4. Read the texts and speak about some London sights.

A. St. Paul’s Cathedral is near the middle of the City. It is one of the finest churches in Europe. From far away you can see the huge dome with a golden ball and a cross on the top.

Old St. Paul’s, that stood on the same site, was destroyed by the Great Fire of 1666. The present Cathedral was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and was being built for 35 years. The Cathedral contains monuments and memorials to many national heroes, among them the Duke of Wellington and Lord Nelson, Sir John Moore and Sir Christopher Wren. The interior of the Cathedral is very beautiful.

After looking round you can climb 236 steps to the Whispering Gallery, which is inside the dome. It is called so because if one whispers close to the wall on one side of the hall, a person with his ear close to the wall on the other side can hear what is said. If you want to reach the foot of the ball, you have to climb 637 more steps. Outside we have a magnificent view of London.

This jewel of London was chosen by Prince Charles and Princess Diana for their wedding in 1981.

B. Piccadilly is a fine street not far from Hyde Park. Piccadilly Circus is a dynamic and picturesque place with a happy and lively atmosphere. For centuries Piccadilly has been the heart of London’s West End. Piccadilly Circus is one of the busiest places in London. The Underground station “Piccadilly Circus”, its shops and newsstands are used by over 150,000 people a day. Piccadilly is a fashionable shopping centre. People come here to the shops in the daytime, and at night they come for a night out. It is the centre of nightlife in the West End.

Five important streets meet at Piccadilly Circus. The cars, the tourist coaches, the red London buses, and the black taxis go round its famous fountain with a statue. It’s not a statue of a famous man or woman. It is the statue of Eros, the Greek god of love, which attracts crowds of tourists. This is one of the most popular meeting points of London. There are a number of theatres and cinemas in the streets around Piccadilly Circus, so this part of London is generally called «Theatreland».

5. London Quiz

Match the name of each building/ place with the explanations below.

a) No 10 Downing Street

b) Madame Tussaud’s

c) Tower Bridge

d) Trafalgar Square

e) The Tower of London

f) The Houses of Parliament

g) Wembley Stadium

h) Marble Arch

i) St. Paul’s Cathedral

j) Piccadilly Circus

k) Buckingham Palace

l) Westminster Abbey

1. This is where the British Prime Minister lives.

2. Here you can see wax models of famous people.

3. This is the Queen’s residence in London.

4. MPs debate and argue here, and there is a clock tower with a famous bell in it.

5. This building was rebuilt by Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of London in 1666. There is a famous “Whispering Gallery”.

6. English kings and queens are usually married here. Many of them are also buried here, as well as many famous writers.

7. This place has a memorial to Admiral Nelson and is also famous for its many pigeons.

8. This round place is often called the Centre of London. There is a statue of Eros in the middle of it.

9. It is quite near the City of London. It opens to let ships through.

10) It was a fortress, a royal palace and later a prison. It is a museum now.

11) This is a stadium where Britain’s Cup Final is played each year.

12) The arch is situated in the North-East of Hyde Park, at the entrance of Buckingham Palace.

Учебное издание

Васильева Елена Ефимовна

Зонина Наталья Петровна (отв. ред.)

Карпенко Наталья Викторовна

Костарева Наталья Анатольевна

Раскина Елена Юрьевна

Терешкина Регина Константиновна

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