The Houses of Parliament

The Houses of Parliament are relatively modern. The whole building which is in the Gothic style was built in the middle of the last century instead of the ancient Houses of Parliament (destroyed by the fire in 1834). But the Westminster Hall at the far end of the building was not touched by the fire and it stands intact for centuries (built in 1097). The world’s known clock “Big Ben” which strikes the hours on the thirteen ton bell is housed in St. Stephen’s Tower. The clock bell is called Big Ben after Sir Benjamin Hall. He had the job to see that the bell was put up. Sir Benjamin was a big man. One day he said in the Parliament. “Shall we call the bell St. Stephen’s?” But someone said for a joke, “Why not call it Big Ben?” Now the bell is known all over the world by that name.

Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey is a building of great beauty, a place of worship and prayer, a church whose life has been closely identified with the English nation for more than 900 years. Coronations and Royal Weddings take place in the abbey. All but two of the English kings and queens have been crowned in Westminster Abbey since 1066.

The most sacred place in the Abbey is Chapel of St. Edward the Confessor. Edward, a Saxon king (1042-1066), was the founder of Westminster Abbey and the original building was consecrated a few days before his death. He is buried here and in medieval times his shrine attracted many pilgrims. Westminster Abbey is also famous for its Poets’ Corner. Here are the graves and memorials of most of the major English poets and some writers and musicians. Among them the tomb of Geoffrey Chaucer, and the memorial to William Shakespeare. Samuel Johnson and Charles Dickens are also buried here. West of Westminster Abbey stands Buckingham Palace. It is now the official residence of the Queen.

The Tower

In 1066 William, Duke of Normandy, and his men defeated the Saxons at the Battle of Hastings and killed the Saxon King Harold. William and the Normans then set about building castles to complete their domination of England. One of the earliest castles was built where the Tower now stands. It was simply a timber fort, erected in a corner of the stone walls which the Romans had built around their city of London nine hundred years before. The Tower of London was begun by William the Conqueror as a fortress and palace. Later kings made it larger and stronger, and kept soldiers, armour, weapons, treasure, and sometimes important prisoners there. For five hundred years coins of the realm were minted at the Tower and official documents stored in some of the castle buildings. There was even a zoo which began as the king’s private collection of animals among which there were bears, lions, elephants. Now, however, all that remains of it are the ravens and the legend that if they ever leave the Tower will fall. For nine centuries the Tower has kept watch over London and the river Thames. Now it is one of the greatest tourist attractions of London.

Big Ben

Every day when people in the UK switch on their radio to listen to BBC radio news, they can hear one of the most famous sounds in London, the ringing of Big Ben. The clock tower next to the Houses of Parliament with its famous bell has become a symbol of London. Many people think that Big Ben is the clock or the whole tower. In fact, it’s the largest of the five bells at the top of the tower.

The bell weighs 12 tons and is 2.7 metres in diameter and 2.3 metres high. Big Ben first boomed out in 1859. On New Year’s Eve, 1923, the bell was first heard on radio, and on New Year’s Eve, 1949, it and the clock tower appeared on television.

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle is an official residence of the British Royal family. William the Conqueror began building it on a hill above the River Thames 900 years ago. England’s kings and queens have lived in it ever since. The castle has been rebuilt and improved many times according to the British monarchs’ taste.

The dominant structure of the castle is the high Round Tower. It is built on the site where, according to tradition, King Arthur sat with the Knights of the Round Table. Fourteen other towers rise from the walls surrounding the castle.

The castle also includes St. Georges Chapel, which is the burial place of Henry VI, Edward IV, Henry VIII, Charles I, Edward VII, and George V.

Today, nine centuries after its foundation, the Castle continues to perform its prime role as an official residence of the Queen.

After the fire of 1992, Queen Elizabeth II opened the doors of Windsor Castle to the public. Gone are the mysteries held by Windsor Castle!

Text 10

Exercise 1. Read the text about the capitals of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Edinburgh

The largest city of Scotland and its capital, Edinburgh is situated in the eastern part of the Central Lowlands. The city has been an important strategic centre throughout the long Scottish history with its numerous wars. Edinburgh is one of the most beautiful cities in the country, historically it is divided into the Old Town and the New City. The Old Town with the Castle that towers over Princess Street is situated on the Castle Rock, one of several hills which overshadow the modern city. The New City began to be built to the north of the Castle in the mid-18^th century and was eventually linked with the Old Town by bridges.

Edinburgh’s industries are of considerable importance. The city is considered as a major centre of rubber production. There are also baking and milling industries. The port of Leith makes possible a direct access to the North Sea. Edinburgh is famous for its University, founded in 1583, and also for its international music festivals.

Cardiff

Cardiff, the largest city of Wales, became its capital in 1956. It is situated near the mouth of the river Taff, which flows into the English Channel. The site was first occupied by a Roman fort. The Castle now standing at the site of the Roman fort and the old fortress walls around it give a special flavour to the city. There are numerous offices, a government building and several colleges of the University of Wales, and the city park stretches beyond them. Industries are concentrated in the south of the city and near the port. The port played a great role in the growth of Cardiff in the 19^th and early 20^th centuries, when most of the Welsh coal exports were handled by it. Engineering in Cardiff includes ship-repairing and the making of railway cars, oil engines, vehicles and electric gear. It is also known for a great range of light industry.

Belfast

Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, is the leading industrial, especially engineering centre of the region. Its prominent role is explained by its advantageous geographic situation opposite Britain. It has grown into a large port as a result. After Ulster had seceded from Ireland, the Belfast port began to handle most of the raw materials and fuel for Northern Ireland. The physical and industrial growth of Belfast was promoted to a large extent by the policy of the British ruling classes, which backed the development of the eastern part of Ulster with its predominantly English population.

Belfast was the gateway for the English colonization of Ireland and today is the centre of major economic and political contacts with Ulster.

Exercise 2. Say what these cities are famous for.

Text 11

Exercise 1. Read and translate the dialogues

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 1059