителiв ШотландН
та IрландЩ.
82
reпovated in the half-timbered
style, with Ыасk beams criss­
crossing whitewashed walls.
Other buildings have been care­
fully restored to their original
colour. The visitor to Stratford
sees much of the town апd its
surrouпdings as it was iп Shake­
speare's lifetime.
Shakespeare never lost touch
with his home town, even at the
height of his success as а play-
FACTSAВOUT SCOTLAND
tles between different clans but
nowadays the McDonalds, the
McKeпzies and the Campbells all
live in piece with each other.
Many people in Scotland have
the паmе McDonald or McKen­
zie. "Мае" meaпs "sоп of' апd
people with this name usually
feel they belong to the same fam-
ily or clan. Common boys' names
are Donald or Duncan, and girls'
names are Fiona or Jean.
Тhе national dress of Scots is the
kilt, which was originally worn Ьу
men. It is а skirt with а lot of folds.
The wearing of tartans (col­
oured checks) is traditional in
Scotland. Originally, the tartan
was worn as а long piece of cloth
thrown over the shoulders. At the
beginning of the 18th century the
kilt became popular.
25th January is celebrated Ьу
Scotsmen all over the world, as
it is the birthday ofRobert Burns.
The festival is called Burns
Night. During the festival pipe
EISTEDDF OD
in Cardigan. There he heid
а grand gathering to which were
invited poets and musicians from
all over the country. А chair at
the Lord's tаЫе was awarded to
wright in London. Readers of his
plays and poetry will discover
that much of his work derives
from Stratford-upon-Avon's busy
streets and peaceful countryside.
As а Ьоу, Shakespeare had on
market days noted the manners,
dress and speech of tradesmen,
farmers, milkmaids, lawyers, and
actors who came to perform their
plays.
music is played, traditional dress
is worn and а traditional Scottish
meal is eaten. People also recite
poems Ьу their favourite poet.
Many Scottish people still use
some Scottish words when they
speak English. For example,
"wee" means small as in "wee lad­
die" -small Ьоу. А 'Ъonnie lass"
is а pretty girl and а 'Ъairn" is
а young child. If someone an­
swers your questions with "ауе"
[а:] they are agreeing with you,
because "ауе" means yes.
The Scottish musical instru­
ment is the pipes or bagpipes.
There are still old people in
faraway corners of Scotland who
speak Gaelic1 •
In the 18th century the river
Clyde flowing in the centre of
Glasgow was only а foot wide but
rich with salmon.
The Scottish race is supposed
to Ье the tallest race in the world.
Golf is Scotland's national
sport.
the best poet and musician, а tra­
dition that prevails- in the mod­
ern day National Eisteddfod. Fol­
lowing 1176, many Eisteddfods
were held throughout Wales, un-
der the patronage of Welsh gen­
try and noЫemen. At the begin­
ning of the nineteenth century,
an Eisteddfod of historical signifi­
cance was held at the Ivy Bush
Inn in Carmarthen, when the
Gorsedd of Bards first became
Unit 14
St Patrick's Day is celebrated
on March 17th . It is an Irish holi­
day honouring Saint Patrick, the
patron saint of Ireland. Accord­
ing to the customs of the times,
this was not the saint's Ьirthday,
but the day of his death. This day
is also celebrated outside the
country in the places with а large
number of people oflrish decent.
People honour Saint Patrick Ьу
attending special religious ser­
vices, enjoying family gatherings,
and wearing shamrocks.
St Patrick's Day church ser­
vices are followed Ьу parades and
parties, Irish music, songs, and
dances. Many people wear green
clothes. It is а time for sham­
rocks, Irish flags, clay pipes and
top hats. St Patrick's Day and its
symbols are the story of the Irish
and the land. Тhе day has come
to Ье а day for the Irish people
throughout the world to gather
and celebrate.
officially associated with this na­
tional event. Ву this time, the
Eisteddfod had developed into
а fully-fledged folk festival on
а large scale. In 1880, the Na­
tional Eisteddfod association was
formed and charged with the re-
ST PATRICK'S DAY
St Patrick is а patron saint of
Ireland. Strangely enough, the
patron saint of Ireland was not
Irish himself. Historical sources
report that he was born around
389 AD in either Scotland or in
Roman Britain. Patrick's father
was an official who worked for the
Roman government. The family
name was Succat, meaning clever
in war. As а member of the up­
per classes of Roman-Bri tish so­
ciety, the Ьоу was trained in the
teachings of Christianity, which
had become well-estaЫished as
the religion of the empire.
Patrick was brought up like
any other child of his class until
at 16 he was kidnapped Ьу pi­
rates and sold into slavery in Ire­
land. During his captivity,
Patrick dedicated himself to re­
ligion. During the long, lonely
hours in the fields and hills of
Ireland he found comfort in pray­
ing.
sponsiЬility of staging an annual
festival to Ье held in North and
South Wales altemately, and with
the exception of 1914 and 1940,
this target has been successfully
achieved.
Six years passed slowly Ьу.
Then in а dream, Patrick was told
of а ship that would take him to
safety to France. The trip was
successful. Не escaped to France.
From that time Patrick devoted
his life to God.
Не returned to Ireland as
а Christian missionary in 432.
Не began his work in northern
and western Ireland, where no
one had ever preached Christian­
ity. Не was а tireless and fear­
less missionary. Moving from
place to place, he preached to all
who would listen to, urging them
to accept the Christian God. Be­
fore long he was famous through­
out Ireland. His nickname was
Old Shaved Head.
Patrick is said to have founded
more than 300 churches and bap­
tized more than 120,000 people.
Не also introduced the Roman al­
phabet and Latin literature into
Ireland. Не died about 461.
83
/

Some important dates in British History

55 вс The Roman general Julius Caesar lands in Britain, wins а battle and leaves.
43AD The Romans соте to stay.
410 The Romans leave Britain.
432 St Patrick converts Ireland to Christianity.
1066 The Battle of Hastings.
1275 Llewellyn, а Welsh prince, refuses to submit to the authority of the English monarch.
1538 An English language version of the ВiЫе replaces Latin ЬiЫеs in every church in the land.
1580 Sir Francis Drake completes the first voyage round the world.
1642 The Civil War begins.
1666 The Great Fire__of London destroys most of the city's old wooden buildings.
1783 Britain recognizes the independence of the American colonies.
1788 The first British settlers arrive in Australia.
1800 The United Кingdom of Great Britain and Ireland is formed.
1805 А British fleet under the command of Admiral Nelson defeats N apoleon's French fleet at
the Battle of Trafalgar.
1870 Free primary education is estaЫished.
1902 Nationwide selective secondary education is introduced.
1920 The British government partitions Ireland.
1922 The Irish Free State is born.
1944 Free compulsory secondary education is established and secondary modern schools are set up.
1953 Coronation of Elizabeth II.
1973 Britain joins the European Economic Community.
1994 English Channel tunnel opens.

84
 English-Ukrainian Vocabulary

Unit 1 refer - говорити, згадувати

strictly - точно, безумовно
political unification [,ju:n1f1'ke1Jn] - полiтичне об'еднання
gradual ['grred3ual] - поступовий
racially - за расовою ознакою
origin - походження
to Ье reflected - вiдбивати, зображувати
include - включати
to Ыur [Ыа:] - робити неясним, затуманювати
regardless [п'ga:dl1s] - незважаючи на
identity - iндивiдуальнiсть
rhetorical context - риторичний контекст
mainland - материк
cliff - стрiмчак
female - жiночий
trident ['traidant] - тризуб
scholarly classifications - науковi класифiкацil
Emerald Isle - <<Смарагдовий острiв,>
evoking [1'vauk1IJ] - такий що викликае (спогад, захоплення)
lush - соковитий, пишний (про рослиннiсть)
harp [ha:p] - арфа
distinctively - вiдмiтно, характерно
for instance - наприклад
reliaЫe description - дiйсний опис
principality [,pпns1'prel1t1] - князiвство
to wave - вiяти (про прапори)
string - низка, ряд
bunting - прапорцi

Unit 2 to consist of - складатися з

collectively - сукупно, спiльно
coastal ['kaustl] - береговий
county - графство
one should mention - слiд згадати
to Ье surrounded Ьу - бути оточеним
irregularly - нерiвно
to Ье indented - бути нерiвно порiзаним
remains of extinct species of animals ['spi:Ji:z] - останки
вимерлих видiв тварин
mountain range [reшd3] - гiрський ланцюг
inland ['шland] - розташований усерединi краiни, вiддалений
вiд моря
85
 to verge [vз:d.3 ] - межувати; хилитися, наближатися
to extend - простягатися, тягтися
mouth of the river - устя рiчки
navigahle ['ncev1gaЫ] - судноплавний

Unit 3 inhabltant [ш'hceb1tant] - житель

century ['sentfaп] - сторiччя, столiття
to dig up - копати, розшукувати
tin - олово
lead [led] - свинець
priest [pri:st] - священик
to invade [ш've1d] - вторгатися, захоплювати
conquer ['knIJka] - завойовувати, скоряти
entire [ш'tа1а] - повний, цiлий
to resist [п'z1st] - протистояти, опиратися
fort [f;:>:t] - форт
influence ['шfluans] - вплив
to crumhle ['krлmЫ] - обвалюватися, руйнуватися
border ['b;:>:da] - межа, край; межувати
invasion [ш've1.3n] - вторгнення, навала
Huns [hлnz] - гуни
warrior ['wопа] - во'iн
Роре [paup] - священик
to convert [kan'vз:t] - звертати (в iпше вiрувапня)
Christianity [,kпst1'ceшt1] - християнство
monk [mлIJk] - чернець
to anger ['ceI)ga] - сердити, розлючувати
defeat [d1'fi:t] - поразка
fleet [fli:t] - флот, флотилiя
rivalry ['raivalr1] - суперництво

Unit 4 centrepiece ['sentapi:s] - головний пункт

glittering ceremonial dress [,seп'mauшal] - блискуча сукня
для урочистих церемонiй
assemhled - скликаний
МР = Member of Parliament
chamber ['tJe1mba] - палата (парламенту)
peer [р1а] - пер, лорд
ermine ['з:mш] - горностай
glamorously ['glcemarasl1] - ефектно
а long-standing tradition - давня традицiя
to summon - скликати
to slam - захлопувати
to rap - стукати
ebony ['еЬаш] - чорне дерево
to resign [п'zаш] - поступатися, передавати права

Unit 5 fortification [,f;:>:t1f1'ke1Jn] - фортифiкацiя, укрiплення (pZ)

Conquest ['knIJkwest] - завоювання Англi'i норманами
plague [ple1g] - чума
86
 beyond [b1'jond] - удалинi, поза; понад
surrounding area - прилегаюча територiя
to Ье associated - асоцiюватися
glamour - зачарування, ефект
outstanding - видатний
fortress ['f;:,:tпs] - фортеця
prison - в' язниця
nоЫе ['navЫ] - дворянин
to Ье captured ['kcoeptfad] - бути захопленим у полон
to behead - вiдрубати голову
royal menagerie [m1'ncoed3aп] - королiвський звiринець
raven ['re1vn] - ворон
clipped wings - пiдрiзанi крила
jewels ['d3u:alz] - коштовностi
Yeoman ['javman] - iомен, дрiбний землевласник
William the Conqueror - Вiльгельм 3авойовник
ritual ['пtfval] - ритуал
Jack the Ripper - Джек-Потрошитель
memorial slab - меморiальна плита
distinguished people [d1'st11:igw1Jt] - вiдомi люди
official London residence - офiцiйна резиденцiя в Лондонi
the Royal Standard - the Royal Flag
forecourt ['f;:,:k;:,:t] - зовнiшнiй двiр
bearskin - ведмежа шапка ( британськ:их гвардiйцiв)
to Ье erected - бути зведеним
cathedral [ka'8i:dral] - собор
enormous dome [1'n;:,:mas davm] - величезний купол
to fascinate ['fcoesшe1t] - зачаровувати
peal of twelve bells - набiр з дванадцяти дзвонiв
toil [t:>11) - важка праця
to flee from - бiгти, спасатися втечею
waxwork - воскова фiгура
chandelier [,fcoenda'l1a] - люстра
infamous ['шfamas] - ... що мае погану репутацiю
authentic guillotine [;:,:'8ent1k 'gllati:n] - справжня гiльйотина
shivers - тремтiння, трепет
spine [sраш] - хребет

Unit 6 medieval [,med1'i:vl] - середньовiчний

deposits [d1'poz1ts] - залежi (к:орисних к:опалин)
to exploit - розробляти
to Ье run - керуватися
mayor [mea] - мер
civic pride ['s1v1k] - громадянська гордiсть
an area of slums - район трущоб
descriptive arts - образотворче мистецтво
ceramics [si'rcoem1ks] - керамiка
textile industry - текстильна промисловiсть
transformation - перетворення
quantity ['kwontat1] - кiлькiсть
municipal [mju:'шs1pl] - мунiципальный
to rival ['raivl] - суперничати, конкурувати
estuary ['estfvaп] - устя рiчки

87
 manufacturing industry - обробна промисловiсть
decay [d1'ke1] - занепад
decline [d1'klaш] - падiння, занепад
extension [1k'stenfn] - розширення, -розповсюдження
brooch - брошка
severe Gothic style - строгий готичний стиль
first written record of its existence - перша лiтописна згадка
про його iснування
wealthy ['wel81] - багатий, заможний
sepulchre ['sepalka] - гробниця
parish ['рrепЛ - парафi.яльний
chapel ['tfrepl] - каплиця
lawn [l:>:n] - галявина
nail - цв.ях
iron bolt - залiзний болт

Unit 7 Drama ['dra:ma] - драма

leading actor - актор, що виконуе головнi ролi
major part - головна роль
to Ье knighted [nait1d] - бути зведеним у ранг лицаря
to direct - ставити (п'есу)
life peer - довiчний титул пера
research [r1'sз:tЛ - дослiдницька робота
force of gravity ['grrev1t1] - сила тяжiння
to whirl [wз:l] - крутити
to invent - винаходити
persistent [pa's1stant] - завзятий, настирливий
mixture ['m1kstfa] - сумiш
prism ['pпzam] - призма
to split up - роздiляти, розколювати
enormous effect [1'n:>:mas] - величезний вплив
landscape painter ['lrenske1p,peшta] - пейзажист
to devote - присвячувати
imaginary scenes [1'mred3шaп si:nz] - вигаданi сцени
conditions - обставини
vigorous strokes of the brush ['v1garas stravks] - енергiйнi
мазки пензля
penicillin [,реш's1lш] - пенiцилiн
bacteria [brek't1ar1a] - бактерi'i
vaccine ['vreksi:n] - вакцина
mould [mavld] - цвiль
spectacularly successful - надзвичайно вдалий
founder - засновник
this caused Ьitter arguments with her family - це викликало
запеклi суперечки в l'i родинi
wounded - поранений
ward [w:>:d] - палата (лiкарн.яна)
national heroine ['heravш] - нацiональна героi:ня
to donate - дарувати, жертвувати
as she saw fit - як вона вважатиме за потрiбне
the Order of Merit - орден <<За заслуги,>
navigator and explorer - мореплавець та дослiдник

88
 coal ship - корабель, що перевозить вугiлля
to volunteer [,vDlan't1a] - викликатися добровiльно
to Ье promoted - отримати пiдвищення
to insist - наполягати
crew [kru:] - команда
scurvy ['skз:v1] - цинга
to chart - наносити на карту
to claim - заявляти права на щось
fabulous plants ['frebjulas pla:nts] - казковi рослини
prison colony - поселения для ув'язнених
convict [kan'v1kt] - засуджений, каторжник
to explore [1ks'p!;.>:] - дослiджувати
the Bering Strait - Берингова протока
scuffle ['skлfl] - бiйка

Unit 8 to attend [a'tend] - вiдвiдувати

state-supported schools - державнi школи
compulsory [kam'pлlsari] - обов' язковий
co-educational - (школи) зi спiльним навчанням осiб жiночоi
та чоловiчо'i статi
premises [' prem1ыz] - примiщення (з прилеглими будiвлями
та дiлянкою)
to emphasize ['emfasaiz] - надавати особливого значения,
пiдкреслювати
fee-paying - платний
boarder ['Ь;.>:dа] - пансiонер (у школi)
to tend - мати схильнiсть
curriculum [ka'пkjulam] - навчальний план, програма
oЫigatory [D'Ьl1gataп] - обов'язковий
heritage ['her1t1d3] - спадщина
awareness [a'weaшs] - обiзнанiсть, знания
substantial [sab'strenfal] - значний
grant (gra:nt] - стипендiя
to integrate ['шt1gre1t] - об'еднувати

Unit 9 detached house - особняк

privacy ('praivas1] - самота
to attach [a'tretf] - надавати (знач.ення)
attitude ['ret1tju:d] - ставлення
to ensure [ш'fua] - забезпечувати, гарантувати
at the extreme end of the scale - на iншiй чашi ваг
stately home - величний будинок
to avoid - уникати
to provide - забезпечувати
to afford - дозволяти собi (бути спроможним)
"high rise" Ыocks of flats - висотний багатоквартирний
будинок
central heating - центральне опалення
to keep а watchful еуе - дивитися

89
 to deteriorate [d · 't·ar·are· t] - псуватис.я:
graffiti [gra'fi:t ·] - малюнки, написи на стiнах
in theory - теоретично
failure ['fe · lja] - невдача, провал
hedge [hed3] - огородженн.я:
to prevent - запобiгати
private property ['p rupat · ] - приватна власнiсть

Unit 10 stolid and phlegmatic - безпристрасний i флегматичний

scoring [sk:п · IJ] - рахунок
club - .битка
mown [maun] - викошений
sophisticated [sa'f · st · ke · t· d] - витончений
bat - битка (у к:рик:етi)
wicket ['w·k · t] - воротц.я: (у к:рик:етi)
elite [е · 1i:t] - елiта
mallet ['rruel · t] - дерев'.я:ний молоток
spectator [spek'te · ta] - гл.я:дач
casual ['kce3ual] - випадковий, ненавмисний
survey [sa've ·] - дослiдженн.я:
to encourage [ ·n'kлr · d3] - заохочувати, пiдтримувати
angling ['ceIJgl ·IJ] - риболовл.я:
weigh [we·] - зважувати

Unit 11 to rank - займати .я:кесь мiсце

а densely populated country - густо населена краi:на
scenic ['si:n · k] - мальовничий
to slope - опускатис.я:
moor [mua] - торф'.я:ниста мiсцевiсть, що поросла вереском
fen - болото, драговина
wold [ waul] - пустище
to extend - прост.я:гатис.я:
reclaimed - вiдновлений
layers of limestone ['la · mstaun] - шари вапн.я:ку
offshore islands - прибережнi острови
shift - примiщенн.я:
prosperity [pro'sperat· ] - добробут
wholesale and retail ['ri:te · l] trade - оптова та роздрiбна
торгiвл.я:
ancestor ['censesta] - предок

Unit 12 eliminate [·i·m·re·t] - усувати, виключати

clan [klcen] - рiд
related - родинний, пов'.я:заний
range [re ·nd3] - р.я:д, ланцюг (гiр)
to Ье dotted - вiдзначений пунктиром
sparkling ['spa:kl · IJ] - блискаючий
scenic ['si:n ·k] - мальовничий
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 fertile ['fз:tall] - плiдний
scattered ['skcetad] - розкиданий
rocky ['rok1] - скелястий
petroleum industry [p1'trauljam] - нафтопереробна
промисловiсть
boost (bu:st] - пiднiмати, пiдтримувати, рекламувати
textiles ['tekstallz] - текстиль
originate [а'пd3ше1t] - брати початок, походити

Unit13J. to date back - сягати коренями

featuring ['fi:t3aпI)] - фестиваль
to Ье appointed [a'p:нnt1d] - бути призначеним
empty ['empt1] - впадати
refuge ['refju:d3] - притулок
endangered species [ш'deшd3ad 'spi:fi:z] - види, що
знаходяться пiд загрозою зникнення
pastime ['pa:sta1m] - приемне проводження часу, розвага

Unit14 province ['provшs] - область, провiнцiя

to separate - вiдокремлювати(ся)
predominantly [pп'domшantl1] - переважаюче
to create - створювати
descent [d1'sent] - походження
militant ['mil1tant] - войовничий
installation [,шsta'le1fn] - установа
retaliate [п'tcel1e1t] - мстити
minority [ma1'norat1] - меншiсть
discrimination - дискримiнацiя
violence ['vaiala.ns] - насильство
riot ['raiat] - бунт, заколот
to break out - спалахнути, вибухнути
troops [tru:ps] - вiйська
rolling plain - горбиста рiвнина
linen mill - ткацька фабрика
pastureland - пасовисько
rural area - сiльська мiсцевiсть

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