The London Underground

(This sign shows the entrance to a station on the London Underground)

The first underground railway system in the world was in London. It opened in 1863 and ran 4 miles (6,5 kilometres) from the west of London to the City in the east. The first lines were built close to the surface and used steam trains. They then built deeper tunnels and the electric underground railway opened in 1890. This system was called the Tube, still the most popular name for the London Underground. Some of the tube stations are so deep that they were used as air-raid shelters during the Second World War when hundreds of families would spend the night in the stations.

One million people commute into central London every day. Sixty per cent of these people use the Tube, mainly because the London Underground system extends far into the suburbs: the Northern Line, running from north to south, covers 18 miles (28 kilometres); the Piccadilly Line, running from east to west is 47 miles

(76ilometres) long.

II. Write out the italicized words from the text ‘The London Underground’

into your copy-book. Consult the dictionary as for their meanings. On their basis retell the text close to its content. Put questions to those in italics words and word-combinations.

Taxis

(London taxis are also called black cabs.)

London taxis drive round the centre of the city looking for custom. Taxis are often called cabs, from the French word cabriolet, which is a nineteenth-century word for a coach drawn by a horse.

Traditional taxi-drivers, or cabbies, are proud of their knowledge of London. They have to know every street in the 113 square miles of central London and spend up to four years learning the best routes. To get their licence, they have to pass a series of tests, known as The Knowledge, until they are absolutely accurate in their answers.

Because of this long training period, cabbies are often angry that people can drive minicabs without a licence. Minicabs look like normal cars, do not have meters and cannot pick up people in the street: people have to phone for one.

III. Write out the italicized words from the text ‘Taxis’. On their basis retell

the text close to its content. Put questions to those in italics words and word-combinations.

Date: 2015-12-17; view: 1068